Edward (Ted) Kennedy’s funeral is being conducted as I write these words. 

Kennedy was the youngest of four brothers. Joseph died as a pilot in WWII, Jack was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald and Bobby was shot by Sirhan Sirhan. He lived in the shadow of his older brothers’ memories. But in the U.S. Senate, where he served for 9 terms, as Senator from Massachusetts since 1962, a total of 47 years, he made his mark.  He authored 300 bills and his name was on another 1,000. He may have been the great Senator since Daniel Webster. The Boston Globe wrote, “By the early 21st century, the achievements of the younger brother would be enough to rival those of many presidents.”

Kennedy was not a philosopher or an ideologue. He was not good at expressing sweeping visions or innovative ideas.  But he was intent on changing the world. As one born into wealth, who had never known hunger or poverty, he was America’s leading champion of the poor, the sick, the immigrants, the underclass and the blacks. His innovative thinking found powerful expression not in ideas, but in implementation. He was able to win compromises against stubborn Republican foes. He used humor and good fellowship. 

As President Obama related in his remarkable eulogy, Ted Kennedy once won over a Republican committee chairman by shoving toward him a partially open envelope with excellent cigars. When the negotiation went well, Kennedy inched the envelope toward him. When it went badly, he pulled it away a few inches. An acceptable compromise was soon won. 

He had an endless string of personal tragedies, including one famous one that cost him any chance at the Presidency.  But instead of using them as excuses for quitting, he fought on. He was substitute father to the children of his murdered brothers Bobby and Jack.  

There are innovators who have sweeping ideas and who express them brilliantly. And there are those who are good at making things happen on the ground. Kennedy was the latter. If you have implementation skills, you are blessed.   Because in the end,  those who change the world are not always those with the ideas, but rather those with the staying power, courage, and common sense who can implement ideas.