A Kennedy Goes Public - Democratic Underground

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A Kennedy Goes Public

The Wall Street Journal

A Kennedy Goes Public
Long Wary of the Spotlight, JFK's Daughter Caroline Is Roving Capitol Hill and Working Crowds for Obama
By MONICA LANGLEY
July 26, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Caroline Kennedy is beginning to show a real enthusiasm for the family business. When the daughter of John F. Kennedy was named to Sen. Barack Obama's vice-presidential search committee, many political observers saw the move as mere political window dressing. But Ms. Kennedy has emerged as a crucial member of the vetting team, and is proving a major draw on the campaign trail as well.

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Although Ms. Kennedy has endured the glare of public attention from the time she was a toddler, she has always tried to stay out of the public eye. Following the assassination of her father, her mother moved the family to New York, where Caroline Kennedy has lived, for the most part, ever since. She married designer Edwin Schlossberg and raised three children, now age 15 to 19. She has written books ranging from an examination of the constitutional right of privacy to a compilation of her mother's favorite poetry. She rarely agrees to be interviewed, and can walk the streets of her Upper East Side neighborhood without drawing attention.

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When the presidential race got rolling last year, Ms. Kennedy began taking her children to events -- for both Sen. Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. Ms. Kennedy and Sen. Clinton were on friendly terms, according to one Clinton campaign aide. Ms. Kennedy wasn't expected to weigh in during the primary contests. But her children expressed a strong preference for Sen. Obama, which had an impact, according to several of her friends. Her elder daughter was in college, her second daughter was in her last year of high school, and her son was a few years younger. "The timing was perfect for her to get more involved," says one of those friends. "And her children inspired her." In November, Ms. Kennedy celebrated her 50th birthday. At a private party in the New York Public Library, singer Neil Diamond sang "Sweet Caroline," via satellite, and revealed that the song had been inspired by a photograph of Ms. Kennedy as a child. She appeared on the cover of the magazine put out by AARP, the lobbying group for people 50 and older. "Turning 50 made her ask herself, 'How can I do more?' " says another of Ms. Kennedy's friends.

(snip)

Ms. Kennedy began making the rounds on Capitol Hill, speaking with leading Democrats, especially women, and with various interest groups. After reviewing several names with Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ms. Kennedy asked, "Is there anyone else you recommend?" Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, an important swing state, also met with her. "Caroline was thoughtful, asked questions and took notes," she recalls. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who met with her too, says Ms. Kennedy had "a personable way that elicits information very well." Neither the two senators nor Rep. Kilpatrick will comment on the names that were discussed.

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As she moved about Washington, Ms. Kennedy tried to steer clear of the press. She slipped through the garage of the Democratic National Committee to attend meetings there with lawmakers. On another occasion, Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Holder left the building through a back door to bypass camera crews and TV trucks waiting for Sen. Obama to leave a separate meeting... Some Democrats speculate that if Sen. Obama wins, he might name Ms. Kennedy, who has a law degree, to a high-level post in his administration. In the meantime, Ms. Kennedy appears to be growing more comfortable with being a public figure. One day earlier this month, she met privately with Sen. Obama to discuss potential running mates. Then she accompanied Sen. Kennedy, who is recovering from brain surgery and cancer treatment, from his home to Capitol Hill, where he cast a decisive vote on a Medicare bill. Finally, she flew with Senators Obama and Clinton to New York, where the three appeared at Manhattan fund-raisers. At one small gathering, as big contributors lined up to get their photos taken with Sen. Obama, Ms. Kennedy worked the room. "This Caroline wasn't the ill-at-ease, very private woman I've met before," says one attendee. "She was an outgoing, work-the-rope-line political Kennedy."

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121703675403786891.html (subscription)