Teddy

The recent passing of Teddy Kennedy and Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the coverage of the funeral services stirs up so many memories for us that it’s hard to isolate one from another, but the first time we met the late senator stands out, of course. It was the 1994 Easter brunch at Hickory Hill, home of the late senator’s brother Bobby. The brunch was hosted by Bobby’s widow, Ethel, whom we were working for then. President Clinton did not attend—-he was at Camp David with his family—-but the rest of the Kennedy clan was expected, and the entire Clinton cabinet was there: Janet Reno, Robert Reich, the late Ron Brown, Warren Christopher, Mickey Kantor, and so on. Others in attendance included James Carville and Mary Matalin and Dee Dee Myers, and everyone brought their families. The late Art Buchwald was dressed, as usual, as the Easter bunny, and the prize for finding the most eggs (hidden the night before by Mrs. Robert Kennedy’s personal secretary) was a real French rabbit, lopears and all. We Hickory Hill staffers chased down three different bunnies before the floppiness of the ears satisfied Mrs. Kennedy.

All of these people had arrived, but we were still waiting for Teddy Kennedy and his family. When he arrived, the party finally came fully to life. Part of this had to do with the late senator’s larger-than-life personality; we also feel that it was because Teddy connected most directly to the hope and promise of the New Frontier. He was Jack’s and Bobby’s actual brother, after all. At first the guests were formal in his presence, but after the initial greetings, Teddy said, “Let’s have fun!” and removed his tie. Cautiously at first, some of the others removed theirs, then jackets came off, and the women dropped or removed their purses and handbags and Easter hats.

A rappel line ran from the top of the Hill to the poolhouse, and the children had been riding down the slope all morning. The line had been installed back when Bobby’s children were young as a fun way to get down to the pool. You climbed up a few steps, grabbed a bar attached to a pulley, held tight, pushed off, and let gravity carry you nearly thirty yards downhill. When the kids saw the grownups beginning to relax, they began to prod them to try it, and eventually some of the men did. We seem to recall that Mickey Kantor went first. Teddy began prodding the more hesitant to take a ride on the line. We can still see him standing in his customary navy blazer, yelling at the men to “have another Bloody Mary or glass of wine, and it’ll get you all to do it!” Sen. Kennedy even began to egg Janet Reno. “Get up that tree and take your shot!” he told her. Mrs. Reno looked at him steadily from behind her familiar eyeglasses and said, “Not in this dress.” Her security detail burst out laughing, as if knowing that under other circumstances, she might have been first in line.

The party carried on for nearly an hour until the guests were invited to help themselves to the buffet set up in the dining room. We served Eggs Benedict, Eggs Norwegian, Fruit Salad dressed—we kid you not—with Vintage Dom Perignon, Sliced Roast Beef with Fresh Horseradish, Chicken Divan, Boneless Leg of Lamb with Mint Jelly, Potatoes Lyonnaise assorted breads and rolls, hard-cooked eggs, and several Kennedy family dishes that we served whenever the clan and guests gathered. This included the Kennedy Shrimp Salad: the shellfish was boiled in clam broth with crab boil seasoning, cooled, and tossed with homemade mayonnaise and capers. We made Red Potato Salad, New England Cranberry Salad (strawberry-flavored gelatin tossed with fresh whole cranberries and lemon zest), traditional Thick-Cut Bacon with a Caramelized Brown Sugar Crust, and the famous Hickory Hill Iced Tea. We won’t divulge the recipe here, but guests loved it, and we made it by the dozens of gallons over our years of service at Hickory Hill. For dessert we made Lemon Bars, Profiteroles (another Kennedy staple), and a Chocolate-Peanut Butter “Turtle” cake. The family and their guests dined on the house’s famous flagstone terrace or down by the poolhouse.

Well into the afternoon, the Senator and others played croquet, with other played tennis. The festivities were still in high gear and everyone was still having a good time when Teddy began saying his goodbyes around five. As soon as he left with Vicki, something went with him. The event, it seemed, was over. As if clouds had passed over the sun, everyone began gathering their belongings and thanking the hostess. We don’t remember if Janet Reno cast one longing look back at the zipline or not.