The Wit and Wisdom of Ted Kennedy - Bill Adler [1]
Senator Kennedy’s life was deepened by tragedy and strengthened by a joyous love of humanity. And it was perhaps this sad and wonderful combination of influences that made him care more for ordinary Americans than most other politicians. After he lost his bid for the presidency he devoted his life to becoming a great Senator.
Through Ted Kennedy’s wit and wisdom we can understand and appreciate this great man. And perhaps become better Americans ourselves.
THE
WIT AND WISDOM
OF
TED KENNEDY
WORDS OF INSPIRATION
THE KENNEDY NAME HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH soaring words and inspirational utterances. When we think of President John F. Kennedy, we can hear his ringing call to serve: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” When we think of Bobby Kennedy, we may remember him best by his bold vision for a better future: “Some men see things as they are, and say ‘Why?’—I dream of things that never were, and say, ‘Why not?’”
These two lives were cut tragically short, but even so, they left words that will continue to inspire Americans for generations to come. We are more fortunate when it comes to the life of their youngest brother, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was granted 77 years to make a difference with his life. The third-longest serving senator in U.S. history has had 46 years to address us in speeches, statements, and other prepared remarks, as well as informal comments and recorded conversations. When in front of a large crowd he was often a rousing orator, a stemwinder, but not all the quotations in this chapter were delivered in a booming voice from a podium; there are some that come across equally well—perhaps better—when the reader is alone in a quiet room.
It was always a pleasure to search for and find these nuggets. We listened to many hours of videotapes of speeches, read through essays, and combed through public statements, and so often found ourselves stopping to appreciate some felicitous phrase, some lilting combination of words that reminded us that he was more than a moving speaker: He was truly a fine wordsmith. Of course, we know that Senator Kennedy also employed some supremely talented speechwriters, but in the end—as some of those speechwriters have noted in interviews about the experience of working with him—the choice of words was always his.
When it came to the music of the English language to move us to the heights, Senator Kennedy had perfect pitch.
The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.
—Democratic National Convention,
August 12, 1980
Let each of us, to the best of our ability, in our own day and generation, perform something worthy to be remembered. … Let us give something back to America, in return for all it has given us.
—Speech, March 1, 1976
I have seen throughout my life how we as a people can rise to a challenge, embrace change and renew our destiny.
—Speech at Harvard, December 2008
If I can leave a single message with the younger generation, it is to lash yourself to the mast, like Ulysses, if you want to escape the siren calls of complacency and indifference.
—Speech, June 4, 1978
Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And we can do it again.
—Democratic National Convention,
August 12, 2008
The commitment I seek is not to outworn views but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete, but the ideal of fairness always endures. Circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue.
—Democratic National Convention,
August 12, 1980
It is true, as has been said on this floor, that prejudice exists in the minds and hearts of men. It cannot be eradicated by law.