kennedy family. across the city -- the new edward kennedy institute, a lasting legacy of the kennedys in boston. i hate to say it during these tough financial times, but we need to buy some more red paint to extend the freedom trail. i had the privilege of serving in the office of teddy's and grandfather -- in the office that teddy's grandfather once that teddy's grandfather once . we sat together at fenway park. they called me up one day and said, let's go to the ball game next week. it was a cold night when we decided to go. i said, there are upstairs luxury boxes.

he insisted we stay out of the skybox so to be with the people. about a fourth or fifth inning, senator kennedy finally leaned over and said, i love the people. but it is freezing my bottom of. -- bottom off. [laughter] i will always be thankful he worked so hard to bring the democratic national convention to boston. it has put our city on display for the world. there is reason to spend some much time together. we worked hard. we worked relentlessly. we had tremendous fun doing it. we played so much good cop, bad cop. i could not remember the role i was supposed to play. senator kennedy would say, i

would like to see $1.5 million worth. half an hour later, they would say, does he really need that? that happens so often. [unintelligible] today, teddy called boston a place where every street is history's home. the church, and nathaniel hall. it is true of all the places that senator kennedy walked. we follow in his footsteps for opportunity, equality. teddy was always out in front of the issues. it was something i admired and tried to emulate.

sometimes, it got us in trouble. at the beginning of the green revolution, we were supposed to be at a green event together. i drive around a compact hybrid. our staff thought it would be good for teddy and i to be arriving at the event together in my hybrid. we are both small guys, by the way. it was too small for me into it -- certainly too small for the two of us. to overgrown peas in a pot -- in a pod. we sought alternate transportation, but we never stopped fighting for progress together. i threw a party for him in boston.

i made him the honor edit -- thinking about him that day makes me smile. the senator took a bit too seriously, and set out to direct traffic on boston harbor. [laughter] i imagine that it was a role suited to him. he was a guardian. he watched over the tired, the weary, and the worn out. that was ted kennedy. when the phone rings, i missed teddy's voice at the end of the line. i am sad that it will not echo in the halls of the senate. the sound of the cools get -- the school kids, immigration -- immigrants taking the citizenship oath, neighbors

offering neighbors a helping hand. there is a call for justice. i will always hear the familiar tones of a loyal friend. i would also like to say [unintelligible] one of our pilot schools is dedicated to health care. i sent a letter to the board of trustees the other day. [applause] all they do is train kids to get in the health-care field. we know teddy, how much she loved health care and believed in it. he led the charge. surely, we will have reforms. we remind everybody how hard teddy fought for these things.

thank you for what you are. thank you. [applause] >> john was a harvard classmate of senator kennedy, a football teammate, worked in his senate office, went back home to iowa and served in the congress of the united states, and that in the senate of the united states. a great friend for a long time. [applause]

>> thank you very much, paul. to vicki, who orrin hatch said was a lull of his life, -- was the love of his life, and all of the children. and all of the extended kennedy family, in a real sense, everywhere in the -- everybody in the room feels part of that extraordinary family. it was in the winter, i believe, of 1975. ted called me and said, i would like you to come up to washington with me. they suggested several sites for the john f. kennedy museum. i like you to come along.

i remember it was a winter day, rather cold and overcast. there was snow on the ground. when we came to this particular place and looked across the bay, so boston -- saw boston, saw the water, he said, i think jack would like this place. it was not many years later that this library was built. i think we would all agree that jack would have liked this place. [applause] i was reminded as i came here to the library of the little sailboat up front, the ventura.

and i have a fond memory, i guess it is a fond memory of the ventura myself. we were in summer school in 1953 at harvard. he said to me one day, wider to come with me this weekend. -- why don't you come with me this weekend? there is going to be a sailboat race. it is a lot of fun. i want you to come down and be part of my crew on the sailboat race. i said, i am sure it is an honor to be invited to be on your crew and a sailboat race. but i have never been on a sailboat. i think i have seen a picture of a sailboat. i come from iowa. the only boat i ever saw were

barges on the mississippi river. he said, there is nothing to it. how many times have we heard teddy said, there is nothing to it. we were both young, i did not quite understand the comment. i said ok. we were driving down to the cape, and he turned on the radio. we were listening to music on friday afternoon. suddenly, the radio broadcast was interrupted with a bulletin. the bulletin said, serious storm warnings. danger at sea, don't anyone go out in the ocean. [laughter] i said, i guess the trip is off. there is nothing to it.

[laughter] the fellow on the radio thought -- [laughter] he said, there's nothing to it. i thought he must know what he is doing. he lives down there. [laughter] and i have never been on the ocean. when we got down to the house, it was about three or 4:00 in the afternoon. there were dark, black storm clouds gathering. i said, it looks kind of scary. he said, nothing to it. we were hungry, so it was about 3:00. we went right to the kitchen. that is where we often went when i was with him. [laughter] the cook was still there and

said he was just finishing up, but he had some left over s almon salad. we both thought it was a good idea. we did not have a lot of time, so i only had to sandwiches -- two sandwiches, and a quart of milk with it. [laughter] i would have had more, but we didn't have time. ted says, come on. we have to get going now. it is about 4:00 now. in those days, there were not a fancy docks and everything, even around the family compound.

he said, we have to get in the boat. we looked out on the horizon, and he said, there's the boat. if any of you have seen the maya out front, that's the boat. excuse me, the ventura. you've seen that little boat out front. that is the point he put -- that is the boat he pointed out. it is 26 feet long. at the time, we both away over 200 pounds. we were both over 6 feet tall. he said, that's it. that's the vote, let's get it out and the water. there were huge waves. there was thunder. there was lightning. the sky was black.

i could hardly get in the boat. it was bouncing so much. he is at the till or something. [laughter] suddenly, i realized this friend of mine that i thought i knew quite well started screaming at me, shouting at me. i was terrified. after a while, i was more terrified of him than the storm. i didn't know this man. [laughter] so he kept screaming at me atteh jib, -- at me, the jib, secur e that whatever.

ted is not always easy to understand. even when you know what is talking about. [laughter] [applause] with the roar in the ocean and this tiny little quirk being bounced all over, it is my fault. i am just hanging on for dear life, and we only got about 200 -- are lost the sandwiches. -- i lost the sandwiches. [laughter] i thought i was going to die. i am hanging over the side of the boat, and he is screaming at me. i set, i'm sorry. somehow, we write it this boat -- we righted this boat in the

incredible storm. and we get all the way over to nantucket. it is 11:00 at night. i am saying, which hotel we stayed in? he said, we are not staying in a motel. i said, we're not? where are we staying? we're staying on the boat. [laughter] i realize i was with something out of captain ahab or moby dick. believe it or not, there were four questions. -- four cushions. they were all wet, but he took to and i took to -- took two,

and i took two. that is where we spend the night. it was a lot of fun so far, so the next day, we got up and we needed a third man on our crew. ted said that. i did not have any idea. we go walking down the nantucket, and there is this poor little guy who was a salesman at the shop in cambridge. ted went out to him and said, would you like to go sailing with us today? the poor kid said, yes. we took him, and and off we go for the races. from that point on, all i remember is teddy yelling,

yelling, yelling about me to get up on the right side front of the boat. he always claims that when i was to rotate with the other guy that i said, you heard him, get up there. it was always my turn to go up. somehow, this race was mercifully over. there is cold water on me. i am sunburned. it was a nightmare. i didn't see any other boats, but we kept going around and around. finally, this thing was over. and ted seemed satisfied. i was satisfied i lived through it. i looked out, and it was like a mirage. there's this great big yacht. it was the honey fitz. we all know how much ted has --

and how much fun ted has making his friend uncomfortable. he wanted to surprise me. ambassador kennedy had come out to watch the race and had brought three or four of his friends a long period they were out there on the big yacht. he said, we're going to go aboard. they are going ditto -- to tow the ventura. become alongside the hot the yacht -- we were alongside the yacht. i remember ambassador kennedy had a megaphone. he leaned over the side of the

boat and he said, good race, good race, teddy. i have some bad news for you. the captain says the sea is far too rough to tell you boys back on the boat. so you will have to sail back. i could not believe my ears. i wanted to jump out of the boat and take my chances that they might pick me up. anyway, they said i have something for you in this container. clam chowder. hot. vacuum packed. he claimed that i ripped off the top without opening it. and i proceeded to chug-a-lug the whole canteen. i said, that was good.

teddy said, what about me? i don't think it was entirely true that i drank all of it. but i drank most of it. they pull the rope up, and we are on our own again. i have been on this bill for 24 hours. -- boat for 24 hours. the trip back wasn't all that bad after what i had been through. we get in sight after how many hours. we can see the lights of the house. i am thinking, we will be in a hot shower in no time. suddenly, the boat stopped. no wind. we weren't moving, i could see the house. i did not know how we were going to get there. it was too far to swim. what do we do now?

he said, we get out of the boat. he said, one of us has to push into the other one will pull -- one of us has to push, and the other one will pull. >so we climbed out of the boat into the water, and he is pulling and i am pushing. after a while, we finally make it to shore. back in summer school, it was a whole week before i could get the seaweed taste out of my mouth. in the following years, i was fortunate to take many sailboat trips with ted. not only around the islands, but also to maine. also to the caribbean.

and the greek isles. those were some of the most enjoyable and pleasurable memories i could ever enjoyed. always full of fun and joy, always full of laughter. ted was awfully good about it. i never learned how the sale. but teddy always gave me up pass on those voyages. for that, i am always grateful. and for those memories. smooth sailing, teddy. [applause]

>> if your sides are not to soar from laughter, the boston community chorus. ♪ ♪

♪ walk with me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ i'm weak, but thou art strong

jesus keep me from harm howi'll be satisfied as long as i will as i stand take my hand walk with me ♪ ♪ just a closer walk with me just a closer walk with me just a closer walk with me thank you, jesus if you please

♪ ♪ daily walking close with me daily daily ♪ to this world of toils and snares if i falter lord, who can who with me my burning [unintelligible]

none but thee none but thee ♪ ♪ just a closer walk with me just a closer walk with me jsut a closer walk with me. thank you jesus, if you please thank you jesus, if you please twalking close with me walking close with me ♪ ♪ ♪ when my people

life is hard time, time for me on this earth is no more you know, if you trust in god he will try to save me oh, lord please lead me to the kingdom ♪ ♪ just a closer walk with me just a closer walk with me just a closer walk with me thank you, jesus, if you please

thank you, jesus, if you please walking close to me daily walking close to me. ♪ just a closer walk with me ♪ closer walk a closer walk ♪ lord, we want you by our side ♪ daily walking close with me. daily walking close to thee.

daily daily daily ♪ ♪ daily, daily daily, daily daily, daily ♪ ♪ lord, let it be [applause]

