Kennedy Oral History Project Launched

By Robert A. Martin

On December 6, 2004, the Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project was officially launched in a ceremony at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Historian Michael Beschloss, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Program Director James Sterling Young, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy each delivered remarks to the audience gathered to commemorate the opening of the project.

James Young described the Kennedy Project as a milestone for the Miller Center's Oral History Program. Moving beyond presidential oral history, the Kennedy Project marks the Center's first full-scale oral history on the public life of a sitting Senator. Over the next six years, in addition to conducting extensive interviews with Senator Kennedy, the Miller Center will interview a broad range of the Senator's family members, friends, Senate and campaign staff, Democratic and Republican party leaders, Senators and House members, administration officials, issue advocates, journalists, and foreign leaders.

Commenting on his selection of the Miller Center, Senator Kennedy remarked, "Over the years, the Miller Center at the University of Virginia has been preeminent in developing and implementing [oral history] as a resource for historians, and I'm honored and humbled that they're taking on this project. It's a privilege to work with James Sterling Young, director of the Oral History Projects, and the other distinguished staff of expert academics and researchers in oral history. They bring extraordinary skill to this enterprise, and I look forward to working with them."

Senator Frist added, "Senator Kennedy's career is a storied career. It's really unparalleled, and it's an unparalleled window into the work that we do each and every day on the floor of the United States Senate, that history of this institution and its members. I can think of no better starting point than to begin telling this story than the Miller Center's vital work. On behalf of the United States Senate, I thank both the Miller Center and the Kennedy family for this wonderful, inspiring, remarkable endeavor that will benefit generations to come."

Many of Senator Kennedy's colleagues attended the ceremony, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Robert Byrd, as well as Senator Kennedy's wife, Vicki Kennedy, his sister, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, and his niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. The ceremony was held in the Senate Caucus Room, where years earlier John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy had each launched their presidential campaigns.