Sen. Ted Kennedy was a true champion of the arts as well as equality and justice for all.
The senator, who died Tuesday at the age of 77, was one of the strongest Congressional advocates for the arts, especially arts education, and federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Sen. Kennedy "conducted" the Boston Pops
Most recently, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, with arts a key part of its Education Corps provision, was named in his honor after he shepherded its passage. President Obama, after signing it into law last April 21, handed the first pen to the proudly smiling Kennedy.
He authored and helped pass dozens of bills expanding arts education, protecting creative freedom, freedom of expression, rights of artists, and much more.
One of his bills with the most visible results was the National Museum of the American Indian Act, creating such Smithsonian museums in Washington on the National Mall, and in New York City in the old U.S. Customs House.
Kennedy also helped found the Senate Arts Caucus in 2005, which he co-chaired.
He was a bit of a performing artist himself. He conducted the Boston Pops (pictured above) in 2005. He also narrated "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" in a recording of Julian Wachner's composition with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.
But most of all, the Irish tenor sang. While campaigning for Obama for President in Laredo, TX, Kennedy sang in Spanish, “Ay Jalisco No Te Rajes”, a tune from a 1940s film.
John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy. Courtesy Sen. Ted Kennedy's website
Political historian and author Theodore H. White recalled Ted Kennedy's "'...lifting his tenor voice, leading all the guests in Irish songs so that the wedding became a blessing in the memory of all there,'" according to Thomas Maier's book "The Kennedys: America's Emerald Kings".
Ted Kennedy had served on the board of trustees of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts -- he sang along with some of the A-plus-list performers there at his 77th birthday party this year. President Obama sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Opera stars Denyce Graves and Frederica von Stade, and Broadway stars Bernadette Peters and Brian Stokes Mitchell also performed.
The senator also wrote a children's book in the voice of one of his beloved Portuguese water dogs, Splash. "My Senator and Me, A Dog's Eye View of Washington, D.C." is about the senator's job, where he often brought his dogs to work. They sat under his desk, even under the dais at committee hearings.
The arts world, and the world in general, mourns Sen. Kennedy who will be buried on Saturday at Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. The Arlington Cemetery is across the Potomac River from the U.S. Capitol Building where Ted Kennedy served in the Senate for almost half a century.
Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert Lynch termed Ted Kennedy “one of the most effective legislative leaders for the arts. … (He) powerfully advocated the need to nurture creativity and to broaden access to artistic excellence in the U.S. Senate.”
Lynch added in a statement, “Throughout his work, Senator Kennedy carried strong messages of freedom of expression, tolerance, and creative rights. He spoke staunchly of the central role of the federal government in supporting American cultural life..."
Americans for the Arts, based in Washington, made Kennedy its Congressional Arts Leadership Honoree a decade ago.
National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman Jim Leach said, “... the nation has lost a public servant steadfastly committed to concerns of humanity and the humanities. No senator has been a more consistent and compelling advocate for progressive causes over the past half century.”
The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery moved its "Edward Moore Kennedy" portrait by Andy Warhol to the first floor, and placed "In Memoriam" above the work. The 1980 portrait is a screenprint with diamond dust on board. Sprinkled with diamond dust. Perfect.
For more info: Senator Kennedy's Office, www.kennedy.senate.gov. The White House, "Remembering Senator Kennedy".
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