The Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project
The Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project, created in partnership with the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, is a compilation of interviews from current and former members of the Senate, House, administration officials, foreign leaders, Senate staff, issue advocates, journalists, family and friends documenting Senator Kennedy’s service.
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT
On December 6, 2004, the Kennedy Project was officially launched in a ceremony at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. This oral history will create an archive of spoken recollections and reflections that illuminates Senator Kennedy’s public life, his vocation, the institution in which he has served and the political world in which he has moved.
The interviews cover a broad range of politically and biographically important topics, including Kennedy’s pre-Senate years and learning of politics, his relationship to his brothers and their career choices, his rise to the Senate leadership, his political style, his Senate and presidential campaigns, his public causes and how he sought to advance them, and his legacy.
In addition to interviews with Senator Kennedy, other interviewees include family, friends, classmates, relevant campaign staffers, state and national party officials, key members of his Senate office, selected members of Congress and the executive branch, intellectuals, journalists, community activists, and selected public figures.
The end product is the below collection of transcripts and audio recordings of oral history interviews that includes two primary elements: Senator Kennedy’s own recollections and reflections, consisting of an extended series of recorded interviews with him; and the recollections and observations of individuals whose acquaintances or relationships with Senator Kennedy have figured most prominently in his life and career.
Please email ohp@emkinstitute.org for further information about the project.
OPENING CEREMONY
An opening ceremony heralded the completion and public launch of the Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project on September 30, 2015. Michael Beschloss offered an historical overview and Judy Woodruff lead distinguished panelists in a conversation about Civil Rights: The March for Progress.
Interviews (A-Z by last name)
* = Denotes Kennedy Alum
Robert Bates Oral History (5/2007)*
Robert Bates Oral History (7/2007)*
Jeffrey Blattner Oral History*
David Bowen, Mark Childress, Michael Myers Oral History*
Stephen Breyer Oral History (6/2008)*
Stephen Breyer Oral History (9/2008)*
David Burke Oral History (2007)*
David Burke Oral History (2008)*
Mary Beth Cahill Oral History*
Ranny Cooper Oral History (2007)*
Ranny Cooper Oral History (2008)*
John Culver Oral History (03/2005)
John Culver Oral History (06/2007)
John Culver Oral History (09/2009)
Stephanie Cutter Oral History*
Thomas A. Daschle Oral History
Eugene A. Dellea Oral History*
John D. Dingell, Jr. Oral History
Sean Donlon, Garret Fitzgerald, Michael Lillis Oral History
Thomas Francis Eagleton Oral History
Michael Enzi Oral History (2006)
Kenneth Feinberg Oral History*
Charles Ferris
Aide to Senator Mike Mansfield
Alice Fitzgerald and Patricia Hagan Oral History*
Robert P. Fitzgerald, Sr. Oral History
Garret FitzGerald Oral History
James Flug Oral History (11/2007)*
James Flug Oral History (12/18/2007)*
James Flug Oral History (12/4/2007)*
Michael J. Frazier Oral History*
John Kenneth Galbraith
Diplomat and Harvard faculty member
Connie Garner Oral History (2008)*
Connie Garner Oral History (2010)*
Kilvert Dun Gifford Oral History*
Willis D. Gradison, Jr. Oral History
Marcia Greenberger
Copresident of National Women’s Law Center
Milton Gwirtzman Oral History (05/2009)*
Milton Gwirtzman Oral History (08/2009)*
Brian and Alma Hart Oral History
Antonia Hernandez Oral History *
Claude Jr. Hooton Oral History
Larry Horowitz Oral History (2010)
Larry Horowitz Oral History (4/15/2008)
Larry Horowitz Oral History (4/16/2008)
Michael Iskowitz Oral History (2007) *
Michael Iskowitz Oral History (2008) *
Christopher Jennings Oral History
Senior healthcare advisor under Bill Clinton
John J. Jennings Oral History
President, Center on Education Policy
Stanley Jones Oral History (03/2007)*
EMK Staffer, healthcare specialist
Stanley Jones Oral History (09/2007)*
EMK Staffer, healthcare specialist
Jan Kalicki Oral History *
Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator Kennedy
Nancy Kassebaum Oral History
Senator Kansas
Boris And Natalya Katz Oral History
Soviet Refuseniks
Nicholas Katzenbach Oral History
Attorney General
Edward Kennedy Jr., Kara Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy Oral History
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (01/06/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (01/07/2008)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (02/12/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (02/27/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (03/20/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (03/23/2005)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (03/28/2008)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (04/03/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (05/08/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (05/30/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (05/31/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (06/03/2005)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (06/17/2005)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (08/07/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (08/08/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (08/15/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (10/08/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (10/09/2007)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (10/14/2005)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (11/29/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (12/01/2006)
