E-mail:

I always felt sorry for Patrick Kennedy and felt like he was in politics for the wrong reason. I met PK when he was 12 and I was in college. Ted was on the campus of the Univ. of Oklahoma, stumping for the 1980 campaign. My uncle was president of the university, so we were part of the festivities. As all the commotion was going on, I noticed a shy 6th grader in the back of the room, looking very out of place. Knowing that’s where I would have been if I was in the same position, I struck up a conversation with him. We talked football. He played it, we were only two football fields away from a football stadium with a storied history. So it seemed natural. He was surprised that someone asked him about his interests, I think. He seemed like a normal 12 year old (braces and all) and was a nice and polite kid, though very shy. His old man must have been so much bigger than life to him and it was probably natural for him to try to emulate him. But I’m happy he’s getting out and seems to have his mind straight about what’s important in life. He’ll be a better man for it, and if he ever has kids, a better father, too. Good for him.