second, this church sits in the midst of neighborhoods where the important issues that animated ted kennedy's career or so, frankly, visible. the needs of the poor, social justice, health care, and education, housing and minimum wage. . by dedicated staff, who served

him over four decades, and as we have seen these last days, especially by the citizens of massachusetts, whom he faithfully served. the extraordinary diversity of these many memories is rather overwhelming. it is neither my place nor within my power to capture them all. i know ted and vicki and their family as their parish priest. my sources are reflection on the scriptures and the pastoral of ministering to ted and his family. my vision, like yours, cannot encompass the totality of his like. my memories seen through the lens of a catholic parish priest are about how one person, one man -- a husband, a father, a public figure, a catholic, and a citizen -- tried to meet the

test of the kingdom of matthew's gospel. to know him as a pastor was to be introduced to the kennedy family. the senator led the family. he was supported by it through a long and complex career, and he was sustained by your family as his life entered its final chapter. all of us know by instinct the fundamental importance of our families. none of us expect to face the great responsibility of being the most visible figure in a family whose narrative is woven through the history of our nation over the past century. as a priest, i saw him treasure and draw strength from his family. like others here today, i watched as his role of this

family's leader required that he sustain them all through life and death, through victory and tragedy. it is not too much to say that his of biting political and legislative concern for the welfare of families, especially those at the socio-economic edge of american life was rooted in his own experience -- his of biting -- his abiding legislative concern. senator kennedy was a tower of strength to his family and a towering presence on the american public landscape. others are better suited than i to describe in detail his legacy. as a pastor, my description seeks to describe his public life in it -- republic live in his personal convictions. no person space -- no person's faith is easily summarized.

few of us, if any, meet them all, but we are all called to pursue the full vision of faith, even as we recognize the inevitable gap between what we are called to and what we, in fact, achieve. indeed, most of us have a strong suit matched with gaps and struggles. there are few passages which express this more pointedly and more poignantly than senator kennedy's own eulogy for his dear brother robert at st. patrick's cathedral 41 years ago in 1968. there, when he said, "my brother need not be idealized or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life. to be remembered simply as a good and decent man who saw

wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and try to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it." like those of his brothers, ted kennedy was a public man with a public face. his strong suit was a central stream of biblical faith expressed both in the hebrew and christian scriptures. his strong suit was the faith of the great hebrew profits, of isaiah, jeremiah, and most am -- os. -- amos. it was they who tied the quality of faith to the character of justice. it was they who stood in defense of the widows, the orphans, and refugees of their time. the striking resemblance of these groups to the women,

children, families, and immigrants in poverty of our time did not escape ted kennedy's notice. his public faith was reinforced and nurtured in the christian scriptures. we have heard matthew today. now, we should remember the gospel of luke, commonly known as the gospel of before. the jesus of look new the poor -- knew the poor of his time well. he advocated for them, defended them, and reminded his disciples of god's special concern for them. at the heart of luke's gospel stands the person of mary, the mother of jesus. senator kennedy had a special respect for her great prayer, the magnifica, a prayer which

simultaneously glorify god for his blessings and promised god's protection of the poor. in his final days, the senator and vicki and i pondered this prayer in terms of the meaning of his life's work. "our blessed mother proclaims these sentiments. dots mercy is -- god's mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. he has shown might with his arm and dispersed the arrogance of mind and heart. he has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. the hungry, he has filled with good things. the rich, he has sent away and the -- empty." ted kennedy, of course, live in a far more complex world than that of jesus' time and place, but that challenge evoked from

him his public gets. he understood the complexity of the society in which he lived. he was renowned for his mastery of the possible and for his genius at crafting law and policy in ways which benefited the widows and orphans of our time. again, he described the motivation of his public life in light of the legacy of his brother robert's vision when he spoke these words -- "our future may be beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control. it is the shaping impulse of america that neither fate nor nature nor the irresistible ties of history but the work of our hands matched to reason and principles that will determine

our destiny." every public figure has a uniquely personal life distinct from but not totally separated from the public world of work and achievement. others have remembered in the past week and will address this morning the record of achievements of ted kennedy. i would like to close with this reflection -- as one lives more toward the final moments of life, the public character fades, and the deeper personal convictions and commitments which have sustained a person through a long and complex like -- life come to occupy the center stage. this was the case in the last few weeks and months as ted and vicki together faced the last measure of his life.

like any priest would be, i was present for them and with them. the faith, which had sustained a visible, historic presence, now became the faith which teaches us how to see this life in light of the next life. the gift of the eucharist, which jesus' promise would nourish us in this life and would carry as to eternal life -- which jesus promised would nurse as, became a source of greater comfort for ted and vicki. as the end approached, the conviction that sustained senator kennedy through so many public struggles became the source of quiet confidence in a truce taught by his church -- a truth taught by his church by the second vatican council in these words.

"we do not know the time of the consummation of the earth and of humanity, but we are taught that god is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide and whose blessed this will answer and surpassed all the longings for peace, which sprang up in the human heart. today, at this holy eucharist, we pray. we are confident that ted kennedy has entered this new dwelling of god. for as the liturgy today inspires us, lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended. when the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting place.

may he rest in peace. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009]

>> now, we pray to the lord not only for teddy, but for all of us he leaves behind. among his brothers and sisters, he was the youngest, so now, his grandchildren, his yonder nieces and nephews, and his youngest child of one of his nieces will offer the intercession. each time, please respond "lord, hear our prayer." teddy certification for 40 years, and he some of us all -- teddy served for 40 years, and he summoned us all. the work of his life is our prayer for our country and our world. >> for my grandfather is commitment and persistence not

to our one values but too old values that will never wear out, that the poor may be out of political fashion, but they are never without human need, that circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> for my grandfather, that we will not in our nation measures human beings by what they cannot give but instead value them for what they can give, we pray to the lord. >> board, hear our prayer. -- lord, hear our prayer. >> for what my grandpa called because of his life in every part of this land that every american have quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer.

>> for a new season of hope, will rise to our best ideals and close the book on the old politics of race and gender, group against group, race against race, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> for my uncle teddy is called to keep the promise for all the people here even strangers and newcomers can rise no matter what their color, no matter what their place of birth, students with of tuition for college and families without the chance to own a home, for all americans seeking a better life and a better land, for all those left out and left behind, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> for my uncle's stand against violence, hate, and war, and his

belief that peace can be kept through the triumph of justice and that truest justice can come only through the work of peace, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> as uncle teddy once told thousands and millions, maybe seven of us in dark passages and fridays, in the words of tennyson's, that my brothers quoted in love, that have a special meaning for us now, so much is taken, that which we are, we are. one tender of perot cards, strong will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> for the joy of my uncle teddy's laughter, his rare and

noble contribution to the human spirit, for his face of that in heaven, his father and mother, his brothers and sisters, and all but one before him will welcome him home, and for all the times to come when the rest of us will think of him surrounded by family as we sailed in the nantucket, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> for my grandfather's print promise last summer that the work begins a new, the hope arises again, and the dream lives on, we pray to the lord. >> lord, hear our prayer. >> lord, our god, give her a piece and healer of souls, hear the prayers of the redeemer,

jesus christ, and the voices of your people, whose lives were purchased by the blood of the land. forgive the since of all, and grant them a place in your kingdom. we asked this through christ our lord. >> amen. ♪

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[singing "ave maria"]

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>> my name is ted kennedy jr., a name i share with my son, a name i shared with my father. although it has not been easy at times, to live with this name, i have never been more proud of it than i am today. your eminence, thank you for being here. you have graced us with your presence. to all of the musicians who have

come here, my father loved the arts, and he would be so pleased for your performances today. my heart is filled, and i first want to say thank you. my heart is filled with appreciation and gratitude to the people of massachusetts. my father's loyal staff, who in many ways my dad's loss is just as great for them as it is for those of us in our family, and to those of us on my family and friends, who have come to pay their respects, listening to people speak about how my father impacted their lives and the deep personal conviction that people felt with my dad has been an overwhelming experience. my dad had the greatest friends in the world. all of you here are also my friends, and his greatest gift to me. i love you just as much as he did.