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy Oral History (12/09/2007)
Senator
Victoria R. Kennedy Oral History
Wife of Senator Kennedy, Attorney, Democratic activist, Ambassador to Austria
John Kerry Oral History
Secretary of State; Senator, Massachusetts; 2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee
David Kessler Oral History
Staffer for Orrin Hatch; Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
James King Oral History *
Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Oral History (06/2007) *
Special Assistant to Edward Kennedy; DNC Chairman; Senator, Massachusetts
Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Oral History (11/2005) *
Special Assistant to Edward Kennedy; DNC Chairman; Senator, Massachusetts
C. Everett Koop Oral History
Barnett Alexander “Sandy” Kress Oral History
Education Advisor to George W. Bush
Mathilde Krim Oral History
Medical Researcher
Kathleen Kruse *
Cultural Policy Advisor, Senior Counselor
Barbara Lahage Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Patrick Leahy Oral History
Senator, Vermont
Anthony Lewis Oral History
Columnist, The New York Times
John Lewis Oral History
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Judith Lichtman Oral History
Former Director for National Partnership for Women and Families
Nick Littlefield Oral History (2/14/2009) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Nick Littlefield Oral History (2/15/2009) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Nick Littlefield Oral History (5/3/2008) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Nick Littlefield Oral History (5/4/2008) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Nick Littlefield Oral History (6/30/2008) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Nick Littlefield Oral History (7/1/2008) *
Staff Director and Chief Counsel for Senator Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
George Cabot Lodge Oral History
Assistant Secretary of Labor for International Affairs in Eisenhower & Kennedy administrations
Olatunde Johnson Oral History *
Civil rights policy adviser to Edward Kennedy
Chester Trent Lott Oral History
Senator, Mississippi
Richard Lugar Oral History
Senator, Indiana
Nance Lyons Oral History *
Legislative Assistant to Edward Kennedy; Civil Rights Attorney
Neil MacNeil Oral History
Journalist and television correspondent
Ira Magaziner Oral History
Healthcare policy advisor in the Bill Clinton White House
James Manley Oral History *
Press Secretary for Edward Kennedy
Thurgood Marshall, JR. Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Edward Martin Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Charles Mathias Oral History
Former Senator, Maryland
John McCain Oral History
Senator, Arizona
Paul McDaniel Oral History *
Aide to Senator Al Gore Sr.; Adviser to Edward Kennedy
Cindy McGinty Oral History
Founder & President, McGinty Scholarship Fund; Board Member, Mass Military Heroes Fund
Alice McGoff Oral History
Professor of History, University of Massachusetts
George McGovern Oral History
Senator, South Dakota; former Democratic Presidential nominee
Barbara Mikulski Oral History
Senator, Maryland
George Miller Oral History
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, California
Melody Miller Oral History (07/2008) *
Staffer for Kennedy Family
Melody Miller Oral History (10/2008) *
Staffer for Kennedy Family
Melvin Miller Oral History
Editor and Founder, Bay State Banner
George Mitchell Oral History
Senate Majority Leader; Senator, Maine
Walter Mondale Oral History
Vice President of the United States
James Mongan Oral History
Staffer for Russell Long
Ellis Mottur Oral History (10/2006) *
Kennedy staffer; science/technology expert
Ellis Mottur Oral History (11/2006) *
Kennedy staffer; science/technology expert
Michael Myers Oral History (10/16/2009) *
Michael Myers Oral History (2006) *
Ralph Neas Oral History
Civil Rights Activist; Chief Legislative Assistant to Senator Edward Brooke; Executive Director of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights
David Nexon Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Martin Nolan Oral History
Reporter, The Boston Globe
Niall O’Dowd Oral History
Journalist; Liaison between Sinn Fein and the White House
Sean O’Huiginn Oral History
Irish Ambassador to United States; Joint Secretary, British-Irish Secretariat; Irish Consul General (New York)
Barack Obama Oral History
Esther Olavarria Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Thomas Oliphant Oral History (11/15/2006)
Washington correspondent and a columnist for the Boston Globe
Thomas Oliphant Oral History (3/14/2007)
Washington correspondent and a columnist for the Boston Globe
Carolyn Osolinik Oral History *
Judiciary Committee Staff Attorney for Senator Edward Kennedy
Joel Packer Oral History
Director of Education Policy and Practice with the National Education Association
Peter Parham Oral History *
Carey Parker Oral History (09/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (10/06/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (10/13/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (10/20/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (10/27/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (11/10/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (11/17/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Carey Parker Oral History (12/2008) *
Chief Legislative Assistant for Edward Kennedy
