Ted Kennedy and the Gift of Years

We all lost a great statesman in Ted Kennedy and we closed a huge chapter in American History by his passing. If you consider the length of time the Kennedy’s have been in the national scene it could almost add up to 25 percent of American History. Much has been written about this family from an enormously inspirational standpoint to deeply flawed issues in character. I am recalling Ted Kennedy’s eulogy for his brothers he said they were gifted in every way except for the gift of years. Ted became the only Kennedy to serve our country for 46 years in the Senate. While he couldn’t be president and he stood in the shadow of his two older brothers he has made his mark on the political landscape of our country. I have a lot of opinions about him however; let it suffice to be captured in this letter written to him by his sister in law Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

"There have been 17 children besides your own - Bobby's, Pat's, Jack's and mine, for whom you have always been there. Every graduation, every big decision, every trouble, every sad and even every happy day. On you, the carefree youngest brother, fell a burden a hero would beg to be spared. Sick parents, lost children, desolate wives. You are a hero. Everyone is going to make it, because you are always there with your love. Jackie."

He was given the gift of years unlike his brothers and he used it well.