Senator Ted Kennedy Public Memorial: Share Your Memories
Legendary Senator Ted Kennedy passed away last night, leaving behind millions of people whose lives he deeply affected, both through personal relationships and his tireless legislative work on behalf behalf everything from civil rights, gender equality and educational justice to labor, immigration and health care reform.
Share your memories in the form below, whether a personal interaction, a historic moment or a bill that had a special impact on your life. We'll be reading through them and uploading your tributes to this page throughout the day. Click here to tell your story.
Mary Tewhey from Cary, IL:
He showed anyone could pick themselves up after a fall from grace and become a truly great human being as well as an inspiration to all. What a great man! Thoughts & prayers with his family. Thanks for never giving up!Richard Schmidt from Port Isabel, TX:
In 1965, I was sitting at a special premier of "The Sound of Music" in Boston. I turned to my right, and there sitting on the other side of the isle, was Ted Kennedy. After the movie, I asked him to sign a fund raising book I had designed for the Democratic State Committee, and he so gracefully did. Several days after Chappaquiddick, I was devastated and lost all faith in our man Ted, not just because of the dreadful accident, but because he handed away the standard of liberalism. But since our society is so magnanimous and we have forgiven so many on either side of the aisle, it was time for me to join, so this morning I asked God for the repose of the soul of Edward M Kennedy.
Leslie Mills from Menlo Park, CA:
All of the Kennedys affected my life, although we lost John and Robert far too soon. Teddy, as I recall, was in the plane accident in which he broke his back, and it was on my 14th birthday; I remembering crying, as I thought he was going to die. I had loved the Kennedys from about 5th grade on, and always remained their most ardent admirers. There are no others in public service whom I admire more than this family who have had to face more trials and tribulations than most people in a lifetime.All of the Kennedy brothers were eloquent, true to their beliefs, honestly cared about the common man and this country, and were generous with their money as far as causes and contributions. Instead of being focused only on their families, the Kennedys were honestly concerned about this country and the people.Ted, in particular, was the greatest senator this country has ever seen, and I just mentioned the other day that I could not think of one single politician that I admire and care about more than Ted Kennedy. While he made mistakes, it really makes no difference; everyone has as no one is perfect. He was essentially a good man who fought for the downtrodden, the poor, those discriminated against, etc., and he was honestly the most concerned about how everyday people have been affected by the government, the economy, the politics. I believe he would have made an extraordinary president.
I will miss Teddy for the rest of my life--and miss him. I have no other person in politics to look up to anymore. There is no other as eloquent, as dignified, as dedicated, as Ted Kennedy was. May he rest in peace, be with the rest of his family who have already gone on ahead of him, and may his family here on earth be blessed for the rest of their lives. No more tragedies for the Kennedys; they have had more than their share. My prayers are with them, and I will continue to remember the Kennedy brothers as fondly and as lovingly as I did when I was in grade school--over 50 years ago.
James Dubro from Toronto, Canada:
I first met Teddy Kennedy in 1962 when I was 15 and was growing up on Beacon Hill. Teddy was running for his brother's open Senate seat. I was standing outside Kennedy's headquarters on Bolyston Street across from the Boston Commons (where I always played as a youth) saying loudly to my buddy, another 15- year-old boy, that Kennedy's only qualification for being senator was being the brother of the President. My friend kicked me and I looked up to see Teddy Kennedy smiling down at us. He was polite, introduced himself to us and went in. I never knew if he heard my disparaging saucy remarks, but assumed he was just being gracious and politic.
In any case, after he was elected senator I used to deliver drug store items to his elegant home on Louisburg Square. Often Teddy greeted me in his pajamas. Funny enough he never gave me a tip, though he was always good-natured and friendly. His wife Joan, who often answered the door in her negligee, always gave me a dollar tip. And curious as I was, I never looked in the bags to see what drugs the Kennedy's were taking.
