Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy emphasized the importance of lawyers and lawmakers in public service in his keynote address at the Law School's conference on public service and the law. Kennedy also spoke at the Miller Center of Public Affairs.
The Conference took place March 17 and 18 and featured a series of panels that each highlighted a public interest issue that faces the legal community.
Kennedy's speech, "Public Service, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law," was delivered Saturday afternoon in the Law School's Caplin Auditorium.
Kennedy, a 1959 Law alumnus, was elected to the Senate in 1962 to finish the term of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and has been reelected to seven full terms, Law Prof. Mortimer Caplin said.
Kennedy said that it was a privilege to come to the Law School to speak on public service because it is a model for promoting public service through the law.
Being involved in public service and the law means protecting the Constitution, which was established by the Founders and has enabled the United States to reach greatness, Kennedy said.
Kennedy cited torture, detention and surveillance as the next constitutional issues for lawyers in public service to confront, adding that senators have a responsibility to further investigate constitutional issues and to inform the public about abuses, Kennedy said.
"True correction of the constitutional abuses is on all of us here today," Kennedy said. "Lawyers have a special obligation to educate."
Kennedy called for increased congressional oversight of the executive regarding surveillance and detention.
In response to the comments made by Senator Kennedy, Galen MacCaba, editor-in-chief of the Virginia Advocate, a conservative student newspaper, said that the president has not violated any legislative or constitutional statute and therefore has done nothing inappropriate.
"I don't feel there is a need for more congressional oversight," MacCabe said.
President Bush was elected by the people and therefore as commander-in-chief the president does not need to consult congress for every action he takes, he said.
Kennedy's second presentation on Saturday was at the Miller Center of Public Affairs regarding the Center's ongoing oral history project on his life and career.
The six-year project on Kennedy's 40 years in public service is the first of the Center's oral history projects with a subject who was not a U.S. president, said Michael Greco, director of the Scripps Library.
In his speech, Kennedy emphasized the importance of recording oral history.
"This work in oral history has enabled scholars to do critical work in history's important moments," Kennedy said.
Oral history adds a new dimension to history and broadens our access and understanding of the events of history, Kennedy said.
"Oral history provides not just the facts but the flavor and context as well," Kennedy said.
This project will provide insight into issues such as civil rights, the spread of communism and nuclear proliferation, as well as the strong leaders involved in those issues, Kennedy said.
In the future people will be able to look back to this oral history to help solve the problems of the future, he added.
"The Miller Center will be there and future historians will be thankful," Kennedy said.
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