but it is met -- deterrent but it is still maintained. gov.prof. gavin: internet economic opponent but at a strong geopolitical competition over the future of both western europe and east asia and also any ideological competition. nuclear weapons are in this competition. i think, as you pointed out there are many areas of competition, but there are also many areas of interdependence. written large we could look at

it as a success to a certain extent. there is a modernization going on, but if you were to have predicted china's capabilities based on their economic and technological base and assume they were rivals, one could imagine a world where they had built far more than they have. certainly, far less than they are capable of. absolutely, we want more interaction. but in some ways you have not seen the kind of action-reaction that you saw with the soviets. working with questions of, how low can you go? deterrence of load numbers. what is the minimal amount? a big debate. how you answer the question depends on's -- depends on how

you answered some of the questions i laid out in my remarks. there are some people who think that we are -- that we have, you know reduced quite significantly a end we are going much lower. might be from o-matic. others think we can go much further. let me push back on something you said. -- >> let me push back on something you said. when you said the clash was about economics, the ideological struggle that was inherent in communism, if that is what you meant i agree with you. if that is not a human, then i do not agree with you. the second thing you said is nuclear weapons are expensive. actually, through history, they have not been an expensive.

which is one of the reasons why during the cold war they were chosen as the offset for conventional comparison. so, as it turns out, the problem here is we find ourselves having to invest in a lot of different things. once you field these weapons there are actually not expensive to sustain and to operate, which is one of the virtues, if you have virtues. the question about -- i am not minimizing, by the way, the expense involved in modernization or life extension of the warheads -- unfortunately, the facts are that to these systems are going to wear out and we are going to need to invest.

at the question about how many we need. clearly, a vigorous debate. a lot of factors go into the answer to the question, how many do we need? one of the factors is what objectives does the president want to achieve if deterrence fail? that is a military question. if the deterrent fails i went to to do the following things. here is how many weapons that takes. that is one of the factors that goes into this. that has always been it for me. i'd never started with, how many are enough? i always start with, here is how many it takes to achieve these objectives. that becomes a military planning problem. in this case, you also factor in arms control. and so, there is an arms control shell around this conversation as well.

both the treaty in force right now and then the question about what a further negotiation might look like. there are a lot of factors that go into this answer to how many do we need. it is not just a question that some would like to pose about minimum deterrence. anyone would be deterred by x number. maybe. maybe not. that gets back to a lot of factors. ultimately, one was based on the object if -- the in -- the deterrence objective that we were asked to achieve. >> unfortunately we're running out of time. there are many hands up and i regret we cannot get to everybody. i'm struck by a couple of things in just the last back and forth. mr. gavin rightfully mentions

and this comes out in his work, the issue of nuclear crises and deterrence is wrapped up in geopolitical issues. as you think about the u.s. and china going forward, and the u.s. and other countries, it is not just political not just an accounting exercise. i was also struck by something you said, general, earlier, this is a point in memory. nuclear weapons are different. there is really nothing like them in history. they are more preferably and anything else we have ever invented. you can argue they are the only genuine weapons of mass destruction. setting aside cost and budget it is important to keep the conversation going about these weapons. they deserve ongoing scrutiny.

please join me in thanking them for leading us in this discussion. [applause] >> we are adjourned. [background conversation] >> with the deadline just over two weeks away, the head of the irs will be at the national press club today. we will have coverage at 1:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span. later today, a talk about engagement in central asia.

also, a talk about negotiations with iran live from the brookings institution at three: wordy. >> president obama spoke at the edward m kennedy institute dedication yesterday. that ceremony is next. and washington journal is live at 7:00 eastern on c-span. president obama, the first lady, and others were in boston for the dedication of the edward m kennedy institute. senator kennedy's sons and others were among the speakers at the two-our ceremony. senator kennedy died in 2009 of brain cancer. he served at nearly 47 years in

the u.s. senate. [applause] >> ♪ this land is your land this land is my land from california to the new york island from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters this land was made for you and me as i was walking that ribbon of highway i saw above me that endless skyway i saw below me that golden valley this land was made for you and me i've roamed and rambled and i followed my footsteps to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

and all around me a voice was sounding this land was made for you and me when the sun came shining and i was strolling and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling as the fog was lifting a voice was chanting this land was made for you and me as i went walking i saw a sign there and on the sign it said "no trespassing" but on the other side it didn't say nothing that side was made for you and me

in the shadow of the steeple i saw my people by the relief office i seen my people as they stood there hungry i stood there asking is this land made for you and me? nobody living can ever stop me as i go walking that freedom highway nobody living can ever make me turn back this land was made for you and

me this land was made for you and me this land was made for you and me ♪ [applause] >> ♪ ain't gonna to let nobody turn me 'round i'm gonna to keep on walking ain't gonna to let nobody turn me 'round i'm gonna to keep on walking keep on walking ain't gonna to let nobody turn me 'round i'm gonna keep on walking to freedom land

ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round turn me 'round ain't gonna let nobody turn me' round marchin' up to freedom land no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no no, no, no, no, no ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round turn me 'round turn me 'round ain't gonna let nobody turn me' round

i'm gonna to keep on walking keep on walking marchin' up to freedom land marchin' up to freedom land ♪ [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen please stand for the presentation of colors by the 54th massachusetts volunteer regiment color guard.

>> ♪ o say, can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? whose bright stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? and the rockets' red glare

the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there o say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? ♪ [applause]

announcer: ladies and gentlemen please welcome that kennedy institute for the united states president dr. jean maccormack. [applause] dr. maccormack: good morning everyone. there is a little chill in the air, but there is a lot of warmth that you came out to be with us today. on behalf of the kennedy family, our board of directors, and all our wonderful staff, i want to welcome you to the dedication of the edward m. kennedy institute

for the united states senate. this magnificent building was designed by renowned architect rafael vinoly and constructed by lee kennedy and associates. the dynamic exhibits inside were brought to life by the incomparable ed schlossberg and his design team efi. [applause] we are grateful to all of them for all of their work, to create this incredible project and bring it to life. for so many of us and many people have been involved in this journey to get here today we are very grateful. but for me, this journey is intensely personal. i grew up three miles from here on donner avenue, and let me tell you, when i was growing up,

this area was a forbidden place. it was a landfill that fascinated children and frightened parents. who could have imagined that this landfill where we played as kids would become the home of a world-class university, a gleaming presidential library, and the wonderful state archives? and now, the newest jewel in that crown come the beautiful institute that you see behind me. you will hear a lot today about the mission of the institute to improve civic education and engage the next generation of leaders. this is what really speaks to me. that a girl from dorchester could grow up and be a university chancellor and have the chance to create the first public law school in massachusetts, that speaks to the heart of equal opportunity and the path of education to

