Kerry: Kennedy's Gift Was "Incomparable Love of Life"

By: Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics: Ted Kennedy

In his remarks at the "Celebration of Life" for Ted Kennedy at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, Sen. John Kerry talked about what he thought made Kennedy special.

"In the end his abiding gift was his incomparable love of life and his commitment to make better the life of the world," Kerry said of his fellow Massachusetts Democrat. "In between his time changing the world, he found time to capture it in marvelous paintings. He was a talented, gifted artist and, an incurable romantic."

In his remarks, Kerry also paid tribute to Kennedy's accomplishments in the Senate. Here's what he said:

"Without him, there might still be a military draft. The war in Vietnam might have lasted longer. There might have been delays in passing the Voting Rights Act or Medicare and Medicaid. Soviet Jewish refuseniks might have been ignored—and who would have been there to help them as Ted did? Without him we might not have stood up against the apartheid government in South Africa. The barriers to fair immigration might be higher," Kerry said

"If everyone only knew…

"Without Ted, 18-year-olds might not be able to vote. There might not be a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Meals on Wheels, student loans, increases in the minimum wage, equal funding for women's college sports, health insurance portability, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first billions for AIDS research, workplace safety, Americorps, or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Like Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., earlier in the service tied his legacy to those of his famous brothers.

"For 1,000 days in the White House, John Kennedy inspired us. For 80 days on the presidential campaign trail, Robert Kennedy gave us reason to believe and hope again. And for more than 17,000 days in the United States Senate, Ted Kennedy changed the course of history as only few others ever have," Kerry said.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Ted Kennedy

CBS News Special Report: Ted Kennedy - The Last Brother

He also talked about campaigning with Kennedy during the 2004 election, saying he made the difference to his win in the Iowa presidential caucuses.

"When we were down in the polls and I was slugging it out there, Ted brought his humor, his energy and his eloquence to Davenport to melt the snows for me," Kerry said. "There we were, just two weeks before the Caucuses, and his voice boomed out: 'You voted for my brother! You voted for my other brother! You didn't vote for me!' As the crowd roared with laughter, Ted bellowed: 'But we're back here for John Kerry. And if you vote for John Kerry, I'll forgive you!'"

And Kerry closed his remarks by talking about Kennedy's well-known love of the sea, concluding by telling his friend to "sail on."

"Massachusetts has always had its own glorious love affair with the sea. Like his brothers before him, salt water was in his veins. Teddy lived by the sea and he lived joyously on it," Kerry said.

And then Kerry added an anecdote about the afternoon after Kennedy died: "As I sat at his home, I looked out at a perfect Nantucket Sound and thought to myself with certainty: he's on a schooner now – he's sailing--Joe, Jack, and Bobby on the fore-deck, Kathleen, Pat, Eunice, and Rosemary trading stories with their parents. Ted at the helm—steering his steady course. Sail on my friend. Sail on."

Read more on tonight's memorial service on CBSNews.com:

Family, Political Luminaries Honor Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy: We Have to Do What He Would Have Done
Biden: Kennedy's Legacy Is How We Look at One Another
McCain: Senate "Won't Be the Same" Without Kennedy
Kerry: Kennedy's Gift Was "Incomparable Love of Life"
Hatch: Kennedy and I Were Like "Fighting Brothers"
Dodd: "Teddy Changed Our America"
Rep. Joseph Kennedy: Teddy Was Always There
Photos: The Scene at the JFK Library Memorial
Photos: Speakers Pay Tribute to Kennedy

Kevin Hechtkopf
Kevin Hechtkopf is CBSNews.com's politics editor.
Follow on Twitter »

15 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment See all 15 Comments


by pasmalltown August 30, 2009 8:11 AM EDT: by Aldymac August 29, 2009 4:29 PM EDT -

"Reagan wasn't the inventor of the trickle down theory."
__________________________

