| Text of article: | Kennedy surprises Hall of Fame inductees
Posted on February 1, 2004 | | | Tia Owens-Powers |  | | | | U.S. Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy (right), D-Mass., shakes hands with Natchitoches native Jimmy Long during a visit Saturday to the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame Museum in Winnfield. Kennedy attended to honor his father-in-law, Judge Edmund Reggie, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with eight others. | | | | | WINNFIELD - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, political patriarch of the famed Kennedy clan, made his way around the room, doing what he has done many times before: pressing the flesh and smiling for photos.
Kennedy's visit Saturday to the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame Museum was meant to show support for guest of honor Edmund Reggie, the father of Victoria Reggie Kennedy and Kennedy's wife.
"Usually, I'm either drawn here by Cajun cooking or by family," Kennedy said. "Tonight, it's family. My father-in-law has accomplished many great things for this state, and as you know, there are about as many Reggies here as there are Kennedys up north."
Reggie was an influential farmer and banker in his native Crowley, but rubbing elbows with powerful Democrats is not a new experience. For years, Reggie has been close to the Democratic elite, including Earl Long, the Kennedys and Edwin Edwards.
The 77-year-old Reggie is a former Democratic National Committee member who was a strong Louisiana backer of John F. Kennedy.
Saturday's visit was an unexpected one to those who had gathered at the museum for a wine-and-cheese reception before the induction ceremony at the First United Methodist Church's Family Life Center.
Kennedy's arrival had been planned in secret. What was not kept a secret for long was the longtime lawmaker's appreciation for Reggie and the museum itself.
"This is an appropriate place to honor him," Kennedy said of his father-in-law. "It is a wonderful place to look back into Louisiana history and to how the state has evolved."
Kennedy spent some time engaged in an amicable conversation with Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, as well as Political Hall inductees.
Expressing an interest in not drawing attention from the honorees, Kennedy posed for many photographs and signed some autographs before leaving about half an hour after his arrival.
Kennedy was effusive in praise regarding what he sees as the state's potential economic growth under newly elected Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco.
"Crawfish is the best," Kennedy said. "I wouldn't dare make that statement in New England, of course, since we're known for lobsters."
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