Eduflack’s thoughts are with Senator Ted Kennedy and his family as the Senate HELP Chairman is under the watchful eye of Beantown’s best doctors today.  I just can’t imagine anyone else at the helm of the Senate Education Committee, particularly as we prepare for a new Congress and a new President in eight months.

Senator Kennedy is actually the first politician to spark Eduflack’s interest in American government, and he deserves some credit for inspiring my years of service as a Senate and House staffer.  As a young child growing up in Massachusetts, I was fortunate enough to be there for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston (my father was dean of the University of Massachusetts at Boston at the time, and helped with the creation of the library).  After visiting it for the first time, I wrote to Senator Kennedy, telling him how much I enjoyed the library and learning about his brother.  Even included a drawing of the library for him. 

A few weeks later, I got a letter of appreciation back from Kennedy.  It was signed in a powerful blue ink, and even included a PS noting that his son was named Patrick too.  I treasured (and still treasure) that letter.  Even had it framed and hanging on the wall of many a bedroom over the decades.  It is still in my box of prized mementos.

After working on Capitol Hill (and learning of the wonders of the autopen), I am still certain that Kennedy hand-signed my letter himself.  It meant too much to me to believe otherwise.  I though to ask him about it when I was working for a member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation back in the mid-1990s, but never wanted to bother him with something so trivial or silly.

But I digress.  Our thoughts and well wishes are with the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts.  We look forward to having him back at the gavel, and getting NCLB 2.5 passed into law.