This week it's become increasingly clear that Senator Edward Moore Kennedy may not be with us much longer. His absence from Washington during this critical time in health care reform, coupled with the death of his beloved sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, has made it apparent that the end is imminent. Before the pundits start their reminiscences and the country enters a protracted period of official mourning, there's still some work left for Congress to do before Teddy begins his next journey.
I'm a child of Massachusetts. I sat in front of the television with Mom and Dad when Jack became President. As a kid I remember the press conferences during the Cuban Missile Crisis and finally the coverage of our fallen President. There he was, in his march down the Avenue on that cold winter day, with Bobby and Jackie behind their fallen President. Young, handsome and incredibly charismatic Teddy Kennedy was embarking on his rendezvous with destiny. Not even 5 years after Jack Kennedy's death, Teddy would once again have to step up to the plate and lead his family in mourning with the death of Bobby. We had such dreams for Bobby. In 1968, Bobby was our last best hope when taken away from us by a bullet.
In that span between losses, Teddy became Senator from Massachusetts. He survived an airplane crash which left him in pain even today. But with all the personal losses, family tragedies and sacrifices, Teddy Kennedy persevered. The tabloids were rampant with pictures of Joan Kennedy wearing miniskirts to White House functions. There were the reports of drinking, womanizing and Chappaquiddick. Despite all the drama, the voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts sent him back to do the people's work. The one hallmark issue of Teddy's career is health care:it is fitting that, in the winter of his Senatorial tenure, this debate is now front and center in the American agenda. And as he clings to life, Kennedy remains driven by the debate and frustrated by his inability to be on the Hill.
Conservative pundits can demonize him; label him a left wing liberal or whatever else they desire. The truth is that no Senator in the last 50 years has done more to foster a bipartisan dialog in the Senate. Teddy has never limited himself to Democratic friendship. He's crossed the divide and gained the respect of his Republican colleagues more often than not. In a speech at the Reagan Library in 2007, Kennedy characterized his relationship with Republican President Ronald Reagan."He was always a good friend and a gracious foe," Kennedy said. "He wanted to defeat his opponents, but not destroy them." In discussing the end of the Cold War, Kennedy made his point. "It had been waged as a bipartisan enterprise by Republican and Democratic Congresses and administrations from the first moment to the last."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Christine
I like Teddy Kennedy, he's a good man! Chris Matthews will be airing a documentary about the Kennedy Brothers, but not sure when . "Mr. Matthews will return to the subject of the Kennedy legacy in an in-depth, hour-long documentary for MSNBC, called The Kennedy Brothers."
2 - Silas Kain
I believe the documentary is scheduled for airing on Aug 27. I don't agree with 75% of Teddy's platform but that doesn't reduce my admiration or respect for him. Taking all the drama out of the equation, the Kennedys have been a fixture in Massachusetts since the days of Honey Fitz. It's hard to imagine Commonwealth politics without him.
3 - roger nowosielski
It's admirable, Silas, that you're paying a tribute to Teddy, for indeed he's not going to be with us much longer. Even more so in light of the fact you disagree with much of his politics. It is undeniable however that the Kennedy clan, for better or worse, represented a defining, pivotal moment in American politics, and the repercussions are still with us. In a sense, it's not so far fetched to view Clinton's and Obama's presidencies as extension of the Kennedy idea and their brand of idealism.
And the idea lives on.
4 - Silas Kain
I try to be fair, Roger. I've read a lot on Teddy in the last few weeks and have come to see that there is so much we don't know about him. His public service and its impact upon this country probably won't be fully understood until the next generation of historians begin their work.
5 - roger nowosielski
I believe what was the extra motivation for Teddy that his presidential ambitions were shot. Once he had resigned himself to that fate, there was no longer a personal ambition standing in the way: consequently, he devoted himself to being a public servant. (And of course, personal enrichment via politics was never a consideration.)
