ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Confessing that he has no memory of an early-morning car crash on
Thursday or its controversial aftermath, Rep. Patrick Kennedy
announced Friday that he is returning to Minnesota's Mayo Clinic for
treatment of a prescription drug addiction.

"I've been fighting this chronic disease since I was a young man,"
Kennedy acknowledged Friday, reading a prepared statement in the
House Radio and Television Office. "I struggle every day with this
disease, as do millions of Americans."

Kennedy acknowledged publicly for the first time that last Christmas
he had checked in to the Mayo Clinic for treatment of addiction to
prescription pain medication and stayed there through the congressional recess.

"I returned to the House of Representatives and Rhode Island
reinvigorated and healthy," he asserted.

But, he said, the Thursday morning incident that culminated in his
crashing his Mustang convertible into a security barrier near the
Capitol, "concerns me greatly."

According to Washington D.C. news reports, Kennedy, after narrowly
missing a collision with a Capitol Police vehicle at approximately
2:45 a.m., struck a security barrier. He told the police officers at
the scene that he was a congressman and late for a vote. The House
had adjourned several hours earlier.

Kennedy, who denies drinking alcohol that night, was not given a
sobriety test and was driven home by Capitol Police higher-ups.

Kennedy said Thursday night that he had taken a prescription
medication for gastroenteritis and a sleeping pill and must have been
"disoriented."

At his press conference, the six-term Democrat said, "I simply do not
remember getting out of bed, being pulled over by the police or being
cited for three driving infractions. That's not how I want to live my
life and it is not how I want to represent the people of Rhode
Island," adding "the reoccurrence of an addiction problem can be
triggered by things that happen in everyday life, such as taking the
common treatment for a stomach flu."

But, Kennedy said, "that is not an excuse for what happened Wednesday
evening. But it is the reality of fighting a chronic condition for
which I am taking full responsibility."

At the end of the statement, at which he did not take questions, an
unidentified reporter could be heard asking, "Have you given any
thought to resigning?"

Kennedy quietly said, "No."

During his first campaign for the 1st District House seat in 1994,
Kennedy admitted having a cocaine problem as a youth, for which he
received treatment. He also made public his battle with chronic
depression. His mother, Joan Kennedy, also publicly struggled with
alcoholism and late last year agreed to re-enter a treatment program
and allowed her financial affairs to be put under the control of a
court-appointed guardian after Patrick and his siblings attempted to
take control of her finances. Other family members have likewise
publicly acknowledged problems with alcohol and drugs.

Kennedy's father, Sen. Patrick Kennedy, issued a statement that said:
"I love Patrick very much and am very proud of him.All of us in the
family admire his courage in speaking publicly about very personal
issues and fully support his decision to seek treatment.

"I have the rare and special honor of being able to serve with my son
in the Congress, and I have enormous respect for the work Patrick has
done," the elder Kennedy said. "The people of the 1st District of
Rhode Island have a tireless champion for the issues they care about,
and, today, I hope they join me in feeling pride and respect for a
courageous man who has admitted to a problem and taken bold action to
correct it."

Fellow Democrats Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Jim Langevin issued
supportive statements shortly after Kennedy's announcement, which was
carried live on cable TV news shows.

"Congressman Kennedy's announcement is a step that took tremendous
courage," Reed said. "I support his decision and willingness to speak
so frankly and honestly about his very personal struggle.

"As Patrick's friend and colleague, I am proud that he is addressing
this issue, and I know that the thoughts of his constituents in Rhode
Island are with him," the senator continued. "There are not always
easy answers, and I hope that this very difficult process helps
Patrick because he has been an effective voice and fighter for so
many important causes in Rhode Island and the nation."

Langevin said, ""I respect the decision that my friend and colleague
Patrick Kennedy made today to discuss his struggles honestly and
openly and to seek treatment at the Mayo Clinic. The events that have
unfolded over the last 24 hours are truly unfortunate. To his great
credit, Patrick recognizes that and has made the courageous decision
to seek professional help. I hope his actions will give others
suffering from addiction or mental illness the courage to seek help themselves.

Patrick and I have served together for many years, both in the Rhode
Island Legislature and in Congress. During that time, Patrick has
always been a tireless advocate for the citizens of Rhode Island. I
know that this has been a difficult day for him, but I am proud of
the maturity, professionalism and courage he has shown."

Not everybody was supportive, however.

Republican Party Chairwoman Patricia Morgan suggested Kennedy should
resign his seat.

"It seems clear that Rep. Patrick Kennedy is not currently capable of
fulfilling his responsibilities of US Congressman," Morgan said in a
press release. "At the very least it would be appropriate for him to
take a medical leave of absence if not seriously consider resigning
his post all together; so the citizens of RI can have a full time
fully attentive First District Congressman."

Ed Leather, an East Providence Republican who announced on Thursday
that he would challenge Kennedy in the 1st District race, also called
on Kennedy to resign.

"I have great sympathy for anyone with these kinds of problems; it's
a difficult thing to handle," Leather told The Times. "But either it
can not be controlled or he lacks the maturity and will to do so. In
either case, he does not belong in Congress. I am a citizen of Rhode
Island and the district and this is not the kind of person I want
representing me in Congress."

Democratic Party Chairman predicted that Kennedy's announcement "will
have no (political) impact in the short term or the long term." Lynch
called Kennedy "one of the most prolific and successful congressmen
we've had from Rhode Island."

He said it is very unlikely there would be a challenge to Kennedy
from within the Democratic Party.