make things possible for every succeeding generation. that is what the institute is about. we are going to demonstrate the awesome power of our democracy and we are going to light a fire in each and every person who walks through these doors. and i for one cannot wait to get started. it is my great honor to be able to introduce cardinal o'malley the archbishop of austin. -- boston. i'm delighted that he was able to be with us this way. cardinal o'malley and senator kennedy often traversed the same path during decades of working for people they served. cardinal o'malley knew the district of columbia well, having spent 20 years there advocating for immigrants from central america who sought

refuge from political and military unrest. they came here to build a better country for themselves and their families. and also the cardinal was well familiar with the parishes and homes of hyannis port, having served as the bishop of the archdiocese of fall river during the 1990's. he joined the kennedy family there and prayed with them in times of celebration and also in their most difficult moments. the senator and the cardinal were always committed to using the resources entrusted to their care for the good of all seeking to help people in their times of need. it was a blessing for me to have the opportunity to work with the cardinal during my tenure as chancellor at the university of massachusetts dartmouth, and personally experienced his care and concern for others. at this time, i am very happy to invite cardinal o'malley to lead

us in prayer. cardinal o'malley: thank you very much, jean, and, first of all, i would like to congratulate vicki kennedy, the members of the kennedy family, and all of those who have worked so hard to establish this magnificent institute. i am sure that senator ted kennedy would be most pleased for what we have achieved here today. the lord be with you. let us pray. lord god almighty, we praise and bless your holy name. you are the source of all good things, the gift of life, the gift of newness of life in our faith. as we invoked your blessings on all those gathered here to

inaugurate this new edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate, we ask you to enlighten and inspire the american people and our leaders to further the ideals of our democracy, based on your decalogue, and on the unwavering conviction of the dignity of each and every human being . enable us to work together for the common good, to communicate truth, to foster love, to uphold justice and right, to protect the weak and vulnerable, to raise up those who are oppressed and impoverished, and to ensure that all can partake of the blessings of creation and the dignity of work. may we strive tirelessly for that justice without which there can be no lasting peace and harmony. help us to be committed to building a community based on solidarity and a lively sense of our shared destiny.

help us overcome all animosity rivalries, and prejudices that tear at the fabric of all humanity. give us the current and -- courage and generosity needed to be artisans of peace. we import you to make us instruments of your peace. where there is hatred, let there be love. where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair hope. where there is darkness, light. where there is sadness, joy. grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. for it is in giving that we receive. it is in pardoning that we are pardoned. and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life, amen.

dr. maccormack: it is now my pleasure to bring to their podium our wonderful partners from the university of massachusetts, president robert caret and the chancellor, keith motley. [applause] president caret: welcome to this beautiful spring day at columbia point. [applause] president caret: as the book says, columbia point is a decent place to live. i am serving in three roles today, president of university of massachusetts, a founding board member of this wonderful institute, and a proud citizens

-- citizen of the commonwealth and of this nation. today the missions of those institutions all intercept and leverage each other. the mission is to inspire the nest generation of citizens to engage in the civic life of their community. the umass mission is to advance knowledge and improve the lives of people, people of the commonwealth, nation, and world. the umass boston mission is help our students realize their potential, and to encourage abilities of leadership and civic participation in this society. our founding fathers recognized that education was the cornerstone of a strong democracy. today, with the opening of this institute, we provide an invaluable resource to ensure that that cornerstone mains strong long into the future. on behalf of the university of massachusetts, i bid you welcome here to the edward m. kennedy institute. thank you for being with us. [applause]

chancellor motley: so thank you, president caret. good morning. audience: good morning. chancellor motley: welcome to the celebration of the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate. and welcome to the campus of the commonwealth of massachusetts, capital city public research university, the university of massachusetts boston. i am so glad -- [applause] i am so glad you stopped in on such a wonderful day. it is always sunny out here on the peninsula. [laughter] i'm also excited to welcome back president barack obama back to this university where he, as a united states senator, received an honorary degree from us. we are grateful. just a few steps from here where we stand today, and of course, we also thank the first lady, but we are also grateful to have our vice president with us today. thank you for being here.

[applause] so i guess you cannot tell that i am thrilled. [laughter] i'm thrilled to be able to welcome all of you to this momentous celebration, and i am very proud to have the edward m. kennedy institute on the campus of boston's public research university. now, i was thrilled -- no, i was ecstatic when senator kennedy shared with me that he wanted to locate an institute focused on the united states senate here on this campus with a vision of quality higher education made accessible to persons who might otherwise have not had this opportunity in every day. that is a reality here. that is his work, the work he cherished, and we are so grateful for that.

american democracy is, located and institutions that express our democracy are at times "with a certain mysteriousness." it places them leon the reach -- beyond the reach of many, and senator candidate reached out, and this institute will work to lift that -- of history and make accessible to the public and to future leaders the rich history, the complex operations, and that significant accomplishments of those, this most venerable institution, that we call the united states senate. i want to thank dr. kennedy and, yes, thank you, vicki, but also the kennedy family. i want to try to steal that blanket a little bit later from you. [laughter] chancellor motley: for entrusting this precious legacy to this institution and to his people.

we now regard this as a sacred responsibility to keep this standard high, and to cast the seeds of his good work broadly. we joyfully celebrate the launch of a grand civic mission here today, and we welcome you all to the first of what we hope will be the first of many visits your campus and this institute. positioned on this beautiful oceanfront, looking out to the world, as a great monument to a great man and great people who have served in the senate whose lives will impact us all for generations. thank you for stopping by today. see you again soon. [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please welcome emk institute

board member, former senate majority leader tom daschle. [applause] senator daschle: as someone with the opportunity to serve on the edward m. kennedy board, let me join in welcoming you this morning. there have only been 1963 men and women who have had the opportunity to serve in the united states senate. each of us when we are sworn in are given a number in sequence. senator kennedy's number is 1608. he was one of only eight people to serve more than 40 years in that institution. but regardless of how long any of us has served, we have all

experienced the power and majesty of the united states senate. it is the ultimate arena for american democracy. we have all witnessed on the senate floor how our decision s actually affect people's lives in a very profound way. and we want to replicate that experience in this extraordinary institution. each of us who have been called to serve and had that moment when we were inspired to heed the call to public service. it may have been a teacher. it may have been a place. it may have been a leader. it may have been an event. but something triggered that desire to serve.

