Patrick J. Kennedy

{{Short description|American politician (born 1967)}} {{For|his great-grandfather|P. J. Kennedy}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2021}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021|cs1-dates=y}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Patrick Kennedy | image = Patrick J. Kennedy 2016 (cropped).jpg | caption = Kennedy in 2016 | office = Chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] | leader = [[Dick Gephardt]] | term_start = January 3, 1999 | term_end = January 3, 2001 | predecessor = [[Martin Frost]] | successor = [[Nita Lowey]] | state1 = [[Rhode Island]] | district1 = {{ushr|RI|1|1st}} | term_start1 = January 3, 1995 | term_end1 = January 3, 2011 | predecessor1 = [[Ronald Machtley]] | successor1 = [[David Cicilline]] | state_house2 = Rhode Island | district2 = 9th | term_start2 = January 1, 1989 | term_end2 = January 1, 1993 | predecessor2 = John Skeffington | successor2 = [[Anastasia P. Williams]] | birth_name = Patrick Joseph Kennedy II | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|7|14}} | birth_place = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S. | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | spouse = {{marriage|[[Amy Kennedy|Amy Savell]]|2011}} | children = 4 | parents = [[Ted Kennedy]]<br>[[Joan Bennett Kennedy|Joan Bennett]] | relatives = See [[Kennedy family]] | education = [[Providence College]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) | website = {{url|patrickjkennedy.net|Official website}} }} '''Patrick Joseph Kennedy II''' (born July 14, 1967) is an American retired politician and mental health advocate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/02/politics/patrick-kennedy-the-axe-files/index.html|title=Patrick Kennedy opens up about addiction|last=Politics|first=Matthew Jaffe, University of Chicago Institute of|website=CNN|date=May 2, 2016|access-date=July 9, 2016}}</ref> From 1995 to 2011, he served as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Rhode Island's 1st congressional district]], and was one of the first two [[Generation X]] members of [[United States Congress|Congress]] (with [[Randy Tate]]) when he took office in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Sharon |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 5, 1994 |title=Generation X candidates begin to leave their mark |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-generationx/182874018/ |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |page=A2 |quote="Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy (left), D-Providence, introduces President Clinton at a campaign rally at the Portuguese Social Club earlier this week. Kennedy is one of 14 Generation X Democrat and Republican candidates from around the country." |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Duston |first=Diane |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 13, 1994 |title=Few outsiders among new faces |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-outsiders/182853497/ |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |page=2A |quote="Generation X is represented for the first time, with Patrick Kennedy, 27, D-R.I. and Randy Tate, 29, R-Wash., taking House seats." |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Thau |first=Richard |date=September 12, 1999 |title=When It Comes to Voting, Generations Remain Polls Apart: Are they refusing to join a system that failed them or is casting a ballot just a habit X'ers haven't yet grown into? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-francisco-chronicle-generations/182874465/ |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |page=3 |quote="Daunted by the costs of campaigning and the fear that ancient skeletons might be exposed, few Gen X'ers enter the political fray. Those who are already there, such as U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), John Sununu Jr. (R-N.H.), Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), and Harold Ford Jr. (D-Ky), are heirs to long-standing political dynasties that smoothed their respective paths." |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Kennedy is the second son of [[Massachusetts]] Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], and is a nephew of former U.S. President [[John F. Kennedy]] and former U.S. Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. He graduated from [[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massachusetts]], and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from [[Providence College]]. Kennedy was elected to the [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]] in 1989, becoming the youngest member of the [[Kennedy family]] to hold elected office. He was then elected to represent [[Rhode Island's 1st congressional district]] in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was repeatedly re-elected, serving from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2011 (the [[104th United States Congress|104th]] to [[111th United States Congress|111th]] Congresses). In the House, Kennedy served on the [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]] and [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|Natural Resources Committees]] before being appointed to the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]]. In 2017, he was appointed by President [[Donald Trump]] to serve as a member of the [[Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission]]. He is a co-founder of One Mind, a [[mental health]] nonprofit.

At the time of his father's death in late August 2009, Patrick was the last remaining member of the Kennedy family to serve in an elective office in Washington. After he chose not to seek re-election in [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections|2010]] and left office the following year, it was the first time that no member of the Kennedy family held elected office since 1947. The Kennedys' absence in politics was temporary, however, and following the next mid-term election, his first cousin once removed [[Joe Kennedy III]] would be sworn in to Congress and his cousin [[Caroline Kennedy]] would be appointed to an ambassadorship.

