Kennedy to be knighted
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts will receive an honorary knighthood, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced during his address this morning to a joint session of Congress.
A British government official said Queen Elizabeth is bestowing the accolade to Kennedy in part for his services to Northern Ireland, but also for his work over a lifetime providing greater access to healthcare for children and greater access to education around the world.
"I hope that you will allow me to single out for special mention today one of your most distinguished senators, known in every continent and a great friend," Brown said. "Northern Ireland today is at peace, more Americans have healthcare, children around the world are going to school, and for all those things we owe a great debt to the life and courage of Senator Edward Kennedy."
Brown drew a sustained standing ovation from members of Congress for his announcement, and again when he called him "Sir Edward Kennedy." Officially, though, since Kennedy is not a British subject, he will have "K.B.E." -- for Knight of the British empire -- after his name.
Brown said he spoke to Kennedy on Tuesday night to tell him of his latest honor. He was not in attendance at the speech.
"I'm deeply grateful to Her Majesty the Queen and to Prime Minister Brown for this extraordinary honor," Kennedy said in a statement. "I have always prized the opportunity to work with the British government and strengthen and deepen the role of our two countries as leading beacons of democracy in the world. I am proud that I was able to play a part in the decades-long effort to bring peace to Northern Ireland.
"I also think of my ties to Britain that stretch back across the years-from my childhood to the Kennedy Scholars today who come from Britain to study in America. It was from Britain that my oldest brother left for his last mission during World War II. It is in Britain that a portion of land at Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed, is now designated as American soil and dedicated to President Kennedy as a gift of the British people. So for me, this honor is moving and personal- a reflection not only of my public life, but of things that profoundly matter to me as an individual. I accept this honor in the spirit in which it is given, with a continuing commitment to be a voice for the voiceless and for the shared ideals of freedom and fairness which are so fundamental to the character of our two countries."
The ailing lawmaker has been recuperating and receiving treatment for brain cancer in Florida but is expected back in Washington this week, possibly for Thursday's healthcare summit hosted by the White House.
Representative Patrick Kennedy, one of the first to greet Brown after his speech, joked that he would have to start calling his father "sir'' -- although the honor does not, under British tradition, entitle the senator to the moniker "Sir Edward Kennedy,'' as Brown informally called him.
"Typical of my dad, he said, 'I hope the Irish don't get angry with me for accepting this,' '' said the younger Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat who said he assured his father that his long work on the Irish peace process would erase any resentment over accepting a title from the queen.
Notably, Brown made no mention of violence in Northern Ireland in his address -- an omission Representative Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat long involved in the Irish peace process, called a "staggering'' commentary on the progress that has been made. Neal joined several other Irish-American lawmakers in escorting Brown down the aisle of the House floor, a courtesy that would have been unthinkable during the darkest days of the conflict.
The British consul general in New England, Phil Budden, said in a statement: "The British Prime Minister today honored Senator Kennedy for his service, friendship, and vision, especially in building bridges among our nations. Only a year ago, the Senator generously welcomed the Prime Minister to the JFK Library here in Boston, where he gave a speech building on the reconciliation in Northern Ireland and opening a new chapter of collaboration on dialogue with many more nations. For this and for the reasons outlined by my Prime Minister, I am delighted to add my own personal thanks and congratulations to the Senator."
Brown, who met with President Obama on Tuesday, also reinforced the friendship and cooperation of Britain and Europe for the United States. He said he wanted to renew the special friendship between the two countries, saying it was more important than ever to deal with the "economic hurricane" sweeping the world.
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CONGRATULATIONS, SIR TED!
well deserved
Wow, Sir Kennedy.... Thankfully the constitution forbids US citizens from receiving ranks of entitlement or anything that bestows an aristocratic title (somehow Lawyers get away with esquire though). I like Ted, but I know if I could stomach calling him Sir Ted Kennedy.
Still, quite an honor. Congratulations.