that is exactly what we want to provide here. we want to provide that experience, we want to inspire and we want to bring people to a realization they, too, could have had one of those numbers someday. we have all seen the polls. we know how difficult it is to serve. we know people's confidence has declined in government and civic action. but we hope through this center we can change that, by bringing the senate alive, by bringing to people and appreciation of its relevance and importance and everyone's life and how critical it is in this democratic republic. we can do that here. and so in working with scholars and teachers and students and people all over the country and

maybe even the world, maybe we can bring people to that aspiration. so as we celebrate this auspicious beginning, let us hope that it can be a transformational moment for some who walk through these doors. i thank you all for coming and appreciate your collective support for senator kennedy's inspiring vision. [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen please welcome emk institute board member, former senate majority leader trent lott. [applause] senator lott: yes, a republican from mississippi -- [laughter] [cheers] senator lott: is proud to be here today. [laughter] senator lott: and i have enjoyed

so much serving on the board of the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate. when i first talked to vicki, i said, oh, vicki, why me? [laughter] senator lott: she said we need a little republican representation, and i know you worked with ted. so i said, tell me about him and she told me about the vision that senator kennedy had and that she had, the kennedy family has for this great edifice here behind us and i said yes. this is a worthwhile project. this is nothing like this anywhere else in america to honor this great institution created in our constitution. and one that senator kennedy dearly loved and made a better place when he was there. oh, yes, we disagreed, we had some fiery discussions, but we came together many times in a bipartisan way to get a result for america.

he knew how to give and take and get results. i must say also here today that i thought it was important that we could have somebody that could speak southern other than vicki. [laughter] senator lott: i now know why all the kennedys have so much hair. it to keep their head warm. [laughter] [applause] senator lott: my apologies for not bringing a 75-degree temperature here from jackson, mississippi today. i will tell you one story. when i was majority leader in 1997, the legislation that would bring to being the individuals with disabilities education act was gridlocked in the senate. i guess you know that word now. we have a lot of gridlock.

but i thought it was something that needed to be done. it was not partisan. it was not regional. it was about people that had needs and could be helped, and so i started working with senator kennedy, and sure enough we got it done. then he came to my leader office and he was very generous in his remarks about how we had worked together and wanted me to go to the bill signing at the white house, and i said i would pass on that. but i wrote him a letter telling him how much i enjoyed working with him and how proud i was that we got a result for individuals with disabilities and their need for education. and at the bottom, i wrote a p.s., and i said if the world only knew --- i did not know it for many years, but he framed that letter and hung it on his wall. i did not actually want the world to know -- [laughter]

senator lott: i have a feeling he is laughing broadly somewhere right now. but we worked on a lot of things together. one of the last things we worked on was immigration reform in 2007. we worked together, and we tried our best and we also had a procedural vote. i went up to him afterwards and i said i got a couple of threats to my life on that one, and every time i work with you i get in trouble, man. but just think how different things would be now if we had passed immigration reform in 2007. [applause] senator lott: and so this institution is dedicated to the history and the preservation of the united states senate. irish eyes are smiling today and i have a feeling that the spirit of ted kennedy, that indomitable spirit, will reside in this building, in its heart and in the senate in perpetuity.

thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please come mayor martin j. walsh. mayor walsh: thank you very much the president is on his way. governor baker, united states senators, cardinal o'malley, the things guests, welcome to kennedy country. vicki, teddy, patrick, and your families, on family members and friends of 70 kennedy who are here, welcome home. it is with pride that i and the people of boston accept the honor of hosting senator kennedy's fitting legacy. the institute for the united

states senate, like the great presidential library next or from is truly home here at columbia point in the city of boston. let me tell you how i know this. i was born nearby in the same saint margaret's hospital where senator kennedy came into the world. as a child, i walked this short. she had stories of the kennedy family standing up for people like us. and then i learned it first hand. as a young man, i went to the dedication of the wells avenues and harley street in dorchester to rose kennedy. it was my predecessor. he went to congress and fought to protect immigrants against hatred. we heard the echoes when senator kennedy stood up for justice and

whatever he sang "sweet adeline." i talked to rose's son, the lion of the senate. he was not larger than life beauty was on the corner talking to his mother, like any good irish boy. he listens to us, talk with us he was at home with us. so when he stood up for working people in the senate, we knew what it meant to us, our homes our streets, our communities. his impact was more real to boston. we lived it every day, from head start to meals on wheels, more police on the streets, more students in college, more affordable housing, to clean harbors for it on your way out today a few hundred yards away

you'll pass the health center. it has a big impact. in 1966, senator kennedy won its federal funding. he made it a model for legislation that brought high-quality care to all families all across america. he listened to people of this neighborhood. he talked to the doctors who served them, and he shared their stories with his colleagues. he change this neighborhood and the country for the better. senator kennedy was one of the most effective legislators in history, but because he brought federal resources home, but because he brought our homes our neighborhoods, and our voices to washington. our cares for his concerns always great he fought for the children, he fought for the poor, he fought for the worker. and take it for me, a union laborer, american workers never had a better friend. as he told us -- [applause]

mayor walsh: as he told us many times in many conferences in washington, the way you spell kennedy is l-a-b-o-r, and don't you forget it. he never did. he showed us that democracy itself must be a labor of love whether it is quietly visiting a grieving parent or writing a heartfelt note to a political opponent. he moved us forward by bringing us together. that is the people power of democracy. senator kennedy loved this city. the places were special to him and the people were special to him. the square in dorchester mission church and mission field. the rose kennedy greenway. i want to thank everyone who helped bring the special place our city, this labor of love the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate. here generations of children

from all over new england and america and the world will learn what we learned from senator kennedy, how to make their voices heard, fight for their causes, keep hope alive, and make sure their dreams shall never die. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome governor charlie baker. [applause] governor baker: first of all, i want to thank you on behalf of the commonwealth of massachusetts for being here today. i want to congratulate all those who are involved in raising the money to make this possible, and i want to thank the kennedy family for choosing this site and this organization and this operation to pay tribute to ted kennedy. senator lott, yeah, i am a republican governor from massachusetts.