Nancy Jones from Seattle, WA:
My husband was a policeman in the 1960s when Ted came to Seattle to speak at the Olympic Hotel. My husband was picked to stay with him until he left Seattle. Ted was downstairs eating at the hotel and sent my husband a steak dinner to the room. He was a good and kind man-- when he returned home he sent us the nicest letter thanking my husband for his help. This family will miss him greatly.
Bonnie McCarthy from Verona, NJ:
I was attending a Democratic fundraiser at the Jersey Shore and was worried about coming up with something to say. As I waited in line to shake Kennedy's hand I remembered that I had seen him on TV playing tennis the day before. So when he shook my hand I said "I like your back hand" and he said "Why thank you very much" with that teethy smile we all love. A gracious man who who made everyone feel important. Today I am disabled with MS and look to the future with hope not fear.
Mary Bartholomay from Palo Alto, CA:
In 1972, I was helping my sister who was running the local McGovern campaign, for which Ted Kennedy was doing a series of whistle stops throughout the Bay Area. At a rally at a shopping mall, the throngs of people surged right past the roped-off area where Senator Kennedy was standing: hundreds of hands of every color reaching out for handshakes. For the briefest moment ,even though the Secret Service was everywhere, a look of abject terror went over the Senator's face was like nothing I had ever seen before. And then he joyously sped forward to be amongst his fellow citizens. I mention this because although we all call him 'Lion' I think we forget the immense amount of personal courage it must have taken to take to continue in public life, to be outspoken, to speak to truth to power, in the face of such horrific memories and such depth of sorrow.
President and CEO of America for the Arts, Robert L. Lynch from Washington, DC, tells of Kennedy's impact on the keeping the arts alive:
Senator Edward M. Kennedy was a titan for the arts. Ever since the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was opened as a living memorial to the late president, and Senator Kennedy has carried forth the arts and humanities legacy that his brother began. He powerfully advocated the need to nurture creativity and to broaden access to artistic excellence in the U.S. Senate, and his leadership extended to co-founding and co-chairing the Senate Arts Caucus.Throughout his work, he carried strong messages of freedom of expression, tolerance, and creative rights. He spoke staunchly of the central role of the federal government in supporting American cultural life, inspiring bipartisan cooperation among his colleagues. Each year for Arts Advocacy Day, he welcomed a small group of our advocates to his hideaway office on Capitol Hill and hosted a lunch that brought us together with Congressional leaders. One year he even met up with us on the steps of Capitol Hill, enthusiastically joining in as Peter Yarrow led a rousing sing-a-long on behalf of the arts.
I've had the personal pleasure of working with Senator Kennedy on federal arts issues on a number of occasions, and as a native of Massachusetts and longtime admirer, let me say how deeply his warmth, humor, empathy, and fierce passion will be missed.
Bennet Kelley from Santa Monica, CA:
I got into politics because of the Kennedys and volunteered on his 1980 campaign. I remember him as a fighter who made a difference. He also was an Irishman who could tell a good story or joke. I was at a debate watch party for the last Bush-Kerry debate that he was at and Bush kept attacking Kerry as the conservative Senator from Mass forcing Teddy to stand up and say "I'm sorry, I didn't know I was so conservative".
