英語視頻：Sen. Edward Kennedy's Life and Service

婉蕠 · 2009-08-29 07:21:53Z

英語視頻：Sen. Edward Kennedy's Life and Service簡介

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英語視頻：Kennedy Friend Speaks of Sen. Edward Kennedy's Life and Service (ZT)

New York lawyer Ted Sorensen was a speech writer for the late Senator Edward Kennedy. He worked in the White House for President John F. Kennedy and was an advisor to Senator Robert Kennedy, both who were assassinated. But these days Sorenson, a lawyer in New York City, is often simply called a friend of the Kennedys. This week, Sorenson spoke at home with VOA's New York Bureau Chief Bernard Shusman. Here, in his own words are Sorensen's reflections on the life of Edward Kennedy, who died late Tuesday night:

"Ted Kennedy, whom I knew -- whose's been a friend of mine for 56 years -- picked up the fallen torch of his brother, President John Kennedy, and his brother, presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, and carried forward that legacy -- striving to fulfill their ideals of accessible health care for all, of civil rights - equal opportunity for everyone in this country, and a good education for everyone in this country."

"Ted Kennedy, himself, would have told you the fulfillment of those Kennedy ideals is not dependent upon one person. It's not dependent even on a Kennedy. It's dependent upon all those who believe in that standard."

"I have many moments of pleasure with Ted Kennedy, because he was part of a wonderful family. And I took part in fishing trips and touch football games at Hyannis Port [Massachusetts] with all the Kennedys including Ted -- who was always the jolliest, the funniest and the most loveable of them all."

"I think President Obama is the man who will dream the same dreams, share the same ideals and carry that wonderful legacy forward."

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Ted Kennedy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. In office from November 1962 until his death, Kennedy served nine terms in the Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, and the third-longest-serving senator in U.S. history. He was best known as one of the most outspoken and effective Senate proponents of liberal causes and bills. For many years the most prominent living member of the Kennedy family, he was the son of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., the youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both victims of assassinations, and the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.

Kennedy entered the Senate in a 1962 special election to fill the seat once held by his brother John. He was elected to a full six-year term in 1964 and was reelected seven more times. The 1969 Chappaquiddick incident resulted in the death of automobile passenger Mary Jo Kopechne; Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, and the incident significantly damaged his chances of ever becoming President of the United States. His one attempt, in the 1980 U.S. presidential election, resulted in a primary campaign loss to incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Known for his oratorical skills, Kennedy's 1968 eulogy for his brother Robert and his 1980 Democratic National Convention rallying cry for modern American liberalism were among his best-known speeches. He became known as "The Lion of the Senate" through his long tenure and influence. More than 300 bills that Kennedy and his staff wrote were enacted into law. He was known for working with Republicans and finding compromises among senators with disparate views. Kennedy played a major role in passing many laws, including laws addressing immigration, cancer research, health insurance, apartheid, disability discrimination, AIDS care, civil rights, mental health benefits, children's health insurance, education and volunteering. In the 2000s, he led several unsuccessful immigration reform efforts. Over the course of decades, Kennedy's "cause of my life" was enactment of universal health care, which he continued to work toward during the Obama administration.

In May 2008, Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor which limited his appearances in the Senate. He died on August 25, 2009, at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.