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R.I.P. Eunice Shriver

By Jeralyn, Section Off Topic
Posted on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 10:46:39 AM EST
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Eunice Shriver, Founder of the Special Olympics, sister of JFK, Bobby and Ted Kennedy, and mother of California's First Lady Maria Shriver, has passed away at age 88.

From President Obama's statement:

[She was]an extraordinary woman who, as much as anyone, taught our nation — and our world — that no physical or mental barrier can restrain the power of the human spirit. Her leadership greatly enriched the lives of Special Olympians throughout the world, who have experienced the pride and joy of competition and achievement thanks to her vision.

She was an extraordinary woman. Our condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.

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    R.I.P. Eunice Shriver | 27 comments (27 topical)

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    The Special Olympics (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 10:51:07 AM EST
    is a true living legacy. It has enriched so many lives and Mrs. Shriver deserves a special place in heaven for this contribution.

    A great human being... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by desertswine on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 10:52:52 AM EST
    who made a difference.

    Speaking of patriarchy (5.00 / 6) (#3)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 11:01:38 AM EST
    a former journalist just emailed me on Kennedy Shriver's death.  He recalls that a friend of hers told him, the reporter, in 1960 at a JFK rally that
    Kennedy Shriver had wanted to be president before
    her brother ran and would win that office.  But in the Kennedy family, she said, girls weren't allowed to consider running for president.

    Too many young women today may not understand that context of those times and that Irish heritage.  Within those constraints, many of the Kennedy women accomplished much.  And especially Kennedy Shriver's work for those with disabilities, which was a way of working against the family patriarch, her father, and his role in the tragic life of her  sister.

    I'm familiar with her father's (5.00 / 0) (#5)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 11:51:51 AM EST
    comments that Eunice had she been born male would have grown up to make for a fine president.  But I read that as more a reflection of the political reality of the times (40s, 50s and early 60s) and less about some harshly sexist father holding back his daughter.  The family was a product of their times, and in that post-WWII era, the menfolk went to war and then came back from battle to run for office or take their "rightful" place in the workplace.

    As for the father and the handicapped child, though I'm not sure to what extent Eunice blamed him, if she did at all, it's worth noting that the procedure he tried with Rosemary was considered in the 40s to be a new revolutionary and promising procedure which could pay off in a cure.  Alas it didn't and only made the situation worse.    

    Parent

    Reading more (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 12:32:28 PM EST
    about the Kennedys makes quite clear that he was, yes, very much a man of his times and his heritage.

    But perhaps it's not clear that what this meant for the girls was not just not running for president -- it meant not getting on track for it; they were not to run for political office at all.  Btw, I read a few lines by Old Joe that would suggest that he wasn't enthusiastic even about woman suffrage.

    Parent

    Sorry, not buying (5.00 / 0) (#21)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:58:10 PM EST
    your harsh and unsubstantiated angle on Joe.

    And it doesn't say much for your opinion of Eunice and her ability to get free of parental strictures once she became an adult and could make her own choices, which the record indicates she actually did.  There was nothing holding her back from seeking elective office -- but she elected not to.  

    Totally her choice as a free willed independent woman known for her strong personality and intellect, much like brother Jack who the record shows emerged fully from his father's strong influence about the time of his 2d or 3d term in the House.

    Parent

    I think you are misreading CC's comments (none / 0) (#25)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 02:27:10 PM EST
    She's being very reasonable IMO.


    Parent
    After seeing the incredible work done (none / 0) (#8)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 12:34:07 PM EST
    by his daughters and granddaughters, do you think he would hold those same attitudes today?

    Parent
    It's one of those questions (5.00 / 3) (#15)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:12:06 PM EST
    that is unanswerable.  Context matters.

    But keeping in mind the context of the times, that Eunice was born after a woman already was in Congress, after many women were in state legislatures around the country, and decades and decades after many more women were in other political offices, including in Massachusetts . . . the question is more about why he held those attitudes then.  

    And the answer, then, is not just the context of his times, as they had changed, and of his place but also of his heritage.  And I say that as one raised Irish Catholic.:-)

    Parent

    There were actually quite few (5.00 / 0) (#24)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 02:22:13 PM EST
    women holding high elected office in the US in the 50s/early 60s, especially when we exclude those in power by reason of their spouse having died or been term-limited.

    So, the record shows that women running in their own right for major offices (state lege is not really a major office) was still a quite unusual thing to do in that time period.

    But again, if she were truly interested in the top spot, the presidency, and felt somehow thwarted (exactly how, except for Daddy allegedly saying No, is not fully fleshed out) in achieving her goal, it seems strange that she never did anything to begin to climb the ladder to the top.  Perhaps she really didn't have the desire to seek elective office, or the question was never much of a consideration because the times weren't right and her usually savvy political brain told her it wouldn't be wise.

    As for Joe, it would seem he encouraged all his children, not just the boys, to engage fully in public service of some sort.  It might be helpful though to see the family document -- if it exists -- which indicates he was trying to somehow shut down his daughters from ever seeking elective office.

