Witnessing Ted Kennedy Speak

Many have asked me what it was like seeing Ted Kennedy speak and what the energy was like in the Pepsi Center when he spoke.

For those of you who have grown up in the last 20 years or those of you who just haven't been paying attention, Senator Ted Kennedy of Masschusettes has been an interesting character in American politics.

The brother of John and Robert Kennedy, both of whom were assisinated and continue to be reveared, Ted Kennedy has been lighten-rod of criicism. Seen as left of liberal, Senator Kennedy has recently received acknowlegement on both sides for his more moderate stances. In fact, Senator Kennedy is one of the chief sponsors of No Child Left Behind educational legistlation that is seen as a marked success from conservatives and is often chided by supporters on the left.

Known as "the lion" of the Senate, when it was announced that Senator Kennedy would undergo emergency brain surgery to remove an often-fatal type of brain cancer, people from all sides of the political spectrum began celebrating this long-time political icon and praying for his recovery.

It was no small feat that Senator Ted Kennedy, just a few months after surgery, appear before the Deomcratic Convention and give the type of impassioned speech he gave. Say what you will about his politics, he certainly was animated and passionate. I don't know what people expected, but I was impressed with the clarity and energy with which Kennedy spoke.

The feeling inside the Pepsi Center before he came on was electric. It had only been a few days that rumors abound that Kennedy would speak. Most people doubted that it would be possible. But 20 minutes before he was introduced, signs that simply said "Kennedy" began to be passed out by the convention staffers. I don't even remember who was speaking before his niece introduced him, but whoever it was certainly didn't have the attention of those of us in the convention hall.

Since it was the first day, I wasn't in the habit of collecting signs, but my first lesson that signs were considered valuable to people was when they began collecting the 'extra' Kennedy signs. It was clear that people present wanted a piece of history and were honored to be a part of what some considered Kennedy's final address to a Democratic Convention.

In his speech, Senator Kennedy promised that he would be here in January to witness teh inauguation of the first African-American President. At these words, the crowd cheered raucously. Not only were they honoring his compative and resilient nature, but all of us were in our own small way saying, "You can do it, Teddy; you can make it" with each of our cheers and claps. You could sense the crowd willing him to live until January.

After his speech, many of the members of the news corp were looking for delegates who would offer some kind of morbid quote about being one of the few to witness Senator Kennedy's last speech. None around me were willing to make such a morose statement. You could feel, however, and in some conversations hear, the statements of concern that he might not be able to make it to January.

Say what you will about Ted Kennedy, it was an honor to be in that hall that night and listen to this political icon. I hope he does make it until January 20th regardless of the election results...and to many more months and years of health and good fortune.