♪ daily, daily daily, daily ♪ ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming a good friend of senator kennedy and of all of ours, the vice president of the united states unitedjoe

biden -- the vice president of the united states, joe biden. [applause] >> thank you very much, paul. vicki, all the children, john used to regale us like that all the time. john has acted like teddy always took advantage of him. you should have seen it when they both came up on somebody else. i remember we were talking about angola wants. you were working out a deal with some of our more conservative friends. you agree on a particular course of action. along with your colleague, we were in teddy's office.

the night as i was as a young senator, we started about how we're going to approach this issue on the floor. teddy said, you've got to do this. i said, that's not what we said. we told these guys we reported that. teddy very politely said to me, no, it went on for a few minutes. john stood up and said, biden, what the hell do you think this is, state? -- boy state? i know we're all here to celebrate the life of an incredible man. but i want to say to the kennedy clan, i want to give thanks for your father, thanks for your husband, thanks for your uncle,

thanks for your brother. in an astonishingly and totally unexpected way, they're playing an important part in every part of my adult life. he crept into my heart, and before i knew it, he owned a piece of it. today, i was thinking about how teddy was -- i would not be standing here as it were not for teddy kennedy. i would not of been the president -- the vice president, i would not have been a senator. he was the catalyst for an improbable winner of a 29 year- old kid running for the senate when the senator mcgovern only

got 3435% to the vote in my state. i was running against a fellow who was extremely popular. the incumbent senator. it surprised the hell out of people. we can astonishingly close. we needed something else. out of the blue, literally, about eight days before the election, ted kennedy showed up. he showed up at a neighborhood we will refer to as little italy. he drew a crowd at a dinner of a couple thousand people. a community that would vote nationally for the democrats, but in all the statewide offices voted republican, including for the senate and house seats. i ended up winning that

neighborhood, winning the election by 3100 votes. although i don't know for certain, it seems highly unlikely congress would have ever been seen if your father had not been energizing people the way he did at the very end. he stood there and ended this speech by saying it, i only have one problem with joe biden. i think he is a little too young to be a senator. the next day, the wall street journal played it straight. kennedy says biden to youno you. when my wife and daughter were killed and my two boys were injured, i got a call from your dad. i didn't know him too well.

i just met him at one time. i was just an irish catholic kid from scranton pennsylvania who only thought of teddy kennedy and the entire kennedy family in sort of distant terms, hushed tones. here you was on the phone. -- here he was on the phone. he called me in the hospital almost every day. i turned around, literally, there is another specialist from boston, mass. sitting next to me. i did not ask for them, and i did not know i needed them. he was the prod that convinced me to go to the senate, because

i had told my governor after that election, that we're going to appoint someone else and i did not want to go to the senate. your brother came to see me and said i owed it to my deceased wife and children to be sworn in. and stay for at least six months. and when i got to the senate, he would literally come by once or twice a week to my office in the middle of the afternoon. i did not want to be there. i wanted to get the hell home. he took me aside and said -- and he would take me to the senate gym. this was the first time i met any of these players. i got sworn in late. i'll never forget walking in and

him introducing me to senators who were stark naked. i remember oh, my god, senator, how are you? [laughter] he sort of took on the role of being my older brother. he was just there all the time, and i never asked. i could never really understand, to tell you the truth. i did not understand why he was going out of his way for me. he got me on the committees that i ended up sharing -- chairing. he was sort of my tutor, exposing this kid to a world that i had never seen and did not fully understand i went home every night as soon as the

senate was out, and i never once accepted in the invitation, not out of desire to not be in washington, i just wanted to be home. he came to my office one afternoon and said, have to give you a piece of advice. this is the fourth invitation you have gotten from the governor to come to one of his dinners. i did not know enough to know that it was a big deal. he said, you have got to go. i will go with you. i will never forget going to the home in georgetown and sitting -- he was sitting in an armchair, i was in a couch next to the chair. teddy was next to me. henry kissinger was across from me. and arms control experts were around us.

i was this 30 year-old kid that had a way of trying to include everybody in the conversation. we were talking about a complicated arms control agreement. this discussion was going on, and all the sudden he looked at me and said, well, joe, what do the young people think about this? i did not know what to say, i did not want to make a fool of me. i reached over and pick an object up of the coffee table. i was nervous, and i was flipping it back and forth as i answered the question. i noticed everyone stiffened up when i was talking. the butler came in and said, time for dinner. everybody immediately got up and bolted for the dinner table. your debt grab, arm and said, put that thing down.

that cost more than your house. i was flipping a faberge egg and my hands. the sophisticated kid from delaware -- [laughter] it seemed like every single thing i did, he was there. when my character was under attack, he said maybe i should not chair this committee until -- i said maybe i should not chair this committee until it gets settled. he said, you say -- you stay right where you are. he said, we know you. you do not have to explain a single thing. you have no idea what that meant to me at that moment. because my character had never been questioned.

i was in wilmington, delaware after recuperating from two cranial aneurysms and a major embolism. i was feeling sorry for myself. up the driveway comes a cap. out jumps teddy kennedy. he had a great big -- it turns out to be a picture frame under his arm. it was about 2.5 by 3 feet. he said, where can i change? he had a bathing suit with him. he came back out and said, i want to give you this. he gave me this picture of a big irish stag. he said, come back. i need you. he sat there for six hours with me. he called a cab, got back on the

train, and went back. for 36 years, i had the privilege of going to work every morning with teddy kennedy. i had the privilege every day for 36 years to witness history. i had the privilege the last 20 of those years to sit next to him every single day. in the process, he had an incredible impact on me and everyone around him. he constantly renewed my faith and optimism. i never once saw your father with a defeatist attitude. i never saw him act in a small way. as a consequence, he made us all bigger. both his friends, his allies, and his foes. his dignity, his lack of

vitriol, his lack of pettiness forced some of the less generous members of our community to act bigger than they were. it was remarkable to watch. people say, and we all have our theories of why teddy was so successful as a legislator. one of them was people did not want to look small in front of him. even the people who were small. the astounding thing to me after 36 years of having a consequence -- my mother would say, living longer. i have gone to meet almost every major political figure in the world. that is not hyperbole. and your father was one of the

few who i ever met, at the end of the day, it was never about him. it was always about you. a truly remarkable character trait. when i got down to the end -- when it got down to the end, for some many others, it was about them. for teddy, it was never ever about him. the interesting thing to me is that i think the legacy of teddy kennedy -- it might be presumptuous of me to say this, but i think the legacy of teddy kennedy can be measured in no small part as a consequence of how we in america look at one another. how blacks look at whites, how gays looked straight, house traits lookit days.

-- house streets look at today's -- how straights look at gays. and how we look at ourselves. when you were with him, you had to measure yourself against him. it always requires you to be larger than you were inclined to be. his death was not unlike his life. as we all know. overcoming pain and loss with a sense of dignity and pride that is amazing. he met his death in the same grave, generous terms that he lived his life. they could've been thinking about your father when he wrote, the will the fis fear when duty throws the gauntlet down the fate, when scorn compromises

with death. this is heroism. your father was a historic figure. he was a heroic figure beyond that. i will remember and celebrate his life every single time i see a young, adolescent kids coping rather than cowering about having to make a decision about his sexuality. i will celebrate your father ever single time i see my granddaughter stand up to those boys and smack something over the second baseman's head. i will think of your father every time a woman stands up and demands, and is granted, exactly what she is entitled to. i will think of your father every time i will see an

individual walk out of recovery and start a new life. the key, -- vicki, i will recall you every time i think of christopher marlowe who said, come with -- come live with me, be my love, and all present -- pleasures prove. that is exactly what the two of you did. everyone can see it. the pundits are writing, and they mean well by it, that this is the end of an era. that this is the end of the kennedy era. but i watched at guinness's funeral -- at eunice's funeral, and i invite everyone to look around today. take a look at this incredible family.

[applause] i mean it. take a look. take a look at this generation of kennedys. it possesses more talent, more commitment, more grit, more grace than any family i have ever seen. so when they say that this is the end of the kennedy era, i want you to know that i realize your parents collectively left america lot more than is great library. a lot more than landmark legislation. a lot more than inspirational leadership. they left us you. as your pop would say, it is because of you that the dream

still lives. thank you for the honor of allowing me to be with you. [applause] >> our final speaker is senator kennedy's lebanese -- loving niece. i have had the privilege of introducing her many times. i am pleased to do it. the president of the foundation,

caroline kennedy. [applause] . for bringing him so much happiness and to karen and teddy and caroline make him so proud, bringing him so much joy and -- i know you have lost your soul mate but it y. all of your nieces and nephews are year to help you. welcome to this library that teddy built and brought to live with his spirit and dedication. as many of the know, over the last few years, for most of my

semi-adult life, one of my part- time jobs has been introducing teddy to crowds of people who are the new him incredibly well. although this process was unbelievably stressful for me, it is just another one of the guess that he gave me. when he saw that you -- i was nervous, he would give me a pat on the back. he would call up and say, i have a great idea there is a convention coming of. maybe you'd like to introduce me. off i would go on another adventure in public speaking. the matter how nervous i was, i knew when i stepped down i would get a big kiss and hear him whisper "now i'm going to get you back." i cannot believe that will not happen tonight. it was a beautiful summer night. the moon had said.

