Senator Kennedy has died

KSigkid · #1 08-26-2009, 09:17 AM

I'm usually not someone who reacts to celebrity deaths. I will say, though that I saw this on the news this morning and felt some sadness.

Senator Kennedy worked extremely hard for Massachusetts, and I can't say enough good things about his work on behalf of the Commonwealth. We talk a lot about how a Congressman is supposed to represent his constitutents - I think Senator Kennedy did that better than anyone. The Commonwealth will miss him dearly...I just hope for the citizens of Massachusetts that they get an effective advocate in the Senate sometime in the near future. Even as a Republican, I gave no second thought to voting for him when I was living in the Commonwealth.

My wife and I, by virtue of our respective jobs, got to deal with Senator Kennedy's office quite a bit. We were always impressed by the professionalism, honesty and accountability in the office. Even if he didn't personally agree with a position, he was willing to compromise if he thought that the proposal was in the best interests of the people. I think especially of the close relationship that he had with Governor Romney; they disagreed on many issues, but they had a lot of respect and admiration for each other, and on big projects (like the MA healthcare reform), they worked together to accomplish big goals. We talk about reaching across the aisle as some sort of cliche, but Senator Kennedy actually did it.

By virtue of growing up in New England, attending college in Boston for 4years and living in Boston for 3 years afterward. I got to know a great many people who had worked for Senator Kennedy, at all levels. To a person, they spoke very highly of him. He expected a lot out of his staff, but he also was more than willing to help them out with their careers if they had proven themselves in his office. I can't even begin to count the number of stories I heard of the Senator, displaying kindness towards current and former staffers.

I think, even with someone as public as Senator Kennedy, it's tough for people outside Massachusetts to understand just how much he (and the Kennedy family, to this day) meant to the Commonwealth. You go to Boston, the Cape, Martha's Vineyard...the Kennedy thumbprint is everywhere. I only lived in the Commonwealth for 7 years, so I don't think I'm the best person to speak on that issue (someone like nme525 would be better). But there's still something about the Kennedy name that holds power in Boston, and around the Commonwealth. I have to say that my opinion of him changed quite a bit in the time I lived in Boston, and by the time I left, I had an immense respect for him.

I think if you'd asked Joe Kennedy if he thought his sons would make an impact on the country, he would have said "Yes," without a moment's pause. But, if you'd told him that Ted Kennedy would make the biggest impact of them all, I don't think he would have believed you.

DrPhil · #2 08-26-2009, 09:20 AM

It was so cute when his former aide (was it his aide?) this morning talking about Kennedy's old briefcase that they called "the bag." If you wanted Kennedy to read something personally and sign it, you put it in "the bag" so he could take it home. He would go home with 20-30 things to read.

The next day he would return the paperwork to them with his scraggly handwriting and "ugh..," "go for it," or "come see me" on it. That sounds SO MUCH like my mentor--must be a generational thing.

KSigkid · #3 08-26-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil

It was so cute when his former aide (was it his aide?) this morning talking about Kennedy's old briefcase that they called "the bag." If you wanted Kennedy to read something personally and sign it, you put it in "the bag" so he could take it home. He would go home with 20-30 things to read.

The next day he would return the paperwork to them with his scraggly handwriting and "ugh..," "go for it," or "come see me" on it. That sounds SO MUCH like my mentor--must be a generational thing.

I think it's definitely a generational thing - I've worked for a couple of different people from that era who had the same type of system. They were also the ones who resisted getting Blackberries because they were afraid of becoming "disorganized."

DrPhil · #4 08-26-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think it's definitely a generational thing - I've worked for a couple of different people from that era who had the same type of system. They were also the ones who resisted getting Blackberries because they were afraid of becoming "disorganized."

Definitely. My parents and my mentor are among the least technologically savvy people ever because they don't think it's necessary and it can't be trusted. Email is the most that they will do and that's mostly to quickly answer your question or to say LET'S MEET.

I think that's why I'm not big on most forms of technology. I got a Blackberry months ago and use the Internet. That's enough.

MysticCat · #5 08-26-2009, 09:49 AM

I was saddened to see the news this morning, especially following so close after Eunice Kennedy Shriver's death. It truly seems like the end of an era. (I remember watching Bobby Kennedy's funeral on TV.)

Whether one agreed with his politics or not (sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't), I don't see how it can be denied that he spent his life doing his best to serve his country and its people -- especially those who so often had little voice among the more powerful.

Requiem aeternam.

epchick · #6 08-26-2009, 11:32 AM

RIP Senator Kennedy

deepimpact2 · #7 08-26-2009, 01:03 PM

I'm struggling with this one. I don't even know what to say...

33girl · #8 08-26-2009, 03:42 PM

This makes me feel far older and far more grown up than I ever wanted to feel.

R.I.P., Senator.

mu_agd · #9 08-26-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSigkid

(someone like nme525 would be better).

I haven't checked the site in a few weeks due to other stuff going on in my life, and when i come here, I see a screenname I use for almost every place but here!

But to this, I was very sad to hear about Senator Kennedy's passing this morning, even though I've been expecting it for months. And it's so tough with it this soon after Eunice's passing. I know myself and many other people thought of the Kennedy's as Massachusetts form of royalty. The family was so involved with so much that went on in this state.

My company had our "holiday party" at the JFK Library this year. it was the first time I had been there in a long time, but it's still just so amazing to watch the videos they have and see all that they have on display about the family.

I totally teared up again a little while ago at the ceremony the Sox had before the game.

KSigkid · #10 08-26-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mu_agd

I haven't checked the site in a few weeks due to other stuff going on in my life, and when i come here, I see a screenname I use for almost every place but here!

Whoops, sorry about that

ASTalumna06 · #11 08-27-2009, 03:42 AM

Growing up in New England, it was weird to move somewhere else and not have people fully understand The Kennedys as they are known in the far northeast. As someone has already said, they really were like royalty.

I didn't agree with Senator Kennedy's policies much at all, and I've made the same comments and jokes about Chappaquiddick that everyone else has. But I was able to listen to 96.9fm (a Boston station) this morning on the internet, for only an hour before work, and I can't even tell you how many phone calls were made in to the show by people who had a good memory to share about Ted Kennedy. And not just things that they saw on tv, but actual interactions that they had with him, whether it be in person, on the phone, through email or letters.

There was one woman who called in who said that her mother died not too long ago, and while going through her things, she found a letter from Kennedy that, to sum it up, basically said, "Thank you for all of your support during this time." This was shortly after the Chappaquiddick story broke, and she assumed that her mother wrote a letter to the senator saying that she was still standing behind him.

Another person mentioned how one of his friends was in the military, and while fighting overseas, his wife was killed in a car accident. He returned home, and was obviously extremely upset. They told him some time later that he would have to return to active duty, but he was still extremely upset and didn't feel that he would be able to perform his job as he did before. He contacted the senator, and a short time later he received word that he would not be required to return.

Someone else called and said that he had met Kennedy at a charity event, they struck up a conversation, he gave the senator his business card, and he received a "holiday card" from Kennedy a couple weeks later. The two then began conversing, and from then on would just chat on the phone every so often, about everyday things.

Whatever his policies, he definitely was someone who looked out for the people of Massachusetts, and for everyone in this country, and who was always willing to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to help out the little guy.