    Parent

    It's not in a document (none / 0) (#26)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 03:02:01 PM EST
    it was a quote attributed to her by a friend.  But the family dynamic has been pretty well documented.

    And yes, we agree that many women had even served in state legislatures by then . . . although the '50s and most of the '60s actually saw a decline in that level, before the modern women's movement.

    Parent

    Old Joe (none / 0) (#9)
    by CST on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 12:41:22 PM EST
    Is quite the character.  Sometimes I wonder how he ended up with such a family.  But he paid his price, a lot worse than most.

    Parent
    I'd guess Rose was the parent (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:10:55 PM EST
    behind the good works. Joe gave them the clout, she gave them the generosity.

    Parent
    Well, you might want (2.00 / 1) (#22)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 02:01:20 PM EST
    to check out some of the things his children said about him later in life.  

    Most memorable was the comment made by JFK who when asked about his mother's influence in his upbringing suggested clearly that his mother was loving but not around much, what with all those months-long trips to Europe she took numerous times.  He clearly indicated that his was his father who had by far the greater influence in molding the childrens' character.

    Parent

    Shady as a mofo.... (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:01:35 PM EST
    from the little I've read and heard about the guy...and thats being kind.

    Parent
    Oh, yes (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:07:18 PM EST
    his machinations and connections, his sources of wealth and power, would suggest that Boston could give Chicago some political lessons.  Or maybe it did.

    Parent
    Progress is creeping along slowly! (none / 0) (#13)
    by mmc9431 on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:09:45 PM EST
    Definitely a different time. I can remember my mother being forced to take a maternity leave because her pregnancy was starting to show! I also remember my grandmother stopped at the door for trying to enter a neighborhood bar unescorted. There was no way for a woman to have a political future in that era.

    And after the reactions of the last election, I don't think the country is raedy yet.

    Parent

    At the end of the day (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by CST on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:12:45 PM EST
    The question of "is the country ready" comes from the voters.  The media may not be ready, the "establishment' may not be ready - but 18 million voters sure were, and I am 99% certain that if Hillary had won the primary she'd be president right now.

    Parent
    But a woman was in Congress (none / 0) (#17)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:13:03 PM EST
    before Eunice Kennedy was born; there is more to it (see above).

    Parent
    I agree with CC that there already had (none / 0) (#27)
    by hairspray on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 07:20:10 PM EST
    been women in congress by the time she was in her '40's and been able to run for an office. But, I think ole Joe was reserving all those big slots for his sons and didn't want any women in there getting in the way.

    Parent
    Eunice Shriver - another great American (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by shoephone on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 11:37:56 AM EST
    from the Kennedy family. It's worth noting that very few Amerian families produce so many stalwarts. The legacy of this family includes so many organizations and programs we take for granted today -- Head Start; the Special Olympics; the Peace Corps; the fights for civil rights, the rights of the disabled and aged, for health care, for the environment... the list goes on and on. Every generation of this family has been committed to public service. It is more than commendable. It is truly awesome.

    A really friendly person (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Oceandweller on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:43:19 PM EST
    Eunice and her husband lived in Paris in the late 60s as Sargent-Shriver was the US rep at the time and they were living in that adorable little palace close to the embassy. For Christmas they invited all the american staff...and their families including a self conscious teenager. She let me wander with so many of us through those big rooms with lovely ...and pricey paintings without care and concern, just wishing to make us feel "welcomed". She shared for real that mansion and she was really kind for us kids. And looking and being a real Lady IN CAPITAL LETTERS AT THE VERY SAME TIME.
    Thank you Eunice for a truely memorable day. Not that many tenants were as friendly as her, I can tell you as my parents could vouch for....

    Thank you Eunice (none / 0) (#6)
    by mmc9431 on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 12:17:23 PM EST
    No other political family has worked so hard to improve the quality of life for American's (as well as people throughout the world) as the Kennedy's. That's why I wasn't upset at the prospect of Caroline being appointed and is also why I will support Chris Kennedy in his bid to take Burris's Illinois Senate seat.

    There is a definite shortage in Washington of politician that think beyond the next election cycle. We need people of vision. Eunice and the Kennedy's have shown us that there are possibilities.

    off topic (none / 0) (#10)
    by lilburro on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 12:42:42 PM EST
    is it possible to have a thread for the Obama town hall?  Thanks :)

    Read on Wikipedia (none / 0) (#18)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:14:44 PM EST
    ...that Ms. Shriver was anti-abortion.

    If so, and in this climate where your abortion rights perspective drives whether you're a feminist or anti-feminist (see Sarah Palin), how can Ms.  Shriver be characterized??

    Categorize her as a strict Irish-Catholic (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 01:29:35 PM EST
    I would not have voted for her based on those views. But she never ran for anything, and did a lot of good without holding elected office.

    Parent
    The Kennedys' liked to (none / 0) (#23)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 11, 2009 at 02:04:10 PM EST
    joke that there was a conservative and a communist wing in their family.

    I suspect Eunice probably fell into the former category ...

    Parent

    R.I.P. Eunice Shriver | 27 comments (27 topical)

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