This a most curious thought.... it this original or part of Rush's "revisionist" re-write of history?; Reply to this comment


by Aldymac August 29, 2009 4:29 PM EDT: Ted Kennedy did more to tear down the capitalist system that made this country the greatest country on earth, he worked hard to expand the government into every part of our lives, which is in direct conflict with the constitution.
He was extremly wealthy from the cradle to the grave, he had nothing in common with the common man. He favored taxing the wealthy and redistributing it to the poor, but he never wanted to tax wealth, because then he would have to sacrifice, Ted Kennedy was never one to sacrifice for anyone, unless it was something someone else had.
Any of the money he spent was never any of his own, it was every one elses money. He had 500 million dollars of his own, all of it in foreign banks, two years ago he paid $136.00 into his income tax, what did you pay? He always liked to say he was on the poor mans side, so did all the rest of the dems, it was a good way to get votes. When they start taking money away from the wealthy, you can be sure they will take off the top before any of the poor get what little is left, Reagan wasn't the inventor of the trickle down theory.
You can also be sure they won't be included in those losing money for the poor.; Reply to this comment


by reveal5 August 29, 2009 12:29 PM EDT: A truly great and outstanding American historical figure is being honored by this country and the world. The fact that Mr. Kennedy was a democrat engenders hatred and envy from the disrespectable fringe. The fringe bloggers who spew their own self loathing simply, clearly, and unmistakeably, identify themselves as small in spirit and heart. These posters show for all the world to see their cowardly disdain for normal behavior as regarding the death of a great American citizen. These fringe are the "Tea Party" folks and the townhall protest group. They show once again their complete inability to exist in normal human and psychological parameters. These fringe posters show once again their inherent compulsion to shock the normalcy and decency of the well adjusted average American. These fringe posters show once again that abnormalcy is their daily mindset. These fringe posters show once again that average Americans can give daily thanks for the truth that regular folks are not full of hate and anger and paranoia and fear and repugnance. These fringe posters are not capable of normalcy. They do not respect, it is beyond their comprehension... and validation for their hate exists in only a very few similarly maladjusted few. They are the losers. They have lost respect. They have lost decency. They have lost compassion and empathy. They have lost all that makes a human being. Do not let these few fringe maladjusted people drag you for one moment into their own individual swamps. Do not sink to their levels. Do not give in to the impulse for hateful revenge for their vile words and intent. Keep your soul and your spirit safely above the muck and cowardice and inhumanity and vain gloriousness and narcissism of the unfortunate few. Rise above, do not sink into the swamp of their maladjustment. Stow your spirit and goodness and kindness and magnanimity of spirit safely above the reach of the unhappy and depressed and vile few who are not nearly so fortunate.; Reply to this comment

by reveal5 August 29, 2009 11:06 AM EDT

Rest in peace Teddy Kennedy. Those here who post vile comments are simply spreading their self loathing. Those who go out of their way to spread hate on a blessed day for remembering the great deeds of one of the greatest Senators of all American history show the envy and anger of the small of heart and spirit. Their vile comments are the only way they can make any kind of impact. Their attempts at vain and evil comments do not in any way tarnish the historical legacy of Teddy Kennedy. Rather, these posters show themselves to be simply evil in their own minds and spirits and do tremendous dishonor to themselves only. They simply do not understand the difference. These types of folks are few and seek to shock regular folks with their abyssmal individual psychology.

Reply to this comment


by reveal5 August 29, 2009 11:16 AM EDT: I mistakenly posted rather than reported offensive comment regarding 8:14 post by SMDA. Please excuse the mistake.

by Benton09 August 29, 2009 10:09 AM EDT

by HereIsBaghdad2012 August 29, 2009 7:55 AM EDT
"Kerry: Kennedy's Gift Was "Incomparable Love of Life""
******************************************************

Yeah, alcohol,murder,adultery and dirty politic, thats Kennedy gift.
***************
Do the world a favor and GO OFF YOURSELF so we don't have to read your illiterate rants.

