The Miller Center for Public Affairs announced yesterday that it will compile an oral history of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy.
The project will begin in early 2005 and over the next six years will collect recorded audio statements from Kennedy, his family, friends and colleagues as well as both national and international political figures who know Kennedy.
"It's partly a biography, partly a look at the Senate as an institution, partly a look at polices that he helped enact into law," said Stephen Knott, the project's team leader at the Miller Center. "It's all equally important."
Kennedy thought of the idea of recording a personal oral history two years ago while at dinner, discussing with friends various legislative battles he has witnessed during his 42 years in the Senate.
"I've long believed that scholars, politicians, private citizens, and the country as a whole would benefit from a fuller examination of what we do as senators," Kennedy said in a statement released yesterday
Kennedy agreed that the interviews for the project could address any subject. He will have no control over the questions asked, the interviewees or what will be published after the project is completed.
"The primary motive for him was to preserve the historical record and to allow for future generations to learn about this incredible period in our history," Knott said.
One purpose of the project is to create a bipartisan, comprehensive view of how legislation is debated and created, through the reflections and anecdotes of Kennedy, his advisers and adversaries, said Kennedy and Miller Center representatives.
The oral history also stands as a commemoration of the extensive career of Kennedy, a Democrat who has been serving in the Senate since 1962.
Kennedy chose the Miller Center to document his life after a search of several institutions nationwide.
"The Miller Center is one of the nation's most renowned research institutions for all history," said an aide in Kennedy's Senate office. "It has an outstanding track record. It's non-partisan and its staff is superb."
The Miller Center accepted the project, even though the Center typically compiles oral histories of presidents. A Miller Center spokesperson said the information garnered from the interview would augment the information the Miller Center has gathered on presidents in the past fifty years, most of whom served during Kennedy's time in the Senate.
"We ultimately decided that it would compliment the Miller Center's broader oral history," said spokesperson Margaret Edwards.
Oral histories are emerging as an important medium through which to record the thoughts and reflections of contemporary politicians.
"It enables historians to probe in a more detailed way into the motives, fears, and vision of those who shape policy," Kennedy said.
Kennedy will fundraise privately to raise the 3.5 million dollars required to complete the project.
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