A knighthood from the Queen of England, it does not get better than that, except a Nobel. I don't always agree with Senator Kennedy, but it is quite an honor, and for all his (very real) faults he has done a great deal of good, especially for the peace process in Ulster, and is deserving of this honor. Congratulations are in order, as well as hopes for recovery and good health.
first King Obama, and now Knight Kennedy. it's starting to sound a lot like 1776 again...but this time Paul Revere will be driving through the streets screaming 'the liberals are coming, the liberals are coming!!!'
I'm sorry, with all due respect, thats ridiculous.
#1. JK, Crawl back under your rock! Congratulations, Ted!
Well Now we know Ted isn't Irish either.
Extremely smart politcal move by President Obama to pay
debt of Senator Kennedy's very early endorsement during
primary which was biggest blow to Hillary Clinton last year.
I have no doubt This is President Obama's idea.
Often UK is also political partner of the White House.
The fact that accepting a title is UNCONSTITUTIONAL will probably not bother Ted Kennedy: He has trying to pass (sometimes sucessfully!) unconstitutional legislation all of his political life!
Should he accept this "knighthood", he should RESIGN from the U.S. Senate.
Sir Edward Kennedy
Honor, faith, loyalty, courage, integrity, honesty, goodness
I guess knighthood really doesn't mean what it use to
Didn't they knight the killer Yasser Arafat? Oh, no that was the nobel peace prize.
More rewards for bad behavior.
hmm, non british citizens cant be knighted either, at least i thought so.
ahh
The bestowal of an honorary KBE on a non-British citizen does not confer the title 'Sir' on the holder. The recipient may put the letters 'KBE' after their name, subject to the rules laid down by the authorities of the recipient's country.
This is an Honorary title, and presumably not in violation of the Constitution. 85 other US figures received the same honor including -Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Tommy Franks, Henry Kissinger, Bob Hope, Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates. (Wash Post)
Good Show (Sir) Ted!
JK you are 100% right! The guy was drunk, drove off a dock, left his date to drown and didn’t notify authorities till the next day when he was sober! He isn’t fit for the presidency yet he is fit for knighthood? What a joke! The guy should have served 20 years! However, it is self-evident this is the land of the privileged!
To JK --- touche!! I agree with you!
Accepting a Knighthood from the Queen is unconstitutional JH Hill? Someone tell the Reagan Library so that they can return the one given to and accepted with great grace and thanks, by Ronald Reagan! Senator Kennedy paid a real role in the Northern Ireland peace process, and has been given honors and respects from both the Republic of Ireland and The United Kingdom, which Northern Ireland is a part of and the majority of those living in northern Ireland continue to support while still being proudly Irish, so they are well within their rights to offer this in thanks for his work for the peace.. I think the Senator is still plenty Irish K !(reference to post # 9)
Kelly, it's "Northern Ireland," not "Ulster."
Three of the nine counties of Ulster are part of the Republic of Ireland.
The other six remain occupied by England, where discrimination thrives.
Knights who say "ke.KNEE.dy".
Kelly, do not attempt to speak on behalf of the Irish in the North of Ireland. Those who support the UK and its rule and live in the North of Ireland, are not Irish. You, Kelly do not know what you are talking about.
An honor for the Senator, but an insult to the United States. Although an honorary title for a non-British subject, it still reeks of English imperialism. I mean, haven't we been free of all that since the late 1700s?
Could the Senator have graciously declined the knighthood?
Some of you folks need to look up "honorary" in the dictionary. It has no legal effect. And how funny that the Kennedy haters all line up to whine about this and call it illegal, etc, when the hero to many of them, Ronald Reagan, was similarly honored.
I am sure Senator Kennedy and his family are quite pleased with this honor, and congrats to him.
This makes me think better of the Queen and the British people, for bestowing a just honor on a man whose long public career, for all its bumps, remains an inspiration. Thank you, Gordon Brown, for delivering this good news to one of our nation's icons.
As a fellow Irishman, I'm uncomfortable with this.
How on earth is being knighted by the Queen of England unconstitutional?
Oh that's right, a lot of the Ted haters are a bunch of wackjob idiots.
Getting a knighthood is not unconstitutional. It simply requires the consent of congress. Quoting Article I, Section 9:
"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State"
Massachusetts' celebrity do-nothing Senator. Your whole state will collapse when this old jerk passes. Teddie has eight legislative accomplishments in 40 years. Mass is a national embarrassment.
