Edward Kennedy's two sons and his widow, Vicki Kennedy, are at odds over the late senator's legacy and the handling of the $71 million institute that bears his name.
According to Boston.com, the conflict is centered around the construction and governance of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate.
Vicki Kennedy has also become a source of contention among some extended family members over the institute's presence in the Kennedy family's Hyannis Port compound. The institute, which took possession of the original mansion and the lawn, is now charging a rental fee to the remaining family members who own property there for use of the lawn.
According to an unnamed family friend, the project faces potential cost overruns and the senator's sons, Edward M. Kenndy Jr. and Patrick Kennedy are convinced their stepmother is bungling the efforts to create what could potentially be a monument to Kennedy's career in the US Senate.
They also believe that she is relying too much on a small group of the senator's friends and supporters and are upset that the institute's board has failed to fulfill their request for a full financial accounting of the ongoing construction project and for strategic planning documents detailing how they plan to operate the institute.
Lee Fentress is a longtime friend of Vicki Kennedy who now chairs the board. He said that Kennedy Jr. conveyed his concerns to him and other members, but that the board's dealings are transparent. He also said that the budget is under control and that fundraising is strong.
“He and I have had conversations about his concerns about the size and scope of the project," he said. “We have agreed to meet in the coming days to go over all this. I am convinced that once we do this, his commitments to the institution will be reinforced."
Fentress also defended Vicki Kennedy, who declined to be interviewed for the Globe article, saying that she is carrying on the work that she and the senator began in 2002 to develop a vision for the institute.
“He treasured her counsel," Fentress said. “He trusted her judgment and instincts. She was his right hand and partner in the very true sense. . . The board of the institute unanimously agrees with his judgment of Vicki. She is a tireless and passionate advocate for the institute. We are fortunate to have her."
The sons also refused to comment, but according to Boston.com, their decision to authorize a friend to share their concerns is highly unusual for members of a political family who have always strived to avoid the public airing of internal disputes.
The family is not allowed to use the house, which has sat unused since the senator's death in 2009. Institute officials explained that allowing the family to freely use the house and property would jeopardize its tax-exempt nonprofit status.
According to Boston.com, the late senator envisioned the institute as a center to educate the public, students, educators, new senators, and Senate staff on the US Senate. The building will be owned by the University of Massachusetts, with construction managed by the UMass Building Authority.
21 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Aug 02, 2012, 06:50 PM EDT
They are not building a shrine to Ted's sainthood! They're building an educational facility to teach Americans about the U.S. Senate. Have you-all heard of that? It's one of the two legislative bodies that comprise one of the three branches of the U.S. federal government. It was a fine and noble idea for Ted to bequeath the use of the Hyannis Port Kennedy family house to the University of Massachusetts for this purpose. I wish the Kennedy family good luck with it. Looking forward to visiting when it's completed and open to the public.
DrSheilahere | Jul 24, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT
I think the only thing Kennedy needs to be remembered for is his cowardice in letting that young woman die in his car and for the wealth of his ancestors that let him buy his way out of trouble. Great song by Donegal X Press on Kennedy: "Mr. White, Free and 21."
merefalow | Jul 24, 2012, 06:12 AM EDT
OH FOR PROBLEMS LIKE THAT.JUST READ TISEYRISH COMMENT,WHAT A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE,CHEERED ME UP NO END,DID ALL THE RAIN GET TO YOU OR ARE YOU JUST A NATURAL BORN NASTY.
Fearbruscar | Jul 23, 2012, 05:23 PM EDT
I think that a painting depicting a soaking wet, drunken Ted Kennedy, clamoring up a riverbank in his street clothes and running away while a submerged car containing a terrified Mary Jo Kopeckne sinks to the bottom would be a fitting tribute to this patriarchal skell.
CitizenWhy | Jul 23, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT
The truest monument to the late Senator would be a "Stupid Kennedy Comments" monument, examples drawn from both his fans and his detractors.
borefield | Jul 23, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT
Susan724, do they have Saints in Hell? Who Knew!
TisEyerish | Jul 23, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
Gee, what a surprise! Teddy Kennedy spawned two sons who have no character. Considering that their father got away with murder, flaunted his women and his drinking, no one should be surprised at the lack of morals in both his wife and his children. May he rot in hell along with the rest of the Kennedy clan. I'm soooooo tired of hearing about them.
OldMariner | Jul 23, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT
Hi Susan 724. You may believe he was a saint but "elected by the American people so many times"? He tried several times to get nominated as president but he and his staff saw how unpopular he was to the rest of America and withdrew from the race. He was even more unpopular than President Carter.
PhlutiePhan | Jul 23, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
The wife of Groucho Marx kept him locked in a closet while she played with the male medical aide. Teddie boy is lucky that Vicki didn't do the same. Since she put her "long time friend" in as president of the 71 million dollar institute, you read between the lines.
katieherk | Jul 23, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT
HoHum... I thought we had gotten rid of Kennedy stories... they get weirder all the time!!
bob40wil | Jul 23, 2012, 11:53 AM EDT
The Kennedy's have been phoney's always, it's just that now they don't have a patriarch to keep a lid on things.
micky74007 | Jul 23, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
I hope they put up a memorial bridge.
hermitTalker | Jul 23, 2012, 11:19 AM EDT
It was tragic that he was so one-sided a champion of abortion, as noted, he " Borked" Judge Bork for the Supreme Court as did Senator Obama against two candidates who were for life in the womb, the current Chief Justice and AJ Mr Alito. The sneaky attack on AJ Mr Thomas was more of the same. Eventually Truth and Justice and God's Law are the winners, we have to be patient to wait for the old trash laws and rulings to be swept out along with the racism and religious hatred that is still around.
susan724 | Jul 23, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT
Compared to idiot Irishman Reagan (could never get past the man's dyed black hair yikes!)who was touted by other idiots as a "great" President even though he should have been charged with High Crimes and Misdemeanors for the Iran-Contra scandal (and all the numerous other scandals that plagued his "Presidency," Ted Kennedy was a saint - he certainly was elected by the American people enough times!
maryosullivan | Jul 23, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
Lest we forget, it was " the great" Teddy Kennedy who who successfully torpedoed Jimmy Carter's single-payer insurance for all Americans. That is his legacy , I would not even try to guess how many people died in the meantime for want of medical treatment.
Murph46 | Jul 23, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
Legacy- He killed Mary Jo ,and ran around on Joan causing her to drink.Any questions?
OldMariner | Jul 23, 2012, 10:19 AM EDT
Here's another aspect of Teddy-boya legacy: hyper partisanship in government. I will never forget his, and other senators, stunch opposition to Judge Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court. The name calling from the left, led by El-Bloato Kennedy, of Bork's character was, I believe, the beginning of legislative contentiousness we see today. This was his true legacy.
oonafitz | Jul 23, 2012, 10:02 AM EDT
As a resident of Massachusetts, I was surprised to read that UMass was involved. I wonder how much of my tax money is going to this monstrosity. And if it's to teach people about the U.S. Congress, why is it in a little town on the Cape, and not in Washington?
pickateer | Jul 23, 2012, 09:34 AM EDT
The upside after having a few and being the sodden lot they are at least they don't have to worry about the Chappaquiddick Bridge. It was torn down years ago! That's his true legacy - vehicular homicide and never charged in the crime.
mixplix | Jul 23, 2012, 09:30 AM EDT
All this and not one word about Mary Jo. Ted let her die, she did not drown, she ran out of air, well covered by the fawning media.
sunspotter5 | Jul 23, 2012, 09:19 AM EDT
Perhaps they can sit down and have a drink or ten and discuss it rationally.