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Home , Kara Kennedy, Kennedy (miniseries), Kennedy family, Ted Kennedy

Administration of , 2009 / Aug. 29

Orleans to the Mississippi coast, folks are begin- Room at the for broadcast on Au- ning the next chapter in their American stories. gust 29. The transcript was made available by And together, we can ensure that the legacy of a the Office of the Press Secretary on August 28, terrible storm is a country that is safer and more but was embargoed for release until 6 a.m. on prepared for the challenges that may come. August 29. In the address, the President re- Thank you. ferred to W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Fed- eral Emergency Management Agency. NOTE: The address was recorded at approxi- mately 11:30 a.m. on August 20 in the Roosevelt

Eulogy at the Funeral Service for Senator Edward M. in , August 29, 2009

Your Eminence, Vicki, Kara, Edward, Pat- en violently from a country that loved them. He rick, Curran, Caroline, members of the Kenne- said goodbye to his beloved sister, Eunice, in dy family, distinguished guests, and fellow citi- the final days of his life. He narrowly survived a zens: Today we say goodbye to the youngest plane crash, watched two children struggle with child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. The world cancer, buried three nephews, and experienced will long remember their son Edward as the personal failings and setbacks in the most pub- heir to a weighty legacy, a champion for those lic way possible. who had none, the soul of the Democratic Par- It’s a string of events that would have broken ty, and the lion of the Senate, a a lesser man. And it would have been easy for man who graces nearly 1,000 laws and who Ted to let himself become bitter and hardened, penned more than 300 laws himself. to surrender to self-pity and regret, to retreat But those of us who loved him and ache with from public life and live out his years in peace- his passing know by the other ti- ful quiet. No one would have blamed him for tles he held: father; ; husband; grandfa- that. ther; Uncle Teddy, or as he was often known to But that was not Ted Kennedy. As he told us: his younger nieces and nephews, “the Grand “[I]ndividual faults and frailties are no excuse to Fromage,” or “the Big Cheese.” I, like so many give in and no exemption from the common ob- others in the city where he worked for nearly ligation to give of ourselves.” Indeed, Ted was half a century, knew him as a colleague, a men- the “Happy Warrior” that the poet Wordsworth tor, and above all, as a friend. spoke of when he wrote: Ted Kennedy was the baby of the family who As tempted more; more able to endure, became its patriarch, the restless dreamer who As more exposed to suffering and distress; became its rock. He was the sunny, joyful child Thence, also, more alive to tenderness. who bore the brunt of his ’ teasing but Through his own suffering, Ted Kennedy be- learned quickly how to brush it off. When they came more alive to the plight and the suffering tossed him off a boat because he didn’t know of others: the sick child who could not see a what a jib was, 6-year-old Teddy got back in and doctor; the young soldier denied her rights be- learned to sail. When a photographer asked the cause of what she looks like or who she loves or newly elected Bobby to step back at a press where she comes from. The landmark laws that conference because he was casting a shadow on he championed—the Civil Rights Act, the his younger brother, Teddy quipped, “It’ll be Americans with Disabilities Act, immigration the same in Washington.” reform, children’s health insurance, the Family That spirit of resilience and good humor and Medical Leave Act—all have a running would see Teddy through more pain and trage- thread: that’s Kennedy’s life work was not to dy than most of us will ever know. He lost two champion the causes of those with wealth or siblings by the age of 16. He saw two more tak- power or special connections; it was to give a

