He was just a kid when he first became a Senator. He was in the

[Raven]

shadow of his famous brothers then. I remember once seeing him and his brother Bobby in the well of the Senate, whispering to eachother and then laughing...a private family joke, I thought. He saw both beloved brothers into their graves and he made some serious mistakes, personal and political. He ran for President and I worked on that campaign and was at the convention in New York. I thought he was uncomfortable with it all, stiff, self conscious, not happy. He lost and I think in his concession speech he laid out his future when he said that the dream would nenver die. I saw that night, and have always seen it since, as Ted Kennedy's coming into him own...his decision to be the best Senator. He put his head down, plowed ahead and now we have it.

He was a worker, a reader, a listener and a master of details. He had one of the best constituent services staff ever known in Washington. He always knew that his power came from the people and the people he helped and inspired were at the JFK Library yesterday and today to power him into God's arms.

The man had a big mind and a huge heart. A heart big enough to embrace all kinds of people...this from a man who grew up at a time, as I did, where the Irish were not welcomed in many places in Boston. He turned that on its ear and welcomed everybody.

The so-called Christians on the right, some of whom have been running their mouths today, the politicians on the right who clamor to be counted as "a friend of Teddy" should take a long look into their hearts and their lives and resolve to be more like the man with the big smile, the booming voice and the huge heart.

Amen, Teddy. Go with God.

[ezgoingrl]

1. Bravo!

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[KittyWampus]

2. Can you imagine trying to live up to a bona fide war hero as your brother? Jack wrote on Ted's

birth, which was on George Washington's birthday, saying he should be the baby's godfather and they should name him George Washington. They let Jack be the godfather but settled with a different name :)

[Raven]

3. No, it must have been awful for him but he found his way and it was

the right way and the best way for all of us.

[Jennicut]

4. He was only 30....3 years younger then me.

I cannot imagine going through what he went through by the age of 30.