TW: Am just learning all sorts of trivia today. This piece brings up a fair question within the context of EMK's death- what happens to politicians campaign war chest when they die in office. The notable feature with EMK being his was much larger than most $4+MM. Old politicians never die their money just fades away.
From Boston Globe:
"When he died...Senator...Kennedy left behind a war chest many politicians would envy: $4.55 million in cash and practically no campaign debt, the benefits of a 47-year incumbency and no serious political threats at home.
Now, the late senator’s aides are left to handle the money in ways that specialists expect will be dictated by Kennedy’s desires for his personal and political legacy, as well as strict campaign finance laws on how campaign funds can be redistributed.
...The millions Kennedy collected to help him stay in office won’t be of much use to any potential successors. According to campaign finance rules, the campaign can only give $2,000 or less to another political campaign - even after the candidate’s death. That would prevent Kennedy’s campaign operatives from turning over the bulk of the money to a potential successor, including his widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, or his nephew, Joseph P. Kennedy II.
...The senator’s campaign committee and its treasurer, John Zamparelli, have the authority to keep the campaign account open indefinitely, allowing them to control the money. But their options are limited: they can donate any or all of the money to charity, give an unlimited amount to the Democratic Party and its political committees, or distribute it in increments of $2,000 a year..."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/09/01/kennedy_left__455_million_campaign_fund/
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