Harvard awards honorary degree to Kennedy
(Globe staff photo/Matthew J. Lee)
Senator Edward Kennedy is congratulated by his wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, as Harvard President Drew G. Faust looks on at today's ceremony on the Harvard campus.
By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff
Senator Edward M. Kennedy received an honorary degree from Harvard University this afternoon at a rousing ceremony that highlighted his longtime commitment to public service.
Kennedy, a 1956 graduate, was originally to have received the degree at Harvard's commencement last spring but could not attend because he was recuperating from brain surgery for a malignant tumor.
In heartfelt and nostalgic remarks, Kennedy called the degree “a rare privilege” and said he was deeply grateful for the honor. He appeared strong and in good spirits, often standing without the benefit of a cane.
He received a standing ovation and sustained applause throughout his speech. Click here for the text of his remarks.
His days at Harvard, he said, were “fresh as youth and yesterday.”
“It was exactly 100 years ago this September that my father entered Harvard College as a freshman -- to be followed in the next generation by Jack, Joe, Bobby and then by me,'' he said. "At home and here at Harvard, which became a second home, I learned to prize history, to play football and to believe in public service.
"And along the way, I have also learned lessons in the school of life, that we should take issues seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously, that political differences may make us opponents, but should never make us enemies, that battles rage and then quiet,'' Kennedy said.
"Above all, I have seen throughout my life how we as a people can rise to a challenge, embrace change and renew our destiny,'' he said.
Harvard President Drew G. Faust, who presented Kennedy with the honorary degree, said the senator had “worked tirelessly on behalf of society’s most vulnerable members.”
“He has made himself part of their struggles and hope for a better life,” Faust said. “He has made their dreams his own.”
She added: "He is a national leader, but a local servant. He belongs to all of us.''
The convocation, at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, also featured remarks by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Vice President-elect Joe Biden attended the ceremony.
With the honor, Kennedy joined an elite group who has received honorary degrees at special Harvard convocations, including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, James Monroe, Winston Churchill, and Nelson Mandela.
The senator has maintained close ties to his alma mater, helping to create Harvard's Institute of Politics -- which honors his brother, President John F. Kennedy -- and serving on its board for decades.
In his speech today, Kennedy hailed the election of Barack Obama's as “a turning point in American history” and said the country had “reaffirmed its promise” and would unite to face common challenges.
“In Barack Obama we will now have a president who offers not just the audacity, but the possibility of hope for one America, strong and prosperous and free,” he said.
Comment
Permalink
Email
This is Kennedy Country! Millions of Blacks trapped on the DemocRAT welfare plantation. The core of our cities destroyed with public housing, drugs, violence, and hate. Our middle class weakened by the onslaught of illegal aliens. Kennedy Country!
no mention of the fact that Kennedy was thrown out of Harvard Law for cheating?
Let me understand this...... A very rich man who gets expelled from Harvard Law School for CHEATING!!!!, who drives a car off a bridge while drunk and kills a woman...("allegedly").....and who cheats on his wife is welcomed back to Harvard with open arms????.....Not Bad!!!.....What a Country!!!
P.S. as Nixon said, "Kennedy's get away with everything!!!"
"...I learned to prize history, to play football and to believe in public service....." and to cheat and be expelled from this great university until they caved to the threats of my family and allowed me to re-enroll....
Anybody think of inviting Joan Kennedy to this big bash??......I thought naught......the Liberal Lion ruined Joan for life......read HER book on 'Big Boy' Ted Kennedy and get back to me..OK??
Didn't this alcoholic scum bag
A) make his money bootlegging booze &
B) dump some chicks body over the Borne Bridge?
C) have multiple rape acquisations dispersed amoung various members of his family (only to see them walk)
Oh give the guy a break, he is a kennedy. It must be hard born with a silver spoon in your mouth and how did they earn their money? Not honestly, so why should we expect them to pull for regular people? The two-party system is to blame for repressing we the people Not the Demorats or Republican'ts. Si se puede, yes they can outsource everything and gain at our expense.
I was going to leave a much longer comment but I didn't feel the need after reading the first five comments. You guys hit the nail on the head. The liberals love this guy just because he's proud to be a liberal even though most of his accomplishments have had a negative affect on this country. And his position on illegal immigration is nothing but ridiculous. He is willing to hand this country over to illegal immigrants and their families just because he feels the need to do good. He must really hate America to let that happen, or maybe himself.
I don't understand how a cheating hypocritical lowlife like Ted Kennedy continues to be reelected and receive honors from Ivy League universities. His continued presence indicates a lack of integrity and ethics in Massachusetts voters, no different from the voters who supported Dianne Wilkerson. But Kennedy has gone much further in his malfeasance. He has betrayed his constituents many, many times. For example, when the last amnesty for illegal immigrants was approved in 1986, Kennedy vowed this was the LAST time. He lied and all the other Democrats beholden to big business lied and the American worker is now left with the very sad situation of no jobs now that they have been taken by illegal immigrants or by H1-B, H2-B, or L-1 visa holders. I hope Kennedy dies very soon and it's a very painful death, he deserves no less.