==Early life and education== [[File:Edward M. Kennedy and Patrick Kennedy (9501950391).jpg|thumb|Patrick Kennedy with his father [[Ted Kennedy]] in 1985]] Patrick Joseph Kennedy II was born in the [[Brighton, Boston|Brighton]] section of [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. He is the youngest of three children born to Senator [[Ted Kennedy|Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy]] and musician/former model [[Joan Bennett Kennedy|Virginia Joan Kennedy, (née) Bennett]]. He is also a nephew of President [[John F. Kennedy]] and Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]], and the youngest grandson of [[Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.|Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr.]] and [[Rose Kennedy|Rose Elizabeth Kennedy, (née) Fitzgerald]]. His sister [[Kara Kennedy|Kara]] was a television and film producer, while his brother, [[Edward M. Kennedy Jr.|Ted, Jr.]], is a lawyer and former member of the [[Connecticut State Senate]]. Patrick was named after his paternal great-grandfather, businessman and politician [[P. J. Kennedy|Patrick Joseph Kennedy]].

Kennedy graduated in 1986 from [[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massachusetts]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree from [[Providence College]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff writer |date=n.d. |title=Kennedy, Patrick Joseph, (1967–) |publisher=bioguide.congress.gov (a database module of congress.gov, a part of the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] website) |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000113 |access-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref>

==Rhode Island House of Representatives==

While a [[Junior (education year)|junior]] at Providence College, Kennedy defeated five-term incumbent John F. Skeffington, Jr., for the Democratic nomination in District 9.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-15-mn-2831-story.html |title=Campaign '88 : Patrick Kennedy Wins |agency=Associated Press |via=''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' |date=September 15, 1988 |access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref> In 1988, Kennedy became the youngest member of the [[Kennedy family]] to hold elected office, when he won election to the [[Rhode Island House of Representatives]] at age 21. He served two terms in the House representing District 9 in Providence. He chose not to run for a third term and was succeeded by [[Anastasia P. Williams]].{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}

==U.S. House of Representatives== [[File:Representative Patrick J. Kennedy II speaking at a rally for American Indian and tribal unity.jpg|thumb|Kennedy speaking at a rally for American Indian and tribal unity in front of the U.S. Capitol]] In [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections#Rhode Island|1994]], Kennedy was elected as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to represent [[Rhode Island's 1st congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. He was re-elected seven times, serving from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2011 (the [[104th United States Congress|104th]] to [[111th United States Congress|111th]] Congresses).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Patrick J. |title=Patrick J. Kennedy |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/patrick-kennedy/K000113 |access-date=November 25, 2025 |publisher=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref>

Kennedy was lead sponsor of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which passed on October 3, 2008.<ref name="patrickjkennedy.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrickjkennedy.net/about/patrick/|title=Patrick J. Kennedy|website=patrickjkennedy.net|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>

Kennedy authored and co-sponsored the Positive Aging Act, the Foundations for Learning Act, which established a grant program to improve mental and emotional health for school children through screening and early intervention, the National Neurotechnology Initiative Act, Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act; the COMBAT PTSD Act; the Nurse-Family Partnership Act, the Alzheimer's Treatment and Caregiver Support Act, and the Ready, Willing, and Able Act.<ref name="patrickjkennedy.net"/>

Kennedy was among the founders of the Congressional [[Down Syndrome]] Caucus and the 21st Century Healthcare Caucus and served as vice chairman of the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] Caucus. He also joined the Congressional Boating Caucus; the Caucus on Armenian Issues; the Caucus on Hellenic Issues; the Fire Services Caucus; the Human Rights Caucus; the Travel and Tourism Caucus; the National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus; the [[Portuguese American]] Caucus (co-chair); and the Older American Caucus. He was a founder of the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse and chaired the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] for two years (1999-2001). During his tenure as DCCC chairman, Kennedy became a headliner at Democratic political events and fundraisers around the country.{{citation needed|date=February 2026}}

===Committee assignments=== *[[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]] **[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]] **[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]] **[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]] **[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]]

==Political campaigns== Kennedy campaigned for the seat being vacated by U.S. Representative [[Ronald Machtley]] (who was retiring) in the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1994#Rhode Island|1994 Rhode Island 1st congressional district election]]. He won the election, defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate Kevin Vigilante. Kennedy was one of four Democrats in the 1994 congressional elections to win a congressional seat that had previously been held by a Republican, while Republicans gained dozens of seats to take over the U.S. House. He was re-elected every two years from 1996 until 2008 and did not run for re-election in 2010.