there is no wind. the stars were out. i looked up and there was a one star hanging low in the sky. it was bigger than all the rest. it was brighter. it sparkled lawler then all the others. i know it lives in jupiter, but it was acting a lot like teddy. his colleagues as book about his work and the joy he took in helping others, his thoughtfulness and compassion, and his commitment to the ideals of peace and justice that his brothers gave his allies for and that he fought for his entire career. we were lucky to see the passion, self discipline, and generosity of heart every single day. he had a special relationship with each 28 nieces and nephews, and 60 people but called him great uncle teddy. here is there for every baptism

in school trip to washington, every graduation and wedding. he had a big heart, big shoulders, and a big hug. if we knew we were having a tough or great time, he would show up and say "time to go sailing." it was ok if we did not come as long as we tried our best he did it by letting us know that he believed in us. we should believe in ourselves. he taught by example and with love. he showed us how to keep going a matter hard things are, to love each other in a matter how mad we got, and keep working for what we believe in. he never told us what to do. he just did it himself. we learned through his example. although sometimes it was overshadowed by his other guests, he was a creative spirit. he loved painting and singing in the natural world. he was always looking for new

ways to bring people together to make a better world, to get things done. he was always doing things that other people could have done, but he was somehow the one that did it. this is true in the senate as we heard tonight, as it is in our family. i thought i would tell you a little bit about when the best known examples, the creation of the annual family history trip. this is an historical sites is something anyone can do, but he made into something special. he realize that a family reunion was wasted if it was just a cookout, so he may get a chance to learn and share the love history that he got from his mother. in my trout, the stress or relatively simple affairs. -- in my childhood, and these were relatively simple affairs. we went to where dollar bills were printed in the studio where the statute abraham lincoln was

painted. no visit was complete without his recitation of the midnight ride of paul revere. when i was young, i thought he was just entertaining guests, but as i grew up, i realized he was passing down his belief that each of us has a chance to change the course of history. teddy lived for the future. we love the past. when a new generation came along, in typical teddy style, he decided to take it to a new level. he wanted us all to share the love of being together, the passion for history, and to learn about the sacrifices upon which this country was built so that we would understand our own opportunity and obligations. he took this on with enthusiasm. it was held by the extraordinary team better off here tonight and will be working for him for ever. [applause]

jedi eliminated the world around him and brought the past to life. -- teddy illuminated the world around him and brought the past to life. we visited the monument of washington by night and not vernon by boat. we walked to the civil war battlefields and gettysburg. in richmond with salt iron works and the church that patrick kenny -- henry made his speech. we walked across the brooklyn bridge and learned about the battle of long island. the culmination of this tradition with our trip to boston. we took a ride and learned about the building of the cape cod canal. we went to plymouth rock. when we got here, we visited the

uss constitution. paul reveres house, the old north church, the house where grandma was born, and the spot where the irish immigrants came ashore. we toured the committee -- kennedy library. the history trips were day trip only. he had a surprise for us. we are going to get the chance to camp out on the island. he did not tell us that for most of the year, it is used for a juvenile detention -- [laughter] until after we had set up our tents in the dirt. the bugs were out. the planes from logan were taking off and landing over our head. [laughter] figured you is trying to teach us something. after a 16 hour history day, we were not sure what it was. that was one teddy decided that

even he had had enough of history, finally, and is not out under the cover of darkness on is to get to a boat in fetid home. -- and headed home. [laughter] he had it all figured out. yesterday we drove the same route. i thought about all the kids he gave us an incredible journey he taught. i thought about how lucky i enter a traveled some of that journey with him -- i am to have traveled some of that journey with him. i thought about how he touched so many hearts and did so many things that only he could have done. i thought about all the things he did that we all could do, but we just figured he would do them instead. as he drove through the boston that he loved and all the thousands of people who loved him back, i realized that it was our final history trip together. now he has become a part of history.

we have become the ones that have to do all the things that he would have done for us, each other, and for our country. [applause] >> in no celebration could close it it is an honor a senator kennedy without a song, as he has close on many times. oftentimes closing with a song about his heritage.

tonight, when irish eyes are smiling, we have the pleasure to have two irish tenors lead us in that song. khalid sheikh mohammed wilkinso colm wilkinson.

♪

there is a tear in your eye and i'm wondering why. it never should be there at all. with such power in your smile sure a stone he would be guile, so there is never a teardrop at all, when your sweet lilting laughter is the like some very sound, and your eyes twinkle bright as can be you should laugh all the while and all other times smile, and now, a smile for me -- and

now, a small for me when irish eyes are smiling sure, it is like the morning of a sprained you -- in the lilt of irish laughter you can hear the angel same when irish eyes are smiling -- happy all the smiling, a share, a steal your heart away. ♪ for your smile is a part of the love in your heart and did make even sunshine more bright.

the lynn sweet song, kerning all the day long, there is never a real care every grant wellspring time -- and wellspring time is through this -- let us smile each a chance we get. when irish eyes are smiling, sure it is like the mourn this spring. in the lilt of irish laughter you can hear the angels sing. when irish parts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay,

and when irish eyes are smiling, sure they still your heart away. ♪ when irish eyes are smiling, you can hear the angels sing. when irish parts happy, all the world seems bright and gay. and when irish eyes are smiling, a share, they still your heart away.

. ♪ when irish eyes are happy, the world seems bright and gay, and when irish eyes are smiling, sure, they still your heart away. they will steal your heart away. ♪

>> good evening. it is my honor to welcome you all this evening on your behalf as well as mine to offer our sincere condolences to the entire kennedy family. only recently pained by the loss of eunice kennedy shriver, and now by the passing of senator edward m. kennedy. to the senator's children, patrick, karin and caroline, jim all of a and brought happiness and cried to the senator through the years. and of course to vicki, whose

love and devotion during their 17 years of marriage was the greatest joy of senator kennedy's life. [applause] >> and whose care giving these past 15 months was nothing less than heroic and inspirational. our hearts are with all of you. to leave this in a prayer, i invite the father to invite an indication, after which, the boston community chorus will open the celebration by singing god bless america and i hope you'll join them. .

. the hope still lives and the dream shall never die. he had his sleeves and wakeful nights. he had his nightmares and yet he dreamt a dream that was trapped of the heart -- that was a draft

of the heart and only his great heart could hold. he gave flesh to that the dream in the noble house of his thought where the sick were healed, the sphere broken, and the stranger welcomed. it is the age-old dream of the profits -- of the profitphets. there will be a bank would ge-- there will be a bank with yet -- there will be a banquet yet.

@@@@@@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ r ♪ dodd bless america -- god

bless america ♪ landed that i love the ♪ stand beside her ♪ and the guide her ♪ through the night ♪ with the light from above ♪ from the mountain to the prairie ♪ to the ocean ♪ god bless america ♪ my home sweet home ♪ god bless america ♪ my home sweet home

♪ died bless america -- god bless america ♪ land that i love ♪ stand beside her ♪ and a guide her ♪ through the night ♪ with the light from above ♪ from the mountainous to the -- from the mountains to the. ♪ -- from the mountains to the prairie ♪ to the oceans ♪ god bless america ♪ my home sweet home ♪ god bless america

♪ my home sweet home ♪ died bless america -- god bless america ♪ land that i love ♪ stand beside her ♪ and to guide her ♪ through the night ♪ with a light ♪ from above from the mountains ♪ to the prairie is ♪ to the oceans ♪ died bless america -- god

bless america ♪ my home sweet home ♪go god bless america and ♪ my home sweet home ♪

[applause] >> they were great. >> [unintelligible] [laughter] [unintelligible] 85, 95, 77. [laughter] >> it was senator kennedy who said that, when the time i arrived, there will be a gathering like this. and he selected the venue this library. thinking back upon other times, when we have felt the ache of emptiness, he was the one from

whom we drew comfort and strength. and i suspect tonight will be no different. i have never met anyone whose spirits were not uplifted by being in the company of ted kennedy. i hope you will feel that way once again when you leave his presence this evening he wanted us to smile and be joyful. as we remember and celebrate the death of his fate, the quality of his character, the generosity of his heart, his love of his family and his friends, his patriotic service to his commonwealth and country, and his callous contributions to the human spirit. for myself, i can say that

senator kennedy was the most thoughtful, and genuinely considered human being i have ever known. [applause] he suffered from the constant pain of a shattered back and he bore more hurt and arctic than munich -- than most humans are ever asked to endure. but, at every opportunity, he brought hope and joy and optimism to more people than we will ever know. each of you have your own memories. but all of us would agree that ted kennedy was fun. he loved to laugh and he loved to make a slept -- to make us laugh. he looked good music and he loved to sing.

conducting the boston pops or the harvard band, leaving the traditional july 4 or thanksgiving day sing-alongs with his friends and family at the cape, he loved to tell a good story. one of his favorites, which you no doubt have heard, went back to when he was 30 years old and made his first run for the senate and he was in a debate with his opponent who questioned his qualifications and pointed his finger at him and said he did not have a full-time job. the next morning, at 6:00 a.m., he was greeting people. a big workers said, kennedy, i heard what they said about you last night. you never worked a day life. let me tell you something, you have not missed a thing. [laughter] he loved that story.

he hosted annual dinners for his aging harvard buddies. he would laugh with that uproarious unforgettable laugh and remind us that the older we get, the better we were. [laughter] but painting a seascape, enjoying the affection of his faithful dog spot, for those of us who work inspired by his unmatchable work efforts, to see him relaxed and enjoy the love of friends and family was our reward as well. to know senator kennedy will was to understand the quiet deathdes of the faith that followed him. he is balanced the the other

politics, but he valued his spiritual those. the purpose of life was to live a life of purpose, to always be helpful and make the most of every moment. persevere and be strong, no matter the adversity. be the best you can be and what you choose to do and serve your neighbors with joy and love and make a positive difference in their lives. during these last several months, senator kennedy was gratified, as we all wordwere, o see the outpouring of inspirational service and the love of a human being. he received an honorary degree from harvard, the john f.

kennedy profile in courage award, an outpouring of contributions to the and kennedy -- and the presidential medal of freedom. the list goes on. these honors our contemporary acknowledgments of what american history will ultimately record. [applause] a that no individual legislator from any state or even in the house of congress, of any political party, work harder or longer with greater adherence to principle or with more political courage for economic and social justice and for world peace than our own edward m. kennedy.

[applause] he was the best at what he chose to do and he left his indelible mark as the most accomplished and effective legislator in the history of this democracy. [applause] he believed and often said that america is a promise, the promise of our founding fathers passed on to each generation to fulfill. he chose politics as the means to fulfill his promise, reminding s that to whom much is given, much as expected. gene shearer gives voice to the life of our patriotic front.