sarah brown, president obama, president clinton, secretary clifton, president bush, president carter -- you honor my family by your presence here today. i remember how my dad would tell audiences years ago, "i don't mind not being president. i just mind that someone else is." [laughter] there is much to say and much will be said about ted kennedy the statement, the master of the legislative process and bipartisan compromise, workhorse of the senate, a beacon of social justice, and protector of the people. there is also much to be said, and much will be said about my father the man, the storyteller, the lover of costume parties, the practical joker, the acropolis pager -- accomplished painter. he was a lover of everything french -- cheese, wine, and

women. he was a mountain climber navigator, skipper, tactician, airplane pilots, rodeo rider, ski jumper, a dog lover, and all-around adventure. our family adventure left as all injured and exhausted. [laughter] he was a dinner table debater. was an irishman and a pass -- proud member of the democratic party. he was a green bay packers recruit but decided to go to law school instead. he was a devout catholic whose faith helped him survive unbearable losses and whose teachings taught him that he had a moral obligation to help him -- others in need. he was not perfect -- far from it -- but my father believed in redemption, and he never

surrendered, never stopped tryi to right wrongs, be they the result of his own failings or of hours -- ours. today, i am compelled to remember ted kennedy as my father and best friend. when i was 12 years old, i was diagnosed with bone cancer, and a few months after i lost my leg, there was heavy snowfall out of my childhood home in washington, d.c., and my father went to the garage to get the flexible flyer and asked me if i want to go sledding down the steep driveway. i was trying to get used to my new artificial leg, and the hill was covered with ice and snow, and it was not easy for me to walk. the hill was very slick, and as a struggle to walk, i slipped and i fell on the ice, and i started to cry, and i said, "i can do this. i will never be able to climb up that hill." and he lifted me up in his

strong, a gentle arms and said something i will never forget. he said, "i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can do -- can't do. we are going to climb that held together, even if it takes us all day that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive my father's greatest lessons. he taught me that nothing is impossible. during the summer months when i was growing up, my father would arrive late afternoon from washington on friday, and as soon as he got to cape cod, he would want to go straight out and practice sailing maneuvers in anticipation of that we can trace -- we can -- weekend race. we would be still practicing long after everyone had gone

ashore. one night, another -- not another boat in sight. i asked him, "why are we always the last ones on the water?" "teddy," he said, "you see, most of the sailors we race against are smarter and more talented than we are" -- [laughter] "but the reason that we are going to win is that we will work harder than them and we will be better prepared." he was not just talking about boating. my father admired perseverance. my father believed that to do a job effectively required a tremendous amount of time and effort. dad instill in me also the importance of history and biography. he loved boston and the amazing writers and philosophers and politicians from massachusetts. he took me and my cousins to the old north church and to walden pond and to the homes of herman melville and nathaniel hawthorne. he thought that massachusetts

was the greatest place on earth, and he had letters from many of its former senators like daniel webster and john quincy adams hanging on his walls, inspired by things heroic. he was a civil war broke. when we were growing up, he would have us all into his car or did kanpur, and we've tr things. he loved his classic wooden schooner. he loved his 1973 pontiac convertible. my father taught me to treat everyone i meet, no matter what station in life, with the same dignity and respect. he could be discussing arms control with the president at 3:00 p.maneeting with a union carpenter oning -- makingy is backbreaking work. the woman who passed a clean up ter us today has a family to feed -- the woman who has to clean up after us today has a family to feed."

that is just the kind of guy he was. he adds with uncle joe's call to patriotism, of a tax cost to service, and bodies determination to seek a newer world. unlike them, he lived to be a grandfather, and knowing what my cousins have been through, i feel grateful that i have had my father as long as i did. he even taught me some of life's harsher lessons such as how to like republicans. [laughter] he once told me -- he said, "republicans love this country just as much as i do." i think he felt like he had something in common with his republican counterparts. the vagaries of public opinion, the constant scrutiny of the press, the endless campaigning fo understood the hardship that politics has on a family and the

hard work and commitment that it requires. he often b hisroht republican colleagues home for dinner, and he believed in developing personal relationships and honoring differences. one of those wonderful experiences that i will remember today is how many of his republican colleagues are sitting here right before him. that is a true testament to the men -- to the man. always told me to always be ready to compromise, but never compromise on your principles. he was an idealist and a pragmatist. he was restless but patient. when he learned that a survey of republican senators named him the democratic legislator that they most wanted to work with and that john mccain called him the single most effective member of the u.s. senate, he was so proud because he considered the combination of accolades from your supporters and respect from

your sometime political adversaries as one of the ultimate goals of a successful political life. at the end of his life, my dad return home. he died at the place he loves more than any other -- cape cod. the last months of my dad's life were not sad or terrifying but filled with profound experiences. a series of moments more precious than i could have imagined. he taught me more about humility, vulnerability, and courage than he has taught me in my whole life. although he lived a full and complete life by any measure, the fact is he was not done. he still had work to do. he was so proud of where we have recently come as a nation, and although i do grieve for what might have been, for what he might have helped us accomplish,

i pray today that we can set aside this sadness and instead celebrate all that he was and did and stood for. i will try to live up to the high standards that my father said -- set for all of us when he said, "the work goes on. because interest -- teh cause endures. the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." i love you dad -- i love you, dad. i always will, and i miss you already. [applause]

>> president and mrs. obama, distinguished guests, friends of my father, all of you. while a nation has lost a great senator, my brothers and sisters and i have lost a loving father. when i was a kid, i could not breathe. growing up, i suffered from chronic and crippling asthma attacks, and the medications given to me were very difficult and gave me a throbbing headache. obviously, i wish that i did not have to suffer those attacks and endure those headaches. nor did i like having to grow up

having a special non-allergenic non-smoking room reserved for me whenever we went on family vacations, but as i now realize years later, while asthma may have posed a challenge to my physical health, it propped up my emotional and mental health because it kept my father by my bedside. my dad was always sure to be within reach of me, and the side effects of the medication meant that he was always holding a cold, wet towel on my forehead until i fell asleep again from my headache. as far as the special effort that was made to ensure that i had a proper room to sleep in while we were on vacations as a family, this usually meant that i got the nicest room, and it also insured that that was my roommate. [laughter] i could not have seen it at the time, but having asthma was like hitting the jackpot for a child

who craved his father's love and attention. when his light shined on me alone, there was no better feeling in all of the world. when dad was a way, i often did not know when he would return -- and that was a way -- when dad was away. as a young boy, i did not know why he was not around christmas time when santa came to the house, and i wondered why santa had the same two moles on his face that my dad had, and in the same place as my dad. even after i figured out that that was my dad and the costume finally came off, he still remained to be a magical figure. as a little kid, i did not look like much of a sailor, but my dad thought otherwise. in sailing, there are rules as

well, much like government. tireless, mundane rules that will surely make you see things. the rule was four people on a boat. just four, but my dad dug around until he found a bull around the rule -- a rule around the rule. sound familiar? kids under 12, especially scrawny little red heads like me, could tag along. my dad found that rule that mess with his -- meshed with his mission. he refused to leave me behind. he did that for all of those around the world who needed a central voice. when we raised, there was lots of salt water and lots of salty language. those experiences not only brought my vocabulary, but they

also helped my self-confidence. i saw a lot of his political philosophy in a sailboat races. one thing i noticed was that on the boat as in the country, there was a role for everybody, a place for everybody to contribute. second, in the race as in life, it did not matter how strong the forces against you were, the longest -- as long as you kept driving forward. there was nothing to lose. maybe you would even come out a winner. my dad was never about. he never gave up, and there was no quit in dad. looking out over this audience and looking out at this tremendous number of people who align themselves along the roadway, coming up on the case, throughout boston when we went around, who waited in line for hours to see his casket as they came through the jfk library, there is no doubt in my mind that my dad came out a winner.

i want to thank all of you for the amazing attribute that you have given my father in the last several days, and i want to say, just as proud as i was to be crew on his sailboat, i am forever grateful to have the opportunity to have worked with him in the united states congress as his colleague. i admit, i used to hang onto his t-shirt and his coat sleeve on the capital when i was just a little boy, so when i got a chance to serve with him on capitol hill, all i needed to do was set my compass to the principles of his life. my father and i were the primary sponsors of the mental health parity which was signed into law last year. this bill represented not only a legal victory for 54 million americans with mental illness who were being denied equal health insurance, but as one of those 54 million americans, i

felt he was also fighting for me to help ease the burden of stigma and shame that a company's treatment -- accompanies treatment. i will miss working with my dad. i will miss his since a self- deprecating humor. when the far right made that the poster child for their attack ads, he used to say, "we kennedies sure bring up the best in people." [laughter] when he first got elected and my cousin joe was a member of congress and i came to congress, dad finally celebrated st., "finally, after all these years when someone says who does that stand kennedy think he is, there's only one in three chance that are talking about me -- who does that damn kennedy think he is"." [laughter] to teddy, caroline, kara and i,

we will remember him as a loving and devoted father, and in the 1980 campaign, might that often quoted robert frost at the conclusion of every stumps speech to indicate that he had to go onto another political event. he would paraphrase the line from "the road less traveled." "the woods were lovely dark and deep, and i have promises to keep and miles to go before i sleep and miles to go before i sleep." well, dad, you have kept that promise both literally and figuratively to be your brothers' keeper. now, it is time for you to rest in peace. may your spirit live forever in our hearts, and as you challenged us so many times before, make your dreams for a better and just america never die. i love you, dad, and you will always live in my heart forever. [applause]

