Carter and Kennedy

Greetings. President Carter's death is a sad event, especially given his humanitarian actions. But I actually have a tiny connection, though I never met him. In 1980, I was an intern for Senator Paul Tsongas. As the Convention approached, we all went to NYC to assist. I was given the job of handing out VIP credentials, though I certainly did not fit that description.

But it's fair to say that these Conventions have some partying. So several interesting things occurred. Somehow I became friends with an important Democratic figure's son, who was my age. So he actually got me into Studio 54 one night. I am very much the opposite of cool but for one evening...I saw no drugs but I did see women in cages dancing above the ground. That was odd.

More importantly, I snuck on to the floor of the Convention one night by riding a Carter oriented bus and using a credential. This was the night Senator Ted Kennedy gave one of his most famous speeches about liberalism. Even though he was going to lose, his speech certainly was the Convention's best. And to this day, it still has many powerful messages for those with such political inclinations.

Looking back, I am taken by the pride Kennedy exuded in his liberalism. This seems to be something lacking today for various reasons. Ah youth.