'Greatest Legislator of Our Time'

" Your eminence. -- Kara. Edward. Patrick. Current. Carolina. Members of the Kennedy family distinguished guests. And fellow citizens. Today we say goodbye. To the youngest child. -- rose. And Joseph Kennedy. The world will long remember their son Edward. As Pierre. Kuwaiti legacy. The champion. For those who have not. The soul of the Democratic Party. In the lie and the United States senate. A man who -- nearly 1000 laws. Who penned more than 300 laws himself. But those of us who loved him. An -- with his passing. Military Kennedy's. -- other titles to help. Husband. Grandfather. Uncle -- Or as he was often known to his younger nieces and nephews. The grand for -- the big cheese. -- So many others. In the city where he worked for nearly half a century. Knew him as a colleague. A mentor and above all as a front. Ted Kennedy. With the baby of the family -- became its patriarch. The -- streamer. Who became. Its rock. He was sunny joyful child who bore the brunt of his Brothers teasing us. But learned quickly how to brush it off. When the tossed them off the ball. Because -- noted Jim was six year old Kerry got back again and learn to say. When a photographer asked the newly elected Bobby. To step back a press conference because. He was casting a shadow on his younger brother up to equipped. Will be the same Washington. That's spirit of resilience. And good humor. With security through more of pain and tragedy than most of us will ever know. He lost two siblings by the age of sixty. The sought to more taken violently. From a country -- them. He said goodbye to his beloved sister Eunice in the final days of his life. He narrowly survived a plane crash. Watch your children struggle with cancer. Very three nephews. And experience personal failings and setbacks. In the most public way possible. The string of events. That would have broken. A lesser man. It would have been easy for Ted. Let himself become better than heart. To surrender to self pity. And regret. Retreat from public life and live out his years in peaceful quiet. No one. Would blame him for that. But that was not Ted Kennedy. As he told us. Individual faults and frailties are no excuse to give him. And no exemption from the common obligation. To give of ourselves. Indeed Ted was the happy warrior but the port. Words were spoke grove when he wrote. This attempted more and more able to endure. As more exposed to suffering and distress. -- also more alive to tenderness. Through his own suffering. That Kennedy became more alive to the plight and suffering. Of others. Sick child -- about your doctor. The young soldier denied -- rights because of what she looks like her who she loves her where she comes from. Landmark laws that he championed the Civil Rights Act. The Americans -- disabilities act immigration reform children's health. Insurance of the family Medical Leave Act all have a running threat. That's Kennedy's life work was not true champion. The causes of those who have wealth or power -- the special connections. Mr. given voice to those who were not hurt. To -- wrong to letter of opportunity. To make real the dream. -- Who's given the gift of time but his Brothers and we're not gonna use that gift to touch. As many lives. And write as many wrongs as the years would allow. We can still hear. His voice bellowing through the Senate chamber. Based threatened to fist pounding the podium. A veritable force of nature. In support of health care workers rights -- civil rights. And yet has been noted. Wallace causes became deeply. Personal. His disagreements never -- While it was seen by his fiercest critics who is a partisan lightning rod that's not the prison. Through which Ted Kennedy saw the world. Nor what -- the prism through which is colleagues. Saw Ted Kennedy. This product of an age when the joy and nobility of politics prevented differences the party here. Platform and philosophy from becoming barriers to cooperation and mutual respect. Time when adversaries still saw each -- as patriots. That's objectivity became the greatest legislative part time. He did at my viewing the principle yes but also by. Seeking compromise and common cause. Not to deal making and horse trading alone but through friendship. In kindness. And humor. There was the time he courted Orrin hatch. For support. Of the Children's Health Insurance Program by having his chief of staff serenade -- Senator with a song or had written himself. The time we delivered shamrock cookies on a China plate to -- but -- Republican colleagues. The famous story of how he won the support of the Texas committee chairman an immigration bill that he. Walked into a meeting with a plain Manila envelope and showed only the chairman that was filled with the Texans favorite cigar. When negotiations were going well he would inch the envelope closer to the chairman. When they weren't. People look back. Before long the deal was done. We've only a few years ago on Saint Patrick's Day when. -- button hold me on the floor of the Senate for my support of a certain piece of legislation was coming up for vote. I gave my pledge but expressed skepticism that it would pass. When