See Ethel Kennedy's Spicy Valentines to Presidents Through the Years, Like When She Said Clinton Had 'Sax Appeal'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ethel Kennedy and Bill Clinton at a New York City event on Oct. 6, 2006.Photo:Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Ethel Kennedy’s daughterKerry Kennedyis showing off some of her late mother’s best homemade valentines, which were mentioned multiple times atEthel’s memorial servicethis week.On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Kerry shared images to social media of some of the cards that her mother, the widow of late Sen.Robert F. Kennedy, sent out to her politician friends for Valentine’s Day over the years.In her post on X (formerly Twitter), Kerry wrote that some of her “Mummy’s favorite Valentine’s cards” included ones she sent to PresidentJoe Biden, former PresidentsBarack ObamaandBill Clinton, and former House SpeakerNancy Pelosi.Joe Biden accepts an RFK Human Rights Ripple of Hope award from Ethel Kennedy.Kevin Mazur/GettyIn one card, Ethel wrote to Biden, “I’m not Biden my time waiting for you, Valentine,” alongside a photo of the pair together and a handwritten note that read: “‘Cuz he’s no ordinary Joe. XO Bearhugs, Ethel.“While delivering the final eulogy for Ethel at her memorial on Wednesday, Biden brought up that valentine as a cherished possession of his.“I don’t know how many of you got that damn valentine, but I tell you what, it meant a lot to me,” he said. “I’ve received a lot of honors in my life, but that might be the best one I’ve ever received.“Another card that Ethel sent to Obama joked: “I thought they said Merman,” alongside a photo of the duo together taken as he awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Barack Obama (L) presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ethel Kennedy (R) at the White House in 2014.Alex Wong/GettyEthel’s card to Clinton featured a photoshopped image of herself and the former president playing the saxophone together, and was captioned: “One day we’ll make music, ‘cuz you know how I feel; But right now, Valentine — This guy blows my mind with his sax appeal.“Another card, seemingly sent to Pelosi, featured a photoshopped picture of Ethel tearing open an envelope full of hearts with the text: “Roses are red, Violets are blue. I’ll tear up all the others, Valentine, so I’ll just have you.““Heartwarming to hear that @POTUS, President @BarackObama, President @BillClinton, and @SpeakerPelosi loved them as much as we did! ❤️” Kerry, 65, captioned the post, referencing their nods to the valentines at the memorial service.Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at Ethel Kennedy’s memorial service on Oct. 16, 2024.Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via GettyMany of Ethel’s friends and family attended “A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy” at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on Oct. 16.The human rights activist and mother of 11 died at the age of 96 on Oct. 10.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.Obama, Clinton, Biden and Pelosi all played a role in the memorial program, as didMartin Luther King III,Kenny Chesney,Stevie Wonder,Stingand several of Ethel’s children and grandchildren.

Ethel Kennedy’s daughterKerry Kennedyis showing off some of her late mother’s best homemade valentines, which were mentioned multiple times atEthel’s memorial servicethis week.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Kerry shared images to social media of some of the cards that her mother, the widow of late Sen.Robert F. Kennedy, sent out to her politician friends for Valentine’s Day over the years.

In her post on X (formerly Twitter), Kerry wrote that some of her “Mummy’s favorite Valentine’s cards” included ones she sent to PresidentJoe Biden, former PresidentsBarack ObamaandBill Clinton, and former House SpeakerNancy Pelosi.

Joe Biden accepts an RFK Human Rights Ripple of Hope award from Ethel Kennedy.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

In one card, Ethel wrote to Biden, “I’m not Biden my time waiting for you, Valentine,” alongside a photo of the pair together and a handwritten note that read: “‘Cuz he’s no ordinary Joe. XO Bearhugs, Ethel.”

While delivering the final eulogy for Ethel at her memorial on Wednesday, Biden brought up that valentine as a cherished possession of his.

“I don’t know how many of you got that damn valentine, but I tell you what, it meant a lot to me,” he said. “I’ve received a lot of honors in my life, but that might be the best one I’ve ever received.”

Another card that Ethel sent to Obama joked: “I thought they said Merman,” alongside a photo of the duo together taken as he awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Barack Obama (L) presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ethel Kennedy (R) at the White House in 2014.Alex Wong/Getty

Alex Wong/Getty

Ethel’s card to Clinton featured a photoshopped image of herself and the former president playing the saxophone together, and was captioned: “One day we’ll make music, ‘cuz you know how I feel; But right now, Valentine — This guy blows my mind with his sax appeal.”

Another card, seemingly sent to Pelosi, featured a photoshopped picture of Ethel tearing open an envelope full of hearts with the text: “Roses are red, Violets are blue. I’ll tear up all the others, Valentine, so I’ll just have you.”

“Heartwarming to hear that @POTUS, President @BarackObama, President @BillClinton, and @SpeakerPelosi loved them as much as we did! ❤️” Kerry, 65, captioned the post, referencing their nods to the valentines at the memorial service.

Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at Ethel Kennedy’s memorial service on Oct. 16, 2024.Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty

Many of Ethel’s friends and family attended “A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy” at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C., on Oct. 16.

The human rights activist and mother of 11 died at the age of 96 on Oct. 10.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

Obama, Clinton, Biden and Pelosi all played a role in the memorial program, as didMartin Luther King III,Kenny Chesney,Stevie Wonder,Stingand several of Ethel’s children and grandchildren.

source: people.com