Sen. Kennedy's tenderness throughout his political career touches us all. Sen. Kennedy first introduced "The Employee Free Choice Act", S. 1925 in 2003, and with Sen. Arlen Specter, re-introduced S. 842 in 2005. This bill awaits passage in the new Congress. The Committee on Education and Labor of the 110th Congress says this about (EFCA / H.R. 800):
"The Employee Free Choice Act is about giving workers basic dignity and respect in their workplace--a tradition that is deeply rooted in our nation's history. It is about allowing employees to make their own decision about whether they want to bargain together..." We will win this one for you!
And of course everyone who posts here has absolutely perfect lives. They've never made a mistake in their lives. For those who think Teddy doesn't repent every day for his mistakes, you're wrong. The fact that he never became President haunts him every day.
Let us, for once, unite to recognize the man for what he has done rather than berate him for his shortcomings. Everyone who is posting negatively about him has benefited by legislation he has championed and positions he has taken against popular opinion for the past almost five decades.
A cheat, a murderer,an adulterer! Nice choice Harvard! As a Yale graduate, I find your lack of ethics disgusting, but consistent with limousine liberalism that is the legacy Harvard. The only one worst than Ted is Patches the drunken, addict. At least, he has not killed someone like old Dad.
You people are sad, why not put partisianship aside for a day?
I can't believe that the only five comments here are from these ignorant, clueless, mannerless five year olds.
No person I know of has lived a mistake free life. No person I know of has lived without regrets. What is important--what counts--is how these lapses are weighted in the balance of one's life accomplishments. Kennedy has earnedf this degree.
I can not tell you how glad I am that small minded, judgmental, jerks like you are not a part of my life.
BTW, Senator Kennedy graduated from the University of Virginia Law School. His academic suspension, or whatever it was, was as an undergraduate at Harvard. After a two-year stint in the armed services, he returned to Harvard and graduated with a bachelor's degree.
You're all a bunch of angry pessimists still mad that John McInsane lost the election. Ted Kennedy has over 40 years of public service and more accomplishments than any other US Senator in the past 100 years.
Get your facts straight m joe and Rick, Ted Kennedy wasn't kicked out of Harvard Law School. He graduated from Harvard undergratuate, where he was suspended for a year becuase he had a friend write a paper for him. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia.
You know, years ago I would have agreed with all the posts here. But somewhere along the way Ted Kennedy did a pretty good job of cleaning up his act, and doing a LOT of good for this Commonwealth. Does that redeem his earlier deeds? Last I checked it's not my place to judge, and I have faith we all are responsible for all the good and bad we do here.
All that said, Kennedy has accompished so much good for this state that I personally fear what his eventual loss will do, and how much it will affect those of us who live here, not to mention the effect he has had on important legislation. He is one of few in Washington who have enough clout to actually get stuff done. So guess I'd rather applaud that good right now, then only focus on the bad.
And you know, I agree. What a country! A man can be that low and still come back, rise above it and do much good. Guess it's how you look at it and if your glass is half empty or full!
So much vitriolic criticism so far!
All of you are perfect?
He has done much more good than harm.
I'm sure that my Dad is rolling over in his grave over this one! As a 1914 class graduate of Harvard he was always VERY proud that he had worked his butt off both before being accepted into Harvard and while he was being matriculated through his undergraduate years in order to be able to pay the tuition and other expenses.
Follow the money - good old Joe, Sr. dumped millions of his "hard earned" (every time you buy scotch you are contributing to the Kennedy family) into Harvard to keep his cheating (both at Harvard and on his wife), murdering (Mary Jo didn't have a chance), drunken fool (along with his buddy Chris Dodd
from from CT) that has never worked a day in his life
FDR
I really wish we could sue the Boston Globe and the Mainstream Media for Journalism Malpractice. Don't you think mentioning the expulsions and cheating would be relevant in this article? This is a pure propaganda piece fore Ted Kennedy. He'll continue to attempt to create extreme Liberal laws, but no one will be able to criticize him, because of his condition. He should get out of the arena if he or supporters can't take the heat.
BTW the comments that people are writing here are cynical because people are frustrated with the white wash this newspaper "reports" about Liberals.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Globe Metro on Twitter
INside Boston.com
LOCAL BLOGS
Universal Hub
The Chinatown Blog
CommonWealth Magazine
Hub Blog
Blue Mass Group
H20town
Boston 1775
The Berkeley Beacon
The Daily Free Press
The Harvard Crimson
The Heights
The Huntington News
The Suffolk Journal
The Tufts Daily