The Kennedy Compound, Reagan’s House, and Other Homes of Presidents
By: Leslie Pandey, Senior Content Writer/Editor | October 7, 2008
At left, the Kennedy Compound; at right, Ronald Reagan’s Bel Air home
When Sen. Ted Kennedy, died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, it set off talk about the future of the Kennedy Compound, located at 50 Marchant Ave, Barnstable, MA 02630.
According to the Boston Globe, the Kennedy Compound could be turned into an historic site, public museum or retreat center.
“My understanding is the senator wants that property to go to the public,’’ said someone close to the Kennedy family, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. “He wants it to be a historic property, similar to Franklin Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park.’’
Three Kennedy homes are located in this area, but the Marchant address is the most visibly recognizable with its white clapboard siding and huge porch — perfect for watching the family play football on the lawn and swim and sail along Nantucket Sound. Patriarch Joseph P. Kennedy purchased this property in 1929 after renting it the previous three years and sons John F. Kennedy and Robert purchased adjacent properties to accommodate the huge Kennedy clan.
All the President’s homes
Looking for more presidential history? We’ve pulled together an exhaustive list of Famous Homes of U.S. Presidents. Featuring 30 homes in all, the list covers 15 current and former presidents — from George W. to the original George W. (Washington, that is!) — as well as the two presidential opponents in the 2008 election, Barack Obama and John McCain. Of course, the White House will always be the most famous residence, but it’s fascinating to see where the presidents came from and where they went after office.
We’ve got possibly the most famous presidential home of all — the Kennedy Compound (see satellite view of home). There’s Ronald Reagan’s Bel Air estate, George W. Bush’s Midland starter home, and Bill Clinton’s Washington, D.C. and Chappaqua, NY houses (you can even see what appear to be secret service cars parked out front on the satellite view of home). There are also some lesser-known presidents represented — uh, Chester A. Arthur, anyone?
So, before you rock the vote, brush up on your presidential history: Check out our full list of Famous Homes of U.S. Presidents.
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sisuanna on October 9, 2008 7:42 am
President Gerald Ford was often seen schussing down the slopes — not shushing. A little extra info below…
Main Entry: schuss
Pronunciation: ’shus, ’shüs
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: schuss, noun, from German Schuss, literally, shot, from Old High German scuz — more at SHOT
Date: 1940
: to ski directly down a slope at high speed
wglenn on February 16, 2009 7:18 pm
To clarify, the Kennedy compound is not really a compound in the true sense.
The houses along Irving Avenue - JFK & RKF’s and Marchant Avenue are comprised of three separate - rather small plot but adjacent houses with the main waterfront house (in all the photos) originally owned by Joe & Rose and now owned by Sen. Kennedy who occupies the main house off & on throughout the year. This is the only waterfront property.
In late 1956 JFK purchased a modest but sizeable house (in aerial photos it is the house toward the upper left corner second to the left from Joe & Roses) on the corner of Irving Avenue and Robert purchased a similar modest house between JFK’s and directly behind (North) Joe & Roses. Interestingly, JFK’s house is heated by steam radiators fired by oil…very New England.
RFK’s side yard abutts JFK’s side/back yard. RFK’s back yard abutts Joe & Rose’s back yard. Thus the area is still a Cape Cod residential street with nicer than average but not lavish homes.
Extended family members, e.g. cousins, 3rd generation Kennedy’s, etc. have homes in the immediate area but are not contiguous to the three original properties which to this day remain separately titled properties.
Other than stockade around portions of JFK’s place and rail fencing around RFK’s there is no security fence or closed streets albeit Marchant Ave at the end of which becomes a private drive of 20 feet or so into Joe & Roses place.
When the Senator is at home there is generally a Mass. State Police car parked on Marchant Ave. to deter curiosity seekers but the road remains public and if you’re discrete on winter days you can walk down Marchant to the edge of the driveway to Joe & Roses for an unobstructed view of the Big house. Don’t linger, be bothersome, or hang around and point, and you will otherwise not be bothered.
Caroline after her mother and brother’s death inherited JFK’s place sold it in 2005 to Sen. Kennedy. Prior to the house sale Caroline put up via Sotheby’s objects and furnishings from the JFK house. She spends her Cape time on Martha’s Vineyard at a newly constructed house that replaced the one her mother built (which Caroline had torn down…no emotional issues there, eh!).
I am guessing but assume JFK’s house is used occassionally by Caroline but otherwise as overflow accomodations when Sen. Kennedy or Ethel have a gathering or distant Kennedy relations need a grace & favor summer place to stay.
Robert’s wife Ethel in recent years has spent most of her time year round in the RFK house and permanently moved there in 2005 from the large Hickory Hill Virgina property which she sold in 2008.
To the right (right of the tennis court) of Joe & Roses is another large waterfront house that you would think is part of the compound. It is not and belongs I believe to E. Koch, President/owner of Koch industries.
Interior photos of JFK’s house can be found at: http://www.pinkpillbox.com/hyannisport.htm
debra stebbins on August 27, 2009 8:03 pm
it sad to see all them gone or hopes and dreams were john jr. not the president we have now
Lisa Verkuilen on August 28, 2009 12:10 pm
I find this offensive. Sen. Kennedy isn’t even buried yet and you are already talking about “home transitioning” and “how are they going to dispose of the family home.” SHAME, SHAME!!!!!
gary on August 29, 2009 9:34 am
If no Kennedys are living in the house and if Ted is the last one who lived there, then it could become a museum.
But I would not be happy if the house that I grew up in would become a museum. Incidentally that house i grew up in was moved.
WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO WANDER THROUGH WHERE YOU GREW UP?
philip@maynezfoundation.org on August 30, 2009 1:22 pm
That is sad. That Ted Kennedy thought of himself as a
Franklin Roosevelt. He really must have not cared for the rest of the Kennedys if he is going to just leave the property to charity. Usually that happens when the family member wants to break the family up. Very, Very sad.