Tears in the rain for last prince of Camelot
'The greatest legislator'
From left, former president Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former president George W Bush and his wife Laura, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and wife Jill, former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former president Jimmy Carter wait for the funeral services for US Senator Edward Kennedy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Boston
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Sunday August 30 2009
PRESIDENT Barack Obama led the US yesterday in mourning and remembering "the greatest legislator of our time," celebrating the legacy of Ted Kennedy as a senator for nearly a half-century and leader of America's most famous political dynasty during tragedy and triumph.
Delivering an emotional, simple eulogy for Mr Kennedy that capped a two-hour funeral Mass, President Obama said that the US may have viewed him as "heir to a weighty legacy", but he was playfully known by younger Kennedys less grandly -- the big cheese, the Grand Fromage.
"His life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections. It was to give a voice to those who were not heard, to add a rung to the ladder of opportunity, to make real the dream of our founding."
Mr Obama called Mr Kennedy "the soul of the Democratic party and the lion of the United States Senate" and said that "though it is Ted Kennedy's historic body of achievements we will remember, it is his giving heart that we will miss".
The service drew to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica three of the four living former presidents, dozens of Kennedy relatives, pews full of current and former members of Congress and hundreds of others affected by the senator in ways large and small. Mournful performances came from Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Earlier, Mr Kennedy's flag-draped casket -- carried by a military honour guard of eight -- was wrapped tightly in plastic to guard against a steady rain as it was removed from his brother's presidential library and placed in a hearse for the drive to the church. His widow, Victoria, closed her eyes slowly and choked back tears as she watched under cover of an umbrella. The family had held a brief and private prayer service at the library in the morning.
The motorcade route was lined with people, some holding 'Kennedy: Thanks' signs and one person waving a lone red heart.
Under the soaring dome of the basilica, a church Mr Kennedy had frequented almost daily while his daughter, Kara, battled cancer at a nearby hospital, over a dozen Kennedy family members accompanied the casket -- now covered by a white cloth -- down the church aisle, each straining to touch it.
Kara Kennedy was the first family member to speak at the service, reading Psalm 72. Ten of Kennedy's grandchildren, nieces and nephews offered a set of brief prayers.
Ted Kennedy Jr, the eldest son, said, "He was an Irishman and a proud member of the Democratic party."
He told a story from shortly after he lost a leg to cancer at age 12, when his father helped him up a snow-covered hill with an arm around his waist and words of encouragement. "There's nothing you can't do," his father told him.
Choking back tears, Ted Jr said: "My father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable."
He and Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Congressman, Mr Kennedy's other son, cried during a long embrace in between their two addresses.
The funeral was attended by Taoiseach Brian Cowen who said: "Ted's passing truly marks the end of a political era. However, while his political legacy -- nationally and internationally -- is extraordinary, it lives on through his unique contribution to peace on the island of Ireland.
"We will mourn Ted's passing -- but we will also celebrate the life of a great American and a great Irishman, who will always be held in the deepest affection and regard."
Reflecting his role as a peacemaker in Northern Ireland was a delegation including secretary of state Shaun Woodward; Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister; and Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein.
- Scott Malone