Something to be said for the kind of profile that's optimal for an ideal politician/statesman/public servant.
6 - Lumpy
I thought he was already dead. Wouldn't it be cool to see republicans take both Massachusetts senate seats next fall that would certainly send aessage.
7 - Silas Kain
NO, sending two Republicans from Massachusetts would be a disaster. It's already unfortunate that we elected Mitt Romney to be Governor. Your insensitivity to Sen Kennedy, Lumpy, is indicative of your desire to hold firm to those so-called "conservative" values you celebrate. As a Goldwater Conservative, I take issue with the conservative faction that seeks to destroy the fabric of this nation. If the GOP returned to the party of Goldwater inroads could be made in the next election cycle. This party is not the party of Boehner, Ashcroft and McConnell. They lead because they've advanced to positions of power within the Minority in Congress. That's the next issue we need to tackle -- TERM LIMITS. As far as I am concerned no member of the House should serve more than a total of 11 years (5 elected terms, max) and Senators 15 years (2 elected terms max). There needs to be a shakeup of the way leadership is achieved in Congress and there must be an equitable distribution of "power".
And, Roger, Ted Kennedy's performance proves my point. Once he realized he would never be President (not that he ever really wanted to), he became even more effective in forging dialogue. Lumpy and his Far Right elitists are so blinded by the "liberal" Ted Kennedy. They refuse to recognize his accomplishments and contributions to the American political debate -- and that to me is completely un-American.
8 - Doug Hunter
I do take a bit of issue with the characterization of people as 'public servants'. Even if it's not strictly for money (and for politician's often it isn't), there is power and influence to be had in government and the type of person who desires to have power and influence over others I don't hold in high regard.
I certainly wouldn't hold his cush, if public, job as any higher a service than say, cleaning the shit out of the sewer system or picking up trash, delivering mail, building homes for people, growing food, or joining the military. In a way, everyone who works as a productive member of society is a public servant and deserves as much respect and outpouring of sentiment as the much blessed Mr. Kennedy. They will not get it.
9 - Silas Kain
Good points, Mr. Hunter. But that does not discount the fact that in some way Ted Kennedy has affected the life of each and every American.
10 - Clavos
...in some way Ted Kennedy has affected the life of each and every American.
???
11 - Silas Kain
By virtue of his legislative history, Clav. When one studies his history in the Senate what emerges is a complex array of legislative victories and defeats. Further study reveals that Kennedy, above most Democrats, attempted to forge a working relationship with the Reagan White House in a congenial manner.
12 - zingzing
read #7, clavos.
13 - Arch Conservative
Chappaquiddick
14 - Jordan RIchardson
Classy as always, Arch.
15 - Arch Conservative
Ah yes, Ted Kennedy, the patron saint of vehicular homocide, has brain cancer so we must all suck up to him now and pretend his life was nothing but an uninterupted streak of altruistic goodness right?
Well I aint havin any of it.
It's a lie.
Even now on death's door he is exhbiting the elitism and disregard for anyone that isn't on the Kennedy love train by seeking to subvert the MA state law so that instead of having a special election, the Dem Governor, Deval Patrick (another winner) can install a Democrat Senator in office.
Oh and Silas claiming that Teddy never wanted to be president..........how rich is that? Of course he wanted to be president. It's just that he knew he never could because all the nation is not Massachusetts and it's a littler hard to sweep a thing like Chappaquiddac under the rug just because your name is Kennedy when you're running for national office.
The Kennedys always have and always will put themselves first. However it looks like with Senator Swimmer on the way out their dynasty truly has come to an end.
hip hip hooray
hip hip hooray
hip hip hooray
16 - Andy Marsh
Yeah, shame on you Arch for bringing up Teddy's ugly past! How was he supposed to know that girl couldn't breath under water. I'm sure he thinks everyone has gills...I mean he's been drinking vodka and breathing at the same time for years!
