After all the magnificent eulogies and obituaries, what more and what new can be said about Ted Kennedy, my friend of almost exactly 56 years and the leader of all the causes in Washington in which I believe -- a more peaceful world, a more just America, a more humane and progressive United States government.
Too many people still think about the human frailties that characterized his youth; and those without sin are permitted by scripture to cast the first stone against him. But that past only emphasizes the extraordinary extent to which, like his brothers Jack and Bobby, Ted grew as his responsibilities increased. His determination to achieve his brothers' goals was genuine and unrelenting, his devotion to each of his own many causes over the years was sincere and unflagging. He became known on both sides of the Senate aisle for his careful selection and retention of a brilliant staff, and - with their help - doing his homework in preparation for every Senate debate.
Most people do not realize the extent to which he was, in the final analysis, a survivor. Both his oldest brother and his oldest sister were killed in plane crashes, but he survived the plane crash that broke his back and killed the pilot and co-pilot. As the younger brother of two assassinated young liberal heros, he received his own share of anonymous hate mail and death threats, but he survived to age 77. Both after his plane crash and his automobile accident, I sat at his bedside, wondering if he would have the strength to go on. But he did, and for this last year I had hoped that somehow he would come back again and go on to even greater heights as a champion of America's final effort to achieve accessible health care for all of its citizens.
As a friend, he could be funny, full of laughter and as interested in frivolity and gossip as anyone else in Washington. He had the good fortune to meet and marry Victoria Reggie, whose parents were a wonderful politically-oriented and active Democratic Party couple in Louisiana whom John F. Kennedy and I had met long before Teddy had met Vicki. But she was the saving grace of the latter portion of his life, even before he was suddenly struck by brain cancer; and she was as well the caregiver and schedule coordinator who made his last year a time of peace that included recreation as well as a continuing voice in legislation.
He is fortunate as well to be survived by three remarkable children, who have had their own encounters with illness and adversity: Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who could someday rise, if all goes well, to be a leader of not only his Party but the House of Representatives; Edward Kennedy, Jr., who has learned from his father's leadership on health care, his two uncles' fight for universal access to quality medical care, and his own early setback -- when cancer took his leg -- to make a career out of providing advice and assistance to medical and hospital facilities -- particularly those helping the orthopedically disabled -- all over the world; and Kara Kennedy Allen, Ted's daughter, who has shown the same caring for the least fortunate in her own career. Kara works for Very Special Arts, the creative counterpart to Special Olympics founded by her aunt Jean; and serves as well on the Board of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Facing lung cancer in 2003 but currently in remission, she too has personal experience with the highs and lows of healthcare in this country.
Clearly, Teddy Kennedy's own legacy will live on through his children, through the hundreds of important pieces of legislation that he authored, through the brilliant staff that he assembled and dispersed to other important roles around the country, and through the books, articles and speeches he has produced in his 46 years as a United States Senator. Above all, his legacy will live on through the millions of friends he has made and nurtured over the years, both in and out of politics, both in and out of the United States, among members of many races, religions and nationalities. Among all those friends for whom he did so much good, some will mourn and miss him more than others. I am among those who will miss him most.
Ted Sorensen is the former Special Counsel and Advisor to President John F. Kennedy and most recently the author of Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History.
Thank you for writing this piece. It is a really nice perspective from a close friend of a great family.
Like Percival, you are the last modern knight of Camelot.
You have kept the fabled lore of Excalibur alive as one of your comrades after another have gone to a better place.
In your tender hands, caressing that mighty pen, the sword of courage has lived on.
God bless you!
Where are the Kennedy women? Why doesn't the Pope want to acknowledge a relation?
We can't imrpove healthcare if we don't expand as an economic power. Obama believes there will always be an inexhaustible source of wealth for him to tap and redistribute. Yeah, keep thinking that O; China almost has us in their rear view mirror.
We need to prioritize getting on our feet economically and then we can improve HC for all.
