Eunice Kennedy Shriver died this morning. She was 88.
Shriver was the fifth of the nine Kennedy children; the younger sister of future President John F. Kennedy. She would marry Sargent Shriver who would become George McGovern's running mate in 1972. Her daughter Maria would become a reporter for NBC News before marrying actor now California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Yet Shriver made her mark as well. She was the driving force behind the Special Olympics and was an advocate for persons with disabilities. I can't imagine she would have been particularly amused with President Obama's Special Olympics/bowling joke last March. Perhaps because of this sensitivity towards people with disabilities she was that dying breed of Democrat who was staunchly pro-life and supported organizations like Feminists for Life of America and Democrats for Life of America.
Shriver's passing leaves Jean Kennedy Smith and Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy as the last surviving Kennedy children.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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