Elizabeth M. Brooks from Medford, OR:
I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts but moved to Bozeman, MT and most recently to Medford, OR. When I first moved to Montana, I still had my Massachusetts license plate. At the time, I did not realize that most of MT was solidly Republican and therefore I was became the designated spokesperson defending Ted to the incessant question of "Did you vote for Ted Kennedy?" I was always so proud to say of course I did, then the conversation would begin with a barrage of sometimes insults or right wing vignettes about Ted's life, his brothers exploits with Marilyn etc. I would then explain to them the many things Ted had done for Massachusetts and the country as a whole ... I never got tired of defending a liberal point of view no matter how tiresome the tirade became.I will miss him dearly, God speed Mr. Kennedy. Your picture will always be slightly above the pope's in my childhood memories of my home in Cambridge, MA
Guy Lange from Key Largo, FL remembers his encounters with Kennedy:
There are 2 times that I had personal contact with the greatest Senator ever. The first was during the American Friends Service Committee war protest march in 1972 that followed the "Christmas bombings" of Hanoi. He was one of the few members of Congress who agreed to meet with any protesters. Sixty of us were crowded into his office sitting on the floor squashed in like sardines. When he entered, his personal magnetism flooded the room and the only sound you could hear was his easy jocular voice with a quick quip about the seating arrangements. His first concern was our comfort, whether we would rather move to a larger room or not, to which we responded with a vociferous no. We probably should have taken up his offer because he spoke for nearly thirty minutes then asked us questions and thoughtfully listened to the courageous few who spoke. He didn't look for an excuse to leave but waited until all was said that was needed. He graciously thanked us all for coming and shook as many hands as possible as we paraded out the door. The grumbling mob of us that had entered the room left transformed into giddy schoolchildren.The second time was via the mail. When I was discharged from the Navy nine years later they made a mistake and shortchanged me about $600 on my final paycheck which included travel expenses. The Navy claimed that I had taken 2 weeks leave that was erroneously not recorded. In face, during that time I was to sea manning port and starboard navigation watches (6 on 6 off plus regular working hours i.e., 20 hours per day for a week and a half straight.) I did have proof but they wouldn't give in. My congressman tried to help but got nowhere. My letter to Senator Kennedy, however, did the trick and his personal note in reply, thanking me for my service and apologizing on behalf of the United States Government, was handwritten and acknowledged my good conduct award.
While it is true that most politicians have this same gracious manner when in close contact with constituents few, in my opinion, accomplish the feat with the ease that "Teddy" did it was always clear that it was never an act and it gave credence to the occasional expressions of ire directed at his foes.
I deeply regret his loss, for his family and the nation. Having very recently lost my own father at age eighty-seven, the sole remaining member of his generation, I understand the emptiness that results.
Peter Slutsky from Washington, DC:
Late last night, America lost Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy.I hardly ever wake up during the night, but last night I woke up at about 2:30am and read the news on my Blackberry. I couldn't get back to sleep - my head was reeling with personal memories, as well as the sheer impact that Sen. Kennedy's loss will have on the country and the world.
However, at about 3:30am, I slowly drifted back to sleep, contemplating Teddy Kennedy's epic role in American society and picturing the scene up in Hyannis Port, his family gathered around him, saying their final goodbyes. Then, I began to think past the earth...
Whether you believe in heaven or not, there is something really comforting about the thought of Teddy, Jack and Bobby sitting on a cloud, carefree, somewhere in the heavens, sipping on a cold summer drink. Those three have a lot to catch up on...
Rest in peace, Teddy Kennedy.
Skip & Kathy Bourque from Westminter, MA:
I contacted Senator Kennedy's office to ask if it was possible for my wife Kathy and I to get tickets to the first Kennedy/Romney Debate at Faneuil Hall in Boston during October 1994 for five Russian police officers who were visiting Massachusetts as participants in a two-way exchange program.A few days later, I received a reply that no tickets to the debate at Faneuil Hall were available, but complimentary tickets to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at Columbia Point would be waiting for us there on the date of the debate.
When my wife and I arrived with our Russian guests, we were greeted by the library director who to our great surprise explained that Senator Kennedy had been preparing for the debate in the family's private room on the 7th floor and waited for us to arrive as long as he could before he had to leave for Faneuil Hall.
The library director gave all of us a private tour that ended on the 7th floor at two large double oak doors, and while unlocking these doors he smiled and said to the Russian translator in our group, "The Senator said that to tell you that you might be interested to know that the only other Russian that was invited to enter was a fellow name Mikhail Gorbachev."
It will suffice to say that 'Ted' was a great man and a regular guy!
Toni Zy from Los Angeles, CA:
I never met him in person but as a child in school I could remember my history nun speaking about health care and how Senator Kennedy had dedicated his life to helping the little people and making a universal health care plan for everyone.He was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve and believed that he could make this world a more compassionate place. He was born to wealth but he step into the real world and made changes and wanted to continue to make changes. He was a great person and he met and overcame challenges and his life is an example for all of us to try to do unselfishly the necessary callings.
