What Ted Kennedy means to Latinos in the USA
San Diego, Ca.,_ Years ago this writer asked his then 92 year old grandmother why it was that Latinos loved the Kennedy family and she said, “because they are for the poor people and even Jackie spoke Spanish. The other ones don’t like us yet.”
Those words were true and valued then and are just as appropriate today.
Ted Kennedy and his entire family have always stood for the best in America. They have stood with every important cause in our nation during their long running public service. Latinos, like all working and poor people in the nation, have felt a kinship and seen them up close even thru their many tragedies. We can remember President Kennedy in Appalachia with poor whites, he and Bobby sending the National Guard into the south to protect black students and families and of course we remember Bobby, his wife Ethel, their children and Teddy standing with Cesar Chavez and farm workers whenever the need arose.
Teddy himself spent great times with Cesar Chavez in California and in Washington. Teddy wowed the first UFW convention in 1973 with a rollicking Kennedyesque speech and would welcome Cesar in Washington a number of times over the years. As LEL has said before the name “Kennedy” has become a Spanish word and the lovefest between his family and Latinos will long endure. When Ted challenged President Carter in 1980 he won the lion’s share of Latino votes that year. Cesar Chavez’ eldest son, Fernando, worked as his national Hispanic campaign director. Ted Kennedy means emotion, passion, good and honest politics. Ted Kennedy taught us how to face tragedy and we all remember his moving eulogy to his brother Bobby that was delivered with sincerity and emotion. We wish him a speedy recovery and pray with his family that he will soon be back on the stump inspiring us as he and his family have done like no others in American history. Viva Ted Kennedy.
