This New England

This 1996 letter to Providence insurance executive and civic activist Lorne Adrain about an Adrain book project shows both the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's interesting and rather old-fashioned handwriting and his sense of the weight of history, in citing another monumental Massachusetts and national political leader, the great lawyer, orator, legislator and statesman Daniel Webster.

Ted Kennedy's brother John F. Kennedy wrote famously about Daniel Webster in Profiles in Courage, published when JFK was a young senator from the Bay State.

The book was one of the many promotional stepping stones on Jack Kennedy's route to the White House, where he served so briefly, when you think about it.

JFK's lack of interest in the nuts and bolts of legislating itself was quite a marvel. Quite the opposite of his brother Ted. And so, in many ways, Ted Kennedy had far more impact on U.S. domestic policy than his presidential brother.

But then, maybe "Camelot's'' brevity is what gives it its resonance.

 Tags  Edward Kennedy JFK Lorne Adrain Profiles in Courage

Comments

Jim Ingall said:

I have been hearing that Cape Cod Railway ownwer and businessman with the name JOHN F. KENNEDY (no joke!) will be making his candidacy in the next week for Ted K's senate seat. Anyone else hearing this same thing? Heard it in a bunch of places. Be nice to have another John F Kennedy in government for our state. He has done really good things for our area of Cape Cod and aint a born politician. Could you imagine? This could make for an interesting race with no "other" Kennedy in the race. This guy has got some charm too. his name alone would turn heads

Link | September 7, 2009 7:54 PM
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