RIP Ted Kennedy

I was in Washington DC a few years ago visiting relatives. It was a very cold but sunny November day. I walked the 1.2 miles from the Washington Monument along the National Mall to the United States Capitol (or the Hill as it’s known in political circles).

A large crowd of people were gathered for a rally on the large grassed area in front of the building.

As I got the top of the steps in front of the Capitol I knelt down to tie a shoelace. As I got up, an SUV with black windows pulled up less than five feet away from me. The door opened and out got Ted Kennedy.

He stood around shaking hands with some people and confering with others while speeches were being made from a platform at the front of the crowd. The speakers were eloquent and well received.

Then it was the turn of Ted Kennedy to speak. I don’t recall what he said, but I do remember the absolutely charismatic way he held the audience and how his words and phrases lifted the crowd. He was dressed in suit without a topcoat seemingly not noticing the cold… it was an impressive performance for a man in his mid-seventies.