Patrick Joseph Kennedy II (born July 14, 1967) is an American politician and mental health advocate. From 1995 to 2011, he served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 1st congressional district.
A member of the Kennedy family, he is the younger son of the long-time Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and is a nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. At the time of his father's 2009 death, he was the last remaining member of the Kennedy family to serve in an elective office in Washington. After he chose not to seek re-election in 2010 and left office the following year, it was the first time that there were no members of the Kennedy family holding office in the United States Congress or as President since 1947.
Video Patrick J. Kennedy
Early life and education
Patrick Kennedy was born in Brighton, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of three children born to Senator Edward Moore Kennedy Sr. (1932-2009) and musician/socialite/former model Virginia Joan Kennedy, née Bennett (born 1936). His sister Kara (1960-2011) was a television and film producer, while his brother Ted Jr. (born 1961), is a lawyer and member of the Connecticut State Senate. Patrick was named after his paternal great-grandfather, businessman and politician P.J. Kennedy (1858-1929). Kennedy graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, (1986) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island, (1991).
Maps Patrick J. Kennedy
Rhode Island House of Representatives
While a Junior at Providence College, Kennedy defeated five-term incumbent John F. Skeffington Jr. for the Democratic nomination in District 9. In 1988, Kennedy became the youngest member of the Kennedy family to hold elected office, when he won election to the Rhode Island House of Representatives at age 21. He served two terms in the House representing District 9 in Providence. He chose not to run for a third term and was succeeded by Anastasia P. Williams.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1994, Kennedy was elected as a Democrat to represent the 1st Congressional District of Rhode Island. He was re-elected seven times, serving from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2011 (the 104th to 111th Congresses).
In the House, Kennedy served on the Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees before being appointed to the Appropriations Committee.
Kennedy was a founder of the Congressional Down Syndrome and 21st Century Healthcare Caucuses and Vice Chairman of the Native American Caucus. He also joined the House or Congressional: Boating Caucus; Caucus on Armenian Issues; Caucus on Hellenic Issues; Fire Services Caucus; Human Rights Caucus; Travel and Tourism Caucus; National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus; Portuguese American Caucus (co-chair); and Older American Caucus. He was a founder of the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for two years (1999-2001). During his tenure as DCCC chairman, Kennedy became a headliner at Democratic political events and fundraisers around the country.
Committee assignments
- U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Political campaigns
Kennedy campaigned for the seat being vacated by U.S. Representative Ronald Machtley (who was retiring) in the 1994 Rhode Island 1st congressional district election. He won the election, defeating Republican candidate Kevin Vigilante. Kennedy was one of four Democrats in the 1994 congressional elections to win a congressional seat that had previously been held by a Republican, while Republicans gained dozens of seats to take over the U.S. House. He was re-elected every two years from 1996 until 2008 and did not run for re-election in 2010.
In 2000, Kennedy considered running against Republican Lincoln Chafee in the U.S. Senate election in Rhode Island but instead chose to run for re-election. Kennedy had recently won appointment to the House Appropriations Committee, a high-profile assignment that caused him to pass up the Senate race. He again considered running against Chafee in 2006 but instead chose to run for re-election.
Kennedy did not run for re-election in 2010 and completed his final term in January 2011. He finished his 8th term at the completion of the 111th United States Congress.
Post-congress advocacy
Since leaving Congress, Kennedy has publicly spoken about his long struggle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction and become a leading advocate for increased mental healthcare in the United States.
Kennedy founded Advocates for Opioid Recovery together with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Van Jones, a former domestic policy adviser to President Barack Obama.
Political positions
Health care
Kennedy was a vocal advocate for health care reform. During his career, he joined with U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) in introducing legislation that places mental illness under the umbrella of health insurance.
He was a chief sponsor of one of the major pieces of legislation of 2008, the Mental Health Parity Act, a bill requiring most group health plans to provide coverage for the treatment of mental illnesses that is comparable to what they provide for physical illnesses.
He was a strong proponent of adding a comprehensive prescription-drug benefit to the U.S. Medicare and consistently opposed attempts to privatize the Medicare program. Kennedy also made numerous speeches advocating the re-orientation of the U.S. health-care system to preventive care. He received numerous awards for his health-care advocacy, including the Lymphoma Research Foundation's Paul E. Tsongas Memorial Award as well as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Congressional Honors Award. He also received the Society for Neuroscience -- Public Service Award (2002), Eli Lilly and Company 2003 Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Award, American Psychoanalytic Association 2003 President's Award, American Psychiatric Association Alliance award (2003), and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance -- Paul Wellstone Mental Health Award (2003).
