Edward Moore Kennedy, A Life Worth Living

From the Sardinia Standard, August 2009

Edward Moore Kennedy

A Life Worth Living

By Jay Burney

I grew up in New England where the Kennedy legacies were imprinted on me at an early age.  I met many of the Kennedys including John, Robert, and Teddy Kennedy during various political campaigns and events. When Teddy Kennedy passed away in late August at the age of 77 from the results of a brain tumor virtually everyone in America and every person worldwide that has ever paid attention to American politics knew who he was.  Most remember Kennedy because of his well-chronicled relationships with tragedy. Some remembered him as the man who as a young Senator, found himself inextricably entwined with the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, an aide  to his recently deceased brother Bobby.  Kopechne was riding with the young Senator in his car one late night in 1969 on Cape Cod, when it plunged off a narrow bridge, resulting in her death. 

Others remembered Kennedy because of his three of his brother’s untimely deaths. Oldest brother Joe, lost at war, brother John, 42^nd President of the US, violently assassinated in Dallas on that November day in 1963, and brother Bobby, our New York State Senator, murdered on the occasion of his victory in the 1968 California primary that could have catapulted him to the presidency.  How can one forget the emotional eulogy that Edward Kennedy delivered at Bobby’s funeral mass in which he said:

“My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life, to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it,”. “Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will someday come to pass for all the world.” As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:  “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.”

Teddy Kennedy was elected Senator from Massachusetts in 1962. He took over the seat held by his brother John, who had just become President. It was a hotly contested election as he faced Edward J. McCormick, Jr. whose uncle was John McCormick, then Speaker of the U.S. House o Representatives. He served as the Senator for Massachusetts for 46 consecutive years longer than but two other senators in the history of the United States.  He played a key role in shaping the policies of America for decades, especially in the areas of health, education, civil rights, and labor. According to his Senate website, 550 of his bills were passed into law. Over 1000 carry his signature. He wrote bills that institute a fair minimum wage, made it possible for workers that lost their jobs to keep their health insurance and take paid leave for family emergencies. He worked for equal pay for equal work and worker safety He was the leader in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act which helps to prevent discrimination against handicapped individuals. He helped pass food safety laws including labeling requirements, and funding of research into deaths involving food allergies. He helped to usher legislation involving availability of generic drugs. He was a strong supporter of Social Security and Medicare and spent most of his career ensuring that these programs were sound and secure. He also authored legislation ensuring Meals on Wheels, which has served over 6 billion meals to shut ins and the elderly that would otherwise not eat a warm fresh meal.

He was a champion of Civil Rights Legislation including successful advocacy of he Civil Rights Acts of 1964, 1991, and 2008.  He was instrumental in the passages of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, 1982, and the Fair Housing Act of 1988.  He was instrumental in passing Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Act, which prevented discrimination against women and girls in schools that receive Federal funding. This program protects against discrimination in academic programs such as science and math, and guarantees equal access to health care, school bands and dormitory facilities.  It may be best known for guaranteeing equal access for women and girls to sports programs provided by schools that accept federal funding. He was responsible for passing legislation protecting minorities and preventing gender bias including wage inequalities and harassment in the workplace.

Edward Kennedy’s life, especially when he was younger, was not without negative aspects.  As a young person, I was often astounded by news reports and stories of his excesses.  He came from a life of privilege. His family was wealthy and powerful.  In his freshman year at Harvard he was forced to withdraw for two years because he was caught cheating on a Spanish final. His family, under the guidance of his father Joe, was very influential, economically speaking, in advancing his son’s political careers including Teddy’s first Senate Race. Edward Kennedy had a life long problem with alcohol.  As he grew into adulthood his friends and family, and most of his political associates recognized that he matured and changed and was able to control his alcoholism. For several decades he has been the cherished leader of a large extended family including his children and grandchildren and those of his brothers and sisters.   In his later years in the Senate, I grew to admire his passion and his ideology.

At his death he was considered by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle as the “Lion of the Senate.”  He will be remembered as an intellectual and political powerhouse, a warm, kind and generous father figure, and a person who has epitomized the ideals of the Democratic Party for a generation.

Teddy Kennedy is arguably one of the greatest men of the Senate.  We all benefit from the ideals and laws that he spent his lifetime fighting for.  Healthcare, education, labor justice, small business advocacy, voting rights, civil rights (including gender anti discrimination laws) and services including Meals on Wheels, access to inexpensive medicine, child health protection, Medicare, and Social Security all benefited from his tireless advocacy.  Yes he was a Democrat.  One that is well known for successfully reaching across party lines.  John McCain made these remarks upon Kennedy’s death: “As a leader of his party he fought for the future for all people.” ”When we were agreed on an issue, and worked together to make a little progress for the country on an important issue, he was the best ally you could have.”  “He made me a better Senator.”

He made our country better and that makes all of our lives better.