Reply to this comment


by libsrus August 29, 2009 10:36 AM EDT: Thats the whole problem with this whole Kennedy issue...THE TRUTH HURTS and the Kennedy lovers ( not the ones he cheated with) can not be truthful with themselves.Wise Up...He was looking out for Teddy...and only Teddy...spoiled Bastard that he was


by nextgenman09 August 29, 2009 10:44 AM EDT: Saonds like you're trying to compare Kennedy to the average Republican.

by libsrus August 29, 2009 8:22 AM EDT

Someone please explain to the world, why this man is being hailed a icon and a hero? A carrer politician whos father handed him the office with a silver spoon that he stole from other people. Do you people really believe that Ted Kennedy actually understood what a common persons life is actually about? He was a drunk, liar, cheat and killer. If these points are what makes an icon and a hero in this country, then this country is never going to run out of heros. Take your kid to the nearest prison, they can pick a new hero out. Plenty to choose from, the only difference between them and Ted is thier family tree.

Reply to this comment


by nextgenman09 August 29, 2009 10:47 AM EDT: Lets not forget how he helped Obama kick the RINOturds to the curb as well.


by second edition August 29, 2009 2:16 AM EDT: Senator Kerry's speach was the one of the most memorable I remember from tonight. It was from the heart. Senator Kennedy will be truely missed.; Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 August 29, 2009 12:22 AM EDT: See. The thing is, Ted Kennedy was in the United States Senate for 47 years as you all know. Only two other Senators served longer than Ted Kennedy.

And Ted Kennedy wrote 2500 pieces of legislation in 40 years and 500 of them...thats 500!... were enacted into law! That is an astonishing feat when you considser that Americans feel our government is not doing their job. Ted Kennedy was faithful to his job.

Ted Kennedy served...SERVED...his constituency. He was the consumate politician we all cry today that we want representing us in Washington. He was tireless, loyal to the ideals of his constituency and those ideals reflected the greatness of our society - that greatness of our society which is measured by our treatment of the poor, the weak, the average American who struggles with the powers that be to make a living worth living, for himself, his wife, his children, his family. A living that afforded all Americans the opportunity to be productive in society.

Ted Kennedy represented us all. He was for the working man who each day faced the struggles that marked the difference between the haves and the have nots, the powerful and the less powerful, the rich and the less rich. And he dedicated his life to bridge those disparities, to acknowledge the humanity of Americans, to acknowledge the greatness of the dream and to keep its possibilities open to all who yearned to experience the greatness of the experiment called America.

He loved America. His family has been in American politics for nearly a century. His four brothers all died in service to this country. Joe Jr. in WW2., Jack who was our 35th and youngest President was assassinated. Robert, former Attorney General under his brother John, and later a candidate for President, was assassinated. And now Ted Kennedy.

No matter your political pursuasion, it did'nt matter to Kennedy. He was for us all. It would be, in my estimation, impossible to believe that inspite of Ted Kennedy's frailities, he did not hear the words, "Well done...my faithful servant".

Your life was an inspiration to many. We thank you.; Reply to this comment

by woeisme1 August 28, 2009 10:40 PM EDT

Well. Caroline pretty much made it clear that she and the younger generation are part of history, a chain that cannot be broken and that they each owe it to the memory of Teddy to continue on in his stead. Think she's going to run for office? You can bet on it.

Man. I watched the ceremony tonight. I will say that the stories were so personal. None obviously rehearsed. At some points they were roasting him I thought. Teddy would have loved it.

Republicans, democrats, Mormons, Catholics, Prostestants, poor, rich, white, black, they were all there. And they were all telling the truth. That's amazing for a political event.

Reply to this comment


by woeisme1 August 28, 2009 10:41 PM EDT: Part of the legacy and power of Kennedy.


by patocc123 August 28, 2009 9:55 PM EDT: The headline was incomplete. Lets finish it.

Kerry: Kennedy's Gift Was "Incomparable Love of Life" . . . 'Unless he was drunk and was just in an accident"; Reply to this comment