-- of our patriotic friend. all that we are given by those who came before it is the dream of a nation whose freedom would indoor. the work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day -- what shall be the new policy which show our children say? -- what shall our children say? let them say of me i believe in sharing the blessings i received let me know in my heart when my days are through america, america i gave my best to you be at peace, my friend america will be ain your debt forever. [applause]

>> i knew you would agree with me. please join me in welcoming senator kennedy's nephew, the oldest son of robert kennedy and ethel kennedy, former congressman joseph kennedy. [applause]

>> you know, ladies and gentlemen, one of the ways that i think senator kennedy's life can be@@@@@@@@@ @

to thank each and everyone of you for being here this evening. i wanted to thank you because every person in this audience was touched by ted kennedy in one way or another. all of you know the kind of person he was, what he stood for and how he looked at after 1 very large [unintelligible] he could only do that because of the kindness and generosity of his own family. to vicki, who in these last two days has shown a kind of grace and love and character that is simply beyond belief --

[applause] vicki, i do not know where you are. where is she? thank you very much. [applause] attitude teddy and kiki, who i love so much, and their whole family, little teddy and kiley, kara and max and grace and my good friend patrick who does such a terrific job following his father's footsteps, thank you. [applause] and to karen and caroline who have welcomed us as we have welcomed them, we just show appreciate the kindness and the love. it is very difficult to share a faller with as big a family as the kennedys are -- to share a

father with as big a family as the kennedys are. every one of my brothers and sisters needed a father. and we gained one throughout our uncle teddy. caroline and john were no different. the smiths lost their father. the truth of the matter is that, for so many of us, we just needed someone to hang onto and teddy was always there to hang on to. he had such a big parheart and e shared it with all of us. we want to let you know that we understand how much you gave to allow us to be cared for -- [applause]

and you had to share. you had to share. [applause] so we just want to say thank you. we just want to say thank-you to teddy's entire family. every time i come to this library, i look to see the remembrances of my father and uncles and president kennedy and now i will be able to come here and remember teddy. but of all of the exhibits and the different aspects of this library, the one that i must appreciate is one that you cannot see at the moment, but it is right around the corner. it is the one thing outside of this building and it is the victoria. most of you know it as a boat that president kennedy own. from my point of view, that was

teddy's boat. my father went out and bought me a boat. he bought my brother a boat, but i kind of crept it. i was supposed to go out and race against teddy every single week and on saturday and sunday. i would see the butt end of that the to going over the horizon. teddy always came in first, second, or third. i like to say that i was first, second or third, but the difference was that i was either last, second from last, or dead last. i just wanted to share with you a little story that i thought captured who teddy is. the reason that that boat is out here in front of the library, the one time that i ever beat teddy is when we work on this

race course in hyannis and he said, i think we are overtaking your uncle. of course, other reason why we were catching him was that he was up to his belly in water. the seams of the book had opened up and the boat was sinking. so we finally passed teddy, by one victory, and, after the race, he came up to me and said, listen, you don't have a book and i do not have a boat. maybe we should get together and buy a boat together. one day of the weekend, i will crew for you -- which would be interesting. and in the next, i will do it for you. so we start to raise this but nonstop. it gets to the biggest race of the year and there are 40 boats.

we get that morning and it is a full-blown deal. -- full-blown gale. it is blowing like stink. we get out there and they, of course, called the race off. so they get it back on care in the race starts. we start the race and it is about 5 miles to the first mark. i thought something was a little strange when the only vote in the other fleet was ours. i thought, maybe they know something we do not. we started down towards the first mark. we are now ahead of this whole other scale. we have this huge advantage.

we are ahead by a country mile. and i am so happy. i am the happiest guy in the history of sailing. what i had not told them was that i cannot steer at all. that book is going where the wind will take us. i look out 500 yards and there is 15-foot high sale buoy. and we are headed straight toward it. then it was two hundred yards and then 100 yards. and teddy says, do you not think we should turn a little bit. i am trying. we hit that the bill wbouy. [laughter] i thought we were headed to davy jones's locker right there. you can go around the bouy three

times without hitting it and you can continue the race. now there are 40 boats coming at us. we somehow make it through and get around the mark three times and are headed towards the second mark. i feel like the biggest deal. there was no way that i could blame this on anybody but myself. i feel so terrible and teddy is up on the windward trail and he is getting soaked and it was not very pleasant right then. he turned around to me and he said, hey, joe. if, last night, before we went to bed, i told you that we were going to round the fourth mark in seventh or eighth place, how would you feel? i guess i would have felt pretty good. and he said, let's go win this race over the course of the next

three hours, one after another, we kicked off those boats and we won the race. i do not tell you that because i think winning that particular race was important, although teddy might tell you it was important. [laughter] but teddy had this wonderful way about him where he could just sense in anyone when they needed a hand. he could just sense -- and cannot tell you how many times in my life -- and i am sure, as i look around and see the people in this room who knew him so well -- that everyone of you does not have a story or two or three or five or 10 of how teddy came and gave you a helping hand when you were down. he was always there. he was telling me never, ever,

ever, ever, ever give up. you stay in the race. if people do not have health insurance, you state in the race. if people do not have adequate housing, you state in the race. if people are not being treated properly, you stay in the race. i saw that men make phone calls to every single family from this state who died in 9/11. i saw him make a phone call to every single family in the state that lost a son or a daughter in the iraq war, first or second, or in afghanistan. this was a man who cared so deeply about those on the outside of political and economic power, people who struggle each and every day to just get by.

he lived his whole life fighting for those people. and that is why i think, when you hear all of these attributes and uc senator mccain and orrin hatch and others here today from the other side of the aisle, they are here because they knew what kind of individual teddy was. they loved his laugh. they love to spend time. but, at its core, they loved to be with an individual who stood for something. ladies and gentlemen, i am here today because i love my uncle so very much, so very much. he did so much for me and my brothers and sisters and my mother when we needed a hand. and i tell you, ladies and gentlemen, there are thousands of others who lost a father or mother or sister or a brother or

someone else in this life that turned to ted kennedy. we have lost such a human being. but you know, ladies and gentlemen, he is going to want us to continue. he is going to want us to live as he lived. he came back after so much tragedy. because of that heart, because of that drive and determination, i ask each one of you to rededicate yourself to the same goals and ideals that senator ted kennedy lived his life for. he lived to make this world a better place and our country and this world is a better place because of the lives of ted kennedy. thank you. [applause]

>> you get a chance to cheer again when we welcome senator kennedy's very good friend from a neighboring state of connecticut who served his state with honor and dignity and we are glad he is back from his

procedure, i will call it. everyone, please@@@@@@@@@ !@ @ teddy was granted the gift of time. he lived in -- not only come

degree here, but white hair. when you look at what he achieved in 77 years, it seems that, at times, he lived for generations. -- he lived for centuries. two nights, i just want to share a few thoughts about my friend -- tonight, i just want to share a few thoughts about my friend. examples of that friendship are legions. a few years ago, a close friend of mine passed away. teddy did not know him at all. i was asked to say a few words at that funeral. as long as i live, i will never forget that, as i stood at the pulpit, there was teddy sitting in the back of that church.

he obviously was not there for my friend. he was there for me, my time of loss. that is what it was like to have teddy in your corner. when our daughters grace and christina were born, the very first call i received was from my friend teddy. when i lost the iowa caucuses last year, not that anyone ever thought i was on to win them, the first call i received was from teddy. when my sister passed away last month, the first call i received was from teddy, even though he was well into the final summit of his own life. two weeks ago, as i was coming at a surgery, i got a call from teddy. his unique voice was as loud and booming as ever. well, he roared, between going through prostate cancer surgery and in doing town hall meetings, you made a great choice. [laughter]

[applause] and though he was dying, of course, and i was hurting, believe me, he had me howling with laughter in the recovery room. he made a few choice comments that i cannot repeat this evening about catheters. [laughter] as we all know, teddy had a ferocious sense of humor. in 1984, he was in the political fight of his life with mitt romney. i was with teddy and vicki one evening and his team and, along with everyone else, we were offering yard boot -- r advice before the debate began. teddy, i said, we irish always talk too fast. you have to pause, slowdown, and, at the very least, appear

to be thoughtful. [laughter] out he went. the very first question was something like this. senator, you served the commonwealth of massachusetts for nearly 35 years in the united states senate. explain why this race is so close. teddy paused. [laughter] and paused. [laughter] and paused. [laughter] 5 seconds, at 10 seconds, and finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, he entered the question. after words, i said, good lord, a teddy. i did not mean to pause about long appeared he said, i was in thinking that was a damn good question. why is this race so close? [laughter] in these last month of his life, i have so treasured our

conversations. at 6:30 a.m. on the morning of july 16, only a few weeks ago, the morning after his senate health care committee finished five weeks of exhausting work on a bill that he had written, by the way, and that i believe will be one of the greatest of his many legacies, my telephone rang in the morning. there was steady, beyond ecstatic that we had finished our work and that his committee had been the first to report a bill. always the competitor, of course. teddy was never maudlin during the last number of months or so pitying about his health or his condition. he was always fully aware of what was happening to him. every irishman's dream is to attend our own eulogies. that is why we call the obituary page the irish sports page. [laughter] i know he injured a uniquely

caltech kick out of people who support his politics -- a uniquely celtic kicked out of people who abhorred his politics say such nice things about him. was it his political instincts, his passionate oratory, what was it? let me save the political pundits and scientists sometime and tell you what his achievement was. people like him. -- people liked him. [applause] he always had a great staff and great ideas. but that only accounts for so much in the united states senate. teddy earned the respect of his colleagues and adversaries.

many people drew their conclusions about him before he spoke his first words in the united states senate. over the years, he became the target of partisans caricatured him. but once you get to know him, you quickly learned that it was no caricature. he was a warm, passionate, thoughtful, tremendously funny man who loved his country deeply and left the united states senate. if you ever needed to find teddy in the senate chamber, all you had to do was to listen for that thunderclap of a laugh as he turned his colleagues. he served in the senate for almost half a century alongside

liberals, conservatives, democrats, and republicans. and he befriended all those with equal gusto. it was great to see his friends or in hatch and john mccain here this evening. it is to their credit who often supported teddy's efforts. although he rarely supported theirs. [laughter] [applause] but teddies personal friendships with orange and john and so many others over the past centuries were not simply the polish working relationships that make -- simply the working relationships that make things possible. it is the bond that makes the united states senate work. some people born with a famous

name live off of it. others in rich names appeared teddy enriched his magic others in a rich o athers enrich names. teddy enriched his. -- others enrich names. teddy enriched his. our teddy changed america. [applause] nearly everyone important what passed in the past half century bears his mart and many bear his name. he had a passion for public service and abiding faith and

his family. his mucha gorda vicki, his children car and teddy, patrick, caroline, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of you need to know that, when you were not around and i was, how often he talked about you and how much pleasure and joy, the compounded joy and pleasure that you brought to him. teddy was a man who lived for others. he was a champion for countless people who otherwise would not have had one. and he never quit on you. he never gave up on the belief that we could make tomorrow a better day, never once. last august, in denver, one year to the day before his passing, teddy spoke at our national convention. his gait, of course, was shaking. but his blue eyes were clear and his unmistakable voice rang with

strength. as he passed the torch to another young president, he said that the work begins a new, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on. he spoke of the great fight of his life, ensuring that every american, regardless of economic status, be granted the rights of health care in their country. he was deeply saddened that he did not live to see that battle won. but in a few short days from now, we will return to our work and teddy's senate. the blistering days of august will be replaced by the cooler days of september. and we will prevail in a way that to the o-- that teddy won so many victories.

and where teddy earned an immortal place in american history. as he so eloquently eulogized his brother bobby 40 years ago, he does not need to be enlarged in death beyond what he was in life. we will remember him for the largeness of his spirit and the depth of his compassion. we will remember him as a man who understood better than most of that america is a place of incredible opportunity, of incredible hulk, and the pleas of redemption -- of incredible hope, and incredible redemption. the eternal flame that marks president kennedy's grave, in

all the years that i have known and loved this man, that eternal flame has never filled but to burn brightly in his eyes. now that he joined his brothers on the hillside in arlington, made the light from that flynn continue to eliminate our path forward and with the work of their own hands and with the help of the hand of the almighty god we may continue this work that my friend to a deep love so much. thank you. [applause]