In 2000, Kennedy considered running against Republican [[Lincoln Chafee]] in the [[United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2000|U.S. Senate election in Rhode Island]], but instead chose to run for re-election. Kennedy had recently won appointment to the [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|House Appropriations Committee]], a high-profile assignment that caused him to pass up the Senate race. He again considered running against Chafee in 2006, but instead chose to run for re-election.

Kennedy did not run for re-election in 2010 and completed his final term in January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLzr-4MMyDc&feature=player_embedded |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PLzr-4MMyDc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Rep. Patrick Kennedy: 'Won't Seek Reelection' |date=February 11, 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 29, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He finished his 8th term at the completion of the [[111th United States Congress]].

==Post-congress advocacy== [[File:Patrick Kennedy, 2015 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Kennedy in 2015]]

Since leaving Congress, Kennedy has written and spoken publicly about his long struggle with [[bipolar disorder]] and [[drug addiction]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schulzke |first=Eric |date=February 17, 2013 |title=Bipolar and addicted, Patrick Kennedy embodies mental health challenges |language=en |work=DeseretNews.com |url=https://www.deseret.com/2013/2/18/20448423/bipolar-and-addicted-patrick-kennedy-embodies-mental-health-challenges |access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref> and become a leading advocate for a stronger mental health care system in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrickjkennedy.net/|title=Patrick J Kennedy {{!}} The Official Website of Patrick J Kennedy|website=Patrick J Kennedy|language=en-US|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>

Partnering with Shari and Garen Staglin in 2011, Kennedy launched One Mind (formerly One Mind for Research) with the intention of promoting the study of [[brain disease]]s. One Mind supports better diagnostics and new therapies to advance neuroscience discovery and fills the gaps in research funding by disseminating donor-supported funds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onemind.org/|title=Home Page - One Mind|website=One Mind|language=en-US|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>

Kennedy founded The Kennedy Forum in 2013, a behavioral health nonprofit, of which he is [[CEO]], with the mission of leading the national dialogue on transforming mental health and addiction care delivery by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, including full implementation of the Federal Parity Law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekennedyforum.org/our-vision/|title=Our Vision {{!}} The Kennedy Forum|website=The Kennedy Forum|language=en-US|access-date=May 19, 2018|archive-date=2018-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001435/https://www.thekennedyforum.org/our-vision/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[Politico]]'' termed Kennedy "the unlikely go-to player for companies seeking to benefit from the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration’s]] multibillion-dollar response to the [[Opioid epidemic in the United States|opioid crisis]]". Kennedy sits on the boards of eight corporations involved with the government's response to the drug crisis. He "holds an equity stake in the firms" and "collects director fees" from the latter organizations, many of which "stand to benefit from fresh efforts in Congress and the Trump administration to combat the opioid crisis". As such, Kennedy lobbied "former congressional colleagues to advocate for higher levels of spending".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cancryn|first1=Adam|title=Patrick Kennedy profits from opioid-addiction firms|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2018/04/17/patrick-kennedy-profits-from-opioid-addiction-firms-368780|website=Politico|date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, he co-authored ''A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction'' detailing his journey through mental illness, addiction, and his ongoing political advocacy for federal legislation in support of mental health and addiction health care.

In 2016, Kennedy founded [[Advocates for Opioid Recovery]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.opioidrecovery.org/mission/|title=Mission|work=Advocates for Opioid Recovery|access-date=April 10, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417075904/https://www.opioidrecovery.org/mission/|url-status=dead}}</ref> together with former House Speaker [[Newt Gingrich]] and [[Van Jones]], a former domestic policy adviser to President Barack Obama.<ref name="usa1">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/19/he-chairs-trumps-opioid-commission-christie-champions-his-home-state-drug-companies/752822001/|title=As he chairs Trump's opioid commission, Christie champions his home-state drug companies|publisher=USA Today}} October 19, 2017.</ref>

