"Arguably more than any other American legislator of the late twentieth century, Senator Kennedy has made a profound impact on our society. He stood on the front lines of the legislative struggle for the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. He was an architect of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which opened the nation’s doors to millions from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. First introduced by Senator Kennedy, the Americans with Disabilities Act has broadly protected the nation’s disabled population from discrimination. He has also been the Senate’s preeminent champion of early childhood education under Head Start, of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and of the living wage.
Despite his storied résumé and his indelible impact on Harvard, it is possible that Senator Kennedy may never receive an honorary degree. Harvard tradition, amongst other things, requires that honorands attend commencement in person and that degrees not be awarded posthumously. These rules prevented the late philosopher Richard M. Rorty from receiving an honorary degree at last year’s commencement, the day before he passed away. While we certainly hope that Senator Kennedy will continue to serve in the Senate for many years to come, his cancer prognosis is grim: although the seriousness of his malignant brain tumor remains unclear, the survival time typically ranges from one to five years. It is possible, perhaps even likely, that Senator Kennedy’s deteriorating physical condition may make this Harvard’s last opportunity to award him an honorary degree.
