President Joe Biden delivered a heartfelt eulogy for Ethel Kennedy, a prominent human rights activist and widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on Wednesday. He described her as “a hero in her own right,” reflecting on her long history of public service and her personal connection with him and his family.
Biden recounted how Ethel Kennedy supported him during a difficult period in his life following the tragic 1972 accident that claimed the lives of his first wife and daughter while injuring his two sons shortly after his election to the Senate. He stated, “Like she did for the country, Ethel helped my family find a way forward with principle and purpose.”
Ethel Kennedy, who passed away last week at the age of 96, was one of the last links to the “Camelot” era, which began with her brother-in-law John F. Kennedy’s presidency and continued until his assassination in 1963. Robert Kennedy, who served as attorney general and was later elected to the Senate, was also assassinated while pursuing the presidency in 1968.
Biden has often cited Robert Kennedy as a significant inspiration in his political journey, prompting him to leave a successful law firm to become a public defender, a choice he attributes partly to what he believed Robert Kennedy would have done.
During the funeral, Biden shared memories of exchanging letters with Ethel Kennedy after his inauguration in 2021, mentioning a memorable Valentine’s Day card she sent him that read: “I’m not Biden my time waiting for your Valentine / Because he’s no ordinary Joe.” Biden remarked that this acknowledgment might be the best honor he has ever received.
The bonds between the Biden and Kennedy families are historically strong, being the only two Catholic presidential families in U.S. history. Earlier this year, several Kennedys publicly endorsed Biden for reelection, while also criticizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for launching a third-party campaign against him.
After Biden withdrew from the presidential race in July, some family members shifted their support to Vice President Kamala Harris. RFK Jr. later halted his campaign in August, endorsing former President Donald Trump. He attended his mother’s funeral, although he and Biden did not interact during the event.
Both families have faced significant personal losses. Biden, speaking about his son Beau’s cancer diagnosis, reflected on their connection, stating, “Your mom was there then, too.” Beau Biden passed away from cancer in 2015. In his closing remarks, he assured the Kennedy family, “The Biden family is here for you, as you’ve always been for us.”