1335 Aug. 29 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 voice to those who were not heard, to add a gave him my pledge, but I expressed skepti- rung to the ladder of opportunity, to make real cism that it would pass. But when the roll call the dream of our founding. He was given the was over, the bill garnered the votes that it gift of time that his brothers were not, and he needed and then some. I looked at Teddy with used that gift to touch as many lives and right astonishment and asked how had he done it. as many wrongs as the years would allow. He just patted me on the back and said, “Luck We can still hear his voice bellowing of the Irish.” [Laughter] through the Senate Chamber, face reddened, Of course, luck had little to do with Ted fists pounding the podium, a veritable force of Kennedy’s legislative success; he knew that. A nature, in support of or workers’ few years ago, his father-in-law told him that rights or civil rights. And yet, as has been not- he and just might be the two ed, while his causes became deeply personal, greatest Senators of all time. Without missing his disagreements never did. While he was a beat, Teddy replied, “What did Webster seen by his fiercest critics as a partisan light- do?” [Laughter] ning rod, that’s not the prism through which But though it is Teddy’s historic body of Ted Kennedy saw the world, nor was it the achievements that we will remember, it is his prism through which his colleagues saw Ted giving heart that we will miss. It was the friend Kennedy. He was a product of an age when and the colleague who was always the first to the joy and nobility of politics prevented dif- pick up the phone and say, “I’m sorry for your ferences of party and platform and philosophy loss,” or, “I hope you feel better,” or, “What from becoming barriers to cooperation and can I do to help?” It was the boss so adored by mutual respect, a time when adversaries still his staff that over 500, spanning five decades, saw each other as patriots. showed up for his 75th birthday party. It was And that’s how Ted Kennedy became the the man who sent birthday wishes and thank- greatest legislator of our time. He did it by you notes and even his own paintings to so hewing to principle, yes, but also by seeking many who never imagined that a U.S. Senator compromise and common cause, not through of such stature would take the time to think deal-making and horse-trading alone, but about somebody like them. I have one of those through friendship and kindness and humor. paintings in my private study off the Oval Of- There was the time he courted fice, a seascape that was a gift to a for support of the Children’s Health Insurance freshman legislator who had just arrived in Program by having his chief of staff serenade Washington and happened to admire it when the Senator with a song Orrin had written Ted Kennedy welcomed him into his office. himself, the time he delivered shamrock cook- That, by the way, is my second gift from Teddy ies on a china plate to sweeten up a crusty Re- and Vicki after our dog . And it seems like publican colleague, the famous story of how he everyone has one of those stories, the ones won the support of a Texas committee chair- that often start with “You wouldn’t believe man on an immigration bill. Teddy walked into who called me today.” a meeting with a plain manila envelope and Ted Kennedy was the father who looked not showed only the chairman that it was filled only after his own three children, but John’s with the Texan’s favorite cigars. When the ne- and Bobby’s as well. He took them camping gotiations were going well, he would inch the and taught them to sail. He laughed and envelope closer to the chairman. [Laughter] danced with them at birthdays and weddings, When they weren’t, he’d pull it back. [Laugh- cried and mourned with them through hard- ter] Before long, the deal was done. [Laugh- ship and tragedy, and passed on that same ter] sense of service and selflessness that his par- It was only a few years ago, on St. Patrick’s ents had instilled in him. Shortly after Ted Day, when Teddy buttonholed me on the floor walked Caroline down the aisle and gave her of the Senate for my support of a certain piece away at the altar, he received a note from Jack- of legislation that was coming up for a vote. I ie that read: “On you the carefree youngest

1336 Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / Aug. 29 brother fell a burden a hero would have begged through pain and tragedy, not for the sake of to have been spared. We are all going to make it ambition or vanity, not for wealth or power, but because you were always there with your love.” only for the people and the country that he Not only did the make it be- loved. cause of Ted’s love, he made it because of In the days after September 11th, Teddy theirs, especially because the love and the life made it a point to personally call each one of he found in Vicki. After so much loss and so the 177 families of this State who lost a loved much sorrow, it could not have been easy for one in the attack. But he didn’t stop there. He Ted to risk his heart again. And that he did is a kept calling and checking up on them. He testament to how deeply he loved this remark- fought through redtape to get them assistance able woman from . And she didn’t just and grief counseling. He invited them sailing, love him back. As Ted would often acknowl- played with their children, and would write edge, Vicki saved him. She gave him strength each family a letter whenever the anniversary of and purpose, joy and friendship, and stood by that terrible day came along. To one widow, he him always, especially in those last, hardest wrote the following: “As you know so well, the days. passage of time never really heals the tragic We cannot know for certain how long we memory of such a great loss, but we carry on, have here. We cannot foresee the trials or mis- because we have to, because our loved ones fortunes that will test us along the way. We can- would want us to, and because there is still light not know what God’s plan is for us. What we to guide us in the world from the love they gave can do is to live out our lives as best we can with us.” We carry on. purpose and with love and with joy. We can use Ted Kennedy has gone home now, guided by each day to show those who are closest to us his faith and by the light of those that he has how much we care about them and treat others loved and lost. At last he is with them once with the kindness and respect that we wish for more, leaving those of us who grieve his passing ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and with the memories he gave, the good that he grow from our failures. And we can strive at all did, the dream he kept alive, and a single, en- costs to make a better world so that someday, if during image, the image of a man on a boat, we are blessed with the chance to look back on white mane tousled, smiling broadly as he sails our time here, we know that we spent it well, into the wind, ready for whatever storms may that we made a difference, that our fleeting come, carrying on toward some new and won- presence had a lasting impact on the lives of drous place just beyond the horizon. May God others. bless Ted Kennedy, and may he rest in eternal This is how Ted Kennedy lived. This is his peace. legacy. He once said, as has already been men- tioned, of his brother Bobby that he need not NOTE: The President spoke at 12:35 p.m. at the be idealized or enlarged in death because what Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In his he was in life, and I imagine he would say the remarks, he referred to Sean P. Cardinal same about himself. The greatest expectations O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston; and Victoria were placed upon Ted Kennedy’s shoulders be- R. Kennedy, wife, Allen, daugh- cause of who he was, but he surpassed them all ter, Caroline R. Raclin, stepdaughter, Edward because of who he became. We do not weep for M. Kennedy, Jr., and Patrick J. Kennedy II, him today because of the prestige attached to sons, G. Curran Raclin, stepson, Edmund M. his name or his office. We weep because we Reggie, father-in-law, and Caroline B. Kenne- loved this kind and tender hero who persevered dy, niece, of Senator Kennedy.

