Special to The Star-Herald
Editor’s note: In light of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s recent diagnosis with a cancerous brain tumor, Voscar reflects on the 76-year-old senator’s 1980 visit to the Star City.
U.S. Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy visited Presque Isle Jan. 19,1980 as a presidential candidate, as had his brother, John, in 1960. A third brother, Robert, also a presidential candidate, who ran in 1968, never visited “The County.”
The senator spoke to a nearly packed gymnasium at the University of Maine at Presque Isle after being introduced by then-Gov. Joe Brennan. Accompanying Kennedy was his teenage daughter, Kara, who wore jeans and boots (after all, it was January in Presque Isle). The senator had been elected to the Senate in 1962 to finish his brother John’s term.
I covered the visit for United Press International, and in looking over my collection of photos of the visit, it’s interesting to recall the event. The gym wall displayed posters of Kennedy and signs that read “Kennedy for ME.” Men wore wild plaid pants and long hair with sideburns. As always, Kennedy’s hair was long and full. In one photo, he stands holding a doll as he talks with a little girl while Mom and Dad look on beaming.
Seen in some of the pictures is U.S. Sen. William Hathaway, John Lisnik, Jim Dunleavy, Dr. O.T. Wieden, president of the college; Harry Rideout and Deputy Sheriff Dale Collins.
Photo courtesy of Voscar
SURROUNDED BY FANS AND POLICE, presidential candidate Edward Kennedy greeted a small send-off group at the Presque Isle Airport following a rally Jan. 19, 1980. Kennedy also made stops in Bangor and Portland later in the day.