[laughter] governor baker: many years ago i was with a group of health care professionals, and we went down to washington to meet with senator kennedy to talk about health care. when we got done there we were told when we got to his office in the rayburn building that the senate was in session, but he could meet with us in a little anteroom off the senate chamber if we hustled over there quickly. so we all hustled over there and gathered in this little room off the senate chamber, and he came bustling in and sat down with us. the next 30 to 40 minutes, we all talked with him about health care while literally a dozen members of the u.s. senate at one point or another poke their head in. in those kinds of conversations you have with people that you really know, abbreviated little, did you look after -- yeah, i am on that -- back and forth, back and forth, between him and his colleagues in the u.s. senate.

and when we left that day, i thought to myself, in a business where it is so much easier to stop something from happening and it is to actually find your way to get something done, this is how this guy succeeds. relationships, trust follow-through. it was all on display that they as a sidebar to the meeting that we were having about health care. in short, senator kennedy absolutely was the bigfoot from massachusetts in so many ways if you wanted to get something done in d.c. there was a special reason why so many pieces of legislation that passed with his name to a republican's over the course of a career. it was because in that line of work he knew how to build relationships, establish trust and follow through to get the

work of the senate, the work of the nation accomplished. and it was not just the big stuff. every friday night for many years i used to stop at a chinese restaurant on my way home in revere and pick up food for myself and for the legion of children that would be hanging out of my house when i got there waiting for me to arrive. and one friday night it was about 7:30, a big group of us sitting around the kitchen table, eating dinner, phone rings, my six-year-old daughter walks over and answers the phone. she gets very quiet and a litter demure, as only six euros can. she puts the phone that, comes over, that, there's summit on the phone who says he is senator kennedy. [laughter] governor baker: that led to a lot of hilarity between my kids and my wife and everybody else about which one of my friends

might be pranking me. i answered the phone, and sure enough, it was senator kennedy. friday night, 7:30, and he is calling to thank me for agreeing to serve on the conservancy board. we talked for a few minutes, said how important it was to him that he get done right, and if we had any questions or concerns to feel free to give him a call. i hang up the phone and i said that was senator kennedy. which no one believed. but the interesting to me is this is somebody who played on the big issues in the big questions of his time in washington. but i polled every member of that board and we all got a phone call like that, and they came at all hours of the day and night and on weekends, and he stayed with that as we went through the process of launching that port and making that greenway a reality.

we live in a world when people do not take what it takes to get stuff done in government. i'd dearly hope as somebody who believes deeply in the capability and the quality of public life to truly make life better for everyone that this building and this institute finds a way to communicate how important relationships, trust and follow through are to truly being successful in public life, because to me, that embodies what senator kennedy was all about. thank you very much. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator ed markey. [applause] senator markey: mr. vice president, vicki, teddy,

patrick, and your beautiful families, ted loved all of you so much. you were the lights of his life, and he would be so proud of what you have accomplished together on this incredible day. ted made impossible dreams come true as the greatest senator of all time in the united states of america. [applause] and you have made this possible today. and there could be no more perfect place for this innovative institute than umass boston, and extraordinary learning institution which educates over from just about

every country in the work of all races, all countries, all incomes. this institution is what ted kennedy was all about. and deep appreciation to jack connors and john fish and nick littlefield and ed for the fantastic job they did for bringing us to this day. [applause] this 21st century edifice is now etched into the indelible history of this city and our nation. and much like teddy kennedy's lasting impact, it will rise beyond our imagination. as a boy sitting on the floor in my living room, i watched on television as john f. kennedy accepted the nomination for president of the united states. that moment opened up the windows of the world for me and

for every young boy and girl in the united states. and then in 1962, ted kennedy ran for the senate for the first time against george cabot lodge. this was my political education, about how a campaign for senator could make an historic difference for massachusetts and for our country. the undreamed of possibilities that teddy and his brothers, president kennedy and bobby, shared inspired a generation of public service. the kennedy brothers taught us to give back to our country, which has given so much to us, and they taught us to be bold. that is what the legacy is of ted kennedy. and it was an honor to serve with and to learn from ted kennedy in congress for 35 years. teddy's compassion was

unmatched. his mentorship without peer. his dedication to justice unsurpassed. his ability to work across the aisle the best of any member of the united states congress. and this institute, a hub of history, will take teddy's personal touch and at the power of technology. it will showcase how ineffective public policies have fueled groundbreaking discoveries and progress across all fields. it will spread dreams across town to nations, building bridges of understanding. it will demonstrate how leadership, teamwork negotiation, and compromise are all essential ingredients of moving our country forward. you see, when i was first elected to congress, the son of a no plan from malden, i had never been to washington, d.c. until the day of my swearing-in as a member of the united states

congress. but now i to kennedy institute any young person can come here to learn and to experience how our democracy works, to stand on the senate floor, to debate the big issues of our time. teddy turned the summit on the -- the sermon on the mount to the sermon on the senate floor. blessed are the poor, the sick the children of the elderly, and blessed are the peacemakers, for teddy, blessed were those programs to address the needs of the most vulnerable amongst us. blessed are headstart, social security, medicare, medicaid health care for our, and blessed are the peacemers for northern ireland and on the urban streets of america. that is what teddy kennedy preached. and so while there is -- [applause]

senator markey: while there is no building that can match the strength of teddy's soul, no material that could replicate the fiber of his character, note architecture that could begin to scrape the height of his vision, this institute -- and in doing so will inspire the new leaders and more engaged citizens. for teddy, education was always more than books. it was an opportunity, and experience to be grasped every day. that he found vision while holding the tiller of his sailboat or his lectern on the senate floor, and he had great fun every minute he was working on the most important issues in the world. and now, through its innovative ideas and time-honored ideals, the institute, a place where hope and history will rhyme, will allow teddy's words to echo throughout time, and it will or

a new generation of dreamers to service. this institute will a neighbor the leaders of tomorrow to learn to participate, to soar, and to work together for a more educated, more healthy, more peaceful, and more fair nation and world. that is ted kennedy's legacy. this is truly a great day. thank you also much. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator elizabeth warren. [applause] [cheers] senator warren: thank you. and thank you all for being here today in boston for such a wonderful day of celebration thank you, mr. vice president. thank you, gene and fred for your tremendous leadership to make this day possible.

and thank you, vicki, thank you, ted, thank you patrick, for your support, your advice, and for your friendship. i am truly honored to be with you on such a happy day. we're here to dedicate the kennedy institute, a place designed with one of the loftiest goals possible -- to inspire, to encourage, to engage. it is a lofty goal, but it is the right one for an institute honor ted kennedy. and here is how i know how. back when i was a law professor, i studied early -- that the middle class was in serious trouble. i studied people in bankruptcy. people went to college, who got married, had kids, who ended up pushed over a financial cliff. solidly middle-class folks, and more than 90% in bankruptcy because of a medical problem, a job loss, or a family breakup.

the squeeze on the middle class was getting tighter and more and more families were deep in debt. bankruptcy was there last option to scratch their way back to dead-flat broke and try to build some kind of future. credit card companies solve this and they figured out that they could boost their profits if they squeezed these people a little harder. then he wanted to change the bankruptcy laws so that hundreds of thousands of people more every year would be locked out of bankruptcy and left mired in debt. their profits, by squeezing people, drowning in medical debt and dealing with job losses. i was truly appalled. understand how this fight shaped up. credit card companies were smart. he had already lined up a lot of powerful folks to support them democrats and republicans. they had money galore. they had lobbyists galore. and if a family is going bankrupt, they had nothing

literally nothing. they had no lobbyists. they were miserable and so humiliated they probably would not have shown up for a political rally if they had been invited. senator kennedy's counsel had heard me give a talk, and she came up afterwards and said to be, you need to meet my boss. i never met him. was april 17, 1998. i showed up in his office on the 24th floor of the jfk building. understand, i did not know anything about politics. i had never met anyone like this. in fact, i was a rubber's shirt -- i was a registered republican. the senator greeted me like we had known each other for each other. he pointed out old north church and talk so fast i could barely understand him.