>> your eminence, vicki, kara, ed wood, patrick, caroline, members of the kennedy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens, today we say goodbye

to the youngest child of rose and joseph kennedy. the world will long remember their son edward as the heir to a weighty legacy, a champion to those who had none, the soul of the democratic party and the life of the united states senate, a man who graces nearly 1000 loss and has penned more than 300 himself, but those of us who love him 8 with his passing know him by the other titles he held -- father, brother, has been -- husband, grandfather, an uncle teddy, or

as he was often known to his young nieces and nephews, the big cheese. .

been >> that spirit of resilience and good humor will see teddy through more pain and tragedy than most would ever know. it lost two siblings by the age of 16. he saw two more taken violently from a country that love them. he said goodbye to his beloved sister eunice in the final days of his life. he narrowly survived a pick -- plane crashed, watched children struggle with cancer, buried nephews and experienced personal setbacks in the most public way possible. a string of events that would have broken a lesser man. it would have been easy for ted

to be cut -- let himself become bitter and heart, to surrender to self pity and regret, to retreat from public life and live out its years and peaceful quiet. no one would have blamed him for that. but that was not ted kennedy. as he told us, individual faults and frailties are no excuse to give in and no exemption from common obligation to give of ourselves. indeed, ted was the happy warrior when the poet wordsworth spoke of when he wrote -- tempted more, more able to endure, more exposed to suffering and distress. also more alive to tenderness. through his own suffering ted kennedy became more alive to the plight and the suffering of others. a sick child to could not see a

doctor, the young soldier denied of rights because of what she looks like or who she loves or where she comes from. landmark laws that the champion -- the civil rights act, the american with disabilities act, immigration reform, a children's health, insurance, family medical leave act, all had a running thread. his life work was not to champion the causes of those with wealth or power or special connections, but it was to give a voice to those who were not heard, to add a round to the ladder of opportunity. to make real the dream of our founders. he was given the gift of time that his brothers were not and he used the gift to touch as many lives and write as many wrong as the years would allow.

we can still hear him. his voice bellowing through the senate chamber, face reddened, fists pounding the podium, a veritable force of nature in support of health care or workers' rights or civil rights. and yet, as has been noted, while his causes became deeply personal, his disagreements never did. wiley was seen by his fiercest critics as a partisan lightning rod, that is not the prism through which ted kennedy saw the world. nor was the prism through which his colleagues saw ted kennedy. the product of an age when the joy and nobility of politics prevented differences of party and platform and philosophy from becoming barriers to cooperation and mutual respect. a time when adversaries still saw each other as patriots. that is out ted kennedy became

the greatest legislator of our time. he did it by hewing to principle, yes, but also by seeking compromise and common cause. not through dealmaking and horse trading alone but through friendship and kindness and humor. there was a time the court did orrin hatch for support of the children's health insurance program by having his chief of staff serenade the senator with a song -- orinn road in self. recent cookies on a china plate to sweeten a crusty republican colleague. how he won the support of a texas committee chairman on an immigration bill -- teddy walked into a meeting with a plain manila envelope and showed only the chairman it was filled with the texans famous cigars. when the negotiations were going well he would into the envelope

closer to the chairman. when they were not, he would pull it back. [laughter] before long, the deal was done. it was only a few years ago on st. patrick's day when teddy but hold me on the floor of the senate for my support of a certain piece of legislation coming up for a vote. i gave my pledge but i expressed skepticism that it would pass. when the roll call was over, the bill garnered the boat that was needed and then some. i looked at teddy with a stylish -- astonishment and ask, how he'd done it. -- pat in the back and said, look of the irish. of course, luck had little to do with ted kennedy's legislative success. he knew that. a few years ago his father and all told him that he and daniel webster just might be the two greatest centers of all time. without missing a beat tandy replied -- what did webster do?

[laughter] but though it is teddy's historic body of achievements we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss. he was the friend and colleague who was always the first to pick up the phone and say i'm sorry for your loss or, i hope you feel better, or what can i do to help? he was the boss so adored by his staff that over 500 spanning five decades showed up for his 75th birthday party. he was the man who sent birthday wishes and thank-you notes to sell many that never imagined that a u.s. senator of such stature take time to think about someone like them. i have one of those paintings in my private study off the oval office.

a cape cod seascape that was a gift to a freshman legislator who had just arrived in washington and happen to admire it when ted kennedy welcomed him into his office. by the way, my second gift from teddy and vicki after our dog bo. it seems like everyone has one of those stories, the ones that often start with, you wouldn't believe local me today -- who called me today. he was the father who looked not only after his three children's but john's and bobby's as well. he took them camping and taught them to sail. he laughed and danced with them at birthdays and weddings and cried and more with them through hardship and tragedy and passed on that same sense of service and selflessness his parents instilled in him. shortly after ted walked caroline down the aisle and gave her away at the altar, he

received a note from jackie that read -- on you, the carefree young this brother, the burden a hero with a bid to been scared, we are all going to make it because you always there with your love. not only did the kennedy family make it because of ted's love, but he made it because of theirs, especially because the love and the life he found in it vicky. after so much a loss and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for ted to risk his heart began and that he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from louisiana. and she didn't just love him back, as ted would often acknowledge, but she saved him. she gave him strength and purpose, joy, and stood by him always, especially in those last hardest days. we cannot know for certain how

long we have here. we cannot foresee the trials and misfortunes that will test us along the way. we cannot know what god's plan is for us. but what we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose and with love and with the joy. we can use each day to show those who are close to much how much we care about them and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. we come learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. we can strike at all cost to make a better world. that someday, if we are blessed with a chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spend it well. that we made a difference. that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others.

this is how ted kennedy lived. this is his legacy. he once said, as has already been mentioned by his brother that he needed the -- not be idealized or enlarged and that's because what he was in life -- and i imagine he would say the same about himself. the greatest expectations were placed upon ted kennedy's this shoulders because of who he was but he surpassed them all because of who he became. we do not weep for him today because the prestige attached to his name or his office. we weep because we love this kind and tender hero who persevered for pain and tragedy, not for the sake of ambition or vanity, not for wealth or power, but only for the people in the country that we love. in the days after september 11,

teddy made it a point to personally call each one of the 177 families of this state who lost a loved one in the attack. but he didn't stop there. he kept calling and checking up on them. he fought through red tape to get them assistance and grief counseling. he invited them sailing, played with their children and would write each family a letter whenever the anniversary of that terrible day came along. to one would know he wrote the following -- "as you know so well, the passage of time never really heels the tragic memory of such a great loss. but we carry on because we have to, because our loved ones would want us to, and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us. we carry on.

ted kennedy has gone home now. he is guided by his faith and by the light of those that he has loved and lost. at last he is with them once more, leaving those of us to grieve is passing with the memories he gave, the good that he did, the dream that he kept alive, and the single enduring image, image of a man on a boat, wait main tussled, smiling broadly as he sails into the wind, ready for whatever storms may come, carrying on toward some new and wondrous place just beyond the horizon. may god bless ted kennedy and may he rest in the eternal peace. [applause]

>> let us pray. lord god, your son jesus christ gave us the sacrament -- sacrament of his body and blood to guide us finn in the pilgrimage way to the kingdom. they our dear friend ted and shared in the eucharist, to the banquet of life christ prepared for us. we ask this through christ our lord, amen. his eminence will conduct the final commendation.

>> mr. president, we thank you for your presence and for your words of appreciation for the life and work of senator kennedy. we gather here today to pray for a man who has been such an important part of our history and our country. we are here because ted kennedy shared our belief in prayer and the eternal life. vicki, you and the family, surrounded ted with love at the end of his life and gave us all

an example of love and compassion in the face of suffering and death. we die with dignity when we are surrounded by love and such care. and now let us, and ted's soul to god posset loving mercy. before we go our separate ways, let us take leave of our brother. they our farewell to express our affection for him. they it eased our sadness and strengthen our hope. one day we shall joyfully greet him again when the love of christ, which converts all things, destroys even death itself.

[speaking in latin] >> it into your hands, father of mercies, we commend our brother

edward, in the short and certain hope that together with all who have died in christ we shall rise with him on the last day. if we give you thanks for the blessings which you bestowed upon edward in this life, there's signs to us of your goodness and our fellowship with the saints in christ. merciful lord, turned toward us and listen to our prayers. open the gates of paradise for your servants and help us who remain, to comfort one another with assurances of faith until we all meet in christ and are with you and with our brother forever. we ask this through christ, our lord. >> amen. >> in peace, let us take our brother to his place of rest.

[singing of "america of the beautiful] >> ♪ america, america god shed his grace on and crowned by good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪ ♪

[singing of "america the beautiful"] ♪

[organ music]

[singing of hymn]

♪ [military commands]

[organ music] ♪

>> senator edward kennedy was laid to rest at arlington national cemetery next to his brother's. the ceremony ran about 25 minutes.

