this is a spectator society. america is a spectator society. so it gives us a lot of east to watch these athletes. .. >> what it is to be a good human being, a good man, a good

father. it sounds corny, but it's real. i mean, because as you very well know as someone who's been a professional come in professional sports or so so long, some of these guys have missed the lives. that's why they are ready to go back to play basketball, they are broke. that's the bottom line. but we have put an emphasis on men that are just good men and good fathers. and i don't know how we are going to be able to do that, because the media rules supreme right now. immediate highlights those people that sell. and i understand that, but we have to find a way where we can highlight these so-called ordinary men and women that are doing things day in and day out. we are doing things in the neighborhoods all the time. we always highlight those people, 10, 15, 30, 50 years. they are the people that are staples of the community.

we tell our young people, ask them how they stay together. you see? ask them. those types of things have to happen. that's back to committee, back to real community, real substantive neighborhood and communities. our children have to know that it's just not, if you don't make it as an athlete, you can make it as a banker. you see? as a lawyer. as a schoolteacher. i make him all the stuff is in a related, you know? so, i don't know. i mean, athletics is big. i look at a commercial last night and isolate baltimore high school teen under armour's. these kids, they are promoting under armour. it's big. it's trickle-down but it's a big business and i don't know how to break through, just be good people, be good human beings. >> amen for me. you're right, the stuff that is glorified is a necessary step you want to teach in your home.

and again, you hit it again. i don't understand it, but you certainly said you understand because that's what sells and that what seems to be driving everything. i'd like to have one more question -- go ahead. >> again, thank you for sharing your personal experiences with us, very valuable for us in the task we have before us. looking back on your own come if we go, maybe to all of you just briefly, on the things you have experienced, and we often learned more from the things we could've done differently, what is your take away on that, what would you done differently than you did maybe? than in the context of the report we're looking to prepare based on your own experiences, what would you like to see included in that report that might have implications on a national basis? >> i guess i'll start. i would like to see in your

report more support for places like baltimore child abuse center, being a nonprofit center that helps children in the baltimore area who have alleged they had been sexually abused. those kinds of support services are very important that you can imagine for a child having to talk about that is difficult, but then if they had to go like 14 different places and talk to 40 different people, their story might change because they feel like if someone keeps asking, i must be telling it wrong, or whatever. that causes a lot of problems. so to have one central place that is nonthreatening and supportive of children, that's important and we need more centers like that in our communities. unfortunately, when they are nonprofit and they don't receive the funding that they need to receive, they can do all the work that they could do. so i think that's very important. >> well, this was very powerful. i want to thank our panelists.

so informative, powerful, brave testimony, and serving something that we listen to and will continue to go over there and nobody thank you very much. we will take a 15 minute break. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

>> with the iowa caucuses next week and the new hampshire south carolina, and florida primaries later in the month, c-span series the contenders looks back at 14 candidates who ran for president and lost but had a long lasting impact on american politics. tonight, for some governor of alabama george wallace and then on saturday considered an congressman from south dakota george mcgovern followed by billionaire businessman ross perot. the contenders every night at 10 eastern on c-span. >> and we take you live now to outside a local grocery store in west des moines, iowa, were republican presidential candidate mitt romney will be holding a campaign rally in just a few minutes. he will be joined by new jersey governor chris christie who announced his endorsement for mr. romney back in october. former massachusetts governor is currently leading in the latest iowa poll. congressman ron paul of texas in second place. the caucuses are scheduled for

next tuesday, january 3. live coverage now here on c-span. ♪ ♪ ♪ [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ >> again who on c-span2 we are live from des moines, iowa, where we're waiting for republican presidential candidate mitt romney told a campaign rally in the parking lot at the local grocery store there. we will be joined by new jersey governor chris christie. our live coverage will get underway with a candidate in just a few minutes. later here on the c-span networks more live campaign events. on c-span former house speaker newt gingrich will hold a town hall meeting also in des moines. he will be joined by frank months live at 11 a.m. eastern on c-span. later in the day rick santorum

will meet with voters in marshalltown iowa. you can watch live coverage at 6:30 p.m. eastern on c-span. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ >> again, we're waiting for republican presidential candidate mitt romney to arrive to begin a campaign rally here in des moines. he will be joined by new jersey governor chris christie. the iowa caucuses of course are scheduled for next tuesday, january 3. politico is reporting the results of their latest nbc marist poll out today. it shows mitt romney trying to score of 23% of likely caucus goers in iowa. and it has ron paul at 21%. they are followed by rick santorum at 50% -- 15%, and

drops to texas governor rick perry and michele bachmann both drawing 6%. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause]

♪ ♪ [applause] >> just amazing, thank you guys. so beautiful to be out in the cold, the wind, the rain. i brought with me chris christie, the great governor of

new jersey. and, of course, i brought the future first lady, i hope, my sweetheart, ann romney. you guys, no one does it better than iowa. look at you out here today with this rain come with a cold come with a win. over 1000 people, 15 people on a morning like this. i just can't take off my hat. i don't have a hat on but i would take it off if i could for your willingness to get out to see who is who is running for president, to support those that you care about. to take a closer, to get a sense of the character of the people who are looking for the highest office in the land. i believe this race is not just about replacing president obama, important as that is, it's also a race about saving the soul of america. this is the time to decide what america's going to be over the coming years, over this entry. there's no one that has fought that battle for consistently and effectively than the governor of new jersey. so i want to welcome the great

governor of new jersey, chris christie. jew. >> -- [cheers and applause] >> thank you for being here. thank you for coming with me to welcome the next president of the united states of america, governor mitt romney. listen, america, america is watching iowa. as we always do every four years we're watching iowa and iowa will be the folks who will help start this process. to get us going to make sure that the republican party nominates the very best person to take on president obama in november. when you look at that stage, you watch these debates, i think you've got to come to the conclusion i've come to. there is no person better qualified by his experience and his character to take on barack obama and to lead the united states of america than governor mitt romney. [cheers and applause] >> this election is about our kids. it's about our kids and their

future. that's what governor romney talks about all across this country. he and ann and their families have benefited greatly from all the opportunities that america has offered to them. they want the same thing for their grandchildren and they want the same thing for your children. and the fight to take back the white house starts on tuesday night, and it starts here in iowa. and we are counting on you to get out there. take nothing for granted. elections are decided by the people who show up, by the people who vote, by the people who care about their country enough to be out there on a friday morning in iowa in the rain come in the cold because you lead a country and because you believe this man can help lead this country back to greatness. [cheers and applause] >> listen, the fight just aren't on tuesday, and is going to continued right through november. the president of the united states, he's going to be out here and he's going to be trying to tell you a story, a story

that somehow america is doing better after his three years of leadership in the white house. we know that's not true. we know that's not true. and the president will try to convince you somehow that he deserves to be rehired. let's be real clear. let's be real clear. president barack obama came out to iowa three years ago, and he talked you about hope and change. let me tell you, after three years of obama, we are hopeless and changeless. and we need mitt romney to bring us back, to bring america back. [applause] >> so i want to thank you all for being here this morning. i'm thrilled to be in iowa. new jersey is watching you, too. we are watching you real closely. so listen, i want to tell you something. i want to tell you something real clearly. i'm in a good mood this morning. i'm feeling happy and upbeat. i love being with mitt and ann but let me take him you people visible in on tuesday --

[laughter] you don't do what you're supposed to do on tuesday for met romney, i will be back jersey style, people. i will be back. [laughter] but i would much rather come back to iowa this fall, much rather come back this fall to campaign for met romney and to help you help him lead his country. all you need to know is this, i'm going to be there every minute that i can possibly be to help them because i believe in our country just as much as you do. so everybody, thanks for coming out this morning. i appreciate it very much. and it is my extraordinary honor to introduce to you the next president of the united states of america, governor mitt romney. [applause] [shouting] >> fighting the battle to take back america's. this morning, someone i met in high school with me. i went to a party at his house.

i had seen a girl in elementary school but she was in the second grade i was in the fourth grade, i didn't pay a lot of attention at the point that when she turned almost 16 i thought she was pretty interesting. and i went over to her and she'd come with someone else. someone else gave her a ride to the party. i went up and i said look, i live closer to ann than you do. why don't i give her a ride home for you? and he said okay. we have been going steady every -- ever since. my sweetheart, ann rommie. [applause] >> thank you all. we are just thrilled to see a mike mac that works. to see you all here. it is cold here. it is when you. people that are made watching this on television don't know how brave you all are to be here. there's quite a brisk wind up here so thank you all for coming. i want to express something to you that is deep in my heart. and that is my love of america

and knowing that that is why you are here, too. you are not here for any other reason except you love america. we are concerned about the direction the country is going. we hear you. we know what you are feeling. and we understand that there is someone that is coming that will help you. and i have all the confidence in the world in this guy standing next to me. the parts that i can tell a boucher, to tell you about him, on the part you might not ever hear about. and that is how he has been as a husband and as a father. and to me that's what really matters. to me, it matters but you never know what decisions will be made in the white house. so you really want to understand the character of the man. and this is the man that stands by and does the right thing always. he has been with me for 42 years. we have five children, 16 grandchildren, and i trust him implicitly. and i trust that he will always do the right thing, and he will

do the hard thing. and so with all the confidence in the world, i can recommend that this is going to be one of the greatest presidents ever. the next president of the united states, met romney. [cheers and applause] >> thank you, sweetheart. now, there's an entirely unbiased endorsement. i want you to know that. now, over there there's a site. what does it say? in obama we trusted, now our economy is busted. you got it right, brother. you put that together. that is something of the other day president obama said you know it could be worse, that was his line, it could be worse. can you imagine hearing that from a pessimistic president? it could be worse. that goes down with marie antoinette, let them eat cake but he is in hawaii right now. we are out in the cold, the rain and the wind because we care about america. is out there, he just finished his 90th round of golf. we have 259 americans out of work or stop looking for work,

or underemployed come home values have come down. the meeting income in america, in the last four years has dropped by 10%. do you will more barack obama? >> no. >> do you want more of obamacare? >> no effect you want promises of higher taxes? >> no. >> u.s. amounts of regulation is putting on the financial services sector and health care sector and manufacturing? >> no! >> is a time to for real change in washed in? >> yes. >> i work for a very genetic change from what you've seen over the past three years. i haven't spent my life in washington. i spent my life and the private sector. i'm smart enough to get out of the rain but i still spent my life in the private sector and in the economy works. i want to use that experience and ask you to get the economy working for the american people again. and why do this? why would i get in the middle of this? it goes back to my early days with my mom and dad.

when i was a kid they put us in the wrapper, that was our car, and would over into the national parks. my mom and dad wanted me to fall in love with america. and fall in love i did. i saw the mountains and canyons and the amber waves of grain. i love america. and between the stops at the very national parks, mom would read to us from books about the founding of the country and dad would talk about the founders. there's a him that i love, o beautiful for spacious skies. i think corn qualifies as amber so i will call the part of the amber waves of grain. there's another verse that is important as well. it says oh, beautiful for patriot dream, that sees beyond the years. the idea was that the patriots and their vision for america was not just for their time, but for permanence, that america and the foundation of this country would not just be a short experience but something that would last a long, long time, even to our days. it would cd on the years into

our times but i believe in the principles upon which this country was founded. i believe that freedom and being able to choose our elected representatives is one of his key principles and i also believe in opportunity. when the founders drafted the declaration of independence, they said that the creator has endowed us with certain and enable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. and that pursuit of happiness means that we are free in america to choose our course in life. we can choose to do what we want to do. we are a met society, and opportunity society. ..

