It is inevitable that, after the death of an influential political figure, there will be a lot of commentary and talk. TV viewers can watch hours and hours of analysis about everything from his life and work to how many family members might have been around his bedside upon his death. Even Sarah Palin came out with a friendly, sympathetic statement.

A few lessons for careerists come to mind…

Soft Skills/Emotional Intelligence

What strikes me is the emphasis on Senator Kennedy’s ability to reach across the political aisle. Several commentators indicated that they believed the debate over healthcare reform might be much different had Senator Kennedy been able to be more intimately involved.
There is no doubt that the ability to communicate with all types of people from different ideologies and beliefs is a key “soft” skill that job seekers need to consider. Work environments are about relationships as much (if not more) than they are about “getting the job done.”

Late Tuesday night Senator Ted Kennedy, the last of the Kennedy brothers who helped to define modern American politics, died after over a year of being diagnosed with malignant brain cancer.

Not surprisingly Ted Kennedy was active right up until the last and stayed living up to his name. Next month he was scheduled to release an autobiography, had been working on a succession plan for when he decided to leave his senate seat, and was a supporter for health care reform. Despite his illness Kennedy was a huge and outspoken supporter of the election of President Obama. He used his political clout, family name and immense respect he had built up as the third longest seated senator to call people to vote for Obama. He left his hospital bed to go to the convention where he spoke in favor of Obama and even ended up having a seizure on inauguration day.
On top of that, even though he was sick he used the fact that he had the means to get health care for his sickness to highlight the problems with health care in this country. Wouldn't it be poetic justice if we could get more equal and better health care for everyone in his honor.

Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy died of brain cancer yesterday, leaving a 47-year political career in his wake. Here are 5 famous Ted Kennedy quotes to remember the veteran politician by:

1. For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.

(Concession speech in campaign for nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate against incumbent Jimmy Carter, 1980).

2. We cannot simply speak out against an escalation of troops in Iraq, we must act to prevent it…There can be no doubt that the Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide whether to fund military action, and Congress can demand a justification from the president for such action before it appropriates the funds to carry it out.

(Remarks to the National Press Club (9 January 2007))

3. But don’t you realize, that’s where I sail.

(On the Cape Wind Project, as quoted in Cape Wind : Money, Celebrity, Class, Politics, and the Battle for Our Energy Future on Nantucket Sound (2007) by Wendy Williams and Robert Whitcomb)

When you look at the history of the Kennedy family, you see one of great tragedy. Of the four brothers in the Kennedy family, three had already died of something other than natural causes. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts finally succumbed to cancer at the age of 77, over a year after he was diagnosed with the disease and in doing so, thus ended one of the great political dynasties of our lifetime.

Senator Ted Kennedy had the distinction of being one of the most liberal Senators in Washington. He also had the distinction of being the most enduring, serving in the Senate beginning in November 1962, after winning a special election to fill the seat once held by his brother, John F. Kennedy. Even though as a conservative, I opposed him on nearly every issue, I can not deny he had a bulldog determination to fight for what he believed in.

The last cause was what he called the cause of his lifetime, health care reform. After going through brain surgery and then extensive radiation and chemotherapy, Senator Kennedy still found strength enough to find his way to the Senate and voice his opinion and concerns about the pending health care legislation.

It is beyond sad that Edward M. Kennedy has died. It is deeper, bigger, connected to something far more profound in the cosmos and the lives of people in my generation than just sadness.

I remember Walter Cronkite announcing the death of John F. Kennedy on television in 1963. I remember the headline on some New York paper in 1968 ... "Now Bobby..." Two of the worst memories in my life.

I don't think our culture has ever fully recovered from those losses. But Ted Kennedy tried. I regretted that he couldn't make it to the Presidency in 1980. But he made a difference. Perhaps most importantly in his endorsement of Barack Obama in that razor close primary with Hillary Clinton. It made a difference. It helped change America and the world.

At least Ted Kennedy died of natural causes. But death is never good. He could have lived a few more years, even a few more decades.

But we're fortunate that he lived and worked for the best instincts in America as long as he did. Although he won't be able to help directly in the great battle of our time, the battle for universal health care in America, his spirit won't be very far. Rest in peace. Your dream, our dream, will never die.