we had 15 minutes on the schedule, and we sat down and started to talk about what was happening to working families, about how hard some of them are getting squeezed, about how hard they worked, and how much was going wrong, and about that bankruptcy bill. and a 15-minute meeting turned into an hour and a half. and at the end, senator kennedy stood up, and he gave me that big, beautiful smile, and he said, you have done it professor. you have my vote. i went straight back at him and said, we do not need your vote. we need your leadership. that is a big difference. it felt like the difference between being the kindly uncle who drops by a dry time with a birthday gift and being the parent who really has to raise the kid every single day and make it work, to be the one who gets out there and trades and pushes and pulls.

we needed him to agree to be the leader, and it was a really big ask. he stood there, i remember a second what he looked like. his eyes were puffy. he was a little stooped he was in constant back pain. he looked tired, and he looked over at that big satchel of papers that he always carried. the satchel, for his billion other commitments that he had already made, the fights that he had already agreed to fight. he looked at it and looked back at me, looked again, and then he just said, i will do it. and that is what he did. he kept his word, and he led that fight for 10 years. i left his office, and i went out to the elevator bank and put my head against the wall, and i cried. senator kennedy changed my life

that day. i had liked politics. all the lobbyists and cozy dealings and special favors for those who could buy access. but i stood in the lobby outside ted kennedy's office, and i felt clean. i come into his office, with no political connections, no money, improving the bankruptcy system was not going to help in his next reelection campaign, and, everyone knew that eventually we were going to lose this. senator ted kennedy, the lion of the senate, agreed to lead this fight because it was the right thing to do for millions of people hanging on by their fingernails who just desperately needed a little help. he changed my life and he changed what i understood about public service, what it means to

fight for working people just because it is the right thing to do. this institute will give millions of people an opportunity to be inspired. that is the perfect way to honor the memory of ted kennedy. thank you. [applause] >> senator kennedy loved music and i the celebration, and you cannot have one without the other. we are happy to provide some of that. this is one of his favorite songs. feel free to sing along.

♪ >> ♪ there's a bright ♪ ♪ golden haze ♪ ♪ on the meadow ♪ ♪ there's a bright ♪ ♪ golden haze ♪ ♪ on the meadow ♪ ♪ the corn is as high ♪ ♪ as an elephant's eye ♪ ♪ and it looks like ♪ ♪ it's climbing ♪ ♪ clear up to the sky ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful morning ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ ♪ i got a ♪ ♪ beautiful feeling ♪ ♪ everything's ♪ ♪ going my way ♪ ♪ all the cattle ♪ ♪ are standing ♪

♪ like statues ♪ ♪ all the cattle ♪ ♪ are standing ♪ ♪ like statues ♪ ♪ they don't ♪ ♪ turn their heads ♪ ♪ as they see me ♪ ♪ ride by ♪ ♪ but a little ♪ ♪ brow maverick ♪ ♪ is winking her eye ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful morning ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ ♪ i got a ♪ ♪ beautiful feeling ♪ ♪ everything's ♪ ♪ going my way ♪

♪ all the sounds ♪ ♪ of the earth ♪ ♪ are like music ♪ ♪ all the sounds ♪ ♪ of the earth ♪ ♪ are like music ♪ ♪ the breeze is so busy ♪ ♪ it don't miss a tree ♪ ♪ and an old ♪ ♪ weeepin' willer ♪ ♪ is laughin' at me ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful morning ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ ♪ i got a ♪ ♪ beautiful feeling ♪ ♪ everything's ♪ ♪ going my way ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪

♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ ♪ i've got a ♪ ♪b beautiful feeling ♪ ♪ everything's ♪ ♪ going my way ♪ ♪ oh,, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ ♪ o, what a beautiful -- ♪ ♪ o, what a beautiful -- ♪ ♪ o, what a ♪ ♪ beautiful day ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator edward m. kennedy, jr. [applause]

senator kennedy: thank you everyone. i want to thank the incredible boston pops for being with us. and i just want to say one thing. it is not true that my father really wanted to be president. who he really wanted to be is brian stokes mitchell. [laughter] that is the life he really wanted to have if he did not want to be in the senate so much. i want to thank you for being here and joining us in this incredible celebration. i have the honor and, great honor of introducing to you a great. he reminds me of my father in that way.

his patriotism, his love of this country, his stick to it in this, and his willingness to put aside differences and find ways to really get things done. senator mccain, my father so enjoyed his collaboration with you here after year, and he really looked upon his senate days working with you as some of the great moments of his senate career. ladies and gentlemen, please join me in giving a warm boston welcome to senator john mccain. [applause] senator mccain: thank you, ted. mr. vice president, all of ted friends and colleagues visible here today, it is a privilege to be here to help dedicate his institute.

a fitting memorial for a man who gave a half-century of dedication service to our country in a place he truly loved, the united states that. i wish i hadn't already told my best anecdotal ted at his memorial service. it might have been appropriate here. it concerned an exchange that he and i had on the senate floor that was known for its bigger. -- its volume and vigor. a story that we both enjoyed telling. since many of you were present the last time, i won't repeat it today -- pity though, it's a good one. [laughter] we were on the floor. [laughter] we went to freshman senators one democrat and one republican, who got into a parliamentary dispute.

i sighed taking place, so i went down and actually took the side of the freshman republican senator. who should appear out of the democrat pro-to take the side of the democrat freshman? soon, face-to-face, i do i -- eye-to-eye, violating all the rules of the senate, yelling at each other, the two young senators fled to the cloak room. [laughter] after was over, we walked out. ted put his arm around me, and said, we did a pretty good job didn't we? that was the essence. you know -- i know you didn't mind hearing it again. ted and i both believe that if the story made you laugh once, it could make you laugh again. and again. and again. [laughter] i'm still getting last for jokes that i stole from udall years ago. i miss my friend.