>> there is a certain fitting ness having a burial at the dying of the day because we know the sun will come back again tomorrow. as we think of teddy, we know that his new life begins.

and as we look at this great family, we are sure new life is already beginning and new, great things are happening. mr. vice president, vicki, members of the family, it is for all of us a very special time in our own lives, in your life, in the life of our country. so we began in the name of the father, and of the sun, and of the holy spirit. dear friends in christ in the name of jesus and his church, we gathered together to pray for edward kennedy, that god may bring into everlasting peace and rest. we share the pain of loss, of the promise of eternal life gives us hope. therefore we comfort one another with these words. karen?

-- cara? >> in reading of the letter of paul to philippians. [inaudible] changing our lovely body to conform with his glorified, the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. >> thanks be to god. may i just for a moment be the voice of so many of around the world to pay a final tribute to senator ted kennedy and to offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife vicki, sister jeanne, children and grandchildren, and

to all the kennedy family and to the extended family that most probably include most of america. they also add a word that we who are privileged to watch the very beautiful funeral mass this morning had to be touched by the wonderful part in that liturgy played by the younger generation of kennedys, the warm and very personal tribute in the elegies of teddy's sons and even that of the president of the united states whose warmth and friendship for ted was obviously so powerful. that together with the splendid homily of ted's parish priest made our farewell to senator kennedy on forgettable --

unforgetaable. upon learning of his death last wednesday morning, attributes to his half century of leadership in american politics and leadership. they called him the lion of the senate, and indeed, that is what he was. his war and zeal for what he believed in a different -- roar and zeal for what he believed the difference. occasionally friends would get mad of them when he roared on what we believe what is wrong side of the issue but we always knew and were always touched by his -- for the underdog, for the rights of working people, for better education, for adequate health care for every american. his legacy will surely place him among the dozen or so great in the history of the senate of this united states. shortly before he died, senator

kennedy wrote a very moving letter to the holy father and took advantage of the historic visit to the vatican of president obama to ask the president if he would deliver it personally, which mr. obama gladly did. a couple of weeks later, the pope replied with a father of a message of concern over the senator's own this and a prayer for his progress. when vicki and i and others began to talk about the organization of this brief service, the happy thought emerged of using part of these two letters to commemorate the faith of ted kennedy and the warm and fraternal spirit of pope benedict xvi. i want to quote from that letter. it begins -- most holy father i asked president obama to personally can deliver this letter to you as a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my roman catholic

faith is to me, and i am so deeply grateful to him. i hope this letter finds you in good health. i pray that you have all of god's blessings as you lead our church and inspire our world during these challenging times. i am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me, as my own health declines. i was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although i continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me. i'm 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life. i have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family, and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our catholic faith at the center of our lives. that gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours. i know that i have been an imperfect human being, but with

the help of my faith i have tried to write my path. i want you to know, your holiness, in my nearly 50 years of elective office i have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. i have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination, and expand access to health care and education. i have opposed the death penalty and fought to end the war. those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a united states senator. i also want you to know that even though i am ill, i'm committed to the everything i can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. this has been the political cause of my life. i believe conscience protection for catholics and the health field and will continue to

advocate for it, as my colleagues and the senate and i work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. i have always tried to be a faithful catholic, your holiness, and though i have fallen short through human failings and never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. i continue to pay -- pray for god's blessings on you and our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me. two weeks later, the reply came back from the vatican, and in part, it read as follows. the holy faller -- holy father has read the letter entrusted to president obama who kindly presented to him during the recent meeting. he was saddened to know of your illness and asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. he is particularly grateful for

your promise of praise for him and for the needs of our universal church. his holiness praise that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope and granted the precious grace of joyful surrendered to the will of god, our merciful father. he invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings and trusts in his promise of eternal life. commending you and members of your family to the loving intervention of the blessed virgin mary, the holy father cordial late in parts is i apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in the lord. that is the end of the quotation. with the pressures of our holy father pope benedict added to our own prairies, we entrust the body of edward kennedy, senator

ted, to his resting place until the lord calls us fourth until the end of time. amen. lord, jesus christ, by your own three days and the to me you how load the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection, even as it claims our mortal bodies. grant that our brother may sleep here in d.c. -- until you awakened him and glory because you of the resurrection and the life. then he will see you face-to- face and in your life will see light and no the splendor of god for you live and reign forever and ever. i will ask father -- an old friend of the family, to do that intercessions for us. he will be saying some prayers and then adding, lord, in your

mercy, and our response is, lord, hear our prayers. >> lord, in your mercy -- lord, hear our prayer. gracious lord, for give the sense of those who have died in christ, lord, in your mercy, here are prayer, remember all the good they have done, lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, welcome them into eternal life, lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, let us pray for those who mourn, comfort in them in grief, lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, leighton their sense of loss with your presence. lord, in your mercy. >> hear our prayer. >> increase their faith, strengthen their hope. lord, in your mercy. >> hear our prayer. >> let us pray for ourselves and our own program midge through life. keep us faithful in your

service. lord, in your mercy. >> hear our prayer. >> skindell in our hearts along a for your kingdom of justice and peace, a longing for heaven. lord, in your mercy. >> hear our prayer. >> in the sure and certain hall of resurrection into eternal life, through our lord jesus christ week, and almighty god our brother ted. we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. may the lord brook -- bless him and keep him, made the lord make his face shine upon him and be gracious to him. made the lord lift his counted upon him and give him peace. let us joined now in praying the prayer jesus taught us. our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, by kingdom come, that will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. and now i will say again the prairies that his eminence -- prayers is evidence, because they are fitting for this moment as well. before we go separate ways let us take leave of our brother ted. make our farewell express our affection for him. make it easy our sadness and strengthen our hope. one day we shall joyfully greet him again when the love of christ which conquers all things, and destroys even death itself. into your hands, father of mercies, we commend our brother ted in the short answer and hope that together with all who have died in christ we will -- he will rise with them on the last

day. we give you thanks for the blessings you bestowed upon him on this life. they are signs to us of your goodness and our fellowship with the saints in christ. merciful lord, turned toward us and listen to our prayers, open the gates of paradise for your servants and help us who remain to comfort one another with assurances of faith. until we meet in christ and are with you and with our brother teddy forever. we asked this through christ our lord. >> amen. >> you are intended to the press of the humble. here the people who cry out to

you in their need and strengthen their hold in your lasting good this. we asked this through christ our lord. >> amen. >> and made the peace of god which is beyond all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge of love of god and his son, our lord jesus christ, and a almighty god bless you, the father, the son and holy spirit. >> amen. them and now, i know that four of teddy's grandchildren are going to come and be with us and say something about grandpa.

[gun salute] [playing of "taps"]

>> coming up next on c-span, a statue of ronald reagan is unveiled in the u.s. capitol. then friends and fellow journalists remembered walker cronkite, who died in july. after that a portrait unveiling at the state department for former secretary of state: pal. -- colin powell. >> tonight, a look at the best books of 2009. several news organizations have published their best list for the year.

tonight, books by ann coulter and sir harold evans, beginning at 8:00 p.m. on c-span2. to view the list, visit our website, book tv.org. >> it really sinks in. you have lost it. you don't own it anymore. you are trespassing. and that hurts. my positions are now in a storage bin. what was able to get out -- but i was able to get out. >> on q&a -- american casino, award winning documentary on the impact of subprime mortgages on minorities. sunday night at 8:00. >> a new statue of former president ronald reagan was unveiled in the capitol rotunda earlier this year, five years after his death. nancy reagan, speaker of the house nancy pelosi, majority leader harry reid and minority leader mitch mcconnell spoke at this 50-minute ceremony.

. [applause]

[applause] >> today we are gathered to honor president reagan with the unveiling of his debt to. please stand and remain standing for the opening ceremonies. >> please remain standing for the presentation of colors, the singing of the national anthem, and remain standing as reverend black gives the indicatiovocati.