In a March 7, 2008, speech to the Cleveland City Club, Kennedy acknowledged having bipolar disorder and being a recovering alcoholic. He and his siblings have legal custody of their mother, who has long struggled with alcoholism. Kennedy is co-founder of One Mind for Research, which seeks to increase resources and efficiency in brain disorder research, and The Kennedy Forum, an organization focused on advancing the current ideas, policies, and programming in behavioral health known to be effective.
Kennedy was named to the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis signed by Executive order on March 29, 2017. This commission serves the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
2008 presidential election
On January 28, 2008, Kennedy joined his father in endorsing Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, stating that Obama was the "perfect antidote to George Bush". Prior to that, Kennedy had joined his first cousin Timothy Shriver in endorsing U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd from Connecticut.
Personal issues and incidents
Use of alcohol and other drugs
Kennedy has acknowledged being treated for cocaine use during his teenage years, and admitted that he abused alcohol and other drugs while he was a student at Providence College. He sought treatment for an OxyContin addiction in 2006. Due to his experience with addiction, Kennedy has started to advocate against the legalization of marijuana.
Capitol Hill intoxicated-driving accident
On May 4, 2006, Kennedy crashed his automobile into a barricade on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., at 2:45 a.m. A United States Capitol Police official said the congressman had appeared intoxicated when he crashed his car, but Kennedy claimed that he was disoriented from the prescription medications Ambien and Phenergan. Anonymous sources are alleged to have seen Kennedy drinking at the nearby Hawk & Dove bar prior to the accident. Kennedy also stated to officers that he was "late for a vote". However, the last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier. The standard field sobriety test was not administered, and Kennedy was driven home by an officer.
On May 5, 2006, Kennedy admitted that he had an addiction to prescription medication and announced he would be readmitting himself to a drug-rehabilitation facility at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where he had sought treatment for prior addictions. He has stated that he has no recollection of the car crash. On May 8, 2006, Kennedy got a show of support when he was endorsed by the Rhode Island Democratic Party. On June 5, 2006, Kennedy was released from drug rehabilitation.
On June 13, 2006, Kennedy made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. He was sentenced to one-year probation and a fine of $350. Two of the three charges (reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit) were dismissed. He was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation program that includes weekly urine tests, twice-weekly meetings with a probation officer, near-daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a weekly meeting of recovering addicts.
On June 12, 2009, Kennedy announced that he had again entered rehab, for an indefinite time at an undisclosed facility. In a statement to the press, Kennedy said that his recovery is a "life-long process" and that he would do whatever it takes to preserve his health: "I have decided to temporarily step away from my normal routine to ensure that I am being as vigilant as possible in my recovery", Kennedy said.
Personal life and family
His father, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, died on August 25, 2009. Patrick made a tearful eulogy at the funeral, saying that "He [Ted] would be very proud to see you all out here today paying a final respect and tribute to his memory". He further elaborated on his experiences with his father as a child, saying his father would stay at his bedside during his frequent bouts of ill health.
When Kennedy decided not to run for reelection in 2010, he cited his decision on the fact that his life "has taken a new direction". Mark Weiner, a major Democratic party fundraiser in Rhode Island and one of Kennedy's top financial backers, said "It's tough to get up and go to work every day when your partner is not there, I think he just had a broken heart after his father passed away."
Kennedy now resides in Brigantine, New Jersey. In March 2011 he announced his engagement to sixth-grade history teacher Amy Savell (born c. 1975) (daughter of Jerry and Leni Savell). Amy has a daughter, Harper Petitgout (born c. 2008), from her previous marriage to Mark Petitgout. Kennedy and Savell married on July 15, 2011, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Patrick and Amy have three children:
- Owen Patrick Kennedy (born April 15, 2012)
- Nora Kara Kennedy (born November 19, 2013)
- Nell Elizabeth Kennedy (born November 29, 2015)
Honours
- Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal (8 June 1996)
See also
- Kennedy family tree
References
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Patrick J. Kennedy on IMDb
- Official Site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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