Meeting Ethel Kennedy: A Summer Memory

Back in 1976, during a summer that felt like history coming to life, I had the chance to meet Ethel Kennedy. This was no ordinary summer; it was the Bicentennial, and I was an intern on Capitol Hill. Our nation's capital was buzzing with stars and influencers, from Elizabeth Taylor to Vice President Hubert Humphrey. But the most memorable moment was the picnic at Ethel Kennedy's estate, Hickory Hill, in McLean, Virginia. Ethel, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was full of energy. Despite having 11 children, she zipped around like a tornado. She played tennis with a competitive edge, chatted with influential figures, and watched her kids and dogs race around. It felt like a modern-day Camelot, with parties and games on the lawn. Years later, as a grad student at the University of Virginia, I saw Ethel again. This time, it was at her sons' graduation. She was still sprightly, even as she aged, and continued to be involved in politics and human rights. Her kids joined the family business too. Kathleen and Kerry were great to work with, while RFK Jr. had a different approach—he took his mother's rule-breaking spirit too seriously. Ethel's sister-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy, called them "the rah-rah girls" for their enthusiastic campaigning. Sadly, their joy turned to tragedy. Who could forget Ethel, pregnant with her 11th child, cradling her dying husband after an assassin's bullet? Or her stoic strength, just like her sister-in-law Jackie? By 2023, I visited Hickory Hill again. It had changed hands, but the spirit of the Kennedys still lingered. Ethel, a devout Catholic, believed in reuniting with loved ones in heaven. Maybe she's up there now, playing touch football with Bobby and the family.

Actions