17 - Jordan Richardson
has brain cancer so we must all suck up to him now and pretend his life was nothing but an uninterupted streak of altruistic goodness right?
Empathy and compassion are generally good qualities, but you tend to avoid them like the plague. There's a little something called tact, Arch, but I suppose that's something you avoid due to your own moral perfection.
I'm glad you feel qualified to blurt out one-word replies to an article like this and I'm happy you feel it enriches the discussion. As I said, it's very classy.
18 - Andy Marsh
Yeah Arch, just because he's a murderer whose family got all their money from bootlegging is no reason to pick on him! Shame on you! He's sick! Like the Lockerbee guy, we should all feel sorry for the murderers!
19 - Ruvy
If you read Silas' tribute, you could almost forget that little event with the girl dying in the water. Chappaquiddick forced Ted Kennedy to emasculate himself of his ambition to be the American Chief Magistrate. Had Mary Joe Kopechnie lived - or had Kennedy handled the event with more bravery than cowardice, he would have been just another ambitious, pushy and rich Massachusetts Kennedy heading for a violent death, like John-John, and Robert Jr.
But events didn't turn out that way. Now, like his father Jittery Joe, he will die in his old age of cancer. Joe Kennedy was a bastard. Ted Kennedy may have been a coward, or he may have been a murderer; it's not for me to accuse when I do not know all the facts. But in the end he has been a better man than his father was.
Let it stand that way.
20 - Silas Kain
Damn. Such an unforgiving lot. Obviously even all the praise heaped upon Kennedy by Conservatives in Congress won't budge any of you. Welcome to the Rush Limbaugh generation -- the new millennium's equivalent of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Youth.
21 - Dr Dreadful
You'll just have to accept, Silas, that there are a few for whom it is simply impossible to see any good at all in a politician on the other side of the aisle.
22 - Val MacEwan
This is a truly well-written essay. Nice job, Silas. Apparently you know how to write creative non-fiction. It's just a shame that many people don't know how to "read" it. Keep writing - I look forward to more.
23 - Andy Marsh
The two of you!
He, at a minimum, let a woman die to protect his own worthless ass and got away with it because his last name is Kennedy!
Get this! I don't listen to Rush, never have and have no intentions of EVER listening to him.
But it is so special when you assholes throw around those hitler references...the way it upsets you when your savior is compared to him, doesn't it?
Who gives a rats ass what anyone in congress says about him, they're all a bunch of ass kissers!
24 - Dave Nalle
The Kennedys always have and always will put themselves first. However it looks like with Senator Swimmer on the way out their dynasty truly has come to an end.
Remind me, aren't there at least two other Kennedys on capitol hill right now? Ooh, and one's GAY, Archie...be afraid.
Dave
25 - Silas Kain
If ever there were a time for GENUINE Conservatives to stand up and take charge it is now. Those of you who claim to be Democrat or liberal are strongly urged to read about Barry Goldwater. The man that Conservatives proclaim as their founder have veered so far off Goldwater's course, it's not funny. Come to think of it, it's like Christianity. The Christian right has driven so far off Christ's course that the core message is all but lost.
I never said Teddy was a Saint. He is not. Am I concerned about what happened that fateful day in Barnstable -- of course! He is accountable for his actions and I remind you that his day of reckoning is imminent. It's not for me to cast judgment. I've done plenty in my life which I regret. Many people have been hurt along the way. I've had to take personal stock and account for what I've done. Out of all the chaos of my youth springs a man who is focused, blissfully happy and determined to make a positive impact in my community before I arrive at the Pearly Gates for my review. As I have said to my better half many times over the last three years I want my epitaph to read "All he asked for was a level playing field for all people." I don't think that's too much to ask or expect. We've become so polarized by dogma vs. secularism that we've forgotten what's most important. Each of us are here for a short period of time, a blink of the Divine's eye. With that limited time we should be working to insure a world that is better than that which we inherited.