Republican Brown claiming Democrat Kennedy’s Senate seat, but Kerry grabbing his desk

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Brown getting Kennedy’s seat, but not his desk

BOSTON — Republican Scott Brown may be taking over Democrat Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat, but not his desk.

An aide says Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is claiming the mahogany desk on the Senate floor used by Kennedy for nearly 47 years. Until now, Kerry has been seated at the desk once used by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, the late senator’s assassinated brother.

Kennedy was partial to his own desk No. 83 because it had once been used by President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy even left it in the back row of the chamber — when his seniority would have allowed him to move it down front — because that was where his brother sat.

Following Senate tradition since about 1900, all senators inscribe their name on their desk’s drawer.

Brown will be sworn in Thursday. Kennedy died in August of brain cancer.