United States of Kennedy: "Eunice Kennedy’s Lasting Legacy"
Episode Release Date: March 23, 2026
Hosts: George Civeris & Julia Claire
Guest: Eileen McNamara (Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author of Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World)
Episode Overview
This episode of United States of Kennedy spotlights Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a lesser-known but extraordinarily impactful Kennedy sibling. Often overshadowed by her famous brothers, Eunice’s work—particularly in advancing civil rights for those with intellectual disabilities—has revolutionized American social policy and shaped global perceptions. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eileen McNamara joins George and Julia to discuss Eunice’s colorful life, her uniquely forceful character, and her overlooked contributions that transcend the Special Olympics.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Historical Erasure and Why Eunice Matters
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Underrated Legacy: Despite establishing the Special Olympics, Eunice’s achievements are often overlooked—even her Wikipedia page remains scant compared to her brothers' profiles.
“She created a civil rights movement for people with disabilities that has had more impact... than anything that the Kennedy men did in their lifetimes.” – Eileen McNamara [06:19]
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Kennedy Gender Divide: Her under-recognition is attributed to being a Kennedy woman in a patriarchal family more focused on their sons' political ambitions.
“Joe Kennedy was a man of his era... his daughters were basically decorative accessories to their brothers’ political careers. And of all the girls, Eunice was not buying it.” – Eileen McNamara [06:19]
Eunice’s Personality & Motivation
- Driven by Rage and Justice: Contrary to the “kind heiress” trope, Eunice’s passion stemmed from personal anger and injustice—especially her sister Rosemary’s treatment.
“She did not come into her life’s work out of this feeling of noblesse oblige. She came to it out of her rage about how her sister was treated.” – Eileen McNamara [06:19]
- Relentless Force: Known for her demanding nature, irascibility, and high expectations, she routinely startled even seasoned politicians.
“She was hell on wheels. That’s why the Special Olympics, although it’s an enormous accomplishment, is the least of it.” – Eileen McNamara [11:15]
- Memorable Anecdote:
“When the planes hit the Pentagon on 9/11... she said, ‘Don’t send anybody home. We have work to do. The work doesn’t stop just because those planes hit the towers and hit the Pentagon.’” [11:15]
Transforming the Kennedy Foundation
- From Memorial to Powerhouse: Initially a gesture by Joe Sr. to commemorate his late son, the foundation became a force for disability rights under Eunice’s leadership.
“Eunice hijacked the Kennedy foundation and transformed it into an effective advocacy organization...” – Julia Claire [28:41]
- Political Savvy: Eunice used her family’s influence to secure landmark changes (e.g., the first Presidential Commission on mental retardation).
“Jack Kennedy didn’t know who those experts were. Eunice packed that commission with the best people in the country in all kinds of fields. She ran it.” – Eileen McNamara [29:06]
Behind-the-Scenes Power
- Political Agency: Though never a public official, Eunice wielded tremendous clout, drafting legislation and mobilizing politicians through sheer force of will.
“She was the definition of impolitic. She, especially in this era, could never survive in politics, but behind the scenes—getting stuff done—yeah, that’s Eunice.” – Eileen McNamara [32:56]
- Famously Ruthless: Compared directly to male political bulldogs of her era, she didn’t get credit for her “ruthlessness” because she was a woman.
“If that girl had been born with balls, she would have made a great president.” – Joe Kennedy Sr., as quoted by Eileen McNamara [35:51]
Expanding the Legacy: Beyond Special Olympics
- Lasting Policy Impact:
- Established the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, now credited with saving countless premature babies.
“...babies do not die of high line memory [membrane disease]. They live. And they live because of the research that was done at the institute that today is named the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute.” – Eileen McNamara [37:16]
- Advocated for intellectual disabilities to be included in the Americans with Disabilities Act, fundamentally shifting federal disability policy.
- Established the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, now credited with saving countless premature babies.
- International Reach: Special Olympics operates in over 200 countries with millions of participants.
“It started as a summer camp in her backyard in 1961... Now it’s in 200 countries, millions of children around the world, millions of volunteers...” – Eileen McNamara [69:05]
Complex Personal & Family Dynamics
- Contradictions as a Woman and Mother:
- Publicly promoted traditional family values but lived a life of unconventional female empowerment and career focus.
- Strictly policed her children's behavior to avoid Kennedy family pitfalls, sending her children across the country when they got into trouble.
“She put a continent between her kid and those kids.” – Eileen McNamara [42:05]
- Her marriage to Sargent Shriver was a true partnership in activism—though she “never really wanted to be married” and was inspired by the independence of nuns.
“She wanted to be a nun... because those were the most powerful women that she had experienced in her lives.” – Eileen McNamara [51:13]
- Family Loyalty and Limits:
- Privately acknowledged and joked about her father’s infidelities; publicly, she was fiercely loyal and defensive of family reputation.