>> as a senator dodd said, senator kennedy had good staff. of an anomalous -- on the alumnus of his staff is nick littlefield. in just a moment, you will learn more of his other talents. welcome him now, nick, to the podium. [applause] >> i think that, for the senator, one of maya most important attributes was that i could sing. you'll know that he loved to

sing. vicki and he and family members and pianists that they invited in all participated@@@@@@@@"4r@ us, if i got to love, he would give me that look and i knew i was in trouble.

tonight, i'm going to sing one of the songs he especially loved and which we always sang every single evening when we get together to sing. we sang this song even the last time i saw him. i think he loved the song -- i know he loved the song, because it says so much about him and vicki. if i could have an e. ♪ ♪ love ♪ love changes everything ♪ earth and sky and ♪ ♪ loved changes everything ♪ how you live ♪ and how you died ♪ love can make the summer flying ♪ or the night seemed like a lifetime ♪ yes, love

♪ loved changes everything ♪ hal i tremble at her name ♪ nothing in the world will never be ♪ the same ♪ ♪ love ♪ love changes everything ♪ days are ♪ -- days are longer ♪ words mean more ♪ love ♪ love changes everything ♪ love can turn your world around ♪ and that world will last forever ♪ yes, love ♪ love changes everything

♪ brings to gloried ♪ brings to shame ♪ nothing in the world ♪ will ever be ♪ with the same ♪ of ♪ into the world we go ♪ love it comes in and suddenly ♪ all of their wisdom disappears ♪ love makes fools of everyone ♪ all the rules we make our broken ♪ yes, love ♪ love changes everything ♪ live or perish ♪ in its flame ♪ nothing in the world ♪ will ever be

♪ the same ♪ [applause] >> do not go away, and it. we're going to get you back before too long. what a gift. our next speaker is the chief executive officer of the commonwealth of massachusetts. please join me in welcoming governor develop patrick -- deval patrick. [applause]

>> good evening, family and friends. like a lot of people, i knew ted kennedy before i ever met him. i knew him from the grainy black-and-white tv images of camelot and my mother used to say, to no one in particular, i love me some kennedy. [laughter] i knew him from the moving speeches, the eulogy of his brother robert, the democratic convention speech of 1980. i got some sightings of him when i was older, like when he entered my high-school graduation with the rest of the family when my knees and -- when his niece and my classmate courtney was graduating. i was working as a young staff

lawyer at the naacp legal defense fund. but the first time i actually met him was in 1993, when i was the finalist for the united states attorney position in boston. all three finalists were invited to washington for a final interview with the senator. and i was nervous. he was already long and icon by then, a legend of progressive politics. we met in his famous capitol hideaway, just the two of us. before we get going good, i said to him that, whatever the outcome of the selection process, i wanted him to know that i knew that my past from the south side of chicago to that interview was paved in large measure by his life's work and that i was grateful for that. and i have to say that, in addition to being truant

heartfelt, it was not a bad interview opener. -- in addition to being true and heartfelt, it was not a bad interview opener. [laughter] i still did not win it. [laughter] he glanced at first when he saw me at a party. he said vicki across the lawn just to make sure the coast was clear before he came over to say hello. for our time, he was a master of the senate. when president clinton sent my name for a senior post, charact . that only master could. he had meant to the capitol and the position to me in the vice president's ceremonial office just off the senate floor. there was an early morning vote and the senators came off the floor and he heard colleagues

into that office one by one to shake my hand. he said it is hard to demagogue someone you have actually looked in the eye and met. we had more than a few laps later about my first impressions of his colleagues and his more sturdy ones. for example, the importance of just smiling and nodding when speaking with the senator of alabama, even though it was almost impossible to understand just what he was saying or how not to worry about follow-up questions during the confirmation hearing from senator strom thurmond because he could not hear your answer to the first question that he had passed. his observations were never harsh or sarcastic. he was never mean. he was a master of the senate not just because he knew his

colleagues foibles, but because he so respected their humanity. they knew him, but they also -- but he also knew them. of course, he was a ham. two summers ago, they came out for broadway show tunes. its featured merengues the end brian steps mitchell, who we will hear from tonight. stokes is what he thought he sounded like when he sang. [laughter] diane and i invited ted and vicki for dinner that night after the concert. he said that he was going to bring keith lockhart next time. a few days later, he called to

say that he was inviting marin and stokes as well. delighted. but vicki was horrified. she kept apologizing for teddy inviting all of these "add-ons." we were sitting to dinner when another total stranger came to the house. vicki and i looked at each other assuming that we had to set another unexpected place at the table. instead, our mystery guest started to set up a keyboard because he had also invited the pianist from the boston pops so that we could have an accompaniment after dinner. we sang every should tune we knew aninto the wee hours of the morning. that is the thing about ted. he was at the same instance larger than life and completely down to earth. his record of achievement and contribution is unrivaled in the

united states senate. his humanity, his compassion, his kindness in some ways had just as great an impact. a friend of mine recently told me the story of ted's plan to attend the funeral of aesop ravine, the prime minister of israel. the day before he left, he asked if it would be appropriate to bring some soil from arlington cemetery. no one knew the answer. that day, he went to the grave of his two brothers and scooped up some soil and carried and that precious commodity in a shopping bag to the funeral of rabin. after the ceremony, after the crowd had dispersed, away from the cameras and the press, he carefully, respectfully, lovingly spread that soil on his

grave. no publicity, just a good man doing a sweet thing. [applause] . many of them filed in through the doors of this library it of the course of the last two days, signing condolences around the world, with private quiet examples of the rhone. no politician ever made me feel more that public life could be a

noble calling or better about who i was and where it came from. he loved the commonwealth and this country. he loved the american people. but he also believed that we could be better. and it was that vision of a better america that he went to work for every day. millions of veterans and working people and women and people with disabilities and racial and ethnic minorities, millions of pragmatic idealist who wanted to believe they could make the world better through public service are in his debt. so many i have heard in the last couple of days are asking how best to honor his legacy. i say we should live it.

his legacy is about what we do in our own lives and communities, to keep the dream alive, to make a great country even better. it will not be easy, especially with the profound sadness that we feel today that are standard bearer has been taken from us, but it never was, even for our dear lost friend. ted kennedy sailed more often than not into the political wind in search of that better america, and he did it with skill and a grace so typical of him and his family. but his honor his life and accomplishments -- let us honor his life and accomplishments by making his accomplishments are run. god bless you, 50, and all the family. thank you. -- god bless you, the sticky, and all the family. thank you.

[applause] @@@@@@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this wonderful library 10 years ago when russ feingold and i were honored to receive the profile in courage award. ted was very gracious to my family on that occasion.

it was my son jimmy's 11th birthday, and ted went out of his way to make sure that it was celebrated enthusiastically. he arranged a ride force on a coast guard cutter, two birthday cakes, and led a rousing edition of "happy birthday" with his baritone drought all the other voices, as it often did on the senate floor. [laughter] he was good company, my friend ted. he had the irish talent for storytelling and friendship. the lunch that he hosted for us in the family quarters on the top floor of the library, he recalled an earlier episode in our friendship, a story that he delighted in the retelling. it occurred on the senate floor when two freshman senators, one democrat, one republican, neither of whom remained long and the senate, were getting a little bit personal with each other as they debated an issue,

which must have seemed import at the time but which neither ted nor i were paying much attention to. we both happen to be on the floor at the same time and the heat of our colleagues exchange eventually managed to get our attention. you might think, you might just think two more senior members of the senate would in such a situation council two junior members to observe the courtesies which theoretically are supposed to distinguish our debates. ted and i shared that a fight at joined was not -- ted and i shared the sentiment that a fight not joined was a it fight not enjoyed. irresistibly, we were both drawn into a debate that we had no particular interest in, but which suddenly look like fun. [laughter] i struck first, castigating the young democratic senator for abusing my republican colleague.

before she could respond for self, ted road valiantly to rescue and within minutes, he and i forgot why we were there and what the debate was all about. we probably had even forgotten the names of our two colleagues. as one of us spoke, the other would circle the floor, agitated and anxious to fire back. after a while, we must have thought the distance between august to a great for either of us to hear each other clearly or that the pressure of the clerk would be too distracting. as if we both had heard some secret signal, we put down our microphone simultaneously and walked briskly to the well of the floor, where we could continue in closer quarters and in language perhaps too familiar to be recorded for posterity, which regrettably was still all the blood of to be overheard by a few reporters.

which was still possible enough to be heard by a few reporters to try and ascertain just what the hell was going on between mccain and kennedy. after we were both satisfied and had sufficiently impressed upon each other the particulars of proper senatorial compartment, we ended our discussion and returned to the business of the chamber. i am happy to report that we succeeded in discouraging our colleague from continuing there are get. they both had deserted the chamber, where i was later told when i did not notice their escape, they were rather puzzled and frightened. [laughter] when the next saw ted ambling down the senate corridor, youkilis -- he was filled with laughter, that infectious laughter that could wake the dead, and sure of the most beleaguered sold. he was good company, excellent

company. i think i am going to miss him more than i can say. we disagree on most issues, but i admired his passion for his convictions, his patience with the hard and sometimes dull work of legislating, and his uncanny sense for when differences could be bridged and the calls advanced by degrees. he was a fierce advocate, and no senator would oppose him in debate without at least a bit of trepidation, often more than a little. we all listen to him, of course. he was hard to ignore. when we agreed on an issue and work together to make a little progress on an important issue, he was the best ally you could have. you never even had a small doubt that once his word was given and a course of action decided, he would honor the letter and spirit of the agreement. when we work together on the

immigration initial -- the immigration issue, we had a meeting with other senators. we would need for a few minutes and dance -- we would meet for a few minutes in advance and decide which members of our respective caucus needed a special encouragement or talk. if a member tried to back out of a previous commitment, ted made certain they understood the consequences of their actions. it did not matter to him that the offender was a member of his own caucus. he was the most reliable, most prepared, and the most persistent member of the senate perry -- senate. he took the long view. he never gave up. on most issues, i very much wished he would give up, he taught me to be a better senator. after labor day, i will go back to the set and out -- i will go back to the senate and try to be as persistent and passionate as

ted was as passionate for the work. i know i am privileged to serve there, but i think most of my colleagues would agree the place will not be the same without him. [applause] >> next, you'll have to join and privilege of viewing a video tribute to senator kennedy directed by ken burns and markers all. we have heard other people speaking. tonight, you'll hear about the life of ted kennedy in his own words.