1337 Aug. 31 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009

Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting an Alternative Plan for Pay Increases for Civilian Federal Employees August 31, 2009

Dear Madam Speaker: (Mr. President:) in Federal requirements is straining the Fed- eral budget. Full statutory civilian pay increas- I am transmitting an alternative plan for pay es costing $22.6 billion in 2010 alone would increases for civilian Federal employees cov- put even more stress on our budget. Such an ered by the General Schedule (GS) and cer- increase would cost $19.9 billion more than tain other pay systems in January 2010. the 2.0 percent overall Federal civilian pay in- Under title 5, United States Code, civilian crease that I proposed in my 2010 Budget and Federal employees covered by the GS and would build in later years. certain other pay systems would receive a two- Accordingly, I have determined that under part pay increase in January 2010: (1) a 2.4 the authority of section 5303(b) of title 5, percent across-the-board adjustment in sched- United States Code, an across-the-board in- uled rates of basic pay derived from Employ- crease of 2.0 percent shall go into effect on the ment Cost Index data on changes in the wages first day of the first applicable pay period be- and salaries of private industry workers, and ginning on or after January 1, 2010. (2) locality pay adjustments averaging 16.5 Finally, the law requires that I include in percent based on Bureau of Labor Statistics this report an assessment of the impact of my salary surveys of non-Federal employers in decision on the Government’s ability to recruit each locality pay area. According to the statu- and retain well-qualified employees. I do not tory formula, for Federal employees covered by the locality pay system, the overall average believe this decision will materially affect our pay increase would be about 18.9 percent. ability to continue to attract and retain a quali- This total Federal employee pay increase ty Federal workforce. To the contrary, since would cost about $22.6 billion in fiscal year any pay raise above the amount proposed in 2010 alone. this alternative plan would likely be unfunded, Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me agencies would have to absorb the additional to implement an alternative pay plan if I view cost and could have to reduce hiring to pay the the adjustments that would otherwise take ef- higher rates. Moreover, the GS “quit” rate fect as inappropriate due to “national emer- continues to be very low (2.1 percent on an an- gency or serious economic conditions affecting nual basis), well below the overall average the general welfare.” For the reasons de- “quit” rate in private enterprise. Should the scribed below, I have determined that it is ap- need arise, the Government has many com- propriate to exercise my statutory alternative pensation flexibilities, such as recruitment and plan authority to set an alternative January retention incentives, and special salary rates, 2010 across-the-board pay increase. If needed, to maintain the high quality workforce that I will provide a plan for locality pay rates by serves our Nation. the statutory deadline of November 30. Sincerely, A national emergency, within the meaning of chapter 53 of title 5, has existed since Sep- BARACK OBAMA tember 11, 2001. Likewise, with unemploy- ment at 9.5 percent in June to cite just one NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Nancy Pe- economic indicator, few would disagree that losi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, our country is facing serious economic condi- and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the Sen- tions affecting the general welfare. The growth ate.

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