i miss him a lot. i knew i would, when i said six years ago, the senate would it be the same without him. it hasn't been. that's mostly for reasons unrelated to losing ted, by have no doubt that the place would be a little more productive and a lot more fun if you were there. we all know ted was a passionate liberal. he was happy to impress on you with that baritone of his. just how passionate and how liberal he was. i don't have that personality myself. when he either of us were roused, we could get a little heated. if we were on the senate floor at the same time, and of the same temperature, well, watch out. it was a great thing, though about ted. he loved it. he loved the good fight. the harder he you went out it, it the more he enjoyed it, and a hearty laugh about it the next

time you encountered him. he loved the place. you could just tell. he loved the history and the unique attributes, and it's curious means for making a criminal -- incremental progress on the problems of our time. he saw himself as a steadfast advocate for his cause of. no one in the senate opposed them like me or debated him without respect for his passion and powers. we all listen to him. he was hard to ignore. he also saw himself as a problem solver, which all legislators should aspire to be. we didn't always agree on what the solutions to our country's problems were. sometimes, we couldn't even agree on what the problems were. when we did find common ground and forge a compromise for the sake of making some improvement to the state of our union, he was the best ally.

persistent. patient. thorough. tireless. always true to his word. and just excellent company and all the battles, small and large, that he fought along the way. he made you love the place too. you saw the senate potential. and most of its successes, achieved by the dole work of legislating, as the fun as exhibit job. he took the long view. he never gave up. he advances causes and, too often from my side, he would eventually win it all. i must patient the ted was. i know his approach was best suited to that institution. he was tactical, farsighted, and inventive. made for a passionate, outspoken advocate.

that's a good lesson for all of us. as i said, i miss him. i miss his company. i miss that voice suddenly jolting us out of the term for of some debate that had jogged on for too long -- dragged on for too long. i miss fighting with him, to be honest. it is hard to find people to find people that enjoy a good fight like ted did. [laughter] i miss his storytelling, his laugh. i miss the pride -- the sometimes solemn pride, boston enjoys pride that he took in his family's history, and the important role that they played in the history of our country. no, the place hasn't been the same without him. if we learn the right lessons from the late edward m kennedy's example, from his love for the team in the u.s. senate, we can make it better.

we can make it a place where every member conserve with pride and love. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome congressman patrick j kennedy. [applause] congressman kennedy: i can see my father out there in the line. he would say, i can't believe -- and exit out the door. right, kevin? i am so honored. my family is so honored. as i see this got here, i see my father.

all of you are a part of his life. seeing you rings back great memories for me and my entire family. i want to take this moment before i have the honor of introducing the vice president to acknowledge my mother. [applause] as my dad would be saying, make sure you remember your mother. [laughter] so, i did. i want to take this opportunity -- you know, the senate has a phrase, my friend. and they keep referring to "my friend.

it could never be more true than when he talked about joe biden. mr. vice president, you were there for him. he was there for you. and good times and bad times. you were on the same side of the aisle, but sitting next to each other for years on the judiciary committee, fighting that battle for social justice that was in encapsulated in matthew 25. those who were there for the least one of these, my brothers and sisters, is there for me. you, mr. vice president have carried that same faith to help bring more americans into the circle of opportunity, which was my father's great passion for this country. [applause] all of us know joe biden, just like my dad loved people, loved

the fray, and love to get into it, and solve the problem. he was a happy warrior. our next speaker, vice president joe biden is also a happy warrior. please give a great round of applause to our vice president joe biden. [applause] vice president biden: thank you very much. thank you very, very much. thank you for the introduction patrick. teddy junior, caroline, vickie -- it's a great honor to be asked here to speak today.

so many others in the audience and behind me who deserve this honor more than i do. to joan and jean, the whole kennedy family, my sister valerie and i are truly honored to be here. you know, there are scores of stories that we could all tell. my guess is that everyone of you and audience has a story about ted kennedy's generosity toward you. stories that made a difference in your lives. the truth is, patrick, it is doubtful that i would be -- that i would have won my election in the first instance were it not for the fact that your father literally with less than one week left to go, came to delaware rallied about 2000 democrat and started off by

saying, you know, i'm here for joe biden, but i think he is too young to be a senator. [laughter] everyone in the audience understood it. it energized them. i was then 29. i didn't turn 30 until after election day. the next day, in the "wall street journal," in the left-hand column it said kennedy said bynum is too young for senate. it energized my base and i won by a landslide. [laughter] on a more serious note, it is close to certain that i would have never been sworn in as a u.s. senator but for your father. your father's encouragement. literally reaching out to me and pulling me to washington. as a matter fact, i was supposed to be sworn in, i didn't want to, and i didn't show up the day

i was supposed to be sworn in. it was your father. your father, along with mike mansfield, the secretary of the senate came to a hospital in delaware to swear me in with my boys. after i arrived in washington, your dad -- although it is presumptive to say this -- treated me like a little brother. at least that's how i felt. when i arrived in washington after everyone else had been sworn in, your dad became my tutor, and my guide. he introduced me to other senators, who i had never met. i am the first united states senator of a name that i knew. it was new. i remember all these very same ascenders. he was try to get me out of my office. get me engaged. i remember walking in the senate

gym, like a ymca -- the guys walk around with nothing on. and he said, i want you to meet this guy. i swear to god. i felt guilty i was fully clothed. [laughter] true story. god, was i embarrassed. your dad also intervened and got me placed on important committees usually not available to freshman senators. he not only looked out for me, but he looked out for my sons.

i don't know how many times he probably dragged you to the kennedy center and let me sit in the box next to him with my two sons, and you thought, what in the hell are you doing here. you are always reaching out to my son, and later to my daughters. something about the kennedys. you all know it. everyone in here understands it. he was an anchor to many of us in our personal lives. he is also the anchor in an institution. we shared a lot of perspective on the world and our place in it. one that was written on our sleeves is that we both viewed serving in u.s. senate as the single greatest honor, and the greatest responsibility that we had in our lives next to being fathers and husbands. we both believed, and i still believe, that democracy would not have survived as it has over

the past 226 years, but for the brilliance and foresight of our fathers. who understood that the separation of power among the three branches of government is the only guarantor of individual liberty. as u.s. senator, chairman of the judiciary committee, chairman of the foreign relations committee, and now as vice president, i have lived that wisdom from a very unique perspective. and with teddy as my guide. in the senate, we work with presidents of both parties. i have often challenge them when i thought they were wrong, but always paying deference to the office they occupy, never demeaning it. i serve 32 years on the judiciary committee, fighting tooth and nail for justice for all.

but always with a deep indispensability of the judiciary. what he really taught me was the meaning of john adams off the rations that the senate, in adam's words, was the colossus of the constitution. no republican can be for any duration without a senate, and the senate deeply and strongly rooted, strong enough to bear up against all popular storms and passions. i think you believe that with every fiber in his being. i had a from w front row seat, which i can never repay the family four, during the 36 years of my his 50 years in the senate, watching the liberal lion of the senate.