Ted Kenedy has paid society for his unfortunate misdeed many times over through his unwavering service to the voiceless. Those who still hold umbridge toward Ted Kennedy are neither fair or very Christian.
Oh, Queen and Prime Minister dahlings....perhaps you didn't get the message.
We're NOT the colonies anymore. Make a note of it.
Because it's an honorary knighthood, Kennedy is not entitled to use "Sir" before his name. (Mr. Brown, good Scot that he is, apparently forgot that.) But he also owes no fealty to the Crown, and does have to provide troops or funding should the Queen issue a call for another invasion of France. In any event, I'm thinking that the good senator accepted this because he thinks it will give him a shot at Helen Mirren.
In my occasional dealings with the offices of Edward Kennedy, as a constituent, I have found his staff to be peerless. In my opinion, Senator Kennedy is a prince. But since our elected and appointed officials accept honorary knighthoods, and they have gone to at least one Bush, as well as to Reagan and to Colin Powell, I certainly would not want to begrudge one to a Kennedy. The fact that he did some meaningful diplomatic work with Northern Ireland, something that helped to bring about a just and lasting peace out of a truly dire situation, means that England has already been remiss in awarding this honor to him. Since he appears to be nearing retirement (or worse), it is about time.
Dennis, respectfully, my Irish family in Belfast are as Irish as my family in the Republic, and you do not speak for any of them, all of whom are proud to say they are Irish. And all of whom I have heard from today think the recognition of the Senator with a knighthood is an honor, and one well deserved. It is an honor for an Irish American from the government of our closest ally, and that is what matters.
The majority of the Northern Irish populace are Ulster Scotch.
The Republic of Ireland AND the UK do not lay any legal claim to the 6 counties.
Further, the destiny of Northern Ireland shall be determined by the Northern Irish populace exclusively.
In other words, should they wish to join the Irish Republic via a referendum, the UK will unconditionally accept this. Equally, if they voted to remain part of the Union, the Irish Republic would also unconditionally accept it.. I am a proud Catholic and a proponent for freedom and liberty. Today, do I hate England?
No! Those who do - please grow up.
This is an outrage. The IRA bombs English school children in my hometown of Warrington, England; Kennedy welcomes the head of the IRA's policitcal wing to Washington every year for many years and contributes financially to the IRA's political wing. Why the hell have we given him a knighthood? He has given credence in the U.S to an organization that bombs children in England. This is the same as if the U.S were to bestow an honor on an English citizen who had publicly welcomed Osama Bin Laden to London every year and financed his 'political wing'. Shameful when British troops fought and fight alongside U.S troops in Afghanistan. The sooner the Irish Americans learn that terrorist organizations that bomb school-children (and the politicians that support their existence) are to be criticized and ostracised the better. Helping the 'voiceless'? What a load of rubbish.Supporting terrorists is more like it. The queens own cousin (Lord Mountbatten) was murdered by the IRA -wonder how she feels at being forced by the Prime Minister to bestow a knighthood on this joker?
A few things for my fellow Irish-American's who have expressed concern with an "Irishman" (let's not forget Kennedy's really an American first and foremost) being knighted.
1) This is an honorary award specifically designed for non-British citizens and does not involve giving any form of allegiance to the monarchy.
2) In addition to several famous Americans, Bono was given this same honor a few years back and last time I checked he's still pretty darn Irish.
3) I 'd hope anyone who's genuinely interested in supporting the continued peaceful coexistence between the Protestants and Catholics of Northern Ireland and between the British and Irish nations, would view the Queen's willingness to salute another Irishman as step in the right direction rather than an opportunity to reignite the flames of violence.
according to an interview on NPR this morning, Americans cannot be called "sir" when knighted
He is the biggest embarrasement to this state and country
He will not be "Sir Ted." Only British-born citizens who are knighted may use that title. And this is not a real knighthood, it is an honorary one. The same honor given to Bill Gates, Rudy Giuliani and Steven Spielberg.
