My Day with Senator Ted Kennedy – 2-16-2008

I have worked on a variety of campaigns – from City Council races to Presidential campaigns.  Sometimes as a volunteer and sometimes as paid campaign staff.  By the time the Democratic Presidential campaign was down to Hillary and Barack, I chose Obama.  When that campaign finally came to Ohio in February of 2008, the surrogate campaign representatives came as well.  And one of those was Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.

I helped the Obama campaign set-up shop and get organized in Euclid.  I generally attempted to assist whenever I could.  When visiting VIPs came to NE Ohio, sometimes they would ask me to support the event one way or another.

One day, I was asked by the Cleveland-based Obama team if I wanted to be one of two drivers for the Kennedy entourage.  Ummmm, I said yes.  I said yes fast.  Then I called my mother.  She told me that the first Presidential candidate that she was able to vote for was Teddy’s older brother – JFK.  Then I called Progressive and increased the amount of car insurance I was carrying (really).

Senator Kennedy was to fly into town and we were to drive him from the airport to an event in Cleveland Heights, then Youngstown, then Akron. Then back to the airport.  A whirlwind day for a man a week before his own 76th birthday.

On Saturday, February 16, 2008, I watched from the wings.  I heard the same speech in three locations and witnessed the same response to the words and the man.  People crowded into every room and no one left feeling small.  He spoke of the hopes and struggles of prior generations and the vision and promise of America’s future days.  While Kennedy seemed slow – even fragile – in physical agility, he was always energetic on the microphone.  He usually needed to rest after his remarks, but he never gave a flat performance.   People applauded his entrance and crowded around him as he departed.

I did not interact much with the Senator.  I was able to snap a few photos but I just tried to be helpful.  I was simply there to serve him and the Obama campaign.  I had but one request for him.  I told him that my mother’s first vote for his brother.  That she was the first person to tell me what a Democrat was – and that it was her birthday. 

My favorite gift to my mother that year was a card that I had carried all day.  A card that contained a happy birthday greeting – which included his personal thanks for her support of his brother – a card penned in his own hand and signed by Senator Ted Kennedy.  Hand written history from America’s Camelot family – crossing generations and dreams – to a house of Midwest educators was a pretty cool ending to a very cool day.

RIP Senator.  And thanks for the many ways you and your family touched Amerians. The smallest of gestures, when coupled with grandest of ideals, create lasting impacts.  — Kent Smith 8/28/2009