♪ ♪ ♪

>> ♪ o say, can you see by the dawn's early light was so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous night for the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air gave prove through the night

that our flag was still there o say, does that star spangled banner yet wave? for the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ ♪

>> please be seated. >> let us pray. o lord, the light of lights, how majestic is your name in all the earth? we marvel that you care about

humanity, and have crowned us with glory and honor. today, except our gratitude for this congressional tribute to president ronald reagan, whose love for freedom inspired our nation to embrace our best hopes. thank you for his ability to plant the seeds of confidence, and to lift liberties lamp until freedom's light was seen around the world. made this statue, in his honor, remind us of americas opportunity to remain a shining

city on a hill, and motivate us to discover and do your will. lord, give us grace to love what you command, and to desire what you have promised. grant that guided by your live we may reach the light that never fades, illumined by your truth, we may reach the truth that is complete. we pray, in your holy name, amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, republican leader of the united states house of representatives,

the hon. john boehner. >> mrs. reagan, madam speaker, honored guests, and my colleagues, let me first say a big thank you to the california delegation for all their efforts in making this day possible. on october 27, 1964, ronald reagan gave a nationally televised address supporting barry goldwater, the republican nominee for president. while goldwater was later defeated by lyndon johnson, many americans watching that they immediately sensed that reagan would one day become president. the title of reagan's speech was "a time for choosing." he crystallized the voices for voters.

when people look for self- government, or would they submit themselves to being ruled by elites in a far distant capital? his polka at social engineers was accompanied by a vigorous defense of america's greatest abroad. he reminded americans that they did have a rendezvous with destiny. as california governor in the 1960's and 1970's, ronald reagan proved over and over that he had the mind of a committed conservative, and the temperament of an extraordinary leader. as president, reagan displayed his unmistakable skill in communicating a vision of american exceptional as some. it was not just vision that moves people his way. it was also his tone. he was always quick with a smile for self-deprecating jokes. he once said "i have left orders

to be awakened in case of a national emergency, even if i'm in a cabinet meeting." he clearly had the pulse and the respect of the average american. he developed an alliance with margaret thatcher and pope john paul ii. these three led the west out of what author john o'sullivan has called the nightmare years of the 1970's. together, they literally changed the world for the better. today we honor president reagan's lifetime of achievement, and we honor his legacy of economic and political freedom. early in his presidency, he fought to enact a set of tax cuts authored in part by fellow conservatives, who would be honored to be here today. jack kemp.

the tax cuts that president reagan enacted dropped rates that were at one time as high as 70%. this allowed people to build, expand, and create jobs. reagan's economic policies inspired the largest peacetime expansion in u.s. history. the growth was predicated on free trade, lower taxes, the regulation, and curbing runaway inflation. i recently had an opportunity to tour the reagan ranch in santa barbara. one of the great things that i saw when i was there was a desk that president reagan used to sign the tax cuts into law. the free market policies set in motion on that very table were responsible for creating 35 million new jobs in america through 1999. this is another part of ronald

reagan's legacy. this is a piece of rock from the berlin wall. those walls came down because of ronald reagan's relentless commitment to freedom, and his insistence on american victory in the cold war. was not afraid to say the soviets were the evil empire. ronald reagan saw in america as a city on a hill, set apart by god, who intended us to be free. in his first inaugural address he said, "freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and more assured here than any other place on earth." three years later, commemorating the fallen warriors of omaha beach, reagan said, "we will

always remember. we will always be proud. we will always be prepared so that we may always be free." today our freedom is defended by 1092-foot aircraft carrier on the ronald reagan. their motto is , "peace through strength. i'm confident his legacy will be attacked for generations to come to me if you study the man, at time you will see the rhythm of life described by shakespeare. "all the world's stage and all the men and women are merely players, and one man in his time will play many parts." ronald reagan played his part is brilliantly, with words, and deeds, he inspired his

countrymen to great heights and inspired a clear vision. we are honored to add his likeness to this great hall of statesman's and patriots. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the united states senate, the hon. mitch mcconnell. >> friends, fellow members of congress, trustees of the ronald reagan presidential foundation, mrs. reagan, today we celebrate a great man's life.

as we dedicate this statute in this place of honor, we affirm that man's treasure place in our hearts and in our nation's storied history. many today are too young to remember what a difference he made. but rather than recite a history lesson, let me just say this. when america thought our best days way behind us, ronald reagan showed they still lay ahead. when the world thought freedom was in retreat, ronald reagan proved that liberty was still the strongest force in history. and when many thought freedom should negotiate with tyranny, ronald reagan had the courage to call tierney by its name, and to say that freedom would win.

ronald reagan is remembered as one of the giants of the 20th century. he deserves our admiration, and he deserves the statue. the real ronald reagan stood taller than any statute. we know the source of the strength. she is here with us. nancy, together, you end president reagan lifted our nation when we needed it most. america is still grateful. you will always have a special place in our hearts. when ronald reagan began the journey that led to the sunset of his life, he remained optimistic about america even

then. and as he put it so memorably in a hand written letter, "i know that for america there will always be a bright dawn ahead." holding firm to the ideals that he embraced throughout his remarkable life, we can say the same. and inspired by the example of ronald reagan, we can pay an even greater tribute and the monument that rededicate here today. we can build that hopeful future he always saw before him. that is a living tribute we owe this great man. it is the tribute that this memory and this nation that he loved deserves. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, majority leader of united states senate, the hon. harry reid. >> his earliest days of an actor on the las vegas strip, to his profound partnership with paul laxalt -- the same week ronald reagan became governor of california, paul became governor in nevada. when ronald reagan first sought the presidency, paul

manage to this campaign. he was president reagan's no. 1, down in the senate. when the president ask for things that were important, he went to laxalt's. the president asked him for many difficult and classified assignments. when he sent paul laxalt to the philippines, he brought that nation back from the brink of civil war. he is with us today to honor his " friend. he was so close to president reagan that some called him the first friend. we know no one was more important to president reagan then his loving and beloved first lady, nancy. it is wonderful to see you. i had a wonderful time visiting with you before we came here, exchanging stories about ronald reagan. you are here today smiling, as always, by president reagan's

side. a talented sculptor's said when he carved the statue we're about to unveil, he shaped the president's base in the friendly grin reagan would flash before one of his jokes. he told a lot of jokes. this is a fitting place to honor him. just next door, the new president began his first term by telling the country that americans held for more than one year in iran were on their way home. it was here that temperatures sank into single digits that president reagan began his second term. it was the first and only time a president had taken office in the capitol rotunda of. president reagan's confidence warm been reassured america. here's what he said.

"history is a ribbon, always unfurling. history is a journey, and as we continue our journey, we think of those who traveled before us." president reagan's travels from illinois to hollywood to washington, berlin, and beyond, left an enduring legacy. throughout that time, the people of nevada have always been proud to call ronald reagan our neighbor, our leader, and our friend. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the of united states house of representatives, the hon. nancy pelosi. >> it is a distinct honor. i know from my colleagues as well as myself to welcome so many distinguished guests on

this very special day in the capital. the unveiling of a statue in the capital is always exciting. rarely are we able to do it in the presence of an immediate family member. it is usually about history. today it is a great privilege for all of us to be joined by former first lady mrs. ronald reagan, nancy reagan. we're honored by your presence. [applause] president reagan and mrs. reagan had one of the great love stories of all time, and the american people benefited from that. the support, the love that mrs. reagan gave the president for a slice of joy -- a source of joy

for the american people. mrs. reagan, with your presence here today, i hope you know that we honor you. not only for your support of the president, but for turning that support and love into action. with your support for stem cell research has made a significant difference in the lives of many american people. it has saved lives. it has found tears. it has given hope to people. -- has found cures. it's appropriate that we gather here with leaders of both sides of the aisle and both chambers of the house. i am pleased that my predecessor is here. thank you for joining us. [applause] we're also joined by the former

governor of california and mrs. wilson. thank you for joining us. [applause] president reagan understood that bipartisanship and stability were important in all of our debates. bob michael, how are you? [applause] i could introduce everyone of you, and you probably think that i will. the president understood the value of bipartisanship instancand stability of our deb. ever the gentleman, he never questioned the motives of a person because he knew people in public office loved our country and acted on behalf of the american people. his friendship with another speaker, speaker o'neill, was legendary.

based on, among other things, their irish heritage. characterized by grace, charm, and humor. as a californian, the special pride that we take as californians to tell you this story. jerry lewis probably knows the story. when president reagan was governor of california, he went to the chamber, the assembly chamber, to deliver the state of the state address. it happened to be around the time of his birthday, so the legislatures wheeled in a birthday cake. the president, then governor, proceeded to blow out the candles. someone called out to him and said, "governor, did you make a wish?" without missing a beat he

said, "yes, but it did not come true." he did not share much political ground with the speaker. he said -- yes, i made a wish, but it did not come true. he is still there. [laughter] in august 2006, that same state legislature voted overwhelmingly in a bipartisan way to establish ronald reagan's statue as our second california statute in the capital of the united states. and so here we are today. standing next to the statute of president eisenhower over year. when we dedicated the statue not too long ago, members of president eisenhower's family

was here. they told us he wanted to be depicted in his general's uniform as he was addressing the troops before d-day. president eisenhower, president reagan, and all of us who take the oath of office know that our first responsibility is to protect and defend the american people. that's why it is appropriate president reagan's statue has contained within it chunks of the berlin wall as a symbol of his commitment to national security, and his success. [applause] >> president reagan said we must not only preserve the flame of freedom, but we must cast its

warmth and light further than those who came before us. that is our responsibility. with the unveiling of the statue today, we know that all who come after us will forever no -- all visitors of this capital will forever know the respect, esteem, and admiration that california, this congress, and the american people have for president reagan. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentleman, though united states army chorus.