He is also co-founder of [[Smart Approaches to Marijuana]], established in 2013 with [[Kevin Sabet]] and [[David Frum]], an anti-legalization group. Speaking in the context of California's [[Adult Use of Marijuana Act|Proposition 64]], Kennedy argued the legalization movement was "putting our children at risk" and "exposed children from communities of color to more racial discrimination than before."<ref>{{cite web|last1=McGreevy|first1=Patrick|title=Kennedy group puts $2 million into fight against pot-legalization measures|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-patrick-kennedy-marijuana-legalization-opposition-20160801-snap-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 18, 2018|date=August 2016}}</ref>

==Political positions==

===Healthcare=== Kennedy is a vocal advocate for health care reform. During his tenure in Congress, he joined with U.S. Senator [[Pete Domenici]] (R–[[New Mexico|NM]]) in introducing legislation that places [[mental disorder|mental illness]] under the umbrella of health insurance.

He was a chief sponsor of one of the major pieces of legislation of 2008, the [[Mental Health Parity Act]], a bill requiring most group health plans to provide coverage for the treatment of mental illnesses which is no less restrictive than coverage provided for physical illnesses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rucker |first=Philip |title=Patrick Kennedy discusses leaving Congress after 16 years |date=March 12, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031102325_3.html?sid=ST2010031102370}}</ref>

He was a strong proponent of adding a comprehensive [[prescription drug|prescription-drug]] benefit to the [[Medicare (United States)|U.S. Medicare]] and consistently opposed attempts to [[privatization|privatize]] the Medicare program. Kennedy also made numerous speeches advocating the re-orientation of the U.S. health-care system to [[Preventive medicine|preventive care]]. He has received numerous awards for his health care advocacy, including the [[Lymphoma]] Research Foundation's [[Paul E. Tsongas]] Memorial Award as well as the [[Leukemia & Lymphoma Society]] Congressional Honors Award.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} He also received the [[Society for Neuroscience]] — Public Service Award (2002), [[Eli Lilly and Company]] 2003 Helping Move Lives Forward Reintegration Award, [[American Psychoanalytic Association]] 2003 President's Award, [[American Psychiatric Association]] Alliance award (2003), and the [[Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance]] — [[Paul Wellstone]] Mental Health Award (2003).

He has also been awarded the National Recovery Champion Award, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Humanitarian Award, the American Psychiatric Association Patient Advocacy Award, the New York Academy of Science Breaking the Chains of Stigma Award, the Society for Neuroscience Public Service Award, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Distinguished Service Award, the Clifford Beers Foundation Centennial Award, the Autism Society of America Congressional Leadership Award, the Epilepsy Foundation Public Service Award, and the NAMI Humanitarian of the Year Award.<ref name="patrickjkennedy.net"/>

In a March 7, 2008, speech to the Cleveland City Club, Kennedy acknowledged having bipolar disorder and being a recovering alcoholic. He and his siblings have legal custody of their mother, who has long struggled with alcoholism.

Kennedy served on the [[Office of National Drug Control Policy]]'s President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/the-administrations-approach/presidents-commission-opioids/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120194958/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/the-administrations-approach/presidents-commission-opioids/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |url-status=live |title=President's Commission on Opioids |access-date=December 16, 2020 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Iraq War=== Kennedy was on the opposite side of the [[Iraq War]] debate as his father. He joined with 80 House Democrats in voting for the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002]] (the minority view among House Democrats), whereas his father in the Senate joined anti-war Democrats in voting against the bill, which was a minority position among Senate Democrats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/h455|title = H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ... -- House Vote #455 -- Oct 10, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/s237|title = H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ... -- Senate Vote #237 -- Oct 11, 2002}}</ref>

===2008 presidential election=== On January 28, 2008, Kennedy joined his father in endorsing [[Barack Obama]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 U.S. presidential election]], stating that Obama was the "perfect antidote to [[George W. Bush|George Bush]]".<ref>{{cite news|author=Staff writer |title=Patrick Kennedy to Join Father in Endorsing Obama for President |date=January 28, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/28/kennedys_to_endorse_barack_obama_for_president/ |access-date=September 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821211107/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/28/kennedys_to_endorse_barack_obama_for_president/ |archive-date=August 21, 2009 }}</ref> Prior to that, Kennedy had joined his first cousin [[Timothy Shriver]] in endorsing U.S. Senator [[Christopher Dodd]] from [[Connecticut]].

