Kennedy Family Feud Over Ex-Con's Hyannis Port Party

Members of the Kennedy family have expressed outrage following a party hosted at the main house of their historic Hyannis Port compound on Cape Cod. The event, a joint birthday celebration for former Tyco International CEO Dennis Kozlowski and his wife, Kimberly, was advertised as "An Evening in Camelot." This use of the property has drawn criticism from family members who believe it contradicts the intended purpose of the estate.

The main house of the Hyannis Port compound, constructed in 1915 and comprising 21 rooms, was inherited by Senator Ted Kennedy from his mother, Rose Kennedy. Senator Kennedy resided in the house until his death from brain cancer in 2009. In 2012, his widow, Vicki Kennedy, donated the property to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, fulfilling her late husband's wishes. At the time of the donation, the institute stated that the property would be utilized for educational seminars and forums. The recent party has raised questions about the adherence to this stated intention, prompting a strong reaction from the son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

Dennis Kozlowski, the businessman at the center of the controversy, was convicted in 2005 for grand larceny and misappropriating over $134 million from Tyco International. He served eight years in prison and was released on parole in 2013. His wife, Kimberly, who celebrated her 60th birthday alongside her husband's 80th, stated that the property was not rented for the event. Instead, she indicated that they made a donation to the nonprofit organization prior to the party and that they were permitted to erect a tent on the grounds. She described the arrangement as being "just like the old all-American family that you’ve seen in all the past Kennedy films."

According to Page Six, the couple also included QR codes on the event invitations, encouraging guests to make donations to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. While the party was reportedly more subdued than some of Kozlowski's previous events, including a $2 million birthday celebration in the past, the use of the Kennedy family's ancestral home for such a gathering has ignited a dispute among family members regarding the stewardship and public perception of the historic estate. The Edward M. Kennedy Institute, established to honor the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy, aims to promote civic engagement and public service.