Robert Travaglini's comments

The following is a partial transcript, slightly edited, of former Senate president Robert Travaglini's speech today as he announced his resignation.

As you can well imagine. that was not an easy decision to reach and it didn't happen over night. But what it did do, was to allow me to become more of a husband and a father to my wife and my children. But for the last 25 years that I have held elected office, I have had the opportunity to meet a variety of different people, and during that time, I have made more friends, had more fun and had more of an affect as president of the Senate than I've had in the rest of my life. To say that serving as president of this distinguished body has been a privilege and an honor would be an understatement. If you can recall when you first placed your trust and confidence in me 4 ½ years ago, I said this would be a shared journey, that we would together face the challenges and the issues of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a collaborative, as a team. I challenged each and every one of you not to tell me how smart you were , but to show me. And show me you did, in a variety of different instances.

Today is a special day for me and for Terry. For me it marks an end of a commitment to you and the citizens of the Commonwealth as president of the Senate. And during the last four years, if you rewind the tape and play it back, we've done some remarkable things together. Legislative reorganization in a responsible manner, protecting core services, eliminating a $3 billion budget deficit, authorizing stem cell research, doing health care reform, economic stimulus. You name it, we've done it, and I couldn't be any prouder of each and every one of you for the energy, the commitment and the passion you brought to this (body). I promise myself that I would not lose control today, because for the last two days I have, and I don't mind admitting that. This will be the toughest part. If I can do this, I'll be okay. To my mother, the person I aspire to be and has allowed me to become all that I am, thank you.

To my wife, Kelly, who in my absence has done a remarkable job, with my three children, My oldest daughter is 17 and just started driving, so if you think I have a difficult (chore) in front of me, I've already got one at home. A remarkable job with my daughters and my son, please stand up.

During my tenure, I have been blessed not only with 39 friends, but a magnificent staff. Originally they were viewed as a collection of characters, whose chemistry and whose capacity was untested and then the games began. And boy did they play. You know, none of them in the beginning were All Stars, but in the end they all walked away with a title and with the respect of all of you.

And let me close by saying, that I'm moved by the presence of so many people here today, for Terry and I, because from the very beginning we have always been a package, we are part of the same class of 13 that came in (in 1993). God it seems so long ago, but we both rose through the ranks together. But I want to take the liberty of introducing somebody who is very special to me. Because when you go through adversity and when you face physical challenges, that's where you measure your friends. And when I was confronted with some difficulties a few years back when my wife was confused and concerned, and very upset, one man made some phone calls and put my wife at ease. And I have been his friend for 35 years, but I became more of his friend when he went out of his way to make sure that I was going to be okay and my wife was comforted. That's Mayor Tom Menino.

Obviously, we're honored with the presence of his Excellency the governor, a wonderful man, a good man, a man who is going to make a difference. And I know you're going to help.

We have some fun at Tim's expense, the speaker and I, but it won't happen today, lieutenant governor, I can assure you. But your presence and your experience are invaluable and will prove to be true as we continue with the dialogue and the discussion between the branches, and you are wise to have chosen that man, because in the end it's all going to be fine. And last but not least, the speaker of the house, who for the last 2 ½ years has worked with me. We have wined and dined and debated and discussed and exchanged profanities on occasion. But you have no idea how wonderful it has been and the difference it has made for me, of having Sal DiMasi as speaker of the house. Bob DeLeo was chairman of (House) Ways and Means and they're in my senatorial district.

So with that, you won't have me to kick around any more. There is a new target, one person who I am very fond of. So I will end my comments today by saying to all the people of the Suffolk Middlesex District... thank you. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your confidence, thank you for your contributions, and thank you for the vision that you've placed in me of being your leader and I have had a ball. Thank you for the memories, I'll treasure them always. God bless you.