Tribute to Senator Kennedy

One of our International Advisory Council members, Eugene Lawson, wrote the tribute below to the late Senator Kennedy, to add to the others we have posted in the last several days.  Mr. Lawson is one of APCO’s experts on Eurasia, with a distinguished career of public service which included heading the U.S.-Russia Business Council for 15 years.
Read Eugene Lawson’s full bio >>

In my 40 years of living and working in Washington, I met and had modest, limited dealings with Senator Edward Kennedy but extensive, substantive and sustained interaction with dozens and dozens of his staff.  On the Hill, it was a cliche to say Senator Kennedy had the best staff in Congress, but even cliches can be true.

Clearly the Senator had astonishing people skills, for uniformly the members of his staff with whom I dealt were passionate, bright, and very hardworking.  They were an extraordinarily diverse group but all shared two common goals: 1) they had a commitment to the Senator’s broad social agenda and wanted to do what it took to improve people’s lives through legislation; and 2) they had a commitment to the man himself because they had an affection and respect for what he was trying to do and who he was.

Know the man — in part — by the people he gathers around him.  I don’t think he can be replaced.

– Eugene Lawson