My Encounter with a Lion. Reflections on Senator Ted Kennedy

February 22nd marks the birthday of the late Ted Kennedy. Serving nearly half a century, the stalwart senator worked alongside ten presidents reaching achievements in health care, civil rights, education, immigration and other pressing issues. He was the first to introduce a Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. He battled for equal pay and civil rights. If you take advantage of the Family Leave Act, you can thank him for that too


 For readers of my blog, you may recall my constant shameless name dropping that I had worked for a member of the Kennedy family for several years. Not surprisingly, that meant having the occasional encounter with the Lion of the Senate. My fondest memory of the Senator was when I was working in the office of his nephew, Robert Kennedy Jr. I had just made a phone call to my girlfriend (now wife) from his office when she told me she would call right back. The phone rang in seconds and I answered “What’s up Baby?” There was silence for a moment and then I heard a warm boisterous laugh. “Erah hello? Is my nephew there....baby?” 

Perception is Reality.

Waiting Area at the Nutmeg Lawyer's Office (former gang bar)

As a high school kid, I was able to find a part time job working for a well known attorney.  Successful in his practice, he made a name for himself during his stint as a federal prosecutor working on some high profile cases.  Retiring from his state job, he went into private practice and opened a well to do firm in Connecticut.  I was blown away by his offices located in a grand Victorian mansion.  Entering the imposing office you had to walk up a hand carved staircase to the waiting area where one found an imposing marble fireplace.  Every associate attorney had a fireplace in their office.


Although just a "gofer",  the experience gave me a chance to observe a successful attorney in his natural habitat. Each morning, he would take several minutes to walk around the office.   The daily routine involved him fixing crooked carpets, arranging misplaced magazines, and picking up an occasional empty candy wrapper.  Naturally,  I assumed he had a disorder.  I asked his secretary if she thought he finally snapped after years of law practice.   I learned my old mentor had been doing this for years.   His daily routine included a meticulous walk through the office.  He wanted every aspect of the client's experience to be positive.  Were the magazines out of date?  What could the client observe from the waiting area?  Did they see a cluttered office or a well organized operation?  Did the receptionist leave empty fast food bags out on her desk in view of the clients?  Did she greet clients when they walked in and offer them a cup of coffee?  He would even have friends call the office to see how the receptionist answered the phone.  Was the receptionist friendly?  Did she sound professional?  OK, maybe he was a little nuts.  When I asked him why he bothered with the routine he replied "Perception is reality."   Years later, I found myself taking a page from his neurotic activity.  I became a nutcase too when I started my own law practice.