♪ >> the sea, for me, has always been a metaphor for life. it is constantly evolving, changing, shifting aspect of both nature and life perr. that sort of exposure to the sea is both enriching and enhancing, and it is fun. >> the sea, the wind, the outdoors, it is the most renewing, healing place for him, and always has been. >> that's a good job. >> he loves getting out and sailing. i think he is never more at peace, and perhaps somehow never more in touch with his family and routes and when he is out there sailing. >> i grow up with a family that

wants it to achieve in the sense of making a difference in people's lives. >> i know that ted kennedy has always been unbelievably sensitive to accomplishments of his brothers. but for his inspiration. -- they were his inspiration. >> he has done his very best to pick up where his two brothers left off. >> i think i will be sustained by their memory of our priceless years together and i shall try to carry forward that special commitment to justice, excellence, to correct that distinguish their lives. -- the courage that distinguish their lives. >> he courage to those who were left out, the poor, elderly, our children, those without education. >> he was brought up to believe that to those at which much is given, much is required. but it is better to that. he feels a moral obligation to

do everything possible to make this world a better place. >> i have heard senator kennedy say on many occasions that health care is not a privilege, it is a right. >> as long as i have a voice in the united states senate, it will be for that democratic platform and plank deck provides decent quality health care for all americans as a matter of right, and not a privilege. >> because of ted kennedy, people have things today, they're able to do things today, they are able to reach for the american dream in ways they never imagined. am i first met the center at children's congress through the juvenile diabetes foundation. he asked me to come and testify before congress about stem cell research and support for that. i could help someone almost as much as senator kennedy has helped me, i would be very happy. >> the city here has given the

opportunity for the best of our young people to serve in the community. >> he deeply believes that national service ought to be part of everyday life of every single american. >> he committed right away to introduce new legislation to take programs this to scale to make it possible for young people all over the country to serve our country. >> he deeply believes in service, even as the united states senator, he has read every tuesday at a local school in washington, d.c., as part of an everybody wins program. >> we signed up for this reading program, and i was assigned to senator kennedy is my reading partner. it gave me some one to do well for and bmake proud. i'm going to virginia commonwealth university in richmond, majoring and education. >> we're talking about a man of incredible sensitivity. he has always been there for the

troupe, understanding the sacrifices they have made, been there for their families. >> we met senator kennedy for the first time in november, 2003, when we buried her son at arlington national cemetery. >> their son was lost because his humvee was not armored, and a dedicated their lives to making sure that other young men and women did not suffer the same fate. >> john died just after its 20th birthday. senator kennedy agreed to call hearings. within six months of those hearings, all troops in iraq had body armor. to that, i know the senator. i-- i owe the senator. >> they turned that remarkable tragedy into remarkable force for change. >> senator kennedy had been important before was born. it here remembers where his mother was, where his father was.

and when his brother, joseph, was killed. we share a wound that does not heal. and a deep and abiding love of this country. senator kennedy taught me that government can function for the common man. >> his patriotism, his family, his faith, really, those three things, are just intrinsic to the is. i think he has really big shoulders, and he is strong for all of us, and he is funny and he sort of leads the way. he is the pied piper and our family. >> how many sails are up? >> let's count them. what is the one at the tippy top? >> the fishermen? >> the fishermen! [laughter]

>> the year i was born, president kennedy torched -- pass the torch to a new generation of americans. it was passed to resume his brother. the battles of the 1960's, to the battles of today, he has carried the torch, lighting the way for all who share his american ideals. >> i see the day when president barack obama and ted kennedy would be moving progressive legislation through the congress to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society. >> we will. the old gridlock and finally make health care what it should be in america, a fundamental right for all, not just an expensive privilege for the few. [applause] >> >> the people in this country will respond to the hope. it will be a very, very dramatic

and important alteration and change. it is one that i'm looking forward to being part of. [applause] >> what a treat! now i have the privilege of welcome iing a friend and collee of senator kennedy's, and now senior senator of the commonwealth of massachusetts, john kerry. [applause]

>> vicky, teddy, kicky, kara, patrick, caroline, thank you for the privilege of sharing some words here today by my friend and colleague for a quarter of a century. from the moment of fateful diagnosis 14 months ago until he left us, we saw grace and courage, dignity and ability, joy in laughter -- and laughter, and so much love and gratitude lived out on a daily basis that our cup runs over. how devastating the prognosis was as ted left mgh with his

family, waiting to all a year ago. it and that he lived the next 14 months in the way that he did, optimistic, full of hope, striving and accomplishing still, that he did that is in part a miracle, yes, but it is equally a triumph of the love and care that vicki, their children, and also charged him gave him in such abundance. -- and all too cherished him gave him in such abundance. in many ways, it is fair to say that his time in the last months or a gift to all of us. -- were a gift to all of us. the last months of his life or in many ways the sweetest of the seasons because he get to see how much we all love him,

respect him, and how unbelievably grateful we are for a stunning years of service and friendship. and what a year he had, my friends. he accomplished more in that span of time than many senators do in a lifetime. mental-health parity, the tobacco act, health care bill out of his committee. he spoke at the democratic convention. he wrote his memoirs. and he was there for the signing of the edward m. kennedy service america act and receive the medal of freedom from the president and a knighthood from the queen of england. i think many of you who were there would agree with me that perhaps one of the most poignant moments of all was when he was awarded an honorary degree from harvard. his staff through the years was gathered in the front, and friends and family and admirers were scattered throughout the audience and filled the room, and vice-president elect biden was there. you had no idea how hard to had

practiced and worked to be able to do that in the convention and his appearance at the white house, to make a speech that lived up to his high standards. he took the stage at harvard, and for a few moments we all worried that it would be difficult to pull off. then, before you know it, his voice began to soar and the pace picked up and he inspired again with a stunning restatement of his purpose in public life. when it was over, the applause never wanted to end. he stayed on the stage, reaching out to us, and we to him, and we wanted it to stay there forever. i first met ted kennedy when i was 18 years old, as a volunteer for his first senate campaign in the summer before went to college. then i met him again when i returned from vietnam, and we veterans and camped on the mall in washington.

it was ted kennedy who had the courage to come down to the mall one day and listen to us talk about vietnam. we were controversial, but ted broke the barriers, and other senators followed. he worked his heart out for me in the presidential race of 2004, and he made the difference in iowa. when we were down in the polls and i was slugging it out, ted brought his humor, his energy, his eloquence to davenport to help melt the snow of that state. there we were, two weeks before the caucuses, and his voice boomed out in this room, "you voted for my brother, you voted for my other brother, you did not vote for me!" [laughter] and as the crowd roared with laughter, ted bellowed, "but we're back here after john kerry, and if you vote for john kerry, i will forgive you!" [laughter]

"you can have three out of four," he said," and i will love you and i will look at iowa," and iowa loved him. we had a lot of fun there. he would open an event and he would say, "i want to talk to about a bold, handsome, intelligent leader who should not only the president but who it should end up on mount rushmore, but enough about me," [laughter] " now i will talk about john kerry." after that tuesday night in november where we fell short in one state, there were ted and vicki sitting in the kitchen with me and to recent boston, ready to concede. he was always there would be needed him. once, when we were at a senate retreat, ted had just spoken.

then joe biden caught up to make a point and regina. as joe got more forceful in his argument, he started chester and took a step towards ted. boom, sunny and/or on their feet, parking -- barking wildly. ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in history, we witnessed a biden rhetorical retreat. [laughter] [applause] i have to tell you, one of my really favorite moments was ted campaigning with my daughter, vanessa, who is here, campaigning in new mexico. they were visiting an indian reservation and the tribal medicine man wanted to bestow a blessing. he took a further enchanted and asked that ted and vanessa stand side by side and extend their hands and bowed their heads.

it with the sacred feather, he touched their feet and four heads and their hands. all the while, chanting away. when he finished, ted lead over to vanessa and whispered, "i think we just got married." [laughter] well, you can imagine. a couple of months later, she got a note from teddy woods said, "no matter what happens, we will always have a new mexico." [laughter] one of the framed notes in ted's senate office was a thank-you from a colleague for a gift, a special edition of "profiles in courage." "i brought it home and reread it. thank you for your inspiration and many courtesies. if the world only new."

it was signed by trent lott, republican leader of the senate. indeed, if anyone -- everyone only knew. when george wallace was wounded in the assassination attempt, the first to visit him was ted kennedy. when joe biden underwent brain surgery for an aneurysm, the first to board the train to wilmington was ted kennedy. when jesse helms announced he had to undergo heart surgery, heartfelt surgery, helms pulled his constituents back in north carolina, it is no piece of cake, but it sure beats listening to said -- to ted kennedy in the senate floor. ted wrote a net 2 jesse sang, "i would be happy to send you notes of my recent speeches if that would help your speedy recovery." [laughter] two weeks ago, when i was in hospital after hip surgery, just like chris dodd, there was ted kennedy on the phone, asking how i was doing with all that he was

dealing with. in his life, as we all know, ted knew the dark night of loss. i think that is why his empathy was global. and deeply personal. after my father died of cancer just days before the convention in 2000, there was a knock at the door, completely unexpected. standing there on the front porch was ted kennedy, a trucking by -- dropping by to hug and talk and pastime. 25 years i was privileged work by his side, learning from the master. over the years, i received under its of handwritten notes from ted, some funny, some touching, a few correcting me, all of them special treasures now. he thanked me for my gift of a catholic study bible, commenting, "my mother would be very grateful to you for keeping me in line." he thanked me for a charter left

home after 9/11 when it was hard to get anything in the air. he wrote, "here is a riddle for you. what you get when you make three calls to the faa, two calls to the secretary of transportation, and two calls to flight support? you get a great trip to boston," his way of saying thank you. he thanked me and my way for the gift of the vintage bottle, concluding, "i just hope that i have aged as well as this wine." the personal touch that ted brought to life extended well beyond the senate colleagues. it reflected the kind of man that he was and the kind of laws that he wrote. for 1000 days in the white house, president kennedy inspired. for 80 days on the presidential campaign trail, robert kennedy gave us reason to believe and hope again.