the roll call was over the bill garnered -- votes it needed to -- some. I -- to tell you -- astonishment at how can be done but it is patted me on the back and said. Luck of the Irish. Of course luck had little to do -- it Ted Kennedy's legislative success. He knew that. A few years ago -- father in law told him that he and Daniel Webster. Just might be the two greatest senators of all time. -- What do Webster do. The daughter is. Tennis -- body of achievements the we will remember. It is. Is giving part. That we woman's. With a friend and colleague who was always the first to pick up the phone. And say I'm sorry for your loss or I hope you feel better or. What can I do to help. It was the boss so adored by his staff that over 500. Spanning five decades showed up for his 75 birthday card. The man who sent birthday wishes and thank you notes and even his own payments to so many who never imagined that a US senator of such stature would. Take the time to think about somebody like him. I have one of those paintings in my private study. Off the Oval Office. At Cape Cod sea escape it was a gift to a freshman legislator. Who had just arrived in Washington and happened to admire -- Ted Kennedy welcomed him into his office. And by the way is my second gift from -- after our dog -- And it seems like everyone has one of those stories. The ones that often start with you wouldn't believe who called me today. Ted Kennedy was the father who looks not only after his own three children but Johnson Bob uses one. He took him camping yet and talk from the sale. He laughed and -- them birthdays and weddings cried and mourn with them through hardship and tragedy. And passed on that same sense of service. And selflessness. Whose parents instilled in him. Shortly after -- walked Caroline. The island gave her away at the altar. He received a note from Jackie. The red. On new with the carefree youngest brother. Phillip Burton a hero. Would have that have been spared. We're all going to make it because you were always there with -- Not only did the Kennedy family make it because Ted's love he made it because of this especially because. Love. In the life he found convicted. After so much loss and some Mozart wrote it could not have been easy for Ted the -- started yep maybe do it. A testament to how deeply loved this remarkable woman from Louisiana. And she didn't just want him back as Ted would often acknowledged that he saved. She -- strength and purpose. Georgian friendship. And stood by him moments especially in those last part of space. We cannot know for certain. How long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials -- most misfortunes that will test us along the way. We cannot know. What God's plan is for us. We can -- to live out our lives as best we can -- purpose. And would love law. And would -- Reviews each day the show. Those were closest to us how much we care about the we treat others -- the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our films. And can strive at all cost to make a better world. But someday. If we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here we know that we spent it well. We made a difference but are fleeting presence. And lasting impact on the lives. Of others. This is not Ted Kennedy lived. This is his -- He once said there's already been mentioned -- his brother Bobby Witt. He need not be ideal lives of one large in death because what he was in life. And I imagine that. He would say the same bottoms up. The greatest expectations were placed upon Ted Kennedy shoulders because of who he wants. But he surpassed them all because of who he became. We do not wait for him today because the prestige attached to his name. Or his office we week because we loved this time contender here. Who persevered through pain and tragedy not for the sake of ambition or vanity. Not for wealth or power. But only for the people in the country that you look. In the days after September 11. Teddy made it a point to personally call each one of -- 177. Families. Of this state who lost a loved one in the attack. But he didn't stop there he kept calling and checking up on he thought the red tape to get them assistance in grief counselor. Invited them sailing played with their children -- would write each family a letter but -- the anniversary of that terrible day came along. One widow he wrote. The fall law. If you know so well. The passage of time. Never really heals. The tragic memories such a great loss. But we carry on. Because we have to. Because our loved ones who want -- In because there is there. Still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us. We carry on. Ted Kennedy has gone home now. Guided by his faith and by the lights. Of those that he has loved and lost. At last -- them once more. Leaving those of us who -- passing with the memories Seagate. The good that he did fit. The dream he kept alive. And single enduring image. Image of a man on a boat. My main -- Smiling broadly as -- sales into the win. Ready for whatever storms may come. Carried on toward some new and wondrous place. Just beyond the horizon. May god bless. That candidate. And may he rest in eternal peace."