==Personal issues and incidents==

===Use of alcohol and other drugs=== Kennedy acknowledged having a drug habit as a teenager and was treated at a rehabilitation center in 1986 and received counseling.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ted Kennedy's Younger Son Admits 1986 Drug Treatment |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/10/us/ted-kennedy-s-younger-son-admits-1986-drug-treatment.html |access-date=12 October 2024 |agency=Associated Press |date=1991-12-10}}</ref> He sought treatment for an [[OxyContin]] addiction in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rep. Kennedy: I Was Hooked on OxyContin|date=March 16, 2007|agency=Associated Press|work=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2007Mar16/0,4675,PatrickKennedy,00.html|access-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref> Due to his experience with addiction, Kennedy advocates against the legalization of [[recreational marijuana]], but supports it for [[medical cannabis|medical]] use.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/27/us/cannabis-legal-localities-begin-to-just-say-no.html|title=Cannabis Legal, Localities Begin to Just Say No|work=The New York Times |date=January 27, 2014 |access-date=November 6, 2018|language=en |last1=Johnson |first1=Kirk }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/hmu6hf/the-colbert-report-patrick-kennedy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914024356/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/hmu6hf/the-colbert-report-patrick-kennedy |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |work=The Colbert Report |date=February 10, 2014 |title=Patrick Kennedy discusses equal insurance rights for the mentally ill and his anti-marijuana lobbying group, Project SAM |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>

===Capitol Hill intoxicated-driving accident=== On May 4, 2006, Kennedy crashed his automobile into a barricade on [[Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.|Capitol Hill]] in Washington, D.C., at 2:45 a.m. A [[United States Capitol Police]] official said the congressman had appeared [[Alcohol intoxication|intoxicated]] when he crashed his car. According to Kennedy, he was disoriented from the prescription medications [[Ambien]] and [[Phenergan]].<ref name="pmid34584301">{{cite journal |vauthors=Mittal N, Mittal R, Gupta MC |title=Zolpidem for Insomnia: A Double-Edged Sword. A Systematic Literature Review on Zolpidem-Induced Complex Sleep Behaviors |journal=Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine |volume=43 |issue=5 |pages=373–381 |date=September 2021 |pmid=34584301 |pmc=8450729 |doi=10.1177/0253717621992372}}</ref><ref name="Stout-Holusha 2006">{{cite web |last1=Stout |first1=David |last2=Holusha |first2=John |title=Patrick Kennedy admits addiction after car crash |website=The New York Times |date=5 May 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/world/americas/05iht-web.0505kennedy.html |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="ABC 2006">{{cite web |title=Kennedy's Crash Highlights Dangers of Ambien |website=ABC News |date=5 May 2006 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1927026&page=1 |access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref> Anonymous sources are alleged to have seen Kennedy drinking at the nearby Hawk & Dove bar prior to the accident.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wedge |first=Dave |title=Pat cites pills in car wreck |date=May 5, 2006 |publisher=[[Boston Herald]] |url=http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507203011/http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=137995 |archive-date=May 7, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wedge |first=Dave |title=Cops Told Pat K Was at Watering Hole Before Crash |date=May 12, 2006 |publisher=[[Boston Herald]] |url=http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=138953 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520114245/http://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=138953 |archive-date=May 20, 2006 }}</ref> Kennedy also stated to officers that he was "late for a vote". However, the last vote of the night had occurred almost six hours earlier. The standard [[Drunk driving (United States)#Field sobriety tests|field sobriety test]] was not administered, and Kennedy was driven home by an officer.

The next day, Kennedy admitted publicly that he had an addiction to prescription medication and announced he would be readmitting himself to a [[drug rehabilitation|drug-rehabilitation]] facility at the [[Mayo Clinic]] in [[Minnesota]] where he had sought treatment for prior addictions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miga |first=Andrew |title=Rep. Patrick Kennedy to Enter Drug Rehab |date=May 6, 2006 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/05/AR2006050500520.html |access-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref> He has stated that he has no recollection of the car crash. A few days later, Kennedy received a show of support when he was endorsed by the [[Rhode Island Democratic Committee|Rhode Island Democratic Party]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mayerowitz |first=Scott |title=Kennedy Gets Support from Democratic Party — The U.S. Representative, Who Entered Drug Rehabilitation Treatment in Minnesota Last Week, Is Among Those Endorsed by R.I. Democrats at Their Convention |date=May 9, 2006 |work=[[The Providence Journal]] |url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20060509_dems9.1292646a.html |access-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref> A month after the incident, Kennedy was released from drug rehabilitation.<ref>{{Dead link|date=September 2009}}{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Richard |title=Rep. Kennedy Released from Drug Rehab Clinic |date=June 5, 2006 |agency=Reuters |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060605/us_nm/kennedy_dc }}</ref>

