BY PAT LAVINS

Mr. Lee Fentress has chosen a unique path for his retirement.  The University of Virginia Law School graduate is now the Chairman of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.  Unlike Presidential libraries that focus on the career of a specific man, the new organization has as its mission to educate the public about our government, invigorating public discourse, encouraging participatory democracy, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders.

Spending so much time away from the tennis courts had not been a part of Lee Fentress’ retirement vision.  However, he stepped up to the challenge because of his decades long friendship with Senator Ted Kennedy.  Mr. Fentress said, “I first met Teddy many years ago, when I was working for Senator Robert F. Kennedy as he pursued the Presidency in his inspiring 1968 campaign.  Over the years that followed, I was proud to call Teddy my friend and when he explained his plans for the Institute — a place that he believed could invigorate public interest in American democracy and encourage the American people to become involved in the civic life of their nation — I knew I wanted to be part of it.”

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute will operate from a facility currently under construction and located on the University of Massachusetts campus in Boston.  It is adjacent to the John K. Kennedy Library.  It was the goal of Senator Edward M. Kennedy prior to his death in 2009 to enhance the public understanding of the U. S. Senate.  The Senator in 1962 said, “The Senate is surely one of the most important bodies in the free world.  Each year its decisions affect the hopes and lives of men and women in every part of the globe.”

As the fourth longest serving member of the Senate and the second most senior member at the time of his death, Senator Kennedy had a love for the institution that our Founding Fathers envisioned.  His forty seven year tenure in Senate earned him the nickname “The Lion of the Senate.

Mr.  Fentress was chosen to be the Chairman because of his decade long prior involvement in coordinating the Senator Kennedy Oral History Project with the University of  Virginia’s Miller Center.  He stated that the Miller Center is unique because “it encompasses the wide ranging philosophical views of Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Jerry Ford, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.”

This native of Louisiana came to know Robert F. Kennedy while serving as an Assistant U. S. Attorney.  He then went on work in the Robert Kennedy campaign for President.  After the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy, he left government service and launched his own law practice focusing on sports marketing and management.

Since accepting the role of Chairman, Lee Fentress has worked directly with Senator Kennedy’s widow, Vicky Kennedy who like Lee is a Louisiana native.   He indicated that Vicky has been a “delight to work with because of her own unique experiences as well as having been a true partner for Teddy as his wife since 1992.”

From the initial conversations with Ted and Vicky, they made it clear that they wanted to have bipartisanship as the focus of the institute.  Thus, Trent Lott, former Republican leader of the Senate and Tom Daschle, former Democratic Leader of the U. S. Senate are on the Board.

Lee Fentress post-retirement career has required racking up many airlines miles as he has commuted back and forth from Boston to Vero Beach for over a year.  He did this “to ensure that the project stay on budget and on time.”  It is anticipated that all the hard work will result in the official grand opening of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will be in May 2014.

The Institute building is comprised of approximately 40,000 square feet of program space in a two-story structure.  One of the most unique aspects of the new facility is to be a Senate chamber representation.  This 118” x 118” room covers 10,000 sq. ft. Using the most advanced computer technology visitors will be able to seat at any desk in the replica chamber and hear speeches given by various Senators who have earned that seat placement since 1800 on such topics as civil rights, war, and the routine minutia required to run the government.  Mr. Fentress believes that the Senate chamber replica “brings to life the goal of Senator Ted Kennedy’ s vision for the Institute.”  Additionally, each visitor will be provided “a handheld interactive digital tablet during the visit which will allow them to personalize the experience.”

The Institute is not intended to be an exclusive enclave for historians or government officials.  It is to be a place that welcomes the middle class tax payer who is interested in innovative, participatory educational programs.

In keeping with the Kennedy family commitment to the environment, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute has been certified as a “Green” building.  Also, in keeping with Kennedy family commitment to the middle class entrance fees to the EMK Institute will be in the $8 range.

Inside Vero in future printed publications will focus on other Indian River County residents who are traveling their own unique path of retirement.