Ted Kennedy Tribute & Speech from 2008 DNC (video)
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This video shows an emotional introduction by Caroline Kennedy, along with a video tribute to the life and work of Sen. Ted Kennedy, followed by a rousing speech by the senator himself, who spoke before an adoring audience of Democratic delegates.
Sen. Kennedy urged his audience to recall that “we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world, and I pledge to you that I will be there next January, on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test”. (In fact, he fulfilled that promise, despite the ravages of fighting brain cancer.)
Kennedy added that:
… for me this is a season for hope, new hope for justice and fair prosperity, for the many and not just for the few, new hope —and this is the cause of my life—, new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American, north, south, east, west, young, old, that every American will have decent quality healthcare as a fundamental right and not a privilege…
He died before that overwhelming challenge could be achieved, but the political climate in Washington has never been closer to achieving reforms capable of extending healthcare coverage to nearly every citizen. As Sen. Kennedy now departs the scene, it’s worth noting why he felt Barack Obama was the president the nation needs in these turbulent and challenging times.
Kennedy extolled Obama’s vision and his commitment to higher principles, his defense of the downtrodden and his understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship and of service. He called out to his audience “The work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on”. Kennedy not only saw Obama as being the candidate to whom the torch of his late brother’s optimist and visionary presidency should be passed, but as a public servant fit to lead because he understood the struggles of ordinary people.
The speech shows how much vitality Kennedy retained, even in the midst of a grueling battle with cancer, and how determined he was to give generously in his role as senator. It also marks his last great address in so visible a forum, and may have been, in a way, his own passing of the torch, and his own reluctant farewell.
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