Posted on 08/27/2009 12:26:13 PM PDT by Born Conservative
WILKES-BARRE – Sen. Ted Kennedy was well known in Northeastern Pennsylvania – from his involvement in the tragic July 1969 death of Edwardsville native Mary Jo Kopechne to his overwhelming margin of victory in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties in the April 1980 Pennsylvania Democratic primary
Kennedy’s win here carried him to victory in the state primary over eventual Democratic presidential nominee, incumbent Jimmy Carter.
Kennedy, the last surviving brother in a political dynasty and one of the most influential senators in U.S. history, died late Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod, Mass., after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.
On Wednesday, there were vivid stories from former Scranton Mayor James Barrett McNulty and others. U.S. Reps. Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney and U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey also recalled the late Massachusetts senator.
McNulty, then the mayor of Scranton, was with Kennedy during his campaign stops in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in 1980.
“I remember his blue rain coat,” McNulty said. “I went to help him put it on at Genetti’s and it was so heavy; here it was lined with lead.”
Kennedy’s two brothers had both been gunned down by assassins – President John F. Kennedy in November 1963 and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.
McNulty was a delegate for Kennedy in 1980. .“He called me after I lost the mayoral election in 1981,” McNulty said. “Many people call you when you can do something for them; he called when I lost my office. That was Teddy – he loved the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”
McNulty remembered the 1980 Pennsylvania primary, which Kennedy won by 9,800 votes. In Luzerne County, Kennedy defeated incumbent President Carter 41,834 to 21,321. McNulty said Kennedy enjoyed a big victory in Lackawanna County as well. Carter lost the 1980 general election to Republican Ronald Reagan.
“He left an indelible mark on the country,” McNulty said of Kennedy’s years in the Senate. “He had the ability to get things done in government; to get laws made.”
McNulty said Kennedy was saddled with carrying the mantle of his brothers. “Joe Kennedy – the oldest Kennedy brother – was supposed to run for president, but he was killed in the war,” McNulty said. “Then JFK took the mantle. That was passed to Bobby and then to Teddy.”
“It was almost as if public service was a family obligation with the Kennedy family. I will remember Teddy as a friend to me and a friend to anybody who didn’t have anybody to turn to.”
When Kennedy came to Wilkes-Barre in 1980, his nephew -- the late John F. Kennedy Jr. – came to town with some friends from Brown University. JFK Jr., then 19 and a sophomore at Brown, visited his uncle’s campaign headquarters in the third block of South Main Street and walked through the city to campaign for his uncle.
Sally Healey, a Kennedy volunteer, met the young Kennedy and invited him and his friends to stay at her house on Hilliard Street.
“The day after the rally on Public Square, he and his friends made an appearance at Alice A’s disco,” Healey said. “It was a fundraiser for Special Olympics.”
Healey said Sen. Kennedy and his then-wife, Joan, met with volunteers at Genetti’s and thanked them all. “He made a point to talk to each of us,” she said.
Healey said Kennedy worked hard to help the poor, the disenfranchised and the oppressed.
“Looking back, I’m glad he was in the Senate for so long,” Healey said. “Yes, I was disappointed that he didn’t make it to the White House, but over the years I think he did far more in the Senate to help this country and its people.”
The Associated Press reported that Kennedy’s hopes of reaching the White House were damaged — perhaps doomed — in 1969 by the scandal that came to be known as Chappaquiddick, an auto accident that left Edwardsville native Mary Jo Kopechne dead.
Georgetta Potoski, Kopechne’s cousin, talked about Chappaquiddick in a Times Leader story on July 22 that marked the 40th anniversary of Mary Jo’s burial.
On July 18, 1969, after leaving a cocktail party with Kennedy, Kopechne, 28, drowned when the senator’s car plunged off Dyke Bridge into a tidal pond on Chappaquiddick Island, Mass.
The car wound up on its roof in the water. Kennedy got out and swam to shore, leaving Kopechne in the car, where she later died. Printed reports of the incident say Kennedy failed to report the accident to the authorities until the next day, when the car and Kopechne’s body were found.
Kennedy attended Kopechne’s funeral July 22, 1969, at St. Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church in Plymouth. Joan Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy’s widow, Ethel, also attended. Kopechne was buried in the parish cemetery on the side of Larksville Mountain. Her parents are also buried there.
Colleagues remember senator Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, called Kennedy “a great legislator and an American patriot.” He said Kennedy has been “a beacon in the halls of Congress through his dedication to the American people, his sincere patriotism and his determined efforts in the Senate.”
In a prepared release, Kanjorski said “I feel particularly fortunate to have served in the Congress for half of Sen. Kennedy’s distinguished career.”
Kanjorski said he met with Kennedy on several occasions during the years. He recalled one meeting during the Clinton administration.
“I joined him at the White House with then-Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and President Clinton to discuss developing technologies and a new future for America,” Kanjorski said. “While technology was the topic of the day, Sen. Kennedy took me aside to get my thoughts on a trade bill he had recently introduced in the Senate. The consummate public servant, Sen. Kennedy was always focused on many issues and capable of multitasking.”
Carney, D-Dimock Township, remembered one day when Kennedy offered him some advice.
“I had just finished a speech on the floor of the House favoring expanding mental health benefits to our service members and veterans. As I was leaving the floor, I looked up and saw Sen. Ted Kennedy sitting nearby. I was surprised to see him because senators rarely come to the House floor. That day, he was listening to our debate on mental health parity. As I walked past him, he looked at me, took my hand, and said, ‘Congressman, I am proud of what you are doing for our men and women in the military, please continue to take care of this country and those that cannot help themselves.’ We chatted for a few moments more, but I will always remember his words to me.”
Specter, D-Philadelphia, issued a brief statement: “Sen. Kennedy made historic contributions on civil rights, health care, education, the Judiciary, labor law, immigration, and virtually all facets of life in America. Working with him on the big issues of our era was a real privilege.”
After returning from his trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Casey, D-Scranton, released a statement. “The poor, the powerless and the forgotten lost their protector and ever-faithful advocate,” Casey said.
“… It has been my great honor to serve with Sen. Kennedy for the last two and a half years..”
Former Pennsylvania Gov. William W. Scranton said Kennedy did “some very fine work” in the U.S. Senate.
“Especially for human rights and labor rights by working with other special interests, notably the farm group,” Scranton said. “More of that these days would produce far better legislation and much more of it -- so we should be very grateful for all his work.”
He also left his mark on a certain sandwiched waitress and his nephew’s rape trial.
Kind of explains why the rest of the state does not think that highly of WBS
Well makes you wonder... Jfk jr. would probably be running to fill his seat, if he hadn’t splashed down in the Atlantic..
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