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From beyond the grave, Ted Kennedy still has his hand in your pocket
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate today unveiled renderings for its approximately $60 million site, which is expected to break ground in Dorchester this fall. The institute will be located next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum on the University of Massachusetts-Boston campus.Pic at the link. No, it's not a pyramid... The two-story, 44,000-square-foot institute was designed by New York-based architect Rafael Violy. We are extremely excited with the concept that Rafael Vinoly has laid out, said Peter Meade, institute president and CEO. Sen. Kennedy envisioned the institute as a living, breathing, constantly evolving bipartisan center that would reflect his passion for education, history and civic engagement. Speaking of his passions, will it have a bar? The institute hopes to raise $125 million to cover the building expenses and start an endowment, Meade said. And if they can't? I think you know who they'll come looking for... Federal earmarks worth $38.6 million have already been signed into law for the institute. U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry and U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) sought an additional $20 million in the next budget. When it's not ours, money is no object! Kennedys widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, told the Herald in May she will reject any additional earmarks beyond the $20 million being sought. ...and not a penny more then 58.6 million! Thanks, Vicky! Plans for the institute include an exhibit hall, Senate Chamber representation, replica of Kennedys office, classrooms, digital library and oral history archives and exhibit hall. How about a huge aquarium? With a '67 Olds Delmont as a centerpiece? The digitized archive will eventually cover every action taken by the U.S. Senate, including votes on legislation and resolutions, confirmation nominations and ratifications of treaties. The archives? Yes, sir. Just look for Senator Byrd's Exalted Cyclops robe and take a right... Kennedys papers will be kept at the JFK Library. However, the institute will maintain digitized copies of those documents. So why build another Kennedy shrine? The institute will also house the Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project, which is billed as the largest ever oral history of an American politician. "...and when I returned, Mary Jo and the car were gone." That project, which was done with the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, includes interviews with 200 people and more than 60 hours of taped interviews with Kennedy. "Senator Dodd continued..."and then we had another bottle and sandwiched the waitress. What a helluva guy Ted was, I tell ya." The institute is designed to serve middle and high school groups, college students and faculty, new senators, government officials and tourists. Posted by: tu3031 2010-07-28 |
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