I will appologize for "big media" for the total lack of recognition of what younger family members are doing. I feel shame for this.
Civil Rights
Vietnam
Disibilities and mental health acts
The Iraq War
When are we going to learn and pass healthcare - if we do not - it is going to bankrupt the country!
Sen. Kennedy's work on behalf of America's poor is being censored out, and this is an ugly insult to the senator. I urge people to go to http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Ted_Kennedy.htm to see for themselves where Sen. Kennedy stood on this issue.
Voted NO on welfare overhaul.
Status: Bill Passed Y)87; N)12; NV)1
Reference: Contract w/ America (Welfare Refm); Bill H.R. 4 ; vote number 1995-443 on
Sep 19, 1995
Voted NO on allowing state welfare waivers.
Vote on a procedural motion to allow consideration of an amendment to express the
sense of Congress that the president should approve the waivers requested by states
that want to implement welfare reform.
Reference: Bill S.1956 ; vote number 1996-208 on Jul 19, 1996
* Voted NO on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
* Voted YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps. (Jul 1996)
* Voted NO on allowing state welfare waivers. (Jul 1996)
* Voted NO on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
--http://www.ontheissues.org/Background_Welfare_+_Poverty.htm
A brilliant writer and a great and loyal friend. I only wish we could hear and read MORE (much more) from Ted Sorenson--and that he would pen some of Obama's speeches. Mr. Sorenson's inspiring and authentic words, spoken by yet another sincere and skilled orator, would be so wonderful to hear.
Thank you for your service to our country, Mr. Sorenson. In so many ways..
"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."
Here is the way to fix health care for individuals, businesses, and taxpayers using governments “unfair advantage”.
Why not?
Nobody can collect the money to pay for health care as cheaply as the government can through a national sales tax and nobody can deliver high quality care and medications as cost effectively as the VA has for years.
Offering a choice to everyone in the United States to use either free public health care, funded by a national sales tax, or alternatively using private systems paid for with private funding, would allow proponents of each system the opportunity to use their choice and save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars annually doing it.
Going back and forth between free public, and user purchased private care, may suit some people, and it would provide unlimited choices, ultimate freedom, and always free public care would be available when it is needed or desired for everyone who asks for it, no restrictions.
As a volunteer in Wisconsin I distributed hand bills for Jack Kennedy’s presidential primary campaign.
Through my life I have had high hopes that the Kennedy magic could raise all boats, and it has raised many.
I still belive.
Or perhaps "youth" extends to age 41 -- his age when I met him in 1973 on Nantucket, when he was there regarding the rollicking mis-adventures of a different nephew. At the time, I was the 21-year old employee of the hotel that he was staying in during that court trial, and I had occasion to feel sexually threatened by him and his entirely male group of Kennedy relatives and friends, when I simply entered their hotel suite to perform a simple hotel work task.
At that point, I was only a fervent, young admirer of the Kennedys and nearly completely unaware of their attitudes and behavior with women. Yet I felt lucky to get out of there "intact"...
It's a shame, but true. Do I admire the honorable man he finally became after age 60, and the civil rights work he did to help people across many spectrums? Of course, yes.
He himself acknowledges most of his personal failures, and I think we honor him best by appreciating him fully.
that's something I don't think Cheney et al will ever comprehend, but Ted Kennedy eventually became all the wiser... probably with the aid of a lot of help from folks who loved all the rest of this very complex man
Mr. Sorenson I saw you at a media session at the Council of Foreign Relations a long time ago. On the other hand, I never met or saw Ted Kennedy in person; so thanks that with this piece you have put so much of what I think into words. There is no doubt, the late Senator grew in his later years to become a tremendous asset and leader in our country. I spend no time debating his 'warts' given we all have them, should we take time to look at ourselves.
I watched the final tributes teared up-- speechless; but grateful that this time around I am old enough and knowledgeable on issues to realize he was genuinely about service for the least among us. May his God welcome him with open arms, and may his legacy live on to future generations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisOAYMONzY