Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International, will soon be the only member of the Kennedy clan serving in a high-profile position in Washington. With the death of his uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy and his cousin Patrick Kennedy's decision not to seek re-election in Congress, it'll be the first time in 50 years that no Kennedy will hold an elected office in D.C.
Here, he poses with members of the Venezuelan soccer team at Juan Ramon Loubriel stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Shriver was in town to attend the Special Olympics Latin American games in February.
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At 50 years old, he's no stranger to advocacy for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics in 1968 as a way to help improve the lives of the mentally disabled.
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Seen here with wife Linda Potter, center, and rhythmic gymnast Lani De Mello, Shriver is helping wage a campaign to stop the derogatory use of the word retard, which has progressed over the years. He's even gone after high-profile names, such as White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and former Clinton adviser Dick Morris for using the word.
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Sparking a raging national dialogue, Shriver has many critics. Shock jock Rush Limbaugh said, ". . .our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are "retards," "retards."
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Years ago, Shriver could have never imagined himself going into the "family business" of national power. Prior to taking over the reigns of the Special Olympics organization from his mother, Shriver worked in the New Haven, Conn., school system for 15 years. During that time, he developed a program aimed at preventiving substance abuse and teen pregnancy.
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It would take some persuasion from Myer Feldman, a former top aide to his uncle, the late President John F. Kennedy, and President Lyndon B. Johnson to get Shriver to come to Washington in the mid-1990s.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
Looking back, he assumes his mother was angling for him to enter the family business, despite his attempts to stay out of Washington, but she wasn't saying anything then. "She was too smart for that," Shriver recalls. "She sent the captain of the palace guard to carry the message."
Here, he jokes with Venezuelan athlete Luis Guanipa, far right, and Ramon Infante, second from right.
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Shriver talks with the Latin American Special Olympics managing director Dennis Grueggemann while en route to the games pavillion.
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During his trip to Puerto Rico, Shriver visits San Juan Casa Cuna, a foster home run by the municipal administration.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
He looks on through a one-way glass in an observation room as a teacher interacts with students while visiting the San Juan Head Start Center.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
Stepping out from behind the glass, Shriver watches and interacts with the children up close.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
One of the reasons for keeping his initial complaints about the use of the "r" word, as he likes to call it, low-key, Shriver says, is his organization didn't completely embrace the idea of a high-profile public education campaign about its use.
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Occasionally, he'd talk with advertising firms about a media campaign, however, some board members worried that it might not fit into the group's mission.
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Shriver watches Costa Rican Special Olympian Ariel Ary offers a lively invitation to play a friendly tennis match.
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Game on: Shriver returns a forehand hit from Ary.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
Potter says she thought the couple would stay in New Haven forever. "I always thought Timmy should run for mayor," she says one afternoon while in San Juan with her husband.
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Some fans hold a banner written in Spanish, which reads "Success! We Love You! You are our Proud!" during the swimming competition at San Juan Natatorium.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
When talking about the word retard, Shriver says, "It's not so much that the word is such an important thing, but it's finally a chance to talk about humiliation."
Here, he congratulates Venezuelan swimming athlete Aquiles Heredia after Heredia finishes a race.
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Shriver talks with a few parents at the Paradise Bowling Lanes, where the Special Olympics bowling competition is taking place.
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Mexican Special Olympian Joel Pena watches as his bowling ball strikes the pins during his turn at the competition.
Herminio Rodriguez-For The Washington Post
Shriver fires up the crowd at a basketball exhibition during the Special Olympics Latin American games in Chevy Chase, Md.
Bill O'Leary-The Washington Post
Shriver wants to be a catalyst for social change and would like to further expand the organization's mission by addressing unemployment (90 percent of people with intellectual disabilities do not work, he says, but half of Special Olympians have jobs) and taking on elite private schools in Chevy Chase, Md. His alma mater, St. Alban's, and Sidwell Friends don't routinely admit students with intellectual disabilities, as many public schools do.
Here, he shares a moment with athlete Marti Clark during the basketball competition.
Bill O'Leary-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher
Text Editor Andrea N. Browne
