Kennedy's Sons Remember a Passionate Father
(AP Photo )
"He was not perfect — far from it," Ted Kennedy, Jr. said of his father. "But my father believed in redemption and he never surrendered, never stopped trying to right wrongs, either as a result of his own failings or ours."
His father, Ted said, will be remembered as the "workhorse of the Senate" and a "beacon of social justice." Patrick Kennedy noted that he and his father co-wrote legislation to provide health insurance coverage for those suffering from mental illness.
CBSNews.com's complete coverage of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's life and death
"My dad was never bowed, he never gave up, and there was never quit in dad," Patrick said.
The brothers ruminated on Sen. Kennedy's ability to work with those who disagreed with him.
"He even taught me some of life's harder lessons -- such as how to like Republicans," Ted said to laughter. "He once told me, he said, 'Teddy, Republicans love this country just as much as I do.'"
Patrick said his father's approach to politics was similar to the way he approached his other life passions, such as boat racing.
"I saw a lot of his political philosophy in those races," he said. "One thing that I noticed on the boat, as in this country, there was a role for everybody, a place for everybody to contribute."
Along with sailing, Sen. Kennedy had a zeal for a number of activities from painting to skiing to rodeo riding, the brothers said. He was recruited to join the Greenbay Packers footbal team as a young man but decided to go to law school instead.
One of the greatest lessons he passed on, Ted said, was to never give up. He shared the story of how, when he was 12 years old, his father helped him climb an icy hill, even though Ted, Jr. had lost a leg to cancer.
"He held me around my waist, and we slowly made it to the top," he said. "He said, 'I know you can do it. We're going to climb that hill together if it takes us all day... And I knew I was going to be OK...He taught me that nothing is impossible."
Read more stories on Sen. Kennedy's life and death at CBSNews.com:
Obama: Kennedy Was "The Greatest Legislator of Our Time"
Mass Honors "the Greatest Legislator"
Barack Obama's Eulogy for Ted Kennedy
Locals Share in Mourning of Kennedy
Photos: A Final Farewell
Photos: Funeral Honors Kennedy's Legacy
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OK big shots--how would you have reacted if you had three brothers--one killed in the war and two asassinated? Think you might have gone a little "crackers"?
Do you really think that Ted Kennedy murdered Mary Jo Kopechne?
Outside of trying to save her--what would you have done any different?
Do you really think he was lucid-sane and manipulative after that trauma?
Who among you are without pain and suffering?
Who among you has had redemption with deeds and not just conversation?
Ted Kennedy doesn't have to prove anything!
His body of work in the Senate--mostly helping stiffs like you--speaks for itself!
Your conduct has been arrogant-short sighted and just plain cruel!!
I think that you just like to see yourself in print!!
It's sort of like "mental masturbation"!!
Talking with the devil we? Is it yours or Teds?, I can't really tell from this comment.
Teddy had many flaws as his children alluded, but he leaves great wealth in those hearts he touched and changed because he had the courage to change the course of his life. He led by example and left us an example that we can all work together for a common good, even though we may disagree.
The contents of a man's heart is what he chooses them to be. The contents of a man's life are not the possessions he left for his family, but the opportunities for others to seek and attain what they can with what they have.
If more people like Ted could strive to see that our views become clouded because of life's circumstances, but it should never obscure the vision of those things God has entrusted with each of us. May the Kennedy family find comfort, peace and understanding even in the darkness of the days ahead.
They have not lost a father, they have been blessed with the knowledge in the lesson of true leadership. May our Heavenly Father bless them and keep them safe in the harms of this world from this day forward.
Thank you to the Kennedy family for sharing yours sons, brothers and fathers with us, knowing this country would not be what it is without their leadership.
This is my farewell to ted kennedy you are now in a better place yet with out you I wonder what this place would have been. You made this place an alot better place to live
If any others would like feel free to post your farewells about someone you lost or about ted kennedy
www.Myfarewells.com
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.
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday mourned Edward Kennedy as a friend and mentor whose work lifted millions of Americans, putting aside friction over her presidential campaign.
Clinton called the senator, whose death at age 77 drew a curtain on half a century of leadership by the iconic liberal family, ?one of our nation?s finest statesmen and a dear friend.?
?His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans who are freer, healthier and more prosperous because of his efforts,? she said in a statement.
?As he said, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die,? she said, quoting from Kennedy?s celebrated concession speech when he lost his 1980 presidential bid.
The Kennedy family was close to Clinton and her husband Bill Clinton when he was president. Bill Clinton famously cited an early meeting with President John F. Kennedy, the senator?s late brother, as an inspiration to enter politics.
On Wednesday, Bill Clinton paid tribute to Kennedy as ?one of the most influential leaders of our time? praising his efforts to promote healthcare reform.
?His big heart, sharp mind, and boundless energy were gifts he gave to make our democracy a more perfect union,? the former president said in a statement." Wednesday, August 26, 2009
http://www.staunchusa.com/2009/08/hillary-clinton-passing-sen-ted-kennedy/
Here's another one from Rush:
"Limbaugh falsely claims Bill and Hillary "Nurse Ratchet" Clinton "have not said a word" about Kennedy
August 26, 2009 2:00 pm ET
Later corrects: "They've issued statements, but I'm not telling you what they said"
From the August 26 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:
So I guess you'll just have to blame Rush for not telling you what to think.
Well. Except those few that think Sarah Palin will be president in 2012. Perhaps they could apply for mental health counseling under the public option in health care reform.