including the last time he was on the senate to cast a vote for the health care bill, before -- bill, the affordable care act. as divided as the body was on that act, everything goes senator stood with thunderous applause and tears in their eyes welcoming back the lion in the senate, knowing his passion was to see to it that we no longer debated whether healthcare was a privilege or right. [applause] i watched him as the debate contested some of the most divisive storms of our time.

the voting rights act. equal rights amendment. watergate. wars in vietnam and iraq. the supreme court nominee to serve in a body that he fully understood and told us all would have more impact and effect on the state of the nation than anything we did other than declaring war. what i observed in every instance was that as passionate as he felt, he always paid deference and respect to the institutions that were involved, whether was the presidency, the federal judiciary, or the congress. the other observation that all those present here can attest to teddy understood that to unlock the potential of united states senate, to enable it to arrive to consensus was about more than

just mastering the details of the issue of the day. and he did master them. he understood that consensus was arrived at from an accumulative affect. the little things that you did for the other. build over time. that's what generated the trust and mutual respect that only teddy was able to do. forgive me for saying in a city of tip o'neill, by thinking was wrong to all politics is local. all politics is personal. all politics is personal. no one in my life understood that better than ted kennedy. i remember vividly -- we still

had a lot of the south when i arrived. teddy was a nemesis. i remember him debating senator eastman of the judiciary committee, powerful anti-civil rights member. or barry goldwater and the war in vietnam. or john on issues of foreign policy and others. three very different men with very different perspectives. when the debate was over, as john reference, teddy what an utterly -- inevitably walk across the aisle to his colleague's desk, shake his hand, and more often than not, go down to the senate dining room and have a cup of coffee together. he reached out to everyone. always building and maintaining

personal relationships and trust, even those with people of profound disagreements. teddy didn't have to be taught the lesson. mike mansfield taught me once when i criticize a senator in his office, he looked at me and said, joe, it is always appropriate to challenge and other senators judgment. it is never appropriate to challenge their motive. because you don't know what their motive is. that's why teddy was able to so frequently forge compromise and generate consensus. in the process, help make the united states senate work as it was designed to work. he believes what he said. that being a united states senator changes the person. it is bigger than you.

it requires you to always be willing to listen to another perspective, and be open to changing your mind without pe but training any of your principles. my dad would say, teddy was a big man. he was never small. he was always gracious. as a consequence, he raised everyone's game. it's hard to be teddy when the man or woman you are debating is being grand. it reminds me of a quote that my sister always uses a chair be using -- i is always uses, trinity to michelangelo. he said, i saw the angel in the marble and i carved until i set him free. teddy set free a lot of folks.

that was teddy. he set and really high bar for his fellow senators, like the current and former ones who are here today. when he demanded, no less be applied to himself and his staff. teddy was always optimistic, at least all the time i was with him, and that was an awful lot. always hopeful. i believe, like too few people today, he believed in the instinct and capacities and goodness of the american people. if just given half a chance. he believes anything was possible. ultimately, from my perceptive

i think that is teddy's true legacy. measured as a consequence of how we look at one another. in turn, how we look at ourselves. to establish trust and faith in an institution with the potential to make of all better. that's what i expect the edward m kennedy institute of the united states to fully convey to the future generations of americans who go through this wonderful place. ladies and gentlemen, i'm not saying anything that you do not already know. this country hungers for a resurgence of a baseline believe in the system of self-governance, admired for his wisdom in the face of passionate differences, and for the ability to compromise over the seemingly unbridgeable divide with some

dignity. i'm confident that this institute will serve and set satisfied that appetite. pundits say that we are divided today, more divided than we ever were. that's something not true. look at every major poll on every major issue. there is a consensus in america. it is the political process that has been broken. generations of americans, from every state, will enter this institute with a chance to debate and raise real issues and develop the capacity to speak up and make their case. i hope they will learn, always with respect. hopefully they will return home and powered with the capacity to listen to different views, be able to forge a consensus that makes it possible for their community and country to

function to its fullest potential. what more fitting tribute to senator edward m kennedy then that lesson to not only learn but tell to some a generations that will walk through this institute. he was an anchor for our lives and an anchor to the senate as an institution. let this place serve as a true compass pointing to his faith of the unlimited possibilities for this great country. thank you for allowing me to be here. god bless you all. [applause]

>> thank you, mr. vice president. that was beautiful. these are two songs i think beautifully captured the heart and spirit, not only of senator kennedy, but the heart and spirit of what this institution will be. >> ♪ o, beautiful ♪ ♪ for spacious skies ♪ ♪ for amber ♪ ♪ waves of grain ♪ ♪ for purple mountains ♪

♪ majesties ♪ ♪ above the fruited plain ♪ ♪ america, america ♪ ♪ god shed ♪ ♪ his grace on thee ♪ ♪ and crown thy good ♪ ♪ with brotherhood ♪ ♪ from sea to shining sea ♪ ♪ o, beautiful ♪ ♪ for patriot dreams ♪ ♪ that see ♪ ♪ beyond the years ♪

♪ thine alabaster ♪ ♪ cities gleam ♪ ♪ undimmed ♪ ♪ by human tears ♪ tears america, america god shed his grace on thee and crown they good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪

♪ ♪ i see his face i hear his heartbeat. i look in those eyes

how why they seem when he is old enoughi will show you america and he will ride on the wheel of a dream we'll go down south and see the people they'll take to him like cats to kareem -- cream and then we will travel on from there california or who knows where and we will ride on the wheels of a dream yes, the wheels are turning for us, girl

and at times are starting to roll any man can get where he wants to if you got some fire in his soul we will see justice coming and men who will stand up and give us our due i swear that it is more than promises it must be true a country that is a man like me own a car, raise a child, build a life with you with you beyond that road beyond the lifetime

that careful of hope will always gleam with the promise of happiness and the freedom he will lift you know he'll travel with heads held high just as far as his heart can go and he will ride our son will ride on the wheels of a dream ♪ ♪ [applause]

announcer: ladies and gentlemen mrs. michelle obama. [applause] greg mr. president, mrs. obama mr. vice president, governor baker, leaders, senators mccain,

worn, ed markey, maher walsh dr. jean mccormick, bob correct keith motley, cardinal o'malley to all of the senators, members and elected officials who have joined us today to the boston pops, the children's choir stokes mitchell, friends. on behalf of ted's sister, ted junior t andiki, patrick and amy, curran and caroline and the entire kennedy family standing beside me literally and in spirit, we are honored and grateful you all could he here. 36 years ago, my husband came here to dedicate the presidential library next to him. speaking about the older brother

he loved and admired deeply, teddy called the moment a culmination, a happy rendezvous with history that makes his memory come alive. today, the same is true for all of us who love aggregate m kennedy. it seems like only yesterday that i was standing with teddy on a window of the seventh floor of the jfk library, looking down on the plot of land where this institute now stands. it was an empty, low-lying fields, but at had a vision that something extraordinary could rise from it. and as he looked out that window, teddy pointed to a little pine tree and said to me, "that is where the institute is going to be," and we stood there

for a moment, imagining what it would be like, and institute with a full scale recreation of the senate right here in boston, the city of his birth that he loved so much. now, thanks to the heroic efforts of so many incredible people, that chamber and this institute stand exactly where he wanted to. but this institute is not about one man. it is about the nearly 2000 men and women who have served in the united state senate in first convened, and it is about those who might be inspired to serve in it in the future if they are laying new more about the important role of the senate in our democracy.

