Alright, so here’s the scene. Washington, D.C., Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, and we’ve got a packed house—three U.S. presidents in one place: Biden, Obama, and Clinton.
And why? To honor the late Ethel Kennedy, a woman who was so much more than just a name in history. She was the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, yes, but also a pillar of her family, her country, and a driving force behind a generation’s idealism.
Now, President Biden, ever the storyteller, stepped up to give the final eulogy. He spoke from the heart about how Ethel had been there for him at some of the darkest points in his life, after the tragic loss of his wife and daughter in a car accident and again when his son Beau passed away. You could almost feel the weight of his words as he said Ethel “got me through a time I didn’t want to stick around.”
She wasn’t just a friend—she was a lifeline. And Biden, always one to mix a little humor into heartfelt moments, had the room laughing when he shared how Ethel once sent him a Valentine’s Day card. Picture this: Biden, hearts all around, and a note from Ethel that said, “cause he’s no ordinary Joe.” Classic Ethel, right?
This looks bad…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 16, 2024
But Biden wasn’t the only one with fond memories. Obama took the podium too, calling her his “dear friend.” He reminisced about how the public knew her—mother, grandmother, great-grandmother—but emphasized how she was also a dynamo, a "spitfire" who brought out the best in Bobby Kennedy and helped inspire a generation of Americans. Let’s not forget, Obama himself awarded Ethel the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. So, clearly, she left an impact on him too.
Then Clinton, never one to shy away from a good story, brought his charm to the stage, joking about how Ethel would flirt with him—innocently, of course. He spoke about her not only as a powerful figure within the Kennedy legacy but as someone who could light up a room with her energy.
The service wasn’t just about speeches, though. It was a full tribute, featuring performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Kenny Chesney. Yes, you read that right—musical giants honoring a woman who was, in many ways, larger than life. The blend of music and heartfelt stories painted a vivid picture of Ethel Kennedy’s spirit, one that touched not just her family but an entire nation.
Now, here’s the kicker—Martin Luther King III stepped up to speak. He made a powerful connection between the Kennedys and the Kings, a bond forged through tragedy, history, and shared ideals. His father, Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated just two months before Robert Kennedy met the same fate. King’s words resonated with the audience as he spoke of the “shared journey” between their families, emphasizing that this connection would endure for decades to come.
And just when you think it couldn’t get more fitting, Nancy Pelosi, a key political figure in her own right, began her eulogy by acknowledging the presence of Biden, Obama, and Clinton, calling them “three great presidents.” In that moment, it felt like a passing of the torch, a recognition that Ethel Kennedy’s legacy lived on not just through her family but through the very people shaping the future of the country she loved.