Joseph Kennedy Aides Visit Harvard, Recruit Student Campaign Support

Two officials from Joseph P. Kennedy II's Eighth Congressional District campaign were at Harvard this week recruiting student support for the politician's bid for speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill's seat in the House of Representatives.

Michael Kennedy '72, financial aide for his brother Joseph, speaking in Boylston Hall's Ticknor Lounge Wednesday, praised his sibling's "combination of business acumen and social conscience" and his work in founding and directing the Citizens' Energy Corporation, a non-profit fuel assistance company. Michael Kennedy is a vice president of a related non-profit company.

Kennedy then joined campaign issues director Melissa Ludtke, a correspondent on leave from Time magazine, in fielding questions on current events and urging students to work for the candidate.

Joseph Kennedy supports deficit reduction through cuts in the defense budget, diminished interservice rivalry, and the elimination of several widely criticized weapons programs, including the "Star Wars" Strategic Defense Initiative. He is a supporter of the nuclear freeze movement.

Kennedy also advocates reducing postal subsidies and eliminating long-distance Amtrak subsidies, which he has said support the "nice romantic idea" of cross-country rail travel with few real benefits to the country.

The candidate's cousin, Amanda Kennedy Smith '89, and his youngest brother, Matthew M.T. Kennedy '86, attended the event.

Responding to a question from Smith, Ludtke said the Kennedy family had sold all of its stock in companies doing business in South Africa after the candidate's uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D--Mass.), traveled to that country last year to meet with anti-apartheid leaders.

Answering another question, Michael Kennedy said a single "overzealous volunteer" had torn down campaign signs belonging to James Roosevelt, another Eighth District candidate, during Kennedy's candidacy announcement January 19. Kennedy said his brother was not responsible for the act, and had since paid Roosevelt $100 for the signs.

Kennedy's campus organization, which sponsored the Wednesday event, is currently the only registered student group working for a single candidate. Lance P.D. Khazei '89, the group's president, said it has 20 to 30 active members.

Assistant Dean of the College and Dudley House Senior Tutor John R. Marquand serves as the group's faculty advisor. It has garnered endorsements for Kennedy from Walburg Professor of Economics, Emeritus John Kenneth Galbraith, Tyler Professor of Constitutional Law Laurence H. Tribe '62, and Harvard Foundation Director S. Allen Counter Jr.

Noah Berger '89, a campaign worker for State Sen. George Bachrach (D-Watertown), said a similar group supporting that candidate had applied for recognition as an official Harvard organization. Student supporters of several other candidates, including Roosevelt and State Representatives Thomas M. Gallagher (D-Brighton) and William F. Galvin (D-Allston), are also active on campus.