Thomas Payzant Oral History
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education; Superintendent of Boston Public Schools
Nancy Pelosi Oral History
Former Speaker of the House
Danica Petroshius Oral History *
Chief of Staff to Edward Kennedy
Elizabeth Philipps Oral History
Mother of Pan-Am Flight 103 Victim, Sarah Phillips
Caroline Raclin Oral History
Daughter of Vicki Reggie Kennedy
Curran Raclin Oral History
Son of Vicki Reggie Kennedy
Ken Regan Oral History
Photographer
Doris and Edmund Reggie Oral History (12/2008)
Father-in-law and mother-in-law; long-time family friends
Doris and Edmund Reggie Oral History (8/2005)
Father-in-law and mother-in-law; long-time family friends
Harry Reid Oral History
Albert Reynolds Oral History
Former Taoiseach of Ireland
Donald Riegle Oral History (7/8/2008)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Senator
Donald Riegle Oral History (9/1/2009)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Senator
Richard Riley Oral History
Secretary of Education
Terri Haddad Robinson Oral History (7/22/2009) *
Staffer for Senator Kennedy
Terri Haddad Robinson Oral History (8/25/2009) *
Former aide and press assistant to Senator Kennedy
Thomas M. Rollins Oral History (03/2009) *
Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Thomas M. Rollins Oral History (04/2009) *
Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Thomas M. Rollins Oral History (05/12/2009) *
Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Thomas M. Rollins Oral History (05/14/2009) *
Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Warren Rudman Oral History
Senator, New Hampshire
Mona Sarfaty Oral History *
Health-care staffer
Patti B. Saris Oral History *
Chief Justice, US District Court for Massachusetts; Staffer for Edward Kennedy, Senate Judiciary Committee
James Ralph Sasser Oral History
Senator, Tennessee
Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Oral History
Historian and Family Friend
Mark Schneider Oral History (2/02/2009) *
Peace Corps Director; Kennedy Staffer
Mark Schneider Oral History (2/04/2009) *
Peace Corp Director; Kennedy Staffer
John Seigenthaler Oral History
Journalist and family friend
Elizabeth Shannon Oral History
Wife of US Ambassador to Ireland William V. Shannon; family friend
Stuart Shapiro Oral History (04/2009) *
Senior Staff Member of the U.S. Senate Sub-Committee on Health and Scientific Research; Massachusetts Deputy Health Commissioner; President, Pennsylvania Health Care Association
Stuart Shapiro Oral History (05/2009) *
Senior Staff Member of the U.S. Senate Sub-Committee on Health and Scientific Research; Massachusetts Deputy Health Commissioner; President, Pennsylvania Health Care Association
Robert Shriver III and Maria Shriver Oral History
Niece and Nephew (also Godson) of Edward Kennedy
Robert Shrum Oral History (7/6/2009) *
Speechwriter/press secretary
Robert Shrum Oral History (7/7/2009) *
Speechwriter/press secretary
Alan Simpson Oral History
Senator, Wyoming
Marshall (Mike) Smith Oral History
Nancy Soderberg Oral History *
Foreign policy adviser to Senator Kennedy
Theodore C. Sorensen Oral History (2005)
Family friend; advisor
Theodore C. Sorensen Oral History (2006)
Family friend; advisor
Barbara Souliotis Oral History (2005) *
Director of Edward M. Kennedy’s Boston office
Barbara Souliotis Oral History (2009) *
Director of Edward M. Kennedy’s Boston office
Margaret Spellings Oral History
Secretary of Education
A. Clayton Spencer Oral History *
Chief education counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
Anne Strauss Oral History *
Staff Director, Senate National Science Foundation Subcommittee; Legislative Correspondent to Senator Kennedy
Thomas Susman Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
David Sutphen Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
William Taylor Oral History (01/2007)
Civil Rights Attorney; General Counsel, US Commission on Civil Rights
William Taylor Oral History (02/2007)
Civil Rights Attorney; General Counsel, US Commission on Civil Rights
Betty Taymor Oral History
Family friend; Massachusetts politics
Charles Tretter Oral History *
Campaign aide
Laurence H. Tribe Oral History
Attorney; Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School
John Tunney Oral History (2007)
Senator, California
John Tunney Oral History (2009)
Senator, California; friend
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Oral History
Archbishop, Nobel Peace Prize winner
William J. Vanden Heuvel Oral History (2005)
Special Assistant to the Attorney General; Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to United Nations
William J. Vanden Heuvel Oral History (2006)
Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to United Nations & other positions
Trina Vargo Oral History *
Foreign Policy Adviser to Edward Kennedy; Founder of US-Ireland Alliance
Galina Veremkroit Oral History (formally Nizhnikov)
Soviet Refusenik
John W. Warner Oral History
Senator, Virgina
Henry Waxman Oral History
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (D-CA)
Sharon Waxman Oral History *
Senior national security advisor to Senator Kennedy
Sharon Waxman Oral History (2008) *
Senior national security advisor to Senator Kennedy
Sharon Waxman Oral History (2009) *
Senior national security advisor to Senator Kennedy
Ronald Weich Oral History *
Staffer for Edward Kennedy
Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. Oral History
Senator, Connecticut; Governor, Connecticut
Burt V. Wides Oral History *
Chief Counsel for Senator Philip Hart on the Judiciary Committee, Member of Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s Judiciary Committee Staff
Angela Williams Oral History
James Sterling Young Oral History
Professor of Government, University of Virginia