>> we should become an entitlement society where government takes from some to give to others. where we would replace ambition with envy. they would poison the american spirit with class warfare. we want to return to the principles that made america the hope of the earth and the strength of the earth. i believe in america, i believe in freedom and opportunity, and that's what we're going to bring back to this nation. [cheers and applause] this really is a battle for the soul of america. the question is, what kind of america are we going to be, what kind of land are we going to give to our children and their children? i'm convinced the we stay on the course we're on, you're going to see america hit a wall like they've hit in europe. you're going to see us have the experiences like they've seen in greece and italy. that's not acceptable to me. we finally have to have someone

to go to washington who will do what chris christie's done in new jersey. by the way, could democrats love america too? i do remember what ronald reagan said. he said it's not that liberals rig narnt, it's just -- ignorant, it's just that what they know is wrong. [laughter] so we have to educate them from time to time. i will do that. i'm not a lifelong politician. i didn't spend my life in the political world. i didn't spend my life in washington d.c. you have a choice of a number of people on our panel, on our stage that, the republican stago spent their life in washington d.c. that's fine. but i think you need to have someone who's spent his life outside of washington, who understands how the real world works, who understands how the economy works. now, i did spend four years as a governor. four years in government. i didn't inhale, i promise. [laughter]

i'm still a business guy, a father, a husband, a person who cares very deeply about this country. i think our president takes his inspiration from europe. he thinks europe got it right. he thinks that a bigger government, more intrusive government with more regulations, a government that takes from some to give to others, a government that racks up debt higher and higher, that that's the course for america. i don't think europe is working in europe. i sure as heck don't think it'll work here. i believe in restoring the principles that make america great, andly do that with your help on -- and i will do that with your help on tuesday night. [cheers and applause] you guys, if you can get out here in this cold and wind and a little bit of rain coming down, then you can sure get out on tuesday night. and on the way to the caucus, you can tell them just who you're going to vote for and bring them next to you to make sure they do the same thing.

i need your help, you guys. this is a real battle for the future course of america. i don't want politicians running america anymore. i want to make sure we have citizen leaders going to washington leading this country, fighting for the soul of this great country. thank you so much, great to be with you! thank you! [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> thanks so much for being here this morning. how are you? great to see you. [inaudible conversations] >> hi there, how are you? [inaudible conversations] >> thank you for coming out. >> thank you so much.

thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> thank you, good to meet you. you come in there too. hi, how are you. good morning. good morning. good to see you guys. [inaudible conversations] >> how are you? ♪ ♪ [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> good morning, how are -- thanks for being here. [inaudible conversations]

>> that's going to be worth a lot of money in another year. >> thank you. how are you? [inaudible conversations] >> got a long way to go. this is a good start this morning, i'll tell you that. thank you. >> is ron paul a threat? >> thank you. appreciate it. >> welcome back to iowa. >> good to see you. >> yep. next time you'll be the president. >> nice to see you this morning. what is this jacket? i love that. [inaudible conversations]

>> you betcha. >> good morning, governor. >> come on up. >> thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> welcome to iowa. >> thanks for being here this morning. very excited. >> good morning, governor. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> how are you? >> thanks for coming out today. [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪

[inaudible conversations] >> oh, hi, andrea, how are you? nice to see you. >> [inaudible conversations] >> very enthusiastic. this crowd, a lot of excitement. i think people really feel they want a change in washington. it's bringing in a lot of support, a lot of energy. [inaudible conversations] [laughter] >> he's terrific. terrific. quite a guy. i'm delighted to have him with me on the trail. you don't get better than chris christie. [inaudible conversations] how are you? >> oh! [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪

>> i'll be there. >> thank you. [laughter] >> good to see you this morning, thank you. good morning, thank you. appreciate your help today. means a great deal. how are you? [inaudible conversations] >> well, thank you. appreciate it very much. hi there, how are you? got it, good. good to see you. thank you. thanks for being here. you've got a pen, right? how are you? terrific. oh, okay, that's all right. thank you. [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪

>> hi, guys, how are you? >> governor, we've got one behind you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> oh, i don't have any idea who's going to win. no expectations. [inaudible conversations] >> yeah, how you doing? is that yours? okay. [inaudible conversations] >> absolutely. >> i don't want another -- >> right for my kids and my grandkids and your kids -- i could not care less about re-election. i care about getting the country fixed. >> thank you. >> all right, right here. thanks for your help this morning. how you doing, buddy? [inaudible conversations] >> i'll do my best.

there we go. thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> thank you so much. oh, my goodness. [laughter] >> sure. thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> would he make a good running mate? >> there are a number of people who would be terrific. >> pennsylvania, ohio -- [inaudible conversations]

[laughter] [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪ >> what happened to our black pen? [inaudible conversations] marie an two net said let them eat cake he said, it could be worse. we'll make it better. >> how do you make it better? >> hi, guys, how are you?

[laughter] >> i can, but i won't. [inaudible conversations] >> how are you doing? thank you for being here. >> thags for coming out. >> thank you forking being here. cold out here this morning. thank you so much. >> governor -- >> i appreciate that. >> you bet i can. look at that. well, that's a great idea. this sign, that's terrific. let's see, today is the 30th, i think. >> that's right. thank you, governor. >> you bet. [inaudible conversations] >> what are you going to do to make sure we don't get into

another -- [inaudible] >> good to see you, guys. >> we need some room, we need some room. >> thank you. i appreciate your help. how are you today? [laughter] >> how are you? thank you. hi there, how are you? can i get a hug here? thank you. thanks for being here. >> i want a hug too. >> oh. how are you? >> good, how are you? >> good. >> thank you, governor. >> thank you. [inaudible conversations]

>> what's your name? caitlin? how old are you? 11? wow, he's a big kid for 11. how are you? good to see you. >> governor -- >> oh, thank you so much for your help, you're so kind. thank you. thank you, appreciate your help again. [inaudible conversations] >> thank you so much. good to see you again. wow, look at these guys over here. who's this?

[laughter] >> hey, buddy, how you doing? you know chris up here. >> how are you? >> good. >> thank you. how are you, sir? >> good, good, good. [laughter] >> appreciate your help today. thanks, guys, for being here. there's chris. how are you, buddy? >> thank you, thank you. you make it happen. thank you for being here this morning, you're or so kind. one more time. hi there, how are you.

[laughter] beautiful daughter, beautiful mom, they go together, don't they? hi, how are you? good to see you guys. you're freezing to death. not even a jacket. >> we didn't know you were outside. >> neither did we. we were going to be inside, but there's so many people, we had to come outdoors. sorry to freeze you. yeah, thank you. >> we're counting on you, mitt. >> thank you so much. good to see you, guys. thank you. thank you. thank you so much. good to see you. how you doing? iowa state, huh? hi, how are you? >> good to meet you, sir. >> thanks for your help today. thank you very much. how are you? >> [inaudible] >> thank you. i appreciate that. thank you for being out here this morning. thank you so much. good to see you. this feels wonderful. i'll tell you, the crowds and the enthusiasm couldn't be more encouraging. thank you.

hi. oh, my goodness, you're so kind. good to see you. thank you. thank you. great to see you. thanks for being here. thank you. thanks for your help. >> [inaudible] >> you bet i will. you bet. okay. what's your name? >> [inaudible] [inaudible conversations] >> we had an event that we agreed to do there, and then i'm going to come back first thing tomorrow. >> [inaudible] >> oh, i've got another one, all right. >> please, stop the wars and keep us out of any more. >> [inaudible] >> there you go. thank you. okay. hey, guys, how are you? be good to see you. >> this was four years ago. this is jacob. [laughter] >> hi, jacob. he's wondering why he's up so

high in the air. have you got a pen here? okay. jkob. [inaudible] >> don't know how to spell. [laughter] >> thank you, thank you. >> don't lose that. here you go, okay. thank you, guys. >> good luck. >> good to see you thismorning, how are you? thanks, i appreciate that. i appreciate your help. thank you. take care. hope that works. thank you. thank you so much. thank you for being here this morning. thank you. look at that. thank you. >> governor, it's nice to see

you. >> we're planning on it. how are you? good to see you, guys. thanks so much. warm hands, how'd you do that? >> supporting you all the way. >> thank you so much. great to be here this morning. what a crowd. what an audience. [inaudible conversations] [laughter] >> twice now. oh, my goodness. [inaudible conversations] oh, god, oh, you're so kind. thank you. >> oh, i don't know, but i'm rooting for you. >> looking forward to see you back and forth all day. all week, rather. >> with you all the way. >> thank you so much. thank you. hi, how are you? thanks for being here today. you're so kind. how are you? good to see you. thanks for being here today and

helping out. hi there, how you doing? a little cold, huh? >> i'm okay. [laughter] >> hey, governor, one more photo here? one, two, three, here we go. >> okay. [inaudible conversations] >> gotta get to a live interview, guys. sorry about that. >> gotta get on a live interview. >> we've got to get going, guys, sorry about that. thank you, guys. >> good luck, governor. go get 'em. >> thank you. >> appreciate your work. >> thank you. god bless you. >> west point, wow? >> my son graduated -- >> what an honor that is.

how are you? good to see you. >> we've got to get on a live interview, governor. >> thank you. thank you so much. >> go, mitt! [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] ♪ ♪ [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[laughter] [inaudible conversations] >> can we just get a level from you? >> one, two, three, four. [laughter] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] >> governor, the audio's a little low. >> one, two, three, four. one, two, three, four. that's me? is that working okay? >> are we getting it? >> thanks so much for doing this. you love being out here in iowa. what do you -- [inaudible] >> well, there's a lot of excitement. i think part of it is people do really need a change. last time around we didn't know who would be president, now we have president obama, people in iowa are excited about bringing real change to washington. >> a new poll shows while you're out front, there's a lack of enthusiasm. you're behind perry and paul supporters in terms of real enthusiasm. why do you think that is? >> well, i'm pleased to be doing

pretty darn well at the polls and to have the kind of support you saw here today, huge crowds, a lot of excitement. you know, i can't tell you how we're going to do here in iowa, but i can tell you that i'm pretty confident that we're going to get the delegates going through this whole process to get the nomination. >> you're confident enough in iowa that you're staying here through caucus night -- [inaudible] >> well, i want to do well here. i don't think you can predict who's going to win in iowa. it's a state where you don't know who's going to come to caucus, how they'll finally make up their mind. it's important to get some of the delegates from iowa, i need some dell delegates from new hampshire, and it'll probably be a pretty long road, and i want to make sure we have a good start and a good finish. >> a new poll shows rising support and enthusiasm for rick perry as well as ron paul. rick perry and, of course, coming up from behind. there could be some surprise and some big disappointment for you.

>> oh, i'm not planning on being disappointed. this is a good place to start, and i've got good, strong support across the country. l no thing is a sure thing at this point, but it feels terrific on this day. >> newt gingrich has tanked, and by all accounts it's because of the super pac barrage of ads from both you and some of the other campaigns, but -- [inaudible] supporting mitt romney is savage against newt gingrich. i know you think you'd go to the -- [inaudible] but the fact is it's your former colleague, friend, former colleague who contributed anonymously a million dollars. do you have an apology to make to the voters in iowa and around the country for the kind of negative advertising that's -- >> actually, speaker gingrich's numbers have gone down more in new hampshire than they have in iowa, and i don't think there are any negative ads in -- >> but they've really plummeted

here, governor. >> they've gone down even more -- >> because of those? >> -- even more in new hampshire than they have in iowa. and the nature of a campaign is you're going to have the obama team, their super pac has already gone after me. if you can't stand the heat in this little kitchen, wait physical you get into obama's -- wait until you get into obama's hell's kitchen. the campaigns are going to point out distinctions between the candidates. i can handle the heat, i've got big shoulders. >> you want to run a negative campaign? >> my campaign -- >> with the iowa caucuses less than a week away, democrats are focusing their criticism on mitt romney. the democratic national committee vice chairman held a press conference yesterday to discuss why the party believes romney is the wrong choice for america. this is just under 15 minutes.

>> stay up here with me until i'm done. >> all right, will do. here we go. my name's keith kirkpatrick, and i'm a student here at isu, and i'm here to address you about the growing concerns i have for mitt romney's candidacy. like most students, i could be back home for the holiday break, but i made a conscious decision to stay because young voters need a voice in this election. across america, it'll be up to voters to decide what lies beneath the surface of mitt romney's candidacy. his tv rhetoric about fiscal morality do not match with reality. yesterday in the quad cities mitt romney said i'm not going to add hundreds of billions of dollars to the deficit, but the fact is mitt romney's tax plan will result in 6.5 trillion in deficits over the next eight years. those are deficits that would lead to disastrous consequences for my generation.

and last week in new hampshire when a student asked him about rising college tuition costs, romney said the problem would work itself out in a free market system. not only is that out of touch, it's just plain wrong. while college degrees remain the most important steps to getting a good paying job, its cost keeps rising. in fact, two out of three graduates are burdened with an average debt of more than $25,000. but that's changing because of president obama's doubling the size of the pell grants and increasing by 50% from six million students in if 2008 to nine million students today. as result, millions of students are paying less for college than they did when the president took office despite state budget cuts. romney knows if iowa's middle class families had a chance to kick the tires and check under the hood, they would see a career of 17 years of weak decisions. they'd see the concerted effort to rewrite history so that

iowa's working families don't realize how out of touch mitt romney is. president obama's landmark health care reforms are already helping millions of americans to finally get affordable, quality health care. this year because the president's reform plan, 2.5 million young americans now have health coverage. mitt romney has vowed to repeal health reform. mitt romney talks about moral respondent, but how moral is it to repeal health care coverage for 2.5 million young americans? for today's young americans, mr. romney would create a steeper path to the middle class and place the burden of his tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of my generation. watch what he does, not what he says. now i'd like to introduce you to the vice chair, r.t. rybak. >> thank you, casey, and stay up here with me. you know, four years ago i came down to iowa and did what a lot

of people did. we spent a lot of time going door to door and listening to iowans about what they really thought we needed in the country. and they asked us some really hard questions. they wanted to find out who was really going to stand up for middle class, working families. they wanted to know who was finally going to get us out of the war in iraq. they wanted to see whether anybody would have the guts to take on the most complicated issue that they knew was a huge problem and nobody really had the courage to take, and that was health care reform. so they asked us all those tough questions. most important, what happened in that time is president obama and a lot of us went door to door and listened to iowans talk about their future. and now we're coming back four years later, and we're saying to iowans that we were, in fact, able to deliver on the biggest thing that they wanted done which was to get out of the war in iraq, we were able to have a president who had the guts to take on the incredibly complicated issue of health care. and more importantly than ever from the beginning of his term until right now, the president's

been focused on the middle class. and if you ever wanted to see the contrast between that president who was propelled by iowa and had iowa values at his core when he went to the white house in a republican field, i want you to think about what's happening in washington over this past month which you haven't heard a whole lot about here in iowa. if you ever wondered whether the republican party was going to stand up for middle class iowans and if you wondered whether the president would, you knew what happened in washington clarified all of that. the president stood up for a middle class tax cut, and the republican party fought every possible way they could to prevent that from happening because they did not want to give a tax cut -- i'm sorry, raise taxes to those on the very top end. and what played out in washington was a mirror of what played out in the next four years. we can either go back to president obama's view of what should happen in washington which is to stay with the middle class, or we can go back to the

policies of the bush administration which is what you have heard from the republican party. you know, i've really been struck by these debates, and i've been to a lot of them and seen the rest of them on television. and we've heard the same thing from the republicans over and over. a lot of rhetoric, but the through line in every single comment we've heard from republicans in these debates has been that they want to go back to the economic strategies of george bush. they've said what we need to do to fix the economy is to cut taxes for those at the very, very top end and remove any kind of oversight, especially over the financial services industry. well, that was the economic strategy of george w. bush. how's that working out for you? not very well. that's what collapsed the economy in the first place, and that's what the entire republican field has talked about as being the solution to our economy. that simply won't work. president obama inherited the bush economy. the bush economy that collapsed because it was focused only on tax breaks for the very wealthy and removing oversight of the financial services industry.

four years ago when the president took office, we were hemorrhaging 700,000 jobs a month. now we've had 21 straight months of private sector job growth, and that's the sort of strategy we need to move forward. it hasn't been easy. it's been tough choices. but stop and think about the contrast between what some of these republican candidates would do and what the president would do. when the president took office, the american auto industry, one of the cores of our entire economy, was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. the president made a tough decision. he stepped in and took tough action and literally helped save the american auto industry. this past year one million more american cars were sold in this country. a total of 12.8 million cars were sold. now, romney has proposed that we should have just let the auto industry collapse. 12.8 million cars would not have been made in this country, scores of jobs across the midwest would no longer be here

because the economy, the auto industry would have collapsed. now, that's not the kind of president that we want. the same point about houses and home foreclosures. the economy was in deep trouble when the president took office, and it was in trouble in large part because the housing market collapsed. president obama delivered on work to try to prevent foreclosures and to slowly begin to turn the housing industry around in the report we saw just the past couple days shows again that there are beginning to be signs of the housing industry turning up. tough, hard work with tough decisions. mitt romney's strategy, he said we should let the foreclosure crisis, quote-unquote, play itself out. what does that mean for iowans? that means that president romney would have stood back and let the housing market completely collapse. that's not what we need in this, in this country. now, romney talks about the president in pretty condescending way. it's kind of remarkable to listen to him talk about the

president of the united states the way he does. but he says that the president is out of touch. let's compare these two people and who's out of touch. president obama raised by a single mom in tough circumstances, got himself through college, came out with the big loans, could have taken a great job. he had great opportunities coming out of harvard law school, but he chose to go back to the neighborhoods in chicago where people were suffering. and he dealt one by one with people who had been victims of factories closing, businesses being closed by venture companies that had pulled the rug out from under real workers. barack obama really got his feet on the ground by being connected with real americans, and he came back to iowa four years ago and continued to stay grounded in the real america. now, mitt romney who claims to be about the real america didn't grow up in it, certainly hasn't spent his time in it, and his entire professional career was about creating opportunities for those at the very top end while often losing jobs for those who are part of working america.

if you stop and look at their tax policies, it's the same thing. the whole drama we saw playing out in washington with the president fighting tooth and nail for a tax cut for the middle class while mitt romney and the entire republican field said literally nothing to protect the tax cut that the middle class needed. and as the republican party extremists continued to drive their party off the deep end in washington, we heard an absolute deafening silence from the republican candidates who today try to pretend that they're going to stand up for the middle class. where were they? where were they this past month when the middle class needed champions in washington? thank god they had president obama, and we cannot turn this economy back to the people who sunk it in the first place. so we're here in iowa to do what we did four years ago. the president got elected not by running a bunch of negative ads in washington, not by having campaigning through sound stages, but by going door to door. we've continued to do that. there is one campaign in iowa

that has had a grass roots effort -- grassroots effort all the way through this, and that's actually president obama's campaign. president obama has more field offices than any republican candidate. and the difference is next tuesday after the caucuses when all these republican candidates go off to the next place to campaign, we will still have those offices and still with doing what got president obama into office in the first place; going door to door, picking up the phone, ringing the doorbell and listening to iowans, getting their values and bringing them back to washington and making sure that we have a government that stands on our side w. that, casey, i think we want to see if anyone has any questions and thank you all very much. any questions? >> [inaudible] you spoke specifically on mitt romney and no other candidate. >> yeah. well, mitt romney is now leading in the polls in iowa and leading in the polls in new hampshire and he's, obviously, the clear favorite here. so it's presumed by mitt romney who today, of course, said anything less than a win would

be a big loss for him. so i think he's pretty much taken it for granted, and the polls certainly show him ahead. now, if mitt romney happens to lose in iowa after leading in the polls, after the entire rest of the field seems to have collapsed around him, if after having spent millions of dollars on his own and then his surrogates spent many millions more to attack everyone else in the field, if he doesn't come through, they'll all spend plenty of time talking about another candidate. but, you know, mitt rom gnu is -- romney is the clear front runner. he has spent the money to do that, and if he doesn't come through, then we'll talk about ore candidates. i'm happy to talk about any of them, but i think right now according to mitt romney who today declared that anything less than a win would be a big loss for him is clearly the focus right now. with that, we want to thank you, and it's great to be back in iowa, and it's really great to have casey.

thank you for your work. and casey's, you know, to me a great example of why we're so proud of the folks who have campaigned for the president here in iowa. um, it wasn't just about when all the cameras were here. you know, you're doing the quiet work. we've been all over iowa and seeing people doing amazing work door to door, quietly getting their work done, and that's what got the president elected in the first place, because of casey and all the other folks. that's why we're going to win it again. thanks, casey, we'll see ya. thanks. >> and we've got more from road to the white house coming up later today. former house speaker newt gingrich will be at café mom in des moines, iowa, later, joined by frank lupts at that event, and you can see it live at 11 a.m. eastern on c-span. later, more from iowa with former pennsylvania senator rick santorum. he'll be in marshalltown speaking at the legends american grill.

we have that live for you at 6:30 p.m. eastern also on c-span. >> with the iowa caucuses tuesday, january 3rd, c-span's cameras are following the candidates at events throughout the state, and every morning live from iowa political guests are taking your calls on our washington journal program. you can also stay up-to-date with c-span's campaign 2012 web site with new features including candidates on the campaign trail with bio information and video from campaign stops. candidates on the issues lets you see what the candidates have said on issues important to you. and at social media buzz read what political reporters and people like you are saying on sites like facebook and twitter. all at c-span.org/campaign 2012. ♪ ♪ >> with the iowa caucuses next week and the new hampshire, south carolina and florida primaries later in the month, c-span's series "the contenders"

looks back at 14 candidates who ran for president and lost but had the long-lasting impact on american politics. tonight four-time governor of alabama, george wallace. and then on saturday, senator and congressman from south dakota, george mcgovern followed by billionaire businessman ross perot. "the contenders" every night at 10 eastern on c-span. >> earlier this year the u.s. senate commission on art unveiled a painting of former senate majority leader bill frist as a ceremony in the u.s. capitol. the portrait is part of the u.s. senate leadership portrait collection, and we'll hear remarks from senate majority leader harry reid, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell and president george w. bush. this is about 40 minutes. >> i've been asked to request that everyone's cell phone be turned off and that your minds and hearts be turned on.

[laughter] we're here together for a very, very special occasion. on the top of the washington monument is an aluminum, beautiful-shaped fawn. and there are two words imprinted on it. they're in latin, and they're actually seven letters. leos dio. praise be to god. and isn't it marvelous that we're here in this historic chamber now this afternoon, and 555 feet above us is this declaration of praising god for all that we have. and all that we are.

let us pray together. almighty god, we thank you that we can come together to praise you. we are so thankful for our history as a nation. one nation, under god. and we're reminded again that to praise you is the antidote to pride. an adoration for your wisdom is the key to magnificent accomplishments. and gratitude for your goodness is the real secret of greatness. this afternoon we honor senator william harrison frist, a cherished friend, benchmark physician, surgeon, distinguished senator and former majority leader. we salute this man for all

seasons who was motivated by the best of all reasons, to glorify you. we're stunned again by the multitude of his accomplishments in medicine and government. and then in addition to all that he's done here, we thank you that you have exemplified your grace and mercy in those many trips to africa to bring his surgical and healing skills to the most remote areas and to the most destitute and neglected people. thank you for his leadership and efforts to relieve suffering in haiti and in other distressed places in the world. and for his very generous philanthropy. so many of us gathered here together this afternoon have our own personal stories of bill's attentive, caring friendship in

our personal needs. but no one here could forget that afternoon of the shooting of two capitol guards when dr. dr. frist picked up his bag and ran to help. or 9/11 when he was a source of comfort and advice and insight. the anthrax attacks, the countless demanding challenges of senate leadership. and, lord, we know that of all your blessings to this senator, he would be the first to say that the greatest are his beloved wife karen and his three sons, harrison, jonathan and brian. we thank you for karen's leadership here in the capitol, encouraging friendship among the senate spouses and at home in nashville. and now as the senator's

portrait is unveiled and hangs here in the capitol, may it be an affirmation of his continued influence in our time and the impact of his life on american history. and together we say with him leos deo. praise be to god. amen. [background sounds] >> it's a pleasure to be with president bush, leader mcconnell, with senator frist and his family and all of you. i've been in public service a long time, and i've worked with a lot of public servants. i'm glad to say publicly what i have told many privately. i've never served with someone

who cared more, that i cared more for as a person and someone who so clearly cared more for other people than bill frist. he spent his entire life making others' lives better. senator frist first sought to serve his community in surgery, but when he realized he could pursue that same passion on a larger scale, he helped so many more. he chose to represent his state in the united states senate, and the state twice chose him. he chose to represent his peers in the senate's leadership, and his peers emphatically chose him. and be they elected him to that role after he had served fewer years in congress than anyone ever elected to lead the president. he may have retired from the senate, but he'll never retire from service. through all the title changes in his career whether it's a physician, a politician, a businessman or a father, bill frist never has forgotten the

importance of the individual in the work that he does. he never has forgotten that our nation's security, it's image and our solemn responsibility to the world hinges not only on how compellingly we can inflict pain, but how compassionately we can relieve it. though he was trained at our country's most prestigious schools and learned from its finest doctors, senator frist hasn't confined his skills to the comforts of the world class hospitals. he has bravely performed surgery on the front line of some of the world's most dangerous and desperate places. senator frist has saved lives hurt by human hands in places like the sudan and those devastated by disasters like last year's earthquake in haiti. dr. frist bravely knows no borders, and his commitment to service is without limit or without peer. i know he appreciates the title of humanitarian more than the one for which we honor him with

this portrait today. and because he does, we appreciate him. above my desk in my office just down the hall from here i keep a portrait of another great man from tennessee. and another former member of congress, andrew jackson. jackson once said, and i quote, one man with courage makes a majority, end of quote. my friend bill frist is a man with infinite courage who made a fine majority leader. he held the same seat in the united states senate that jackson held two centuries earlier, and now both of their portraits will hang near each other in this great building we call the united states capitol. when he was here in the senate, bill frist helped choose the artist for commissions like this one we're here to see today. as we will soon see when he, we unveil this work of art, michael shea neil has wonderfully

captured senator frist's likeness for posterity. so, doctor, senator, mr. leader, bill, congratulations to you and to karen and the boys, harrison, jonathan and brian. before we hear from senator frist, please, join me in welcoming the president. senator frist and i had the honor of serving with, as republican and democratic leaders here in the senate. it's my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce to each of you the 43rd president of the united states, george w. bush. [applause] >> thank you, all. [applause] please, be seated.

thank you all, please, be seated. it takes a really good friend to get me to come back to washington. [laughter] i am thrilled to be here. laura sends her love. to karen and bill. bill, like me, was wise enough to marry a texan. [laughter] i'm proud to be here with senator reid and senator mcconnell. they represent the present. i represent the past. [laughter] i welcome those who have served in the past, mr. vice president, mr. secretary and others. i can assure you, bill, that we are delighted to be here to watch you hang. [laughter] well, not exactly. [laughter] i, um, i appreciate bill frist a lot. i appreciate the fact that he

loves and respects his wife. and i love the fact that when i was with frist, he always talked about his sons. sometimes you probably tested his patience, but you never was able to break his love. i really admired the fact that, you know, bill served during tough times. but he led the senate in a gentlemanly way. i appreciated the tone he set. you know, this is a guy who could have done a lot of things in his life. he could have, you know, it's kind of inconvenient probably sometimes for someone to think about public service, but he was willing to be inconvenienced with the comforts of life. i loved serving with him. he's a man of accomplishment. he did a lot. and i think when people look back at your record, bill, they're going to say, wow, man, you did a lot of good stuff for america. i really appreciated, um, the fact that bill frist lived by

the call to whom much is given, much is required. somebody said in the oval office, you're not going to believe this, senator frist goes to africa to help save lives rather than going home to campaign or, you know, tosome mooz with the folks of tennessee. this guy is saving lives on the continent of africa. he's got god-given talents that he was willing to use on behalf of those who suffered. i said, give me senator -- you mean senator bill frist? he said, no, exactly who i mean, bill frist. during the senate recess, takes time out of his life to save lives. i thought that was an awesome example of what it means to be a public servant. i am delighted to be here to introduce to you the man who -- let's hope the portrait looks like him too, but the man --

[laughter] be a rough moment if they unveil it and they go, who's that, you know? [laughter] the man whose portrait we're about to see, a dear friend, a great american, bill frist. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. [applause] thank you. thank you. [applause]

norman shut schumway was smart. peering over a sort of open chest cavity with an old, diseased, big, flabby heart just kind of thrown aside and guiding, guiding my novice hands at the time as we sewed in a healthy, good, vibrant, young heart which would give life to that person, he would say remember, whatever you're doing at a moment's time, you never own it. you are always just renting. i didn't know exactly what he meant, the pioneer cardiac surgeon teaching me to transplant, but you are always just renting. thank you, mr. president, for your, your remarks, for your being here today to be with

primarily the frist family, big family, but the frist family. [laughter] and, obviously, many of your admirers and supporters and friends over the years, over the era that we served together. your dad and mother, my parents, the relationship between the first lady, laura, and karen, my siblings, your siblings, i do feel a certain sort of interlocking kinship in our families. and, mr. president, you know, someday there just may be, just might be a george -- it's kind of scary -- but a george bush frist. [laughter] a little bit scary. you see, if you hadn't run for re-election and if this guy right here, harrisson, hadn't chosen to work on your re-election and met a then-unknown-to-us houston girl, ashley hough on that re-election

campaign and then five years later at the top of the dome of this capitol gotten engaged and recently married, we simply wouldn't be here as a family. .. just so you will see the interlocking relationship, and right at that point in time president bush and president clinton locke together.

two days later i was on the ground with perlman and others who have been here and done so much and had the opportunity to spend time with john frist who is here doing surgery, being on the ground seeing response to one of the worst, three worst earthquakes in history and president bush and president clinton getting together, raising a huge amount of money which is invested not just throwing money at haiti but to create jobs and hope for hundreds and really thousands of people in the future. you really demonstrated in so many ways that life outside of washington gives all sorts of opportunities to participate and to lift people up in so many ways and we applaud your work in haiti and i had the opportunity to work with you through the clinton bush haiti fun. to my colleagues harry reid and mitch mcconnell, the leadership era that this portrait, the portrait is fun and it's nice and i'm honored but in truth it does represent an era and there are no two senators both past or present who didn't do more to shape that

era then harry reid and mitch mcconnell. and to harry, our leader, our leader today, our boxer, our fighter who was out there, i enjoyed working with you and although our opinions naturally, and that is what they should do, diverged and being in different places at different times you were always forthright in your convictions stand tall and we we'd all, all admire that. mitch mcconnell, so many days and many of them senators both recently retired and current senators would come in and mitch mcconnell and i would be right behind that door because that is where the majority leader's office is entrusts the sharing, the real intimacy of human relationships all in the interest of the country, sometimes really tough and agonizing playing out under the leadership of mitch mcconnell who he and i were with a and in and day out.

my other senate colleagues, both present and past, who were here today, i hope opportunities like this represent a time and a moment of repose but also a time of reflection. your dedicated work and you realize it more after you leave then when you are here, provides that real pulse and that continuing pulse of our democracy that is there and you almost taken for granted while you are here that you are for filling the responsibilities but once you leave you realize that pulse every day continues. sometimes faster, sometimes lower is provided by you. dr. ogilvie who you heard, is a doctor ogilvie or is that the lord speaking without voice? you can tell. every day, every day for those of you from nashville and tennessee thanks for coming but every day the senate would not open, we would not do the nation's business until the

chaplain of the senate, lloyd ogilvie, gave that guiding message. lloyd, as you have that implication a few minutes ago and the president and i have faith opportunity to see a few minutes ago a lot of our staff we have been with over the years, you can't help but to realize that once you leave the senate that those relationships never and. and i am reminded of a formal service but in after formal service things continue to happen with other senators, with staff, with people who claim these halls together every night. continues to happen and i'm reminded about two years after i left the senate, and after lloyd ogilvie had left being the senate chaplain, the time time and just imagine a gloriously yellowish orange sun rising over an ocean was -- with crashing waves and karen and i had our feet sort of in those ways.

and this is after the senate, but lloyd ogilvie was out there baptizing a member of my family. it makes you realize that senate relationships are organic and they continue to live forever. and to those closest to me, karen and brian and jonathan and harrison we did begin this journey with so many of you who did come to tennessee in 1993. a don quixote type journey in many ways because i was out putting hearts and every day and you have lost your mind to go to the united states senate? and the answer was maybe karen had an issue in it. the boys didn't really know, but once we made that decision and i really should say this to karen, she said, i said, once we

decided to come to the united states senate karen never looked back. and never wavered in terms of support and the sacrifices that all the senators and their spouses who are here know that you have to make and i thank you for that. and with harrison and jonathan and brian in 1993 you don't know what to expect but it's tough. we came here with little boys and left as grown men. and it's the greatest gift, that kids can give their parents to karen and me and that is they grew through that adolescent period. lots of ups, few little downs but at the end of that grew into outstanding young men who they themselves are committed to lives of service, the greatest gift that children can give to their parents. my four older siblings are here, very rare that we all together altogether even though mother and dad died 12 years ago.

we live all over the country but we all lived live within two miles of each other. i am the youngest of five children, the baby of the family. and as i addressed dobby and mary and bobby and tommy, i think, and i think we all thank a mother and dad. most people think that about their parents but they really were humble. they have had these basic tennessee values that they did their best to pass on to us. you know they are out there smiling, looking down saying, this is what we wanted, it's what we dreamt about to have the five of them together helping and living out their dream like this for us. mother is karen's mom, the matriarch of the family, the grandmother out there of who is the matriarch in texas and thank you for bringing the thomas family with you today. the historic chamber.

i was just talking to the president. many of you have not been in this chamber, 1810 to 1859, 50 years but this is where all the great debates took place, all the great debates and they don't occur very much anymore, do that? honestly you don't hear the webster debates. they all took place in this historic chamber. as i mentioned majority leader or the republican leader office is right on the other side of those doors, and you hear the hundreds of people coming in here every day because it's the door, it's the hallway and it's the door and the desk and as you are working through the day as mitch knows, you hear all day long hundreds of people coming in here and even thousands over a week to pay their respect to this room as the seed of democracy, the upper level of our congress. it represents freedom around the world. and that reminds me of what kind of makes this place work and

that is the staff. it's the team of people who give of their time very quietly, silently, tirelessly to serve not just the leader but to serve their country. the same tradition that is represented by this room here today. the staff are the bedrock, are the bedrock of this institution into each of them in this room and listening elsewhere, you played a unique role in the history. friends who are here who came up, thank you. your sacrifices and contributions and support or what got us here and we have been blessed to know you. shane, why don't you stand up actually and have your family stand up as well. karen and i have looked forward to this day for many many months. we have had a wonderful time literally -- shane you will have to keep standing.

you don't have to stay in. literally working with my three boys and karen on this portrait and other portraits. michael shane neil knows our entire family personally each and every one. it was about seven or eight years ago that i had shane stand again as we unveiled the vandenberg portrait which is in the senate reception room permanently painted into the wall there. he is one of the great portrait artists of our time. he loves the institution of the united states senate. he passionately loves american history. he is a warm and caring individual and i have had the opportunity to witness being a great father and spouse. he is a man whose work you can all judge. i asked him to make me a little tanner, little bit younger and we will see a charlie but shane to you into melanie and to maddie and lilly k. thank you all for being here today.

i was speed it up mr. president. [laughter] i am just sitting here -- get it moving. it is nice to go back to texas and go back to nashville isn't it? one of the things that, i don't have any sort of message today, but one of the things that you do hope to do even if you are just renting space like we have senators, senators and members of the house do, is that you leave something here, a hint of something that makes it a little bit different or it shapes it in a way, maybe makes it better. and i hope, what i hope that karen and i have done is let the senate -- left the senate with a mere suggestion, a hint of a return to this concept of the citizen legislator. of someone who comes to the senate from a regular job.

i don't know if heart transplants are a regular job but they are not a political job. who come here for a period of time with no intention for making a career out of politics. you are just renting time, whatever you are doing. look at it that way. you never own on it and then voluntarily entering, hopefully a more productive phase of your life, and i do think we move too far away from the non-career politician, all sorts of reasons for it. what you probably didn't know is from 1810 to 1859 when this was used as the senate, just as an example of positions. in that fifty-year period there were 17 doctors elected to the united states senate over that 15 years and they would go back

common practice. over the 50 years, i was elected to the united states senate. from 1950 to 2000 remember there were 17 back in this room. there was one physician and that was me. it doesn't tell an exact story but what it does say is i think we need to go out and get people with real-life experiences to all sorts of places and encourage them to run and i hope our service, karen and my service here, says you can do it, maybe not perfectly but to the best of your ability. you can go back common your family can stay intact, and you can't live a productive life. and then inspire other people to do it, just jump in and do it. voluntarily coming and voluntarily leaving. and closing there is one individual who is not here with us today, who couldn't travel but who i talked to and who sent

a letter as well. one who has had the distinct privilege of representing the great state of tennessee, a great volunteer state and we thank all of you who have had him do represent tennessee today and also have the privilege of serving in that office as majority leader of the united states senate and then of course that is howard baker. in fact it was he who when we were first deciding whether or not to run, pointed out to me that the really grates who were in this room debating, the henry clay's, the daniel webster's, and the john c. calhoun's, indeed were not career politicians. in fact it was rotational at the time that they would, and they would run and go back home and do whatever they were doing and then they would come back for a period of time and in fact henry clay served as a senator on four different locations rotating and going back home from 1806 to 1852 but howard baker is the

epitome of what i think it takes to lead the united states senate so to senator baker, we love you and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for that very early encouragement to take a doctor who yes was out there treating patients one-on-one everyday, to run for the united states senate having never run for public office, having never served for public office because if it weren't for that simple inspiration that encouragement of somebody who has been at this podium and in this chamber we simply would not he here today. thank you all of you today for sharing this special day, which it's not me and it's not the portrait and it's not our family but the day itself was really represents the respect of the greatest and the most unique of all institutions in the world, i actually believe, the united states senate. god bless you all. thank you. [applause]

[applause] [applause] >> you lloyd it's wonderful to see you again. mr. president, we welcome you back to town. my friend and colleague, harry reid and of course our honoree today, bill frist. you have heard a lot of stories about how bill touched a lot of lives. i will share with you my favorite. fort campbell covers the border of tennessee and kentucky. the post office is in kentucky

but years ago there was a young assistant division commander of the 101st airborne who was out of serving a life fire exercise and a young soldier trips or mishandled himself in one way or another come discharged his weapon and shot the division manned right in the chest. it was pretty clear pretty early that this fellow was in trouble. they got them on a helicopter and flew them down to nashville, where a young surgeon, bill frist, saved the life of general david petraeus. and so the influence and the good work of bill frist is far and wide. and it's fitting that we are here today to honor this good man. i want to welcome, as others have and members of the frist family it is indeed a large one. a lot has been said about this

good man. i would like to add just a brief word of my own. when you come across a man like bill frist, you can't help a wonder where does it all come from? i mean no one doubts it takes a lot of natural talent to become a top transplant surgeon. no one doubts it takes a lot of hard work to switch careers in the middle of one's life. and then in your new career, flourish and rise to the top as quickly as built did. but hill's accomplishments are so singularly impressive, you suspect there is a little bit more to it than that. i think bill provides an answer in the book he wrote about his own life.

there he recalls that as a child growing up in nashville he grew accustomed to the sound of his father's car pulling out of the driveway in the middle of the night to make a house call. how he got used to being pulled aside by strangers thanking him for something his dad had done for them. and he recalls that when it came time to say his prayers at night, he didn't want to -- and he asked his father if he could say his prayers in the bed instead. his father would respond bill, the lord doesn't answer the lazy man's prayers. he writes about the generosity of his mother, the goodness of his wife, the daring of his older brother. and the grandfather who singularly act of heroism nearly a century ago continues to inspire the frist family to serve today. it's clear in other words that will frist has had the benefit of a good example.

examples that all of us in turn have benefited from as well. through our association with him. like his father he is combined public-service with a doctor's concern for people. you shown all of us here and many many others what it means to serve and that is a legacy that any man would be proud of. and now i've and asked to invite karen, harrison, ashley, jonathan, and brian to come to the easel for the unveiling and everyone invited, all the rest of you are invited to the mansfield room shortly after now for the reception. [applause]

[applause] [applause] [inaudible conversations] [applause] [applause]

[laughter] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> thank you all. thank you so much. [applause] [inaudible conversations]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] ♪

>> you see a map of iowa. we will take a look now some of the political ads running in that state prior to next tuesday's caucuses. >> obama's reckless agenda must be stopped but it's the true conservative you can reallyis trust.he c rick santorum.even he is spot for conservative values his whole life, father, husband, champion for life, visionary that understands the threat of radical islam and a proven reformer who took onmers washington. too rick santorum, finally a chicken server that we cangt trust. red white and blue fund is trus. responsible for the content of this at. >> washington elites are destroying our way of life.elits rick perry isn't from washington. his spending reforms balance his energy plan frees america fromr foreign oil and hiser reform ise simplified. that is how he will put america backmp to work. was

brick perry, a conservative for president. president. >> jon huntsman should be a conservative hero. his program is the most conservative. erik erikson, george will, they all agree that huntsman has the best plan to fix the economy. his record is more conservative than newt gingrich and mitt romney combined. he is more pro-life and would be a more conservative presidential and a shot of the u.s. capitol. on a late december day here in washington d.c., the senate about to gavel in four short pro forma session. no legislative business expected. there's a schedule every three business days to prevent a president from making what are called recess appointments.

now live to the senate floor here on c-span2. the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington, d.c, december 30, 2011. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable jack reed, a senator from the state of rhode island, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: daniel k. inouye, president pro tempore. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the senate stands adjourned until 12:00 noon on tuesday, january 3, 2012. and reconvene for the second

and reconvene for the second that wraps up today's senate pro forma session. no legislative business having taken place. we'll see another such session every three business days to prevent the president from making recess appointments. more live senate coverage when the gavel comes down here on c-span2. and our coverage of road to the white house continues now is former house speaker newt gingrich is speaking in des moines iowa at café mob. this is getting started and we have coverage live on our companion network c-span. later former pennsylvania senator rick santorum will be in marshalltown, speaking at the legends american grill. we have that live at 6:30 p.m. eastern also on c-span.

mike huckabee won the republican iowa caucuses but dropped out of the race just two months later. see what a caucus looks like with videos from previous years on line with the c-span video library and now through tuesday are c-span cameras are following the 2012 republican candidates at events throughout the state every morning live from iowa. political guests are taking your calls on "washington journal." tuesday night we will show live coverage of two of the caucuses in the central and western parts of the state on c-span and c-span2 and later on the results of all the nearly 1800 caucuses less candidate speeches. for more resources in the presidential race you c-span's campaign 2012 web site to watch videos of the candidates on the campaign trail, see what the candidates have said on issues important to you and read the latest from candidates, political reporters and people like you from social media sites at c-span.org/campaign 2012.

this weekend booktv and american history tv look kind the scenes at the history and literary life of baton rouge on booktv on c-span2, a trip into the muck caw saturday at 10:55 p.m.. the bloody book was said to be in the hands of france revolution activist john palmer rot when he was assassinated in 1793. it only aired once, but may be the most famous political ad ever produced. robert mann on daisy petals and mushroom clouds monday at 1:45 p.m. and on american history tv on c-span3 saturday at 6:50 p.m., served as the model for civil rights boycotts to come, historians and

participants on the impact of the 1953 that numbers of us boycotts and its 7:45 toward the louisiana state archives with materials dating from the louisiana purchase in 1803, the 1810 document they created the very short-lived west florida republic of louisiana plus louisiana statehood documents, all this weekend on c-span2 and three. >> family and former staff members of senator ted kennedy gathered in boston recently for the groundbreaking of the edward m. kennedy institute for the u.s. senate. the event includes tributes to the late senator by massachusetts governor deval patrick, massachusetts congressman ed markey and former long-term kennedy a, paul kirk. the kennedy institute president begins the program.

we are trying to bring you that ted kennedy tribute and as we work on that technically a quick story from bloomberg about michele bachmann pressing her allegations the former head of her iowa presidential bid was bribed by the campaign of rifle ron paul to endorse him. one of her own aides denied the charge in the story goes on to

say the aid quick bachmann's campaign. the candidate said the dispute centered on the decision yesterday of of cancer is in an iowa state senator who was bachmann's campaign chairman in the state to abandon her effort and endorse ron paul, texas congressman. paul is the leading contender to win iowa's january 3 republican caucuses. bloomberg goes on to say that, he quote he told me he was offered money and offered a lot of money by the ron paul campaign. congressman bachmann said of sorensen and comments to reporters today in a parking lot, jason to a funeral home near downtown des moines. no one else knows about that conversation other than canned sorensen and myself. again that was congresswoman michele bachmann quoted in a bloomberg story. we are ready now for the program about ted kennedy, the former staff member and family of the late senator gathering in boston recently for the groundbreaking of the edward m. kennedy institute for the u.s. senate.

>> good morning ladies and jumped him and, thank you very much for being here. we really do appreciate it. if we could begin to have folks take their seats we will have time for pictures a little later. bill de la hunt, could you sit down please? thank you. what a leader. lieutenant governor is about to take his seat beside the treasure there. we are making real progress here. good morning ladies and gentle men. and in so many ways -- this is the day the lord has made. [applause] let us rejoice and be glad. [applause] i was just telling vicky, and was walking out by the 10 earlier this morning, looked up at this incredible blue sky and the sun was shining down and i said something that so many of

us have said so many times in our lives, thank you, ted. well people will take credit for much of what happens, i think we give him the responsibility and credit for this beautiful day. and it is so typical of what ted kennedy wanted. it really isn't about ted kennedy in so many different ways. it's about the future and it's about teaching people how our government works, and it's about giving young people a sense of purpose and hope. one day add markey and i were talking about what this places place is and eddie said you know, for kids like you and me, if we came to the institute we would never go home. and if you haven't had a chance yet to look at what the place will look like, there are renderings outside. just as you come out of the tent on the left, please if you haven't already, take the time to look at the model.

at the core of what we have is a representation of the u.s. senate and the 100 seats and desks that are there are lacombe to life for young people and everybody in this tent has helped to make that happen. i want to thank you so much. a couple of notes here for you. the institute is an important part of umass boston and when you joined umass boston, you become part of a family. and the folks at umass boston who have not been kinder or more efficient, more effective in making all of this work and so for all of the people who are here who work for umass, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for what you did and what you do. [applause] by the way, when you look at the model and look at the renderings, one of the things i think you should think about,

senator kennedy would be so thrilled with, the building will be built entirely with union labor. [applause] [applause] we would have had a rainy day if we weren't doing that. i think that is true. couple of people i would like to acknowledge as we begin this morning. two of the founding members of the board of directors of the edward kennedy institute to the senate, senator paul kirk and dave kirk who are no longer in the board but deserve so much credit for what we do. [applause] our architects, and as you look at the building, you will see what he did. he was able to take the notion became as vicki and ted vickie and ted talk to historians about what this would eat and fitting

into the campus here at umass and it looks like it is part of a facility so many decades ago. our architects is the ken -- become a good friend. raffaella. [applause] you know for those of us who follow what is happening in washington and it would be hard not to do that this week, for anybody who came to be with us today, it's an extraordinary venture and as you may know those folks will have to go back. we are blessed to have speaker pelosi with us this morning. [applause] i did mention former congressman bill de la hunt who has been such a supporter of the institute and his colleague from

lowell, former congressman from massachusetts, tim murray the lieutenant governor is here as well as our state treasure and you will hear from some of the other elected officials who are here. thank you so much for being part of this. i mentioned last night that joe biden described the secret of ted kennedy's success and it was always about doing things for others. and the institute gives back, way to do things for the people of this country and in particular for the young people. so, when you leave here today, please take a look at the model. please walk with a sense of purpose of what the institute is. it is what senator kennedy wanted it to be, and institute to teach people about our government and in particular to have young people become incredibly excited about the united states of america and how we work. a woman who does that every day,

day in, day out, incredible supporter of the institute, the senate president from massachusetts, -- [applause] >> good morning and welcome on this absolutely beautiful day. i have a resolution from the senate that there is a resolution from the house of representatives. congratulating the edward kennedy institute do the united states senate on its historic groundbreaking. whereas the edward m. kennedy institute and the united states senate will break ground on on the state-of-the-art facility on friday april 8, 20 leavenworth institute is received by the late senator edward m. kennedy is an institution designed to

educate students of all ages about american democracy and to inspire future generations who engage in the public square and where where's the institute inspires two preserve the united states senate passed, eliminate its present and prepare those who will lead the nation into the future and whereas senator edward -- ted kennedy and his decades of service to the commonwealth and to the country provided dedicated leadership on major issues beginning with the speech to the united states senate and the civil rights act of 1964. where's the institute has honored senator kennedy's legendary commitment to public education by forming a partnership with the university of massachusetts boston that will benefit each institution for decades to calm and whereas the beautiful new institute will complement the john f. kennedy presidential library and attract thousands of visitors annually to the columbia.section of dorchester and the city of boston.

thank you. [applause] i i am a dorchester girl. therefore, the massachusetts senate hereby congratulates senator edward m. kennedy institute on its historic groundbreaking and a copy of these resolutions beach transmitted forthwith by the clerk of the senate to the edward m. kennedy for united states senate and it is signed by all parties massachusetts senators. [applause] >> i want to apologize to the attorney general. attorney general martha coakley is here with us. [applause] when something like this happens, so many people get to

take bows. the staff of the edward kennedy institute has done an incredible job in getting things ready for today and i want to mention paul ramey, chris cole, jay mccarthy and the person who pulled all of the things together both last night and today, lisa mcburney. thanks to all of you for the incredible work you have done. [applause] a dear friend of the senators, they think of everybody in this room, man who makes things happen at the statehouse, the speaker of the house. [applause] >> thank you very much peter and another big day today is opening day by the way. let's not forget that. the red sox are going to start a

winning streak today is a matter of fact. [applause] off course by last prediction was that peter and i were going to retire so so much for my prediction by thank you peter for that kind introduction and it's a pleasure for me to join with my partner in the legislature, senate resident murray and offering the resolution and to be with all of you today to bring the greetings and best wishes of the massachusetts house of representatives. today we celebrate the enduring commitment of public service of our beloved senator, edward m. kennedy. a leader without equal, not only here in massachusetts but across this nation. i would like to extend my appreciation to all those whose hard work and dedication has made this day a reality. like all of you, i am anxiously

awaiting the opening of the edward and kennedy institute for the united states senate. which will help bring alive america's great history and inspire young people to serve the greater good. just as ted kennedy did with such devotion for so many years. it is befitting that this beautiful new facility will be located next to the john f. kennedy presidential library, which for 30 years has helped define the boston waterfront. i can't think of a better place to showcase the lasting impact of the two senator kennedys from massachusetts in the entire kennedy family for that matter on the civic life of the nation. i am really happy to be here today to celebrate the new

beginning, because ted kennedy's focus was always on the future. he never stopped fighting for a better tomorrow for the people of massachusetts and the united states. he never stopped searching for ways to build a more perfect union for all the american people and as we confront today's challenges, this institute will keep senator kennedys vision and ideals of life for the people of massachusetts and the united states. congratulations and god bless all of you. thank you very much. [applause] >> the speaker mentioned the jfk library and mentioned paul kirk onetime that he had never gone in that building without eating inspire. i think the same will be true of the institute that we are about to build in one of the things that you need to know, mentioned

one of the umass boston, the folks at the kennedy library from the very beginning whether it's events we have done at the library or helping with any suggestions as we begin on how we make things work. i would like to publicly tank to our friends at the jfk library, for the great work they have done with us. [applause] so many people who are colleagues of ted kennedy always talked about you could trust his word and you need he knew how to do all of the work of the senate and a person who was there through most of that career with him, fellow from connecticut who has represented the connecticut senate by my sister eileen, man who's been an incredible friend, a force for safety and banking for this country when it was not easy to do, chris dodd from connecticut. [applause]

years ago, vicki and ted had a have a number of us at the house on the cape and talking about the institute and what it could be and one of the suggestions was that it could go to another college and it wasn't emerson college. [laughter] and the senator said he wanted it at umass boston and he was clear about that. he understood how important it would be for himself and for the people at umass boston. we have a great university system in massachusetts and the man who has led it for the last several years has been a member of our board, a significant leader in massachusetts and a dear friend of the kennedy institute, jack wilson. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much, peter. this really is a wonderful day

for the university and it's a wonderful day for our commonwealth and for the nation, for everyone who cares about public service, this is a wonderful day. and it was why the red sox waited, we know that. the university of massachusetts has been enthusiastic partner in this effort because we believe the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate will be a dynamic force for

and certainly one of those great gifts is a friend and colleague, the key kennedy. [applause] i also want to acknowledge our colleagues from the university

of massachusetts. i will note a few of them and sarah can name them all but i want to point out that the chairman of our board of trustees in his second term as chairman, who also has a clear passion for public service and david mckenzie, whose executive director of the umass building authority has been intricately involved in this project and will continue to be as we build the building. by the way david is also the former interim chancellor of umass boston and by the way the interim chancellor of umass law and his has been a life of service. bob chariton is here. he is chairman of the -- [applause] oh he has got some fans in the audience. he is god fans everywhere. he is chairman of the umass building authority that is charged with building the buildings and later this month will be honored for lifetime of

service. i particularly also let a thank my friend, chancellor pete motley for all he does for umass boston and for this institution. [applause] you you have to do a lot to get here. thanks to my colleagues from the edward m. kennedy institute board all of whom care so much a work so hard to make this day a reality. but last i want to thank the man that made it all possible, senator kennedy, for the confidence and the vision that he displayed in forging this partnership with the university of massachusetts and for understanding the natural connection between a university established to serve the people and his own mission of service to all. we are very honored by that decision. and we will always work to drive towards his shining legacy. thank you very much. [applause]

>> i.d. think that the folks in this room know so much about the kennedy family and what it has done and the excellence and pursuit of public service, but few may know that kara kennedy is on the institute board. she has worked in television and oftentimes people would say things like a labor of love. this is not a labor of love. this is an act of love and the work that she has done for her day. caro would you join us at the podium? [applause] >> thank you all. thank you so much for everybody coming here, especially of the former staffers of my dad. i also would like to thank my kids, grace and backs who took

off from school for two days. and now have extra homework to prepare for on monday. but, i am here to introduce this film that my best friend of 38 years and i were fortunate enough to make and so without further ado, i will show the film. okay, thank you. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ who is ready to take action. well, it's up to you. it's up to you. insert layup to you. he's a man with boundless energy. ♪ so add up all the reasons why. ♪

and then when you compare. ♪ it's up to you, it's up to you, it's simply up to you. candidate, kennedy, kennedy. kennedy, kennedy, kennedy, kennedy. ♪ kennedy! >> thanks to the efforts of each and everyone of you, we are here to consider another legacy of a man who loves the history and vibrancy of a uniquely american institution. no one made the senate, life like he did. he loved his history and his place in our american story. there is no greater tribute we could offer than to make this, edward and kennedy institute for the united states senate, a reality. it will be a living institute

where students, teachers and the public can come together and learn about the role and importance of the senate that he loves so much. >> it will be a dynamic center of learning and engagement that takes advantage of 21st century technology, to provide each visitor with a unique and information rich, personalized experience that literally will bring history alive. this centerpiece of of the building but be a large amphitheater that can be arranged to re-create the floor of the united states senate. either the current senate chamber or the old senate chamber where they met from 1810 to 1859. all of the senators desks will be totally interactive. the history of who sat at that desk and almost limitless amounts of substantive information will be at your fingertips. the hallways and the walls outside the chamber will have

interactive spaces as well, and visitors will be able to sit up in a gallery that will overlook the activities on the senate floor. there will be classrooms circling the perimeter of the building for further study, documents and information will be digitized and readily available and can be sorted according to the users preference. our goal is to provide each visitor with an insight into the workings of their government that they couldn't get anywhere else. imagine going into the amphitheater, refiguring it as the old senate chamber and actually becoming one of those senators. henry clay, daniel webster, steven douglas, john calhoun and the others. you would study their positions, negotiate, argue, debate. there was no more perfect partner and the edward and kennedy institute and the

university of massachusetts and he'd love to this location. here on columbia point, next to his brother's library, overlooking dorchester bay. my husband's dream was that by immersing yourself in our history, by reliving the great debates of our time, you would he reminded of the great problems we tackled and the great things we achieved when we all came to the table. ..

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> mr. kennedy? >> aye. ♪ ♪ [applause]

>> thanks, kara. and thanks for the tears in all our eyes. thank you. would you please stand again? [applause] [applause] >> like all of us who were blessed to meet kara, he was proud of all of his children, and in today he is particularly proud of you for what you have done. thank you so much. [applause] >> i mentioned eddie march before. we travel to israel one time and it was shortly after the invasion of kuwait, and part of what we did in the trip, we went everywhere in israel and when it was a group of people from the plo. they were supporting saddam insane invasion of kuwait. fill was in the. is the kind of thing where generally people are polite, ask a few polite questions.

the world was pregnant with worry about what might happen in the middle east and what would go on. and ed markey looked at those folks and said, you owe better to your children and your grandchildren. you will have to explain to them how you have made mistake after mistake, and never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. i had two reactions. i couldn't believe the boldness of the sky, and is trying to figure out if we could keep our backs to the wall as we were leaving the room. [laughter] i was impressed with his candor and his leadership, and the hallmark of eddie markey whether in the middle east or here in his district, or in the halls of congress, a man who stands up for what he believes in, and does it all the time. what greater friend of the institute we don't have, in our friend, ed markey. [applause]

[applause] >> thank you, peter, so much. and thank you for being the great leader for the institute. in its first year of existence. and thank you, the key. thank you, vicki, for being an inspiration to all of us. you had a vision. you asked us all to help, and today is the tribute to you that you are paying to ted. we all honor you for this vision and commitment which you had, and to ted and kara and to patrick, the lights of his life. you and the whole family. it is our honor to be here with you today. he was so proud of you. we are so proud of you, and we're so proud to be here with the whole family here today. thank you. [applause] [applause]

>> and, you know, throughout the entire of health care debate, we are here today with come along with tip o'neill, the greatest speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, that made health care and a vision of ted kennedy which she mentioned every day in the democratic caucus for two years came to be a reality for all americans. [applause] [applause] >> she wanted to make possible what deval patrick, terry murray, bob deleo have already

made possible here for the citizens of massachusetts. it was what happened here in massachusetts that came the model for the rest of the country. and they are not the beneficiaries of the leadership we have assembled here today. as peter said, for so many people, washington is just a distant concept. after all, my father was in the and. i had never visited washington, d.c. until i was sworn in as a united states congressman on my first visit to that city. all of us, when we arrived there, it is just this incredible moment of honor. here at the kennedy institute children from across this entire

region, across this nation, to be able to learn about how our government works. and it will inspire the next generation in the same way that the past several generations have been inspired by the kennedy family, by the brothers who served as a beacon of hope, not just for the irish or the italians, but every people of every nationality who have been in this nation, and across the entire planet. it was something that was born there in the 1960s with the kennedy brothers, and it lives on today. and that dawning of a bright light, a better future, lifted up the spirit of an entire nation. and throughout teddy's unmatched career in public service, he made sure that everyone had access to it. and as an nations greatest senator in history, he made sure

-- [applause] -- that there is a democratization of access to opportunity through education and through health care, for every child in this country. so that everyone could have not just a dream, but a reality. and millions of people across this country now are able to fulfill their dreams because of what katie was able to do. but with teddy, it was always the make of the man, not just his level of political performance that caused the rest of us to lift our gaze to the constellation of possibilities that were out there. not only our own possibilities, but our own potential, our possibility to help the world within which we lived.

this magnificent institute will get the next generation of americans that guide stars, service, civic education, historical understanding and idealism which in light in the mind and encourage full participation in our vibrant democracy. teddy always knew that the past was just a memory come in the future was the hard reality for the poor and the sick and elderly and disabled. and he never allowed the nostalgia to replace and ideals that had as fighting for a future that was better for every citizen in our country. and he inspired all of us to take up that fight. the edward m. kennedy institute will be a learning laboratory where young men and women delve into the history of our country

and are just the and great debates that animate the american experience, the institute will be at the cutting edge of architectural design. of course, it is no building that could match the strength of teddy's sole. there is no material that could replicate the fiber of his character. there is no architecture that could even begin to scrape the heights of teddy's vision. but yetcome in this man-made edifice, it will be conveyed the essence of teddy. and it will be such a fantastic and innovative structure. when i imagine the activity within the institute walls, i think of all the incredible energy that will be generated. i imagine the son of an irish-american brian parker from pittsburgh debating the daughter of a brazilian american bus driver from framingham on the

replicate of the united states senate for. i think about the daughter of the italian-american insurance executive teaming up with a son of a haitian-american hairdresser from dorchester, to research proposals on innovation and early education programs. and i see the same debates taking place with the children of every state in our country, and across the world, here in dorchester. here at one of the great urban universities in the united states, the right place for this institute, the university of massachusetts at boston, led by dick motley, led by jack, led by all of these wonderful young men and women. [applause] >> or the heart and soul and future of our country. and it is those debates which will spread the dreams across town, across our nation, across the world building bridges of understanding.

for teddy, education was always more than books. it was an opportunity, and experienced to be grasped every day. teddy's our knowledge while in the grip of a colleague or a constituents hand. he found vision while grasping that tiller of his elbow, or on the senate floor. he found joy in his children and his grandchildren. he found love in the arms of his dear vicki. and fulfillment in the multitudes across the country and the world that is good works were able to touch. and now, with this incredible institute, this type of history, the educational opportunities that teddy greer will be multiplied and made available to students, teachers, to legislators, and to all those involved in public service at the institute. and far beyond its walls,

teddy's lionheart and the ago of his words will start new generations to service, enabling the leaders of tomorrow to learn, to participate, and to dream about better world. thank you all so much, and thank you, vicki, and the kennedy family for what you have done. [applause] [applause] >> eddie mentioned the university of massachusetts here at boston. i'd like to introduce to you one of the graduates of the university of massachusetts austin, a man i was proud to represent, represent me, for so many years, a more effective advocate for poor people i have never seen. congressman joe kennedy. [applause] [applause] >> when i started this job at

the institute, i was talking to one of my young nephews who lives in dorchester, and he was saying, he admits our next speaker a couple of times. he said, so do you get to work with chancellor? and i said i do. he is way cool. [laughter] he is that. he is one of dorchester's great advocates. is a man who leads this university, and you can see it on the edge of where it is going to always be a better and better place, where everyone in this country can be proud of the people who were here, of what they do here, and what they will do in our world. the way cool chancellor of umass boston, keith motley. [applause] >> i can't wait to go home and tell my children that.

[laughter] because when they see me in those gym trunks from 1980 -- [laughter] -- and those osha sneakers and all those things, they don't think i'm that cool. [laughter] good morning, everybody. >> good morning. >> welcome to boston public university, the only one, the university of massachusetts boston. we are so grateful to have you here. it is your university. so thank you for coming out and being a part of what we see every day. it was unbelievable, vicki, to walk appeared this morning and feel the buzz of everyone, excitement. so thank you, the family, the board and everyone else for getting us here. now, i know i am here to celebrate the educational partnership between the edward m. kennedy institute of the united states in an university

of massachusetts-boston. and i know i'm not supposed to tell you that, this campus has 16,000 students and we have unbelievable faculty, 900 or so of that. since come from 130 countries and 90 differently which are spoken here. the mayor is an alumni. i know i'm not supposed to say that. [laughter] i supposed to say that we, and we do, support wholeheartedly the goal of the institute to eliminate the great debate of the senate passed a but i'm also your to tell you that these moments in our history inspired our present, and they also inform to mars leader. and i'm going to show you some of that in -- we are going to see this work today. one such moment that we are so proud of in those times, and it's a time that many of us in this room can relate to, was the 1964 debate over the civil rights act. this bill was filibustered for

57 days. it was finally broken in june of 1964. the first time in the united states history that a filibuster had been broken in the senate on a civil rights bill. perseverance, perseverance, perseverance. it paid off. our senator, our senator, ted kennedy, someone who is so dear to my heart, understood that quality very, very, very well. the edward m. kennedy institute will use its storied senate debates like this to help make our legislative process accessible in engaging to a wide audience. it was senator kennedy's wish that visitors to the institute would come to understand how

senators of both parties work together to address the great challenges facing our country. and it was his hope that visitors would believe this institute inspired to civic action, and inspired to involvement. now, on april 9, 1964, 47 years ago tomorrow, edward m. kennedy made his first speech in the senate. urging his fellow legislators to pass the civil rights act. his eloquence, his passionate commitment to equality for all americans in that first speech would be echoed time and time and time again throughout his career as a united states senator.

so, on this historic day, in both a preview of the educational offerings of the institute, and a tribute to the champions of civil rights in the senate, and also for me to be able to show off mike caliber students that we have at the university of massachusetts, and in particularly at the university of massachusetts-boston, we have invited three of our students, vicki, from the university of massachusetts-boston -- [laughter] -- to bring alive the historic debate on the civil rights act of 1964. they will be reading excerpts from senator hubert humphrey, democrat from minnesota, edward kennedy, democrat of massachusetts, and minority leader derksen, republican from illinois. now, abel rey cano. no, a junior major and taking

medications but also the coordinator will read an excerpt from senator hubert humphrey's address. delivered on march the 30th 1964. [applause] >> thank you. is honored to be here. mr. president, i cannot over emphasize the historic importance of the debate we are beginning. we are participants in one of the most crucial errors in a long and proud history of the united states, and yes, mankind struggle for justice and freedom, which has gone forward since the dawn of history. if freedom becomes a full reality in america, we can dare

to believe that it will become a reality everywhere. if freedom failed here in america, the land of the free, what hope can we have that it will survive elsewhere? the golden rule exemplifies what we are tempting to do in the civil rights legislation. do unto others as you would have them do unto you if i were to castle what we're trying to do in this legislation, it is to fulfill this great admonition which is the guiding rule of human relations. it were to have have justice, tranquility, peace, and freedom come the bill has a simple purpose, to give fellow citizens the same rights of white people take for granted. it is no more than the constitution guarantees, surely

the goals of this bill are not too much to ask for the senate of the united states. thank you. [applause] >> oh, here we go. here we go. now, neal, a senior marketing and majoring in environmental earth and ocean sciences companies also an undergraduate student senate president. so, of your. is going to read an excerpt from senator kennedy's first speech to the united states senate from april 9, 1964. [applause] >> how did i get so lucky?

exactly. [laughter] i have to take this opportunity with all these great leaders here to mention, i am graduating. [laughter] [applause] >> and i'm taking job offers. i am very eager and inspired by the institute debate public servant, so i was a former union organizer. [applause] and i'll probably be knocking on congressman markey's door. where is he? because i share a passion for environment of sciences, health care, thank you, nancy pelosi, speaker pelosi. and higher ed. so, thank you, chancellor motley. >> here welcome. [laughter] >> i'm honored to read a portion of this historic speech to united states senate on april 1964 when senator kennedy

said, mr. president, it is with some hesitation that i rise to state on the pending legislation before the senate. a freshman senator should be seen, not heard. should learn, and not teach. it is true that prejudice exists in the minds and hearts of men. it cannot be eradicated by law. but i firmly believe a sense of fairness and good will also exists in the minds and hearts of men. this noble characteristic wants to come out. law, expressing as it does the moral conscience of the community, can help it come out in every person, so in the end the prejudice will be dissolved. as a young man, i went to see an america where everyone can make his contribution.

where a man will be measured not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. i remember the words of president johnson last novembe november 27, no memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor president kennedy's memory than the earliest possible passage of the civil rights bill for which he thought so long. my brother was the first president of the united states to state publicly that segregation was a morally wrong. his heart and his soul are in this bill. if his life and death had a meaning, it was that we should not hate but love one another, we should use our powers not to create conditions of oppression that lead to violence, but

conditions of freedom that lead to peace. it is, in that spirit that i hope the senate will pass this bill. april 9, 1964. [applause] >> did you notice our students learn to use their time well? [laughter] and i know the senators probably looking looking down thing, what is wrong with you today, keith? you have these two guys up here, so now finally, come on up here, juliette rorie. she is a junior, and she has a double major, majoring in studies and also in spanish, and she will share the words of senate minority leader everett dirksen, from june 10, 1964.

[applause] >> hi, everyone. thank you so much. i'm honored and humbled to be here. i'm just going to jump right into it. today, the senate is efforts to enact a civil rights bill, there are many reasons why cloture should be invoked and the kosovo rights measure and enacted. first, it is said on the night he died, victor hugo wrote in his diary substantially the sentiment, stronger than all the army is an idea whose time has come. the time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing and government, and education, and in employment. it will not be stayed or denied. second, years ago a professor thought it develop and in can't affordable scientific premise

submitted it to his faculty of associate. quickly they picked it apart. in agony he cried out is nothing eternal? do one of his associates replied, nothing is eternal except for change. to those who have charged me with doing a disservice to my party, and there have been many, i can only say that our party finds its faith in the declaration of independence which was penned by a great democrat, thomas jefferson by name. there he wrote we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. that has been the living faith of our party. do we forsake this article of faith now that the time for our decision has? there is no substitute for a basic ideal. we have a duty to use the