for more than 17,000 days as united states senator, ted kennedy change the course of history as few others have. without him, there might still be a military draft. the war in vietnam might have lasted longer. there might have been delays in granting the voting rights act were passing medicare or medicaid. soviet jews may have been ignored and who would of been there to help them? without him, we might not have stood up against apartheid is part -- as forcefully as we did, and barriers to fear immigration may still be higher today. if everyone only knew. without ted, 18-year-olds may not be able to vote, there might not be a martin luther king day, increases in the middle mom wage, when it -- it women's sports, the americans with

disability act, workplace safety, children's health insurance. if everyone only knew. he stood against judges who would turn bk the clock on constitutional rights, he stood against the war in iraq, his promise to vote, and nearly four decades and all through his final days, he labored with all of his might to make health care it right for all americans, and we will do that in his honor. [applause] in these last months, every visit ted made to the senate elicited an unstoppable outpouring of affection. tears welled up in the eyes of republicans and democrats. everyone missed his skills, it

is booming call to arms and conscience. on his last visit, chris dodd and i sat in the back row beside his desk and listened to teddy regale us with an imitation of his efforts to practice throwing out a ball for the red sox's opening game. he laughed and poke fun at how reluctant his hand muscles were to obey his commands. i was in awe of this moment of humility and self-deprecating humor in the face of genuine frustration. as he so often said over the years, "we have to take issue seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously." he was a master of that, too. one of the great lessons that he taught me. in the end, his abiding gift was his incomparable love of life and his commitment to make better the life of the world. in between his time changing the

world he found time to capture it in marvelous paintings. he was a talented, gifted artist and, as we know, an incurable romantic. who else would have thought to hide their engagement ring on a coral reef so vicky could find it. it never occurred to him at that time water might wash the ring away. but one thing certain, their love endured from then until now and it endure forever. massachusetts has always had its own glorious love affair with the sea. like his brothers before him, saltwater was in his veins. teddy lived by the sea and lived joyously on it. the evening he passed away, i looked out at the ocean where gray sky met gray water. no horizon, the sky almost

seemed to be in mourning. it was not a time for sailing. but the next afternoon, as i sat at his home i looked out at a perfect nantucket sound and thought to myself with certainty, he is on a schooner now. he is sailing. jack, joe, bobby on the fore deck, rosemary, eunice, kathleen, pat, trading stories with their parents. teddy at the helm steering his steady course. pap ceylon, my friend. -- sail on, my sail on, my friend. sail on. [applause] >> the next speaker io

has seen center kennedy's name -- senator kennedy's name and the name of his colleagues and another great american who sat across the aisle and served our country well in the united states senate. please welcome senator orrin hatch. [applause] >> this is a tremendous honor to be in this wonderful city and state. i am so grateful to be here. vicki, teddy, patrick, kara, ethel and jean, and all the rest of the kennedy family, it is a

great honor for me to be with you here today to talk about a man that i have so much regard for, so much reverence for, with whom i have done battle for 33 years, and i have enjoyed every minute of it. like to fighting brothers, to be honest with you. there are a lot of things i could say about ted kennedy's career, but what i would like to do is take a few minutes to talk about ted kennedy, the man, and ted kennedy, my friend. by the time came to the senate in 1977, teddy was already in a giant among senators. as a republican from utah, i stayed -- said numerous times on the campaign trail that came to washington to fight ted kennedy. in fact, i used to say that kennedy's name was my very best

fund-raiser in the country. when i came to washington, i had not the slightest idea that i would potentially have a strong working relationship with and love for the man that i came to fight. if you would have told me that he would become one of my closest friends in the world, i probably would suggested that you need professional help. but that is exactly what happened. people have called teddy and me the odd couple, which was certainly true. there are few men with whom i have had less in common. ted was more than a famous well- to-do family in boston. he attended private schools and harvard university, politically liberal and liberal in his life style, at least until he married vicki, to set him straight, by the way. i'd report, in a working-class family in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. -- i grew up poor, and a

working-class family in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. i was laughing at that. great school. while ted often played the role of the affable irishman, i was the teetotaling mormon bishop. he was so proud one day to discover that i am also scotched irish. yet despite our differences, we were able to work out a lot of things together. that was due in large part to teddy's willingness to recognize and work with those who shared his goals, even if they had different ideas of how to reach those goals. one of the defining moments as a senator came when i met two families from utah. the parents of these families were humble and hard-working. there were prudent and frugal. they were able to provide food

and shelter for their children. the one necessity they cannot afford was health insurance. this is what inspired me to get my work in ted in creating the schip program, which continues to provide health care and coverage for millions of children throughout the world. [applause] and which passed with bipartisan support, even though it came at seemingly an inopportune time politically speaking. over the years, we worked successfully to get both republicans and democrats on board for causes such as assistance to aids victims. we passed the three aids bills, equal rights for the disabled. our latest cooperation came this year and act that is designed to and how or private citizens of all ages to volunteer in their communities. i named the bill after ted.

-- is designed to empower private citizens of all ages to volunteer in their communities. i did not think any of these bills could have passed if not for his willingness to put partisan, by partisanship ahead of partisanship. in 1962, president john f. kennedy famously said, "we must think and act not only for the moment of our time. i am reminded of the story of a great french marshal who asked a guard plant a tree. the gardner said it was slow- growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. at the marshall replied, "in that case, there is no time to boost. plant it this afternoon." the president's wisdom was not lost by his own missed brother. the force of will driven by the sense of immediacy that he brought to every endeavor, ted kennedy had the ability to take actions today that not bear

future until the distant tomorrow. like all good leaders, when he struck out on a mission, he was able to inspire many to follow him until the job was done. no matter how long it took or hard to put -- how far the task was, working with ted on a difficult piece of legislation, it could be utterly fatiguing. more often, and this is what most of us have worked closely with him or against him will miss, ted kennedy would bring a sense of joint even the most difficult, contentious legislative negotiating session. while many of my more conservative constituents have run me over the coals for just being willing to sit in the same room with teddy kennedy, the truth is that he and i did not agree on much. we did not agree on a lot of things. we sat next to each other in the health committee for the better part of two decades. some may not remember, but there was a time when smoking was allowed during the committee

meetings and hearings. during that time, you could always tell when teddy and i were in an argument by the amount of cigar smoke that he blew my way as a non-smoking mormon. [laughter] if there was a particularly strong disagreement, he would just sit back in his chair, puffing smoke my way, giving me an actual had a capital along with the poor little honey cakes -- giving in actual headache to go along with the political headaches. even in the press, teddy would lay intimate with the harshest, red meat, liberal rhetoric that you could imagine. just minutes later, he would come over and put his arm around me and ask, "if how did i do it, orrin?" i will not tell you every response that i made to him. it is was not spiteful. teddy knew how to push people's buttons. it was one of the qualities that made him such an effective senator. for those who are lucky enough

to become his friends, he was the source of no small amount of laughter. it was late 1980's when i knew that i had finally made it into teddy's inner circle. i was working out on the senate floor one day when teddy came and asked if i was going to be at his party that night. i am ashamed to admit that i had been in the senate over a decade and i had not heard about the annual kennedy staff christmas party. those who had been to one or more of those parties will agree a different side of teddy was often on display on those nights. at that first party i attended, teddy came by and did a surprisingly accurate and other recent burst -- and accurate impersonation of elvis presley, tight jumpsuit at all. he looked awful, as far as i was concerned. [laughter] then he joined the staff,

performing skits, making fun of ronald reagan, dan quayle, and even himself. it is too bad he was never asked to host "saturday night live." serving in the senate really does not leave much time to do that sort of thing. just ask john mccain. [laughter] whenever teddy and i would at enter a bill together, he would tell reporters that if he and i were on the same bill, it was obvious that one of us had not read it. [laughter] this always got a huge laugh, as it did now, and i would pretend it was the first time i ever heard him say that. [laughter] one time, i decided to come prepared. after he made his remark. i put out a poppy. a copy of the bill that was heavily pilot and said, here you go, ted, you can have my copy, the import parts are underlined. i think he got as big a laugh at

of that is all the reporters. by complimenting teddy's sense of humor was his generosity. all one occasion, on a late night in the senate, i have to say that teddy was feeling no pain at that time. he was with his friend, chris dodd, my friend. [laughter] i did what my former member ask me to do. he was frank manson, and he had just become the mormon church mission president in boston, mass., presiding over a young mormon missionaries. when he called me, frank manson, he said, "could i ask you a favor?" i said, sure. he said, "would you be willing to come and speak to my young missionaries here in boston?" i said for you, i will.

he said, to ask another favor? can't you ask teddy kennedy to come and speak, too? i said, i don't know, i will ask him. he said, to ask another favor? will you ask teddy get nathaniel hall for the meeting. i said, my goodness, alaska. on this evening, when teddy and chris were feeling no pain, i walked off the floor and take put his arm around me any said, i want you to come out and go sailing with me, do this, i said, great. i said, ted, i have a favor to ask of you. he said, you do, what is that? i said, you remember frank metz and, my administrative assistant. he said, good guy, good guy. i said, he is now the mission president of the mormon church, 200 young mormon missionaries in boston, massachusetts. my home town. i said, yeah.

[laughter] forgive me. i have asked vicki to forgive me already. he said, what about it? i said, well, he would like you and me to come up and speak to his young missionaries. he said, done, just like that. i said, i have another favored ask you. he said, what is that? well, he would like to get you to get nothing. he said, done! the next day, got into the office and i got this nice letter from teddy and i got it to him. i saw him later in the day and he was reading the letter and his hands were shaking. he said, what else did i agree to that night? [laughter] [applause] >> i try telling these things my eyes start to water, my nose starts to run. it is a mess.

in any event, teddy kennedy and orrin hatch appeared before two mormon missionaries in faneuil hall and they will never forget the tremendous all true it's particular talk that he gave to them on that day. all i can say is it was really something. he didn't try to weasel out of it. instead, he produced a beautiful speech. i was impressed, as usual. and the missionaries will never forget that. and though they were of a different faith he commended them for the willingness to serve a cause bigger than themselves. this is just one example of the graciousness of my dear friend ted kennedy. there was another time when the mormon church was nearing completion of its temple here in bost boston. i was approached by several people working in the temple and informed that the city would not allow a spire to be placed on

the top of the temple with an angel on top of it, as is customary on mormon temples. i immediately called ted and asked for help. not long after that conversation he called me back and said, "all of western massachusetts will see that angel gabriel on the top of the mormon temple." though i was tempted to leave it alone, had to inform teddy it was actually a different ages, a prominent figure in the face. at that point, terry replied, " -- tandy replied, "does this mean i'm going to get another book of mormon for christmas?" of course he did. teddy was always respectful of my faith and that of others, but everyone around us knew that i

like to give a more hard time. one thing that has been recounted and attributes of the last few days has been his dedication to his family. from his own children, to his mother, to his nieces and nephews, siblings, i can attest to this. after i had spent some time getting to know the kennedy family, eunice started interceding for me when ted and i disagreed. i love to this day eunice kennedy shriver. [applause] and i love their family. let me just say, bobby is one of my best friends, and so are the other shriver family members. what they do for this country and what eunice did is beyond belief. whenever we were not getting along really well, eunice told

teddy one day, she said, "i do not want you mistreating that nice young senator hatch and you talk." -- from utah." it was wonderful to have her stand up for me. when he and i had really tough trouble reaching agreement on really important occasions, and he would get recalcitrant and baldheaded and his back would go into the air, i would say, ok, but teddy, i'm going to go see eunice. he would say, oh, no, we will work out. she had a great effect on both of us and we both love her very much. the love he had for his family provided him with inside and empathy for others, reflected on his views for policy in dealing with his friends. when i lost my parents, -- i might add when teddy lost his wonderful mother, i snuck appear

to boston. i did not tell my was coming. i just thought i would sneak into the back of this beautiful catholic church, just pay my respects. but they called me and he pulled me right up close to the family. when i lost my parents, ted was there with sympathetic words and sincere sympathy. he was a man experienced with facing family tragedy, having grieved more than his share. yet he became stronger for it. he and vicki flew to utah to attend my mother's funeral. i did not the there were coming. it was a gesture that will always mean a lot to me. it was in the church that i had to give a eulogy. he was right in the front row with my family, and i just gave him the business as much as everybody else. it was wonderful, and i will never forget it. i love vicki kennedy as well. she has been a tremendously wonderful wife to my friend ted.