Marc Owensby from Potomac, MD:
In 1980, when Ted was running for the Presidency I attended a political meeting (one of my first, I was 18). The guest was the famous economist John Kenneth Galbraith who had served as an advisor to John Kennedy and Ambassador to India. He also advised many later Democratic Presidents.Galbraith had a fun little line about the Kennedys that he used that evening, and I often think of it whenever I see Ted on TV. It went something like this: "When John was President, I had to call him up to tell him what to do. Bobby was a little smarter, he would call me and ask me what to do. Ted, he just knows what to do."
God's speed Ted. You'll be missed. There aren't many people left who know what to do.
Geraldine Bolter from Wasilla, AK:
At 65, my Kennedy memories go back into the years - I studied the Nixon/JFK candidacy in 1960 in high school. Senator Kennedy has always held a warm spot in my heart as he represented possibilities. He showed himself as a man of growth, as he floundered on the shoals of poor decisions. Very human. Very real. But, he kept growing and evolving. He stands as a beacon to all of us who have regrets but want to grow. He's the embodiment of the Imperfect Man who becomes the Pathfinder. Lead the way, Teddy, I'll find you on the other side.
Miles Zaremski from Highland Park, IL:
Ted Kennedy was a mountain of a man. I was asked to represent him, and others from Congress, as friends of the court in two cases before the United States Supreme Court. These cases had to do with managed care entities "hiding" behind the federal ERISA law in order to pre-empt state laws exposing them to liability for decisions they made regarding the care and treatment of patients. I worked through one of his main stalwarts, Jeffrey Teitz on the Health, Education and Labor Subcommittee, and teamed up with an attorney from the Department of Labor. Kennedy was determined to be an advocate for those less fortunate and who had to fight the big health care entities that sought to limit their exposure to claims even from decisions they instructed doctors to carry out. We need all learn from his passion, drive and motivation when we hear today that a public health care insurance option is no good since it will get in the way of our relationships with our doctors. Kennedy knew when I wrote the brief for him back then that private companies do precisely what opponents of real reform claim should not be done today. We will all miss him, but he knows we will not let his vision and passion be in vain. Rest well Senator.
Steve Saetre from Bayfield, WU:
We the people are the ones that Sen.Kennedy served. He leaves us having lived a full life. His warm smile, laughter and great speeches will live on in my memories of him. I recall receiving a full letter from him in the mid-70's while I was in high school debate club seeking information on health care reform back then. And here we are today. The very health of people was his concern. May meaningful reform on it be passed by Congress soon. His cause, concerns, cares, hopes and dreams are now ares to live out. May he rest in peace. And may the world live anew in peace. Teddy, you never grew "old"!
Linda Lee from San Francisco, CA:
I first saw Sen. Kennedy at the 1960 convention in LA. I was 15 and my Dad took me to the convention on one of the lesser nights - a Tuesday or Wednesday. Bobby and Teddy were down working the convention floor and even in that swirling mass of people they stood out. That night lit the fires of a lifelong passion for politics.
Tyiesha Mayberry from Cleveland, OH:
I was born years after the Kennedy brothers died and the events always seemed so distant to me--almost as if they happened a hundred years ago. When I read that young Ted insisted on toasting his oldest brother who had been killed in the war, the Kennedy family became real to me and I realized not just what we lost as a nation, but that a little boy had lost his brother.Observing the Kennedys influenced my political viewpoint. Here we have a family who is steeped in generations of wealth, privilege and power and yet they work tirelessly on behalf of people who less fortunate. They seem to understand that they are servants of the public and not czars.
RIP, Ted Kennedy and long live the Kennedy family. May they always have a seat at the table of American politics.
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First Posted: 08-26-09 09:07 AM | Updated: 08-26-09 07:09 PM