Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Analysis
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / Statement on Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy

August 27, 2009

Statement on Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy

Council for a Livable World and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation mourn the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).

For many years, Kennedy was a leader of progressive causes, including the Council’s core mission of the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. In 2007, the Council and Center honored Kennedy by awarding him the second annual Father Robert F. Drinan Peace and Human Rights award. The first recipient of the award was Father Drinan himself.

Kennedy was a leader in the movement to end the Vietnam War. In the 1980s, he rallied opposition to America’s involvement in conflicts in Central America. In recent years he has been the leader of opposition to the war in Iraq, first taking a bold stand against launching the invasion and then leading efforts to begin a responsible withdrawal. Kennedy called his vote against the authorization of the use of force in Iraq “the best vote I’ve made in my 44 years in the United States Senate.”

Kennedy was also a prominent advocate of nuclear disarmament. In 1982, he and Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR) introduced the Nuclear Freeze Amendment, which called for a verifiable and mutual nuclear weapons freeze between the United States and the Soviet Union. Though the amendment was not passed, the popular support it received resulted in the eventual negotiation and ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Following a trip to Russia in 1986, Kennedy relayed to President Reagan that the Soviets were willing to negotiate a separate treaty on nuclear weapons in Europe. This resulted in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

During the Clinton administration, Kennedy led the fight for ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Though this fight was unsuccessful, President Obama has promised to resubmit the treaty for approval in 2010.

The youngest son in a family of political icons, Edward Kennedy’s life and work dominate the political history of the second half of the 20th century. We dedicated ourselves to the fulfillment of his dream of a world at peace, free of the terrible danger of nuclear weapons.

Posted in: Blog

Tweets by Livable World

Recent Posts

  • Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder March 15, 2023
  • House Elections: Democratic and Republican Target Seats March 13, 2023
  • An early look at the 2024 House elections March 7, 2023
  • An early glimpse at 2024 Senate elections February 21, 2023
  • Press the Button: The Clock is Ticking February 14, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy