The Dream shall never die

The dream shall never die: this line from one of the greatest speeches in American rhetorical history, coming as it did at the end of the Democratic nomination campaign of 1980, symbolizes in many ways Senator Edward Kennedy’s selfless dedication to public service, to the cause of the least among us, and the tragedies that have marked the much-celebrated Kennedy family story. President Obama, in comments made earlier today, said Senator Edward Kennedy was the greatest and most influential Senator of our generation, and he should know: not only has Senator Edward Kennedy’s legislative leadership been crucial and, in many cases, determinative in the passage of many of the most important programs and laws currently in place, most notably those having to do with Health Care, he was even responsible, as then-candidate Obama revealed in a campaign speech, for a bill that allowed President Obama’s father to come to the United States to attend school, which is how, ultimately, his parents met. Senator Edward Kennedy was not without flaws. But, to a large extent, his reputation as a recalcitrant idealist and political partisan did not do justice to his true character. To most who knew him personally, including some on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum, Senator Edward Kennedy – partly because he was “a man of his word” – was known for his ability to build consensus across significant divides and forge seemingly improbable coalitions. Sentator Edward Kennedy’s dream, his lifelong passion to pass legislation to provide affordable Health Care for all who want it, will certainly not die with his passing.