Former president obama and former Vice President biden gave tribute speeches. This is just over an hour and a half. Boston has given this nation some of the greatest leaders from john adams the john f. Kennedy and that is something that we are very proud of. Secretary kerry is in that same tradition. As a diplomat, he has called many places all. Home. Any places i do not know these been at any address longer than here. Thank you for being a boston voter. [applause] in case you are not committed, walsh is on the ballot. In all seriousness, the secretary is a true bostonian and a good neighbor. I secretary of state, he took every opportunity to showcase our city with foreign dignitaries. We know the impact of your leadership not only in washington dc, but on washington street. Not only in middle east but in east boston. Thank you. As a senator, you took on issues that were not easy or popular. Protecting the environment, investing in education, fighting for local and small businesses, growing our economy, and today we look back and see how visionary that was. Today we know what Climate Change is actually doing. Here on theea rise boston waterfront. As an activist once said, senator kerry is to the environment as what ted williams is to the red sox. I think that says it all. He is still swinging for the fences. I want to thank you. [applause] i was proud to join the secretary and beijing two years ago for the International Summit climate summit. The first a summit that ever happened with china and the u. S. Was in los angeles. The second summit was in beijing. The third summit was supposed to be held here in boston. It is something the secretary worked really hard on he flew in to make the announcement. I want to thank you. I want to thank you for your passionate defense of the Paris Agreement. Boston fans with that agreement and with you proudly. We are going to continue to do that. [applause] as i look around the room, we know that technology is key to our success. Companies like General Electric and amazon looking at boston, massachusetts. That is because for decades, the secretary kerry was looking at our city and our region. Research grants for our universities and hospitals and of course, his long career in leadership on foreign policy. Bostonians come from all over the world here to experience in boston what is happening. Americasw important leadership and humanity is at every corner of this world. We have immigrants and relatives who know firsthand. I will leave it to others today to compare the leadership that we had and what we have now. For my part, i want to say thank you. I would say thank you for your military service. Your work with our veterans, i want to say thank you for your Public Service, going to bat for local companies, and securing to the medical waiver for the Boston Medical Center in 2012 so i could keep its mission focus on the needy, i want to thank you for that. Lastly, i want to thank you for your passion. You have inspired countless numbers of young people and people in the city and country. You areing continuing to inspire the next generation. Him,ound that a goodbye to but i know it is not a goodbye. For this phase of your life, for this award tonight, congratulations and thank you for everything you did. [applause] hello. I am Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Warren, the senior senator from massachusetts. [applause] im here tonight to say thank you. Thank you very much to ambassador suchman, lou and p atty, for putting this tonight. A special thank you to Vicki Kennedy for all the work you have done. Thank you. Said thattruman once a statesman is a politician who has been dead 10 or 15 years. John truman never met kerry, a true respected american statesman in every sense of the word. You all know about johns remarkable career from his military service to his recordsetting travel across the globe as the secretary of state. In all of that, john never once wavered in his commitment to Public Service. He rose to the chair of the senate of Foreign Relations committee but he remains the same man of principle who testified before the committee 38 years earlier as a young vietnam veteran. Always a man of principle. Think about where we are at this moment. As anyone who follows the news and many who try not to follow the news, we are deeply worried about the danger around the globe. A Nuclear Showdown with north korea, destruction of the deal that has prevented iran from developing a nuclear weapon, russian interference in u. S. Elections, the growing power of china, a never ending go war in afghanistan, and on and on and on. People are worried and they are right to be worried. I want to be clear about this. The world is a safer, stronger place because of john kerry. For four years, secretary kerry guided the state department with a steady hand and gained respect for himself and for our country. Progress on really tough challenges. Congress and the administration should be old should build on the Foundation Secretary kerry created, not squander americas leadership by making the world more dangerous. In just a few minutes, we will be heading to the institutes beautiful model Senate Chamber. Johnin january 2013, escorted me into the Senate Chamber. It was the day of the swearing in and it was literally my first time on the floor of the United States senate. That is an exciting day for a new senator. To Vice President is there swear everyone in and crack jokes, friends and family are looking down from the galleries, and just as we got ready to step awesomeelt the o responsibility of the oath i was about to take. There by my side was a man who had taken that oath decades earlier. A man who had faithfully served his country and one role or another for more than half a century. Inleaned over and whispered my year, you will do fine, elizabeth. Just be true to your principles. Then he smiled. Now, every day in washington, i had to my desk on the floor. Like all the desks, the former senators who have used it have etched their names inside the drawer. My desk has three very special inscriptions. John f. Kennedy, ted kennedy, and john kerry. When i sit in the senate, i often run my hand across those names and i think about the ilt and about the responsibility and the opportunity that comes with being a United States senator from massachusetts. Time and again, john kerry has shown us what Public Service looks like. We are all grateful for it. John, to alex, to vanessa thank you for giving me a chance to be a part of the celebration. To john, on behalf of lake rightful country on behalf of a grateful country, thank you for your service. Thank you. [applause] my name is Edward Markey and im the junior senator from the state of massachusetts and i