On June 13, 2006, Kennedy made a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miga |first1=Andrew |title=Kennedy sentenced after guilty plea to DUI |url=http://news.yahoo.com:80/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_go_co/patrick_kennedy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616021431/http://news.yahoo.com:80/s/ap/20060613/ap_on_go_co/patrick_kennedy |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2006 |access-date=January 30, 2021 |agency=AP |date=June 13, 2006}}</ref> He was sentenced to one-year probation and a fine of $350. Two of the three charges (reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit) were dismissed. He was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation program that includes weekly urine tests, twice-weekly meetings with a [[probation officer]], near-daily [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] meetings and a weekly meeting of recovering addicts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Akers |first=Mary Ann |title=Life After Fender Bender |work=[[Roll Call]] |date=July 13, 2006 |url=http://rollcall.com/issues/52_5/hoh/14255-1.html |access-date=September 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821055341/http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_5/hoh/14255-1.html |archive-date=August 21, 2009 }}</ref>

On June 12, 2009, Kennedy announced that he had again entered rehab, for an indefinite time at an undisclosed facility.<ref name="Swami">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/patrick-kennedy-again-enters-rehab/ |title=Patrick Kennedy Again Enters Rehab |author=Swami, Prerana |date=June 12, 2009 |publisher=CBS News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105055015/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/patrick-kennedy-again-enters-rehab/ |archive-date=January 5, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a statement to the press, Kennedy said that his recovery is a "life-long process" and that he would do whatever it takes to preserve his health: "I have decided to temporarily step away from my normal routine to ensure that I am being as vigilant as possible in my recovery", Kennedy said.<ref name="Swami"/>

In 2018, Kennedy said that he had been sober for more than six years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2018/1/parity-advocate-sees-more-talk-action|title=Patrick Kennedy Sees More Talk Than Action in Mental Health Coverage and Parity|date=January 1, 2018|work=Managed Care magazine|access-date=April 10, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life and family== His father, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, died on August 25, 2009. Patrick made a tearful eulogy at the funeral, saying that, "He [Ted] would be very proud to see you all out here today paying a final respect and tribute to his memory". He further elaborated on his experiences with his father as a child, saying his father would stay at his bedside during his frequent bouts of ill health.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/29/kennedy.funeral/index.html |work=CNN |title=As Kennedy laid to rest, a papal prayer request is revealed – CNN.com |access-date=May 22, 2010 |date=August 30, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOB6UZHPpQg |title=Broadcast Yourself |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 29, 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>

Kennedy decided not to run for re-election in 2010, saying his life "has taken a new direction". Mark Weiner, a major Democratic party fund-raiser in Rhode Island and one of Kennedy's top financial backers, said: "It's tough to get up and go to work every day when your partner is not there. I think he just had a broken heart after his father passed away."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/11/patrick-kennedy-wont-seek-re-election/ |title=Patrick Kennedy won't seek re-election |work=Washington Times |date=February 11, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