“Were you to publicly criticize a member of her family for their randy behavior, she would have been down your throat.” – Eileen McNamara [55:53]
- Resentment of Being Overlooked:
- Eunice herself pointedly critiqued being ignored:
“‘Isn’t it lovely that after all these years of celebrating the Kennedy men, somebody noticed?’” – Eileen McNamara [32:56]
- Eunice herself pointedly critiqued being ignored:
Evolving Disability Rights and the Special Olympics
- Changing Terminology and Attitudes:
- Language and perceptions of disability have evolved since Eunice’s era; her “special friends” language, while dated, reflected her times.
“Would we call it the Special Olympics now? No, they’re not special like she called them then...” – Eileen McNamara [78:55]
- Language and perceptions of disability have evolved since Eunice’s era; her “special friends” language, while dated, reflected her times.
- Drama at Her Funeral:
- Special Olympians honored her by spontaneously putting medals in her grave, marking the deep global impact she had on their lives.
“There were Special Olympians who took off their gold medal and dropped them into her grave.” – Eileen McNamara [73:10]
- Special Olympians honored her by spontaneously putting medals in her grave, marking the deep global impact she had on their lives.
- Contrast to Family Narrative:
- While her brothers’ legacies often depended on “winning,” Eunice’s legacy was built on “participation is everything”—the foundation of the Special Olympics ethos.
“The Special Olympics is built on the foundation idea that participation is everything.” – Eileen McNamara [74:09]
- While her brothers’ legacies often depended on “winning,” Eunice’s legacy was built on “participation is everything”—the foundation of the Special Olympics ethos.
Complicated Political Legacy
- On Abortion and Faith:
- A passionate Catholic and consistently “pro-life,” Eunice also opposed the death penalty and held deep religious convictions that shaped her work.
“She opposes the death penalty, too. She’s a Catholic... She thought that abortion was murder, and that’s the teaching of the Catholic Church, and she accepted that teaching.” – Eileen McNamara [78:55]
- A passionate Catholic and consistently “pro-life,” Eunice also opposed the death penalty and held deep religious convictions that shaped her work.
- Controversy Within the Family:
- Eileen contends that RFK Jr.’s public stances, especially his anti-vaccine work and regressive disability rhetoric, directly betray Eunice’s life’s work.
“There’s lots of ways in which Robert Kennedy Jr. has betrayed his family’s legacy. But I don’t think he’s betrayed anyone more than he has betrayed Eunice...” – Eileen McNamara [76:53]
- Eileen contends that RFK Jr.’s public stances, especially his anti-vaccine work and regressive disability rhetoric, directly betray Eunice’s life’s work.
Notable Quotes & Moments
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On her unique power:
“Orrin Hatch told me that he would hear her five minutes before she arrived... She never made an appointment... She just barged past his secretaries and into his office.” – Eileen McNamara [13:10]
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On Eunice’s public perception:
“If she had been a man, all those less desirable qualities would have been assets for her.” – Julia Claire [34:37]
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On social change without public office:
“She did more in her lifetime than... a number of people that are sitting on Capitol Hill right now.” – Eileen McNamara [32:56]
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On Special Olympics origins:
“She went to the local prison and asked them to send her prisoners... In 1961, there was no background check.” – Eileen McNamara [69:05]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:39] — Eunice’s introduction and significance
- [06:19] — Eunice’s motivation for advocacy and her break with Kennedy tradition
- [11:15] — Her relentless personality & staff anecdotes
- [13:10] — Political clout and “hell on wheels” stories
- [28:41] — The transformation of the Kennedy Foundation
- [35:51] — “If that girl had been born with balls, she would have made a Great president”
- [37:16] — Lasting policy and medical research impact
- [42:05] — Shriver vs. Kennedy family dynamics
- [51:13] — On wanting to become a nun and independence
- [55:53] — On awareness and response to family scandals
- [69:05] — Special Olympics origin and global spread
- [73:10] — Special Olympians honoring Eunice at her funeral
- [74:09] — The philosophy of participation over victory
- [76:53] — RFK Jr.'s betrayal of Eunice's legacy
- [78:55] — Evolving disability terminology/politics and Eunice's place in history
Conclusion
Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s legacy stands as a testament to individual agency, passionate advocacy, and the often-overlooked power of women to shape policy and culture. Her relentless energy, unapologetic forcefulness, and deeply held values built institutions and protections for intellectual disabilities that far outlast the political dynasties surrounding her. This episode not only reframes Eunice as the Kennedy “who changed the world,” but inspires a reevaluation of how we remember, reward, and retell the stories of women who make history.
For a more detailed account of Eunice’s life and impact, check out Eileen McNamara’s book, “Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World.”