♪ >> ♪ america, america god shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪

♪ o beautiful for heroes proved i'm liberating strife who wore themselves their country loves and mercy more than life america, america may god thy gold refine till all success be noble missness and every gain of nindivine ♪

america, america o beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears america, america god mend thine every flaw

and crowned by gothy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪ ♪ from sea to shining sea [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, mr. frederick ryan, jr., chairman of the board of trustees for the ronald reagan foundation. >> on behalf of the ronald reagan presidential foundation, i would like to take this opportunity to convey our appreciation to the bipartisan congressional leadership, both houses of congress, for honoring ronald reagan in this special way. in the same ronald reagan spirit

of region across the political aisle, congress has just passed, and yesterday president obama has signed legislation creating a national commission on the ronald reagan centennial. it will recognize president reagan's accomplishments, and celebrate his legacy on the occasion of his upcoming 100th birthday. in many ways, we at the reagan foundation view this event today as the kickoff of the reagan centennial foundation. are warm and sincere thank you to speaker nancy pelosi for hosting us today. [applause] in building the presidential library, and establishing the ronald reagan foundation, it was the president's desire that these organizations always been looking forward, and not back. ronald reagan's police and

principals are timeless. every bid is relevant today as they were when he was elected president. today we remember ronald reagan's great contribution to our country, and we perpetuate his legacy by placing his like this year in the dome of this most hollowed ground of american democracy. knowing him as we do, president reagan was certainly be humbled to receive a special honor. i know he would insist that this recognition is not just about one man, but about the values he stood for, and the people who worked with him to make our country and of world a better place. we are delighted that with us

today are so many people who were part of that great time in our country's history, and to work together with president reagan at both ends of pennsylvania avenue. these are more than just great staffers and members of congress, but gathered here today are many of the people, the men and women who formed the body and backbone of one of the most enduring chapters of our country's history. i am delighted to have a chance to introduce a man who was front and center in that story. always his trusted friend and colleague, james baker. [applause] >> thank you very much, fred. madam speaker, leaders, other distinguished members of both bodies who are here, nancy,

ladies and gentlemen -- nancy, i know i speak for everyone here when i say thank you for your magnificent service as our nation's first lady. but most of all, for the love and support that you gave our 40th president. you created that secure space from which he ventured forth to change america and to change the world. and so, as this ceremony honors him, nancy, it also honors you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, there are many people who deserve recognition for this beautiful sculpture of president reagan,

including all the members of congress to honor him with their presence here today. but two other individuals played especially important roles. first, john rogers. we're here today because of his financial generosity as the patron for this magnificent bronze. you served president reagan with great distinction, both in office and out of office, and now you have served his memory and his legacy. second, the chairman of the board of trustees for the ronald reagan presidential foundation, fred ryan. fred, it was the foundation's decision that ronald reagan belonged here in this hall. it was your perseverance that turned that vision into a reality. you and the foundation have done a truly remarkable job.

ladies and gentlemen, if any one belongs in this national statuary hall collection, it is ronald wilson reagan. [applause] like samuel adams, he was an american patriot. like henry clay, he was a superb orator. like george washington, he was a truly great president. like will rogers, because the giver and oklahoma's favorite son had a lot in common. they both starred in the movies. they both loved horses. they were both great at telling a joke. when ronald reagan walked into the oval office in january 1981, our nation has faced a number of

crises. vietnam, watergate, oil shocks, and economic troubles. inflation and unemployment were high. public confidence was low. experts said america's best days were behind her, and that we ought to lower our expectations. but ronald reagan and his boundless optimism would have none of that. we are not, as some would have us believe, and doomed to inan inevitable decline, he said at his first inaugural ball. "we have every right to dream come into dream heroic dreams." and so, ladies and gentlemen, we did. president reagan demonstrated the power of big ideas. he was guided by a deeply held core values, principles about

taxes and about spending, and about national defense. and most of all, perhaps, about the essential goodness of the american people, and the greatness of america itself. he never wavered from those blinks. at the same time, this idealist was also a principal pragmatist. he would fight the good fight. when he had won all that could be one, he would accept the compromises that were dictated, oftentimes by political reality, declare victory, and move on. so you say, how did he do? when he left office in 1989, the malaise of the 1970's was but a distant memory. america's economy was more than six years into a boom that would continue almost two decades

longer, with only the briefest of recessions, truly minor ones by historic standards, until our present difficulties began. when he left office in january 1989, america's pre-eminence in of world had been fully restored. he had strengthen our military. he had talked earnestly and productively with our historic adversaries in moscow. big fall of the berlin wall 10 months later was a test to the wisdom of his policies. after restoring our economy and restoring our confidence, and setting the stage for the end of the cold war, ronald reagan retired from politics. then he retired from public life. when the lord calls me home, whenever that may be, i will leave with the greatest love of

this country of ours, and eternal optimism for its future -- he wrote. you will remember we did him a final farewell five years ago. right here in this capital, with the deepest respect, and with love, and yes, with tears. and with a renewed appreciation of what he had done for the united states of america. that shining city on a hill that he saw so clearly, and that he loved so very dearly. and now, fittingly, comes this magnificent bronze statue of this great american. it will stand forever as a silent sentry in these hallowed halls to teach our children and our grandchildren about that which once was, and to inspire them with visions of that which

can be again. today, tomorrow, and unto the generations. magog ly god bless america and ronald wilson reagan. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mrs. ronald reagan. [applause]

>> thank you. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you so much. i have so many people to thank, but i particularly want to thank nancy pelosi for all that she did to organize this, bring it together, make it happen. i'm very grateful to her, and to everybody else, too, but especially to nancy.

the statue is a wonderful lightness of runninonnie, and he would be so proud. you know, the last time that i was in this room was for his service. so it is nice to be back under happier circumstances. i want to thank everybody for being here, and for your support, your thoughts, and kind wishes. and everything that has been said here today, and lovely singing -- so beautiful.

thank you so much. that is it. [laughter] [applause] >> thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated for the unveiling of the statue. >> ladies and gentlemen, the statue of president ronald reagan. [applause]

>> ladies and gentleman, rev. daniel cochlan will now deliver the benediction. >> let us about our heads -- bow our heads. our god, source of patriot

dreams, and strirength of heroes of, we're confident that this reception will remind people of the many blessings shed on the great state of california. all who visit here are blessed, along with mrs. nancy reagan, family, collaborators, and generations to come who will see this work and remember the words and work of the 40th president of the united states of america. everyone will be blessed who hears this exhortation of ronald reagan and takes it to heart. let us be shy no longer.

let us go to our strength. let us offer hope. let us tell the world that a new age is not only possible, but probable. for the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free. to determine their own destiny. may god bless you ofall. amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. please remain in your seats for the departure of the official party.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today's ceremony. >> in a moment, friends and fellow journalist remember walter cronkite, who died in july. after that, a portrait of killing at the state department a former secretary powell later. , members of the senate pay tribute to west virginia senator byrd for becoming the longest

serving member of congress in u.s. history. >> all this week, interviews with supreme court justices. tonight we will sit down with the justices scalia and justice ginsburg. this. elliott talks about the role of the court in the process that justices follow in reaching a decision. justice ginsburg gives a tour of her chambers as she discusses her life before serving. see those interviews tonight at 8:00 eastern on c-span. >> now available, c-span's book. a great read for any history buff. it is a unique, contemporary perspective on abraham lincoln. from his early years to his life in the white house, and his

relevance today. in hardcover at your favorite bookseller, and now in digital audio. learn more at [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] /lincolnbook. >> friends and colleagues paid tribute to longtime cbs news anchor walter cronkite. the service took place at the regular place of worship for the cronkite family. this is one hour and 15 minutes.

>> he the believes in me, though he knew were dead, he shall live. whosoever live and believes in the show never die -- and believes in me shall never die. i know that my redeemer lives in that he shall stand upon the heiress. and though this body be destroyed -- whom i shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. for none of lives to himself and

dies to himself. for we live, we live unto the lord. and if we die, we die unto the lord. whether we live or die, therefore, we are the lord's. blessed are the dead who die. even so, it said the spirit for the rest from their labors. welcome today to st. arthubarth olomew's church and the celebration of a great life. let me ask you a few favors. please turn off anything that makes a noise. please abide by the cronkite

family's wishes that there be no photography or audio recording during this service. i ask you to find a hymnal in the pew in front of you enjoy in the singing of 608. this chosen because it is the hymm for sailors. ♪

♪ eternal father, strong to save whose arm hath bound the restless wave who bid the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep oh, hear us when we tried to tcry to thee for those in peril on the sea o christ, whose voice the

water's heard and host their raging at thy word who walkesdst on the foaming dep and calm amidst its rage hear us cry to thee for those in peril on the sea o trinity of love and power our brethren shield in dangers

hour from rock and tempest, fire and foe protect them wherever they go thus evermore summarize thall re glad hymns of praise from land and sea o trinity of love and power our brethren shield in danger's hour ♪ .

