the edward m. kennedyor 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 -- and his design team efi. 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

edward m. kennedyom his love for and achievements in the u.s. senate we can make it better, we can make it a place where every member can serve with pride and love. thank you. >> ladies and gentlemen please welcome congressman patrick j. kennedy. congressman kennedy: i can just see my father out here this morning in the line. he'd be right out there wondering if you got a cup of coffee while you were waiting to get screened. am i right? then he'd say "i can't believe!" and eggs out the door, right kevin? i am so honored. my family's so honored. as i see this crowd here, i see my father, because all of you are part of his life and seeing you brings 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, joan bennett kennedy. of course, my dad would be saying, "make sure you remember your mother." so, i did, dad, i did. i want to take this opportunity you know, in the senate they have the phrase "my fr

today the same is true for all of us who loved edward m kennedy.stitute now stands. it was an empty low-lying field but he had a vision that something extraordinary could rise from. ascould rise from. as we looked out the window teddy pointed to a little pine tree and said to me that is where the institute is going to be. and we and we stood they're for a moment imagining what it would look like and institute without full-scale recreation of the u.s. senate right here in boston the city of his birth that he loved so much thanks to the heroic efforts of so many people that chamber and this institute stands exactly where teddy janvier would. but as but as with teddy's wish, this institute is not about one man. it is about the nearly 2,000 men and women who have served in the united states senate who -- since it 1st convened and about those who might be inspired to serve and it in the future if they only knew more about the important role of the senate in our democracy. teddy used to say, everyone knows but the presidency. we have presidential you hav

>> president obama on monday visited the new edward m. kennedy institute in boston where lamented that our politics are not more purposeful and elevated. >> i wonder if president obama who has lamented this instability in our politics, this disrespect in our politics has any view of harry reid telling dana bash in response to this question, well, romney didn't get elected did he? >> obviously senator reid is somebody who's going to decide for himself about what he says on the senate floor. >> the president's choice and his spokesman's choice to call out conduct unbecoming of our highest elected officials when it is in fact unbecoming. are you going to take that opportunity now? >> not for something that's three years old. >> and to many that answer echoed the answer that former obama spokesman tomny veeter gave to fox news's bret baier when the latter asked about benghazi on television and he answered, dude that's like three years ago. megyn. >> there's a statute of limitations on unethical behavior. james, good to know. learn something new every

he got his start in politics on the senate and political staff of edward m. kennedy and has worked on dozens of senate, gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns across the country. steve served in senior roles in three presidential campaigns including including that of president obama. steve appears regularly as political commentator on msnbc hard ball with chris matthews and andrea mitchell reports. during the past three campaign seasons he was a frequent commentator on nbc evening news, "abc world news tonight," the "today" show and cnn and fox news. please join me in a warm nyu welcome for steve mcmahon, secretary sebelius and congressman cantor. [ applause ] >> madam secretary, mr. leader, on behalf of nyu, i actually teach here, american public opinions. too bad those of you who are students aren't going to be here next semester because that's when i teach. thanks very much for coming. the course that i teach has a lot to do with politics and public opinion and moving and shaping of how public opinion flows. and there's nothing probably more controversial in politics

he got his start in politics on the senate and political staff of edward m. kennedy and has worked on dozens of senate, gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns across the country. steve served in senior roles in three presidential campaigns including including that of president obama. steve appears regularly as political commentator on msnbc hard ball with chris matthews and andrea mitchell reports. during the past three campaign seasons he was a frequent commentator on nbc evening news, "abc world news tonight," the "today" show and cnn and fox news. please join me in a warm nyu welcome for steve mcmahon secretary sebelius and congressman cantor. [applause] >> madam secretary, mr. leader, on behalf of nyu, i actually teach here, american public opinions. too bad those of you who are students aren't going to be here next semester because that's when i teach. thanks very much for coming. the course that i teach has a lot to do with politics and public opinion and moving and shaping of how public opinion flows. and there's nothing probably more controversial in politics ov

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 dorcherch from boston. 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. 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 w