To andy bishop;
several years ago I would have said the same thing "grow up". Then I educated my self about what it was and is like to be raised and live as an Irish Catholic in the North of Ireland. You may wish to do the same. When you do, you will never tell those who hate the british to grow up.
Although he can be knighted, he cannot, as a non-subject of the crown, be referred to as "sir."
Even if such an "honorary" title runs afoul of Article I, section 9, clause 8 ("Title, of any kind whatever"), the likelihood of anyone gaining standing against Kennedy is probably about 0, because unless he is somehow influenced by the Brits to the detriment of a specific person as a result of this... no one would have more than a general grievance. Though I don't have the "Esq." yet, so you never know. ;)
Could someone explain why he deserves this? Hasn't he been on the wrong and failed side of most major issues involving US defense issues and foreign affairs? Doesn't he have a demonstrable history of immature, questionable, and unethical bvehaviour, from cheating on college exams through the tragic events on Martha's Vineyard and Palm Beach? Besides coming from money and being a poor substitute for his older brothers, just what exactly are his redeeming qualities?
why?
"This is an outrage. The IRA bombs English school children in my hometown of Warrington, England; Kennedy welcomes the head of the IRA's policitcal wing to Washington every year for many years and contributes financially to the IRA's political wing. Why the hell have we given him a knighthood? He has given credence in the U.S to an organization that bombs children in England. This is the same as if the U.S were to bestow an honor on an English citizen who had publicly welcomed Osama Bin Laden to London every year and financed his 'political wing'. Shameful when British troops fought and fight alongside U.S troops in Afghanistan. The sooner the Irish Americans learn that terrorist organizations that bomb school-children (and the politicians that support their existence) are to be criticized and ostracised the better. Helping the 'voiceless'? What a load of rubbish.Supporting terrorists is more like it. The queens own cousin (Lord Mountbatten) was murdered by the IRA -wonder how she feels at being forced by the Prime Minister to bestow a knighthood on this joker?"
Hey Rob... The Brits "hand are clean" on the Northern Ireland Issue. I don't thinks so. Ted Kennedy advocated heavily in the Good Friday peace accords and between those seeking peace it was achieved. Regarding US soldiers fight side by side with British soldiers. You must be one of those Brits who follow Ian Paisley.... Good luck to you your time has come and gone....
FDR recalled his father, Joe, when he was the Ambassador to Great Britain just before WW II started. Old Joe thought that Hitler wasn't so bad and he could be appeased. That position meant Old Joe was not a favorite among the English at the time. Evidently much has changed in England since. Now the Brits want to honor Joe's kid now that Hilter's threat is long forgotten. Tell me again what Ted did to deserve this.
The Brits can have him!
This is illegal under the Emoluments clause of the Constitution, which reads as follows: "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."
Disgrace! The British should be ashamed of themselves. This man has never exhibited even one knightly trait.
Lighten up everyone. The guy is going to die soon. Celebrate the moment for the Kennedy's and the noteriety it gives the Commonwealth.
Don't the British remember what old man Kennedy did in the late 30's
The WW2 leaders would have been appalled knowing that a Nazi sympathizer's son has an honorary degree from the country that the father cared little about as he sided with Germany. The disgraced Joe P. was hated for this by FDR and Churchill.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, not that Teddy is a sympathizer, but he is as overrated as they come. Undeserving.
Does this mean Sir Kennedy is disqualified as a US Senator?
US Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 8 states:
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.
18.Kelly, it's "Northern Ireland," not "Ulster."
Three of the nine counties of Ulster are part of the Republic of Ireland.
The other six remain occupied by England, where discrimination thrives.
Posted by Eamonn O'Clerigh
"Occupied by England"? You, idiot need to watch out! Your bogotry is showing! You sound just like Kennedy.
Kennedy being given any honour by the Queen is a joke! Everyone knows it. Brown, and the rest of the so-called socialist scum "British government" - it's not my government - decide who gets the honours because they've hijacked the law over there. They also "honour" bent (corrupt) business people to. What does that tell you?
Article 1 section 9 of the United states constitution states :
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.