teddy used to say everyone knows about the presidency. we have presidential libraries but they do not know so much about the senate and the legislative process. then he went a smile that famous smile of his with a little bit of mischief, after all, we are in article one of the constitution. [laughter] 10 he loved the senate and the great senators of the past, and he loved great senators served with. he loved the building. he loved the senate chamber. most of all, he loved the difference senate could make securing americans rights, helping them get health care or jobs, strengthening america's leadership in the world. sure, the senate has seen its share of disagreements.

sometimes sharp once, but as teddy understood, that was part of the process. our founders never intended legislating to be easy. it wires hard work, and as all of us who knew teddy understand, he worked hard at it, because he believed that the united states senate the power to change lives, to live in this country the live around the world. he served in the united states senate for nearly 47 years, and he noticed something during that time. when he became a senator something changed inside you. maybe not first year or the second year, maybe not even in the third year, but at some point, almost always, something happened.

you started to think about more than yourself. you started to think about the country, and teddy wanted to build a place where everyone could feel the same way, a place where all of us could start thinking about our country. institute see today is a realization of that dream, and just as teddy approached politics differently he wanted to approach the institute and a completely fresh and unique way. so we have a totally hands-on, interactive visitor experience, and it is an experience. visitors interact not only with the, but with each other. we are using the best of technology while encouraging face-to-face interaction and negotiation. it is an entirely new model of civic engagement, and at the

center of it all is that magnificent, full-scale recreation of the senate chamber. that recreation was so important to teddy. he believed in the majesty of the place and its power to inspire, and without felt that no experience as a senator would be complete without understanding the awe you felt walking into that chamber. at student groups visited in the last month, we have seen that in action. there is a buzz in the hallways, talking about exhibits, but as soon as they walk through those double doors, a hush comes over them. they seem to know extensively they are in a very special place. in that space, they will try to pass the coppermine for the 1850 or hash out immigration reform

-- the compromise of 1850 or hash out immigration reform. we hope they will also learn that despite our disagreements if we sit down and talk to each other and listen to each other perhaps then we can find common ground. perhaps then together, we can make incredible progress. teddy hoped that everyone who came to this institute would realize that politics, and he called in politics, is a noble profession. even if it is messy. even if it is hard. teddy wanted people, young people in particular, to rise above and move beyond reports of gridlock and poll numbers and become active participants in our democracy. whether that means serving in the senate or on the school

board or just voting without fail, because as far as teddy was can there and, if we all did our part, there was nothing we could not accomplish. we are americans, he said. this is what we do. we reached the man. we scale the height. i know it. i have seen it. i have lived it, and we can do it again. the edward m kennedy institute is going to inspire us to do it again. teddy actually spoke those words in 2008 at the democratic national convention. despite his own illness, he was looking to the future, and he was looking forward to speaking on behalf of a dear friend, he then junior senator from illinois, a legislator teddy had recruited to his senate committee, and there was no higher compliment than that, so it is my great honor to

introduce the man my husband loved and admired though much, he gave him a puppy. [applause] a man who understands the power and promise of our democracy, a man who stood up and fought for and at long last signed a bill enshrining in law what teddy called the cause of his life, health care for all americans. [applause] and a man, and a man who was also a united states senator. ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states, barack obama. [applause] president obama: thank you. thank you so much.

thank you. thank you very much. please, have a seat. thank you. thank you so much. to vicki ted patrick caroline members of the kennedy family, thank you so much for inviting me to be today. governor o'malley, vice president biden, governor baker maher walsh, members of congress passed and present and pretty much every elected official in massachusetts -- [laughter] it is an honor to mark this occasion with you. boston, know that michelle and i have joined our prayers with yours for the former police

officer and ranger who was shot in the line of duty friday night. i mention it because last year at the white house, the vice president and i had a chance to honor officer moynahan as one of america must be a top cop for bravery in the line of duty, risking his life to save another officer, and thanks to the miracles of the medical center we hear that officer moynahan is awake, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery. also, i want to single out someone and very much wanted to be here, just as he was every day for nearly 25 years as he represented the commonwealth of alongside ted in the senate, and that is secretary of state john kerry. as you know, john is in europe

with our allies and partners leading the negotiations with iran and the community standing up for principle that ted and his brother president kennedy believed in so strongly. let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate, and finally -- finally, the first years in the senate ted dispatched a young a to assemble a team of talent without rival. it was simple. common help ted kennedy make history. -- come and help ted kennedy make history, so i want to get a shout out to his staff 50 years later, more than 1000 strong. this is your day, as well. we are proud of you. of course, many of you now work with me, so enjoy today, because

we have got to get back to work. distinguished guests, fellow citizens, in 1958, ted kennedy was a young man working to reelect his brother jack to the united states senate. on election night, the two toasted one another. here is to 1960, mr. president, ted said, if you can make it. with his quick irish wit, jack returned the test. here is to 1962, senator kennedy, if you can make it. they both made at. today, they are together again in eternal rest at arlington but their legacies are as alive as ever, right here in boston. the john f. kennedy library next

door, the symbol of our american idealism, the edward and kennedy institute for the united states senate as a living example of the heart, frustrating never-ending but critical work required to make that idealism real. what more fitting tribute, what better testament for the life of ted kennedy than this place that he left for a new generation of americans? a monument not to himself but to what we, the people have the power to do together. any of us who have had the privilege to serve in the senate know that it is impossible not to share ted's awe for the history swirling around you, an

awe instilled in him by his brother jack. he waited years to deliver his first speech on the senate floor. that is no longer the custom. [laughter] it is good to see tom daschle. they remember what customs were like back then, and ted gave this speech only because he felt there was a topic, the civil rights act, that demanded it. nevertheless, he spoke with humility, oh where as he put it that a freshman senator should be seen, not heard should learn and not teach. some of us, i admit, have not always heated that lesson.