[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S2425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     AMERICA'S GOLD-STAR MOM: ROSE

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I am asking that a column written by 
Steve Neal, in tribute to the mother of our colleague, Edward Kennedy, 
be placed into the Record.
  It is a great tribute to Mrs. Kennedy.
  I did not have the privilege of knowing her well, but I wish I had.
  In addition to what is said in the Steve Neal column, I believe it is 
not an exaggeration to say that no mother has contributed as much to 
the Nation in our 206 year history as Rose Kennedy.
  Her life was a story of tragedy and triumph and a brilliant spirit, 
despite all the tragedies. The remarkable contributions that Ted 
Kennedy makes to this body and to the Nation are one of many tributes 
to Rose Kennedy.
  At this point, I ask that the Steven Neal column be printed in the 
Record.
  The column follows:

                  [From the Sun-Times, Jan. 24, 1995]

                     America's Gold-Star Mom: Rose

                            (By Steve Neal)

       Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy had style. She spoke on her son's 
     behalf at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Brighton. Mass. 
     It was John F. Kennedy's first campaign. He was running for 
     Congress in 1946. Mrs. Kennedy, who had lost her eldest son 
     Joseph in World War II and had nearly lost another, didn't 
     talk about her family's tragedy. She dazzled the crowd with 
     her wit. As the daughter of a former Boston mayor, Rose 
     Kennedy was a political natural. When she finished her talk 
     at the VFW hall. Mrs. Kennedy got a rousing ovation. Then she 
     introduced the young JFK.
       Dave Powers, JFK's war buddy, recalled that Kennedy was 
     ``slightly over-whelmed that his mother could talk that well 
     to an audience.'' As Mrs. Kennedy made her exit, her son 
     stopped her and said, ``Mother, they really love you.''
       So did the world.
       Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy, who died Sunday at 104, 
     was America's gold-star mother and one of the more 
     extraordinary women of the 20th century. She taught JFK how 
     to give a political speech and how to work a crowd. He 
     couldn't have had a better teacher.
       Three of her sons were elected to the U.S. Senate and her 
     son John won the presidency of the United States. She took 
     pride in their accomplishments.
       ``As Jack's mother, I am confident that Jack will win 
     because his father says so, and through the years I have seen 
     his predictions and judgments vindicated almost without 
     exception,'' Mrs. Kennedy wrote in her diary in June, 1960. 
     ``And so, I believe it. He also says, and has said all along, 
     that if Jack gets the nomination he can beat Nixon.''
       Mrs. Kennedy had a long memory. ``We are all furious at 
     Governor [Pat] Brown of California and Governor [David] 
     Lawrence of Pennsylvania because they will not come out for 
     Jack now. Their support would clinch the nomination for him. 
     Joe has worked on Lawrence all winter but he still can't 
     believe a Catholic can be elected.''
       Mrs. Kennedy wrote of JFK's first debate: ``I watched Jack 
     last night on the debate, praying through every sentence, as 
     I had prayed during the day. He looked more assured than 
     Nixon and looked better physically. Jack seemed to have the 
     initiative and once or twice rose to inspiring heights of 
     oratory.'' But she noted that he could improve: ``People 
     think that Jack speaks too fast. I agree and have already 
     told him.''
       Four of her children had tragic deaths. She said that the 
     wounds of those tragedies never healed. But her courage and 
     faith kept her going. ``One of the best ways to assuage grief 
     is to find a way to turn some part of the loss to a positive, 
     affirmative use for the benefit of other people,'' Mrs. 
     Kennedy wrote in her memoirs. ``I do believe that God blesses 
     us for that and the burden is lightened.''
     

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