The Kennedy criteria had been to judge candidates for “acts of statesmanship transcending party and state lines” and to include “leadership in national thought and constitutional interpretation as well as legislation.”
With the input from an advisory committee of 160 scholars, who nominated 65 possible candidates, five were selected by the Kennedy Committee and approved by the Senate in 1959. They were: Henry Clay (KY), John Calhoun (SC), Daniel Webster (MA), Robert Taft (OH) and Robert La Follette, Sr. (WI). In 2004, the Senate added two more distinguished deceased Senators, Arthur Vandenberg (MI) and Robert Wagner (NY).
Now another deceased Senator needs to be added by the Senate to make the list the Elite Eight.
If ever a Senator met the criteria “acts of statesmanship transcending party and state lines” and “leadership in national thought and constitutional interpretation as well as legislation" it is Senator Edward M. Kennedy. It is as if Ted Kennedy followed the criteria as set by his brother’s 50’s special Senate committee during the course of his Senate career.
Senator Kennedy was a Senator’s Senator, a Statesman’s Statesman. He was the Man of The Senate. And, indeed, he is one of the Elite Eight.
Ted Kennedy was diligent, articulate, gracious, kind, and a maker of hundreds of laws that touched us all. He was the finest of Senators and great friend in championing laws that helped the little men and women of America.
He was Camelot’s finest knight.
His brother John would be proud that Ted made his Senate Hall of Fame.
