There really isn’t any question about the facts that belonged at the top of the obituaries for Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 2009 and, now, those noting the passing of her charismatic husband R. Sargent Shriver.
For Shriver the headline accomplishment is clear — the Peace Corps (and several other respected, ongoing programs to help the poor and needy). For his wife, she will always be remembered for, among other accomplishments, founding the Special Olympics.
All of this work was, for them, tightly connected to their dedication to public service and, of course, their articulate and very traditional Catholic faith. They were part of the Camelot universe, but many of their convictions set them apart from others in their Kennedy generation.
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