iir Justice, An Unusual Balancing Act Left and Right Converge To Honor Robert F. Kennedy

By DANA MILBANK Washington Post Staff Writer

Robert F. Kennedy may have dreamed things that never were and asked, "Why not?" But it's doubtful even Kennedy could have imagined the scene yester- lay at the Justice Department. There was a Republican president and his arch- !onservative attorney general naming the Justice wilding after the brother of the nation's top arch- beral, and leading a standing ovation for Ethel Ken- edy on her late husband's 76th birthday. Bush and .shcroft grinned and applauded when a speaker said ) Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a frequent administra- on nemesis, "Teddy, we love you and we thank you." And there was the Kennedy clan—more than 50 of hem—leading a standing ovation for President Bush /Mk former Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy, tFK's son, hailed Bush, scion to scion. "Mr. Presi- lent, your strength since September 11th has been a 3rofile in leadership," he said. "You deserve the thanks of all who are committed to freedom from fear." Bush, when his turn came to speak, was equally complimentary. "In the memory of our country, we hold a special place for Robert Francis Kennedy," he said, drawing attention to Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as RFK's "baby girl." Robert Kennedy— his brother John's attorney general and a New York senator who was assassinated during his 1968 presi- dential campaign—"was not our longest-serving at-

See KENNEDYS, C4, Col. C4 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2001 R DM VA STYLE

PHOTOS ST RCHL1P911-114E W0.5Him; r,N P(6 Sen. Edward Kennedy listens as his nephew Joe (below, with the president) speaks at the Justice Department dedication honoring Robert F. Kennedy. A Day for Justice and the Kennedys

KENNEDYS, From Cl times, "we admire even more the spirit a Robert Kennedy, a spirit that tolerates n( torney general, yet none is more fondly re- injustice and fears no evil." membered," Bush said. Lawmakers such as Rep. Tim Roemer (D- Their families may be political Monta- Ind.) had been calling for more than four gues and Capulets, but yesterday, Bush, the years for the Justice Department building, a son of a president, grandson of a senator 67-year-old neoclassical and art deco struc- and brother of a governor, had nothing but ture on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, to be praise for Bobby Kennedy, brother of a pres- named for RFK—but the proposal ran int( ident, brother of a senator and father of oth- resistance Loin Republican leaders. er pols. Even before Sept. 11, Bush and his poiiti Joe Kennedy introduced himself "as one cal strategist, Karl Rove, made sympathetic of many here trading on my last name." He noises to Roemer about the idea. Since recalled his father's joke about how he rose Sept. 11, a time when the administratior to power: "I worked hard, I was ambitious, I has been increasing the government's po- studied, I applied myself, and then my lice powers, the idea of a bipartisan gesture brother was elected president of the United tying Bush to a law-and-order Democrat States." like Robert F. Kennedy became increasingly "We both know what that's like, Mr. Pres- attractive. The administration last week an- ident," Kennedy said, as Bush chuckled. nounced it would make the change without Bush rejoined: "There's nothing quite congressional action. like the eloquence of a loyal son." Though praising RFK, Bush used words Hard-bitten politicians were awed. that his aides often use to describe the pres- 'it was very different," marveled Sen. Or- ident: loyal, valiant, "a strong man who un- rin Hatch (R-Utah) as he left the event. derstood weakness . a man who knew "It certainly was interesting," acknowl- privilege but also suffering." edged RFK's nephew Mark Shriver, who is "Robert Kennedy was not a hard man, but hoping to unseat Rep. Connie Morella, the he was a tough man," Bush said. "He valued Montgomery County Republican. have often sided with the power of the state bluntness and precision and truth. Those Not everybody got the be-nice memo. over the freedom of the individual. under investigation learned those qualities One RFK daughter, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, Indeed, Bush and his administration in- firsthand." let loose on Bush's policies at another event voked Robert Kennedy as a backer of their Whatever the impetus, the Kennedys before yesterday's ceremony, publicly warn- current efforts against Osama bin Laden were grateful. "Isn't this exciting?" mar- ing her young daughter: "If anyone tries to and the other Evildoers. Kennedy's example veled Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as she tell you this is the type of justice your grand- "inspires us still today in the war against entered the Justice Department's Great pa would embrace, don't you believe it." terrorism," Ashcroft said. "He was unafraid Hall with Sargent Shriver and other Kenne- Actually, that's not so clear. For all the lib- to call his enemy evil. and unapologetic dy icons. eralism the family is associated with today, about devoting all his resources, his energy And—who knows?—the gesture might the Kennedys were known for being tough and his passion to that evil's defeat." pay unexpected dividends. Bush is hoping figures on law and order and national secu- Joe Kennedy said his father would en- Congress can strike a deal on education leg- rity. Robert Kennedy, after all, authorized dorse that view. "Like you, Mr. President, islation, and Ted Kennedy is a pivotal figure FBI wiretaps on Martin Luther King Jr. and he believed that there was a fundamental on the subject. Might yesterday's gesture led a major crackdown on organized crime difference between good and evil—and that earn the White House some extra help? among union bosses. For all their political evil had to be opposed." And Bush, complet- "Well," Bush said, "I'm not quite that de- differences, Bushes and Kennedys both ing the triple play, noted that in these trying vini,q