>> please be seated.

>> let love be genuine, take what is evil, love one another with mutual affection, outdo one another in showing honor. serve the lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer, contribute to the needs of the saints, extend hospitality to strangers, plus those who persecute you, bless and do not

cursed them, rejoice, we put those who weep, live in harmony with one another, cannot be hoddy but associates with the lowly, do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all. beloved, never a venture sells but leave room for the wrath of god for it is written, a vengeance is mine. i will repay, saith the lord. if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. by doing this, you will bring calls on their heads. overcome evil with good. the word of the lord.

>> praise be god. >> the 23rd psalm. the lord is my shepherd, i shall not want. he'd leave me beside the still waters. he restores my soul. he needed to me in the path of righteousness for his namesake. yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil for thou art with me. the rod and much -- the rod and thy staff, they comfort me. though annointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over. surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and i will dwell in the

house of the lord forever. >> a reading from the gospel according to mark. on that day, when evening came, jesus said to them, let us go for it to the other side. leading to the crowd, they took them along with him in the boat. there arose a fierce padilla wind and the waves were working over the book so much that it was filling up. jesus was in the sturm asleep on a cushion. they woke him up. they said, do not care that we are perishing? and the lord rebuke to the wind.

then the wind died down and became perfectly calm. he said to them, why are you afraid? have you no faith? the word of the lord.

♪

♪

>> i did not know where i was going, so i don't know what i was saying her. [laughter]

you have to have someone like me speak at your memorial service. walter was such a good friend. i cannot get over it. we met in london. walter was with the united press. i was with the army newspaper, "the arms and stripes. welthey would tell us when there would be a raid, if you can believe that. these days, you're lucky if they will tell you after they have had a raid. [laughter] a but walter and died and three or four reporters -- but walter and i n three before other reporters would go to bedford.

it had airforce stations around it. we would each go to a base that we liked and we would write our stories. then we would go back to the headquarters of the airforce and they had it set up so that we could write and send back our stories. and that is when i get to know walter cronkite. you get to know someone pretty well in a war. i just feel so terrible about walters' death that i can hardly say anything. he has been such a good friend over the years. please excuse me. thank you.

>> pardon me. it is hard to follow an act like contract. -- like concrete. -- like cronkite. he was really ferocious at times. in the 1960 democratic national convention, when some security agents rough up and down rather on the floor, walter and lost his cool on the air, and shouted

on the floor the convention. the next day, in the anchor booth, to our shock, first mayor daley kicked me out of my seat, sat down, and walter interview them about the events the night before. from walters point of view, it was one of the low points in his life because he had not defended the rules of coverage. then, in the fall of 1969, spiro agnew, then vice president, delivered his famous attack on the media. he said there were an eastern

elite that had not been elected. walter was furious about that. if the media was not one to defend itself, who would. he grabbed onto it at the time. they flew out to st. joseph, missouri. they had a town meeting with citizens of st. joseph, letting the citizens explore the whole idea of whether we were nattering nabobs of negativity. cbs broadcast the town meeting that night. cbs was the target by the nixon white house. i do not want to get bogged down by all of that serious stuff. walter had this bizarre idea

once that he would outlive the newscast without a script. he would recent story is that we thought were important enough to report. needless to say, the director, especially, was praised by the idea. we tried it. walter insisted that, when it came time to raleigh piece of film, he would press his nose. -- when it came time to roll a piece of film, he would press his nose. [laughter] we are talking about film, an audiotape. in those days, it took seven seconds for the projected to get up to broadcast speed. sure you had to be tense and tender about this. we never made it. it was utter chaos.

we there ran over the film or the film did not come up and nobody knew what was going on, especially any sort of [unintelligible] it lasted for two days and then we went back to the conventional script. then there was a time he forgot his name. signing of, he said, this is -- and there was a blank. [laughter] finally, the comptroller rescue him by taking it away, rowling some morals. he never figured out what -- finally, the comptrollecontrolld him by taking away, rolling her somewhere else. he never figured out what happened.

we would rehearse him for about the last week in january about how he would [unintelligible] [laughter] and it worked for a day are to and then he would relapse. it was just terrible. i want to talk about something called the magic number. if you're anywhere around our newsroom at the time, you'd hear people shouting in the last half-hour about something called the magic number. it was a piece of sorcery that was invented. i cannot claim credit for it. walter, who was very intelligent and very precise, he thought about timing things. and had to do with walters time on the air and it was a 22- minute newscast. he would time each piece of his copy down to the precise second, except, on the air, it never matched. it drove everybody crazy.

somebody with a more medical -- with a more mathematical mind than i did calculated the coverage. we gave walter in number that was less than it actually was. he would stick to that number. on the air, he would expand to what we called the magic never. so we cheated him every day -- the magic number. so we cheated him every day. [laughter] whether he knew it, we do not know. we did not have the guts to talk to him about it. it would open up a whole can of worms. he was a lot of fun off-camera. you have heard this elsewhere. he played the clarinet badly, but good enough to get on his high-school band. in recent years, but his pal from the grateful dead brought him a set of drums.

several weeks before the end, jimmy buffett flew his seat plane and landed close to walters' riverside apartment. he came upstairs and opened up this beautiful ukulele case. she thought was the most pitiful thing in the world. he serenaded walter with the ukulele. he was always a wire service reporter in his heart. he lived by the wire service that is, which i do not think anybody knows. did it first, but get it right. one of his first judge about getting it right was that the houston press where he was the

copyboy. he had to get this houston bank clearing number everyday. aid was published on the front page of the houston press in a little box. it was a multimillion-dollar number. one day, the c at thgot the cens wrong. he got called up and really beaten up by the editor. he went out after words, feeling hangdog about it, and his senior but is said, hey, you better get out of town. you better be careful. you discovered that that little number was the key to the gambling numbers game. the last five digits of the clearing number was

important. he had put down 27 cents instead of 17 cents and now his life was in danger. [laughter] in one contract negotiation, he shocked the suits at cbs. he did not want a raise. he wanted three months off. he wanted a new contract that paid him the same, but for nine months of work. they were jolted, to say the least. there was fear of the evaporating ratings if he was gone for three months. the editor at the time came up with what seemed like a reasonable solution. he said, walter should name his assignment. so for three months, they would

say, walter is on assignment. walter thought that was funny. [laughter] on the day he left cbs news then became a cbs special correspondent, which moved him out of the news area, he accepted an invitation to something called bohemian roove, which is a camp in northern california for grown established men, bankers, serious dollars, who went up and it was a and off the record situation. they acted like a teenage boy is, playing on trees and things like that. [laughter] walter left the evening news in march of 1981. the following week, he announced that is going to bohemian grove that summer. he had been invited four years

previous, but it was not acceptable given his role in the news to go. but once he felt free of the news, he was out there. he went there every year. of course, we do not know what happened. but he acted like a teenager. he became a member of the cbs board, of course. he had said to me, boy, you know, you do not know how many ways there are to say earnings per share. we sit there for hours and discussed earnings per share. it is just remarkable to me. every time i bring up a question about television, nobody wants to talk to me about it. [laughter] they are we are. that is a little bit of the walter rhino. -- the walter i knew.

i did not work with walter. i was his friend for a long time. i was always just what he was really like. i would answer, he is just the way you copious. you -- you hope he used. he was always the pacman that america would hope he is. he was physically brave and he was never afraid to show his emotions. he was generous, fun-loving, a courtly gentleman, and good company where ever we were. to steal a line from melville, he was my harbor and my deal.

-- he was my heart and my yale -- he was my harvard and my yale. i have enjoyed my ivery own smal celebrity watching him. our happy friendship began years ago. we were hosting a fund-raiser on the chesapeake bay. walter and best thbetsy were the celebrity couple. it was a rather dull affair. mrs. concretcronkite seemed to a good time. bessie was done fundraising and

ready to go down to the annapolis warfront to visit a small 100-year-old saloon that i happened to own. we had great fun that night and spend the next day on the water. for the first day of a lifetime of sailing together. we visited each other's homes, laughter, and lots of the ventures. walter and i sailed airboats side-by-side and chaired the same deck for the next 35 or so years. we had the best seats in the house for the latest broadway shows. let me tell you, with cronkite, that was quite a ride. the day would eventually come to an end. walters about 25 hours into the 24-hour day. then the call would come up the stairwell, good night old boy.

denied, walter. thank you for the great night. -- thank you, walter. thank you for the great night. we watched the sunset. we dined with presidents. we explored the caribbean by sale. the family followed me into their life and i became a trusted and comfortable member. by the way, sailing with walter on wednesday was not for the faint of heart. walter loves the sea. when the more timid stated short, we left our secure maureen and set sail -- are secure mmooring and set sail. pointers she would and we would go.

