President Joe Biden delivered a heartfelt eulogy for Ethel Kennedy, the human rights activist and widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on Wednesday. He praised her as “a hero in her own right,” highlighting her decades of public service and her personal friendship with him and his family.
During the service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, Biden reflected on a difficult period in his life, stating, “She got me through a time I didn’t want to stick around,” referring to the aftermath of the tragic 1972 accident that claimed the lives of his first wife and daughter while severely injuring his two sons shortly after he was elected to the Senate.
Biden remarked on how Ethel Kennedy played a significant role in helping his family move forward with dignity and purpose, similar to the impact she had on the nation.
Kennedy passed away last week at the age of 96, making her one of the final links to the “Camelot” era from her brother-in-law John F. Kennedy’s presidency until his assassination in 1963. Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general during his brother’s presidency before being elected to the U.S. Senate from New York in 1964, and he was assassinated while campaigning for president in 1968.
Biden has often spoken of the profound influence Robert Kennedy had on his career, mentioning how he was inspired to leave a prestigious law firm to become a public defender, a decision he attributed to what he believed Robert would have wanted.
During the eulogy, Biden reminisced about receiving letters from Ethel after his inauguration in 2021, including a memorable Valentine’s Day card that expressed her affection and support. He said, “I’ve received a lot of honors in my life, but that might be the best one I’ve ever received.”
The connection between the Kennedy and Biden families is historically significant, as they are the only two Catholic presidential families in U.S. history. Many members of the Kennedy family, a powerful force in Democratic politics, publicly endorsed Biden’s re-election campaign earlier this year and spoke against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent candidacy.
After Biden withdrew from the presidential race in July, some Kennedy family members threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. RFK Jr. later suspended his campaign in August, endorsing former President Donald Trump. He attended his mother’s funeral but did not engage with Biden.
Both families have experienced significant personal loss. Reflecting on his son Beau’s battle with brain cancer, which he faced after returning from military service, Biden addressed the crowd, saying, “Your mom was there then, too.” Beau Biden passed away from cancer in 2015.
In his closing remarks to the Kennedy family, Biden assured them, “The Biden family is here for you, as you’ve always been for us.”