As of 2014, Kennedy resides in [[Brigantine, New Jersey]].{{cn|date=January 2025}} In March 2011, he announced his engagement to eighth-grade history teacher [[Amy Kennedy|Amy Savell]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://galloway.patch.com/articles/local-football-tradition-now-has-a-kennedy-connection|title=Local Football Tradition Now Has a Kennedy Connection|date=January 2, 2012|work=Galloway, NJ Patch|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patrickjkennedy.net/press/2012/11/patrick-kennedy-and-jersey-girl/ |title=Patrick Kennedy and Jersey Girl | Home |access-date=May 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703084937/http://www.patrickjkennedy.net/press/2012/11/patrick-kennedy-and-jersey-girl/ |archive-date=July 3, 2013 }}</ref> The couple married on July 15, 2011, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.<ref name=Marriage>{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Eric|title=Patrick's day!|date=July 16, 2011|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2011/07/16/patricks-day/|publisher=Boston Herald|access-date=December 6, 2022}}</ref> They have three sons and two daughters.<ref name=Owen>{{cite news|last=Drake|first=Danny|title=Patrick Kennedy, wife bring baby Owen home from N. J. hospital|url=http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/04/patrick-and-amy.html|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=April 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name=Nora>{{cite news|title=It's a girl for Patrick and Amy Kennedy|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/content/20131119-it-s-a-girl-for-patrick-and-amy-kennedy.ece|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=November 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-US Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Wife Welcome New Baby Girl|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/us-rep-patrick-kennedy-wife-baby-girl-35477270|access-date=November 29, 2015|publisher=The Associated Press|date=November 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>https://people.com/parents/patrick-kennedy-wife-amy-welcome-fifth-child-son-marshall/</ref>

In January 2020, Amy Kennedy announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for United States Congress, to represent [[New Jersey's 2nd congressional district]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brunetti|first=Michelle|date=January 6, 2020|title=Amy Kennedy joins race to replace Jeff Van Drew|url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/amy-kennedy-joins-race-to-replace-jeff-van-drew/article_f4d9f803-09b3-5d75-9be0-7b0b6f72bf71.html|access-date=June 28, 2020|website=The Press of Atlantic City}}</ref> Amy Kennedy defeated [[Brigid Callahan Harrison]] in the Democratic primary in July, and faced Democrat-turned-Republican incumbent [[Jeff Van Drew]] in the [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey#District 2|November general election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kane |first=Paul |date=July 7, 2020 |title=Amy Kennedy wins N. J. Democratic primary, will face party defector turned Trump loyalist |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-nj-a-kennedy-faces-establishment-backed-professor-to-challenge-trump-loyalist/2020/07/07/6cbe6170-c056-11ea-b178-bb7b05b94af1_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 7, 2020 }}</ref> She was ultimately defeated by Van Drew, receiving 46.2% of the vote.

==Honors== *[[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Officer BAR.svg|80px]] Grand-Officer of the [[Order of Prince Henry]], [[Portugal]] (June 8, 1996)<ref>{{cite web|title=Cidadãos Estrangeiros Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154|website=Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Kennedy family]] *[[Kennedy curse]]

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{CongLinks | congbio=k000113 | votesmart=22207 | fec=H4RI01034 | congress= }} * {{C-SPAN|17987}} * {{IMDb name|id=0448270}} * [http://www.patrickjkennedy.net/ Official Site] * [https://www.parityregistry.org Parity Registry | Appeal Resources and Complaint Registry]

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ronald Machtley]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Rhode Island|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Rhode Island's 1st congressional district]]|years=1995–2011}} {{s-aft|after=[[David Cicilline]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-hon}} {{s-bef|before=[[Cleo Fields]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of youngest members of the United States Congress|Baby of the House]]|years=1995–1997}} {{s-aft|after=[[Harold Ford Jr.]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Martin Frost]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]|years=1999–2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Nita Lowey]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-prec|usa}} {{s-bef|before=[[Charles Taylor (North Carolina politician)|Charles Taylor]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}} {{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}} {{s-aft|after=[[John Yarmuth]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}} {{s-end}}

{{Chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee}} {{Kennedy family}} {{Ted Kennedy}} {{United States representatives from Rhode Island}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Patrick J.}} [[Category:1967 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century members of the Rhode Island General Assembly]] [[Category:21st-century American male writers]] [[category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]] [[Category:21st-century United States representatives]] [[Category:American male non-fiction writers]] [[Category:American people of Irish descent]] [[Category:American political writers]] [[Category:Cannabis law reform in the United States]] [[Category:Chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives]] [[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Rhode Island]] [[Category:Kennedy family|Patrick J]] [[Category:Mental health activists]] [[Category:Opposition to cannabis legalization]] [[Category:People from Brigantine, New Jersey]] [[Category:People with bipolar disorder]] [[Category:Phillips Academy alumni]] [[Category:Politicians from Boston]] [[Category:Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island]] [[Category:Providence College alumni]] [[Category:Spouses of New Jersey politicians]] [[Category:Ted Kennedy]] [[Category:Writers from Atlantic County, New Jersey]]