--. her see word -- point her seaward end we would go. -- point her seaward and away we would go. a standing at the wheel of my beautiful old all legal, tucked in -- my beautiful old bald eagle, by comfortably or confidently trailed walter into probably every cove and harbert in maine and new england -- everett koop and harbor -- every cove and harbor in

maine and new england as well. after setting the anchor in a pine-scented cove, after our bodies recovered from the obligatory plunge in the always frigid main water, the time would come frofour hot popcorn d cold beer as we rehashed the day's sail. after dinner, a pipe and a brandy on deck. one time, the magnificent or borealis flashed across the sky and seemed to flash for hours. we were awestruck.

finally, softly, from winty, good night, old boy. that was sensational goodnight, walter. it sure was. every year, walter would sell to the chesapeake. this became an annual boys sale. it was manned exclusively by its military pilots. there were tough, dependable gentleman and love to trade stories with the cabin. the problem was that there were too many captains. all of us captain of our own boats. we were all either naval reserve captains, airline captains, or air force captain, captains from santa stern. so we commissioned walter commodore. he was the captain of captains. as you'd guess, walter had no

problem adjusting. the ranking became commonly used among his friends and family. in fact, when i got the call that walter lost his final battle, the message was, the commodore is gone. the commodore and i sailed through a wild storm to bermuda. one year, just the two of us on deck, while the storm sank the biggest boat in the fleet. we took turns at the helm. it was a lifetime friendship that bonded that dark and stormy night. walter was more than a crusty old sailor or iron pants editor. he had an antenna sends it to friends pain. he knew the words that restored the fun and chased the worry and

made things good again. he was the kind of guy who could openly, without shame, shed tears of the friend. my brother, my teacher, my shipmate, and powell, it is time for me -- and pal, it is time for me to say, good night, old boy. it has all been sensational. i love you and miss you so. fair winds and following seas forever. rest in peace, might year-old friend.

i loved my dad. i loved him coming home for dinner shall the record talk about the night's program. i loved riding my bike to meet him. i loved sailing with him. he was good at that, to. back in the days before satellite navigation, he would get as to the harvest mountain after hours in the dark fog. i admired my dad. he was just a reporter, he would say he just reported bigger and bigger stories. he was fast, too.

he could rewrite stories during commercial breaks. during the 1960's, when the country felt like it would revert to the 1860's, his reports were fair and accurate. it seems to me that americans, on both sides of the political fence, others to each other. he looked thomas jefferson. my folks lived through the depression, the war, and the cold war before i was born. in the same year of sputnik, my dad walked home from the hospital with his new son of his. thank you, dad. thank you for rushing to the side of the boat when the boom not leaderboard.

-- when the boom and knocked me -- when the boom knocked me overboard. thank you for being such fun to work with. we went from one small company to another in the 1990's. thank you for being such a good role model, doing your homework, being polite, saying to mama's a pastor in the hall where in the kitchen, shall we dance, and taking her for a few turns around the room. i'm happy for my dad. i am happy that he had so many interesting and very friends over the years. he would bring them home. happy that he finished his autobiography, the reporters left, before his health began to fail. i am sorry i insulted him by saying i was surprised how funny

it was. i am glad he had such caring nurses and doctors in his last years. when we were young, my sister and i came to sunday school here at st. barts. four years ago kampf we memorialize my mom and -- four years ago, when memorialized my mom here. >> and the name of the father, the sun, and the holy spirit. amen. they told a story about a man

who was one of the actual persons in human history -- one of the axial persons in human history. we're here today to commend him to god, one of his grief witnesses. a -- one of his great witnesses. walter cronkite was a father, a friend, and someone we would say in new york terminology a mensch. 2000 years ago, those first question witnesses also began to write what they witnessed. those accounts for the true context today in which we remember him and through which

we commend him to god. they give us the words that we need to begin this peprayer and to proclaim what we do in this sacred hour. we simply thank god for the good things. we really cannot go further. although there were witnesses that the resurrection, those who claimed to be witnesses, there were really no reporters and certainly no video. nevertheless, we claim that this is news and good news. it is not journalism because it is not disinterested. it is the word of witnesses whose own lives were changed and who therefore wanted to change the lives of others and could affect the course of the world

and do justice and to heal and to love. you may have noticed that there were two powerful readings today. walters family drew on their own inclinations to pick scripture. the first was from st. paul a letter to the romans, part of his passionate wisdom. if you read it closely, you'll find that this is the wisdom of the greatest living religions and it is one of the first claims of christianity that it was not going to be different from what went before. it was going to pass on great wisdom. let love be genuine, said paul to the romans. baker is evil and fallfest was good. love one another with mutual affection. out to one another in showing honor. only people who believe that they are loved can show that

kind of love. do not lag in zeal. be sorted in spirit. contribute to the needs of the saints. show hospitality to strangers. these are the hallmarks of true religion and of the things that, when we see them in others, great people and people of no name, we know that we have seen the truth. but all great witnesses and all great reporters know that the truth begins with that last bursverse. do not claim to be wiser than you are. that means you have to dig for the truth and then you have to live the truth. trust is built on the kind of work. then they drew on one of the

great sailing stories in the bible. the friends of jesus were out on the galilee, a little late, but subject to swallow. there was storm. he was a daredevil on the sea. they did not like that. but the lesson he ultimately taught them, he did what no sailor. can do ,he calk -- what no sailor i know can do. he calmed the storm. to be the least nervous person in the boat can be the gift. we look at the events of the world and the conditions of the day and it makes us anxious. occasionally, someone comes along and says i have dug and look for the truth and have witnessed it to you. in the end, all will be well if

we did for the truth. -- if we did g for the truth. is, as paul said, our ability to show the truth with love -- let love be genuine. hate what is evil. do not claim to be wiser than you are. amen. now, where you stand, please? -- now, will you stand, please? >> with the assurance given in live at baptism, let us say, i believe in god, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. i believe in jesus christ, his only son, our lord. he was conceived by the power of the holy spirit and born of the

virgin mary. he suffered under paunches pilot, was crucified, and was buried. he would descended. on the third day, he rose again. he is seated on the right hand of the father. he will come again to judge the living and the dead. i believe in the holy spirit, the holy catholic church, the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrections of [unintelligible] and life everlasting. amen. let us join in the word that jesus taught his disciples. our father, the kingdom come, but will be done, on earth as it is in. heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom and the power and glory forever and ever. amen. in peace, let us pray to the lord. almighty god who has knit together in one communion and fellowships and mystical body of the sun, christ our lord, we beseech thee to the whole earth and paradise. dialect and the peace. >> amen. >> brand to us who are still in our pilgrimage and who walked yet by faith that their holy spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all of their days. >> amen. >> grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in my father's care, that cast in all their grief on the, they may know the

consolation of i love. amen. give courage and faith to those who are brave and especially to this family, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and hold the hope and the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love. help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. amen. grant us grace to adjust well to to guide never failing love. recede into the arms of a mercy and remember him according to the favors though bearish on to

the people. amen. and grant that increasing in lawless and love of thee, he may go from strength to strength in by heavenly kingdom. amen. please, be seated. ♪

>> i first met walter, cre crone under a piano. it was a big party.

i was cruising steve allen and we did not get through until 1:00 in the morning. i was really for the party. i saw a man in the will of the piano with a big pillow. all of the seats were taken. it was jammed. he waved at me to come and sit on an empty pool next to him, which i did. during our first meeting, over half a century ago, we learned that we've both had boats and loved sailing. walter was a better sailor the night. -- than i. we sailed together from deign to the virgin islands.

in the yachting language, walter cronkite would be called one of. an original. would replace your was your any room, it always -- what ever place he was or any room, it always was fun. just a few days ago, with kathy cronkite and maureen adler at his bedside, i took his hands and whispered, walter, let's go sailing. his eyes lit up and he smiled. i recited a poem with only a slight modification because i wanted to make it more personal. kathy asked me to share it with

you. so, with apologies to the john masefield, i looked at walter and said -- you must go down to the sea again to the lonely sea in the sky and the only thing u.s. is a tall ship and the wheel's kick and the white sails shaking and a gray mist on the seas face and a great on breaking you must go down to the sea again is a wild call and a clear call that must not be denied all u.s. for as a windy day with the white clouds flying -- all you asked for is a windy day with the white clouds flying excuse me. it is getting a little rough

appear with me. oh, yes. and the flying spray and the segal's crying and you must go down to the sea again to the vagrant gypsies live and the wind is like a wicked knife and all you ask for is a yawn from a laughing feller rover a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trip is over the ceiling, walter. slice the main race. -- sliced the main brace. >> this nextgen is a family favorite. it expresses -- this next him is

a family favorite. i think you'll recognize the words. this is my song. ♪

♪

♪