Kennedy’s UVa law roots remembered

It was the late 1950s, and professor Mortimer Caplin was at a white-tie party put on by two of his University of Virginia law students.

Also at the party was one of his hosts’ older brothers, a former student of Caplin’s who had become an important government lawyer.

“The contrast was so dramatic,” Caplin said. “I mean Ted was the life of the party — singing, being the leader — and Bob was sitting there — thoughtful, quiet — and it stuck with me a long time.”

The men were, of course, the future Sen. Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy and future Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Ted Kennedy, who died Tuesday, remained connected to the University of Virginia School of Law throughout his career. A member of the Class of 1959, he spoke at the school as recently as 2006.

“I certainly believe that he retained throughout a deep affection for the law school, the same deep affection that so many of our graduates have,” said the school’s dean, Paul Mahoney.

Kennedy wasn’t an excellent student but was “awfully good” on his feet, Caplin said.

Kennedy and his housemate, future Sen. John Tunney, D-Calif., won the law school’s moot-court competition, a three-year elimination tournament, Caplin said.

“He had a very good presence,” Caplin said. “He was very comfortable on his feet and very forceful. And they prepared well for those arguments.”

The two stayed in contact for years. Caplin became commissioner of internal revenue under President John F. Kennedy, Ted’s brother, serving into the Johnson administration, and informally advised Ted Kennedy on tax matters.

“When Ted became a senator, he would call me, from time to time, on tax issues,” Caplin said.

The calls came as a result of a conversation the two men had after the death of Ted Kennedy’s older brother, Bobby, who was assassinated in 1968.

Kennedy was riding with the casket as it was carried on a train, and well wishers were moving in and out of the train car to speak with Kennedy, Caplin said.

When Caplin entered the car, Kennedy told Caplin that he hadn’t focused on taxation before.

“He left [tax questions] to Bob Kennedy, but he said, ‘I’m going to need it now.’”

During his time in Charlottesville, Kennedy got in trouble for traffic violations, Caplin said. According to the Boston Globe, Kennedy was involved in one police chase that involved speeds up to 90 mph. He was subsequently charged with reckless driving and driving while not in possession of his license.

Later, Kennedy was involved in a scandal after he was in an automobile wreck in which his passenger was killed.

Kennedy became a senator quite young — he was only 30 at the time of his election — and Caplin said he grew greatly during his more than four decades in Congress. He also became the family patriarch after all three of his brothers died violent deaths (one in war, two by assassination).

“His maturation took place while in the Senate, and I think he gained more confidence,” Caplin said.