[applause] i said publicly that have been present to witness two major changes and ted kennedy's life and career. the first was after the elections of 1980. it freed from the pressures that come with presidential ambitions, teddy return to the senate with a singular focus on accomplishing his legislative goals, on building consensus, and doing good for the american people. the second change was, for those who knew teddy, much more profound. it was when he met and married vicki. before he met her, he was often burdened with the stresses that came with his life. yet whether it is being patriarch to one of the most visible families in that country, are being a prominent legislator -- legislator, it seemed that teddy had a life that most people only dream of.

i think at times, the pressures that came with that life left him unable to enjoy it. that all changed when he met vicki. she was the love and light of teddy's life. their marriage in many respects save him. he was forever a different man. he was still a fierce, stubborn leader in the senate he always was, but it was clear from that time on that he enjoyed his life and the role that he played far more than he had in the past. their marriage made him a better man and a better senator. iwell, i remember one time he gt mad as heck at me, and he started yelling at me. finally i said, wait a minute, i wrote a song for you and vicki. he said, you did? i said yeah, do you want to hear it. he forgot all about his anger. it took out a cassette and a

platform. he said, i have to have that. it was called, "souls along the way." here i was, working as usual, on july 3 of that year, in salt lake city. i get this phone call from ted kennedy, out on his boat, as usual. he said, orrin, i just played that song for vicki. she is over there crying at the end of the boat. she loved it. i said, that is great. what are you working like i have to work? he just laughed, because he knew that his life was far different from mine, and i laughed, too, because i knew it as well. when my way back today, let me just say, i thought about our relationship and how much i sorely miss him. a couple months ago, we met for our last hour together, had pictures taken together. that means so much to me.

i have to set it was a wonderful occasion. i miss fighting in public and joking with him in the background. i miss all the things that we knew we could do together and he could do with others as well. on the way back today, you know, i just thought about the apostle paul, the shortly before his death row, "i am not really to be offered. at the time of my departure is at hand. i fought a good fight. i have finished my course. i have kept the faith." so as i came back, just wanted to write a few thoughts down in my own handwriting. i hope you will not mind if i read them to you just before finish. some are weak, some are strong. some people go along to get along. some people are larger than

life. some are born in poverty. some are born in wealth. some are like a flashing light that dissipates in the air. some are like the gift of life who never find a spare. some fulfill their destiny. others lose each day. some are filled with daily joy. all others waste away. -- while others waste away. some are like my liberal friend. god be with you until we meet again. in the end, the good day is one. he leaves the earth and better place. in the end, we can all smile. he cared for all the human race. in the end, we all look back and look back and see many things. in the end, we all look up. he is carried there on angel's wings. in the end, those in repo's are

greeting as we speak. in the end, the darling rose no longer has to seek. i will meet -- i will miss my irish friend. god be with you, until we meet again. god bless this family. god bless you. thank you. [applause] >> well, we all know how much senator kennedy love song, and now it is my pleasure to introduce a vocalist that he admired so very much. brian stokes mitchell,

accompanied on the piano, and a song that captures a lot of what tonight is all about. [applause] >> thank you. senator kennedy really love the arts, and those of us in the arts have really loved senator kennedy also. it is how we met but it, through music, through singing. it was rare that we would not greet each other with not a hello but a spontaneous duet of "some enchanted evening" or "what a beautiful morning." to my heart and mind, he is one of my favorite singers ever, because he sang with his heart, singing notes is easy. singing from your heart is hard. he sang as he lived his life, as he did everything else. there is a song that i sang for him at one of his birthday is

quite a few years ago, and i cannot sing it now without thinking of him. it is about an impossible dream, somebody who dreams the impossible, to make the impossible possible. the quest is what is important. i have to say now that senator kennedy and this song will forever share a very special place in my heart. ♪ to deram the impossible dream. to fight the unbeatable foe all tru w to bear with unbear abable sorr to run where the grave dare not go

to ride the -- to right the unrightable wrong to love pure and chaste from afar to try when your arms are too wea weary, to reach the unreachable star this is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hope less, o matter how far to fight for the rights without question or pause, to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause and i nknow if i will only be

true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when i'm laid to my re rest and the world will be better for th this, that one man scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star♪ ♪this is my quest, to follow that star no matter how hopeless, no matter how far to fight for the rights without

question or pause, to be willing to march into hell for a heav heavenly cause♪ ♪and i nknow if i will only be true to this glorious quest that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when i'm laid to my re and the world will be better for this that one man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreach abable sta

[applause] [applause]

>> senator kennedy's grandfather, as we all know, has presided over the city many years ago. the senator enjoyed working in friendly and warm relationship with the incumbent mayor of the city of boston. we welcome him this evening. [applause] >> thank you, paul. paul didn't ask me to sing. i got thrown out of the choir in the eighth grade, i have not saying cents. -- sang since. ted kennedy was my friend. i feel tremendous sadness today.

but also a sense of pride. the history books will show that boston wasn't just a cradle of liberty. it berthed champions, too. senator edward m. kennedy was born here. many came from the boston neighborhood where he now rests. together, with all bostonian says, i am not morning -- bostonians, i am mourning our native son. the educated -- they are educated in our schools. they knew his work.

our thoughts and prayers are with vicki and the entire kennedy family. across the city -- the new edward kennedy institute, a lasting legacy of the kennedys in boston. i hate to say it during these tough financial times, but we need to buy some more red paint to extend the freedom trail. i had the privilege of serving in the office of teddy's and grandfather -- in the office that teddy's grandfather once held. we sat together at fenway park. they called me up one day and said, let's go to the ball game next week. it was a cold night when we decided to go.

i said, there are upstairs luxury boxes. he insisted we stay out of the skybox so to be with the people. about a fourth or fifth inning, senator kennedy finally leaned over and said, i love the people. but it is freezing my bottom of. -- bottom off. [laughter] i will always be thankful he worked so hard to bring the democratic national convention to boston. it has put our city on display for the world. there is reason to spend some much time together. we worked hard. we worked relentlessly. we had tremendous fun doing it. we played so much good cop, bad cop.

i could not remember the role i was supposed to play. senator kennedy would say, i would like to see $1.5 million worth. half an hour later, they would say, does he really need that? that happens so often. [unintelligible] today, teddy called boston a place where every street is history's home. the church, and nathaniel hall. it is true of all the places that senator kennedy walked. we follow in his footsteps for opportunity, equality. teddy was always out in front of

the issues. it was something i admired and tried to emulate. sometimes, it got us in trouble. at the beginning of the green revolution, we were supposed to be at a green event together. i drive around a compact hybrid. our staff thought it would be good for teddy and i to be arriving at the event together in my hybrid. we are both small guys, by the way. it was too small for me into it -- certainly too small for the two of us. to overgrown peas in a pot -- in a pod. we sought alternate transportation, but we never stopped fighting for progress together.

i threw a party for him in boston. i made him the honor edit -- thinking about him that day makes me smile. the senator took a bit too seriously, and set out to direct traffic on boston harbor. [laughter] i imagine that it was a role suited to him. he was a guardian. he watched over the tired, the weary, and the worn out. that was ted kennedy. when the phone rings, i missed teddy's voice at the end of the line. i am sad that it will not echo in the halls of the senate. the sound of the cools get --

the school kids, immigration -- immigrants taking the citizenship oath, neighbors offering neighbors a helping hand. there is a call for justice. i will always hear the familiar tones of a loyal friend. i would also like to say [unintelligible] one of our pilot schools is dedicated to health care. i sent a letter to the board of trustees the other day. [applause] all they do is train kids to get in the health-care field. we know teddy, how much she loved health care and believed in it. he led the charge. surely, we will have reforms.

we remind everybody how hard teddy fought for these things. thank you for what you are. thank you. [applause] >> john was a harvard classmate of senator kennedy, a football teammate, worked in his senate office, went back home to iowa and served in the congress of the united states, and that in the senate of the united states. a great friend for a long time. [applause]

>> thank you very much, paul. to vicki, who orrin hatch said was a lull of his life, -- was the love of his life, and all of the children. and all of the extended kennedy family, in a real sense, everywhere in the -- everybody in the room feels part of that extraordinary family. it was in the winter, i believe, of 1975. ted called me and said, i would like you to come up to washington with me. they suggested several sites for

the john f. kennedy museum. i like you to come along. i remember it was a winter day, rather cold and overcast. there was snow on the ground. when we came to this particular place and looked across the bay, so boston -- saw boston, saw the water, he said, i think jack would like this place. it was not many years later that this library was built. i think we would all agree that jack would have liked this place. [applause] i was reminded as i came here to the library of the little sailboat up front, the ventura.

and i have a fond memory, i guess it is a fond memory of the ventura myself. we were in summer school in 1953 at harvard. he said to me one day, wider to come with me this weekend. -- why don't you come with me this weekend? there is going to be a sailboat race. it is a lot of fun. i want you to come down and be part of my crew on the sailboat race. i said, i am sure it is an honor to be invited to be on your crew and a sailboat race. but i have never been on a sailboat. i think i have seen a picture of a sailboat.

i come from iowa. the only boat i ever saw were barges on the mississippi river. he said, there is nothing to it. how many times have we heard teddy said, there is nothing to it.i -- at that time we were both young. i didn't quite understand that comment. i grew to understand it later. i said ok. so, we got in the car and ted and i were driving down to the cape. he turned on the radio and we were listening to music and this was on friday afternoon. and suddenly the radio broadcast was interrupted with a bulletin, and the bulletin said serious storm warnings. and it said danger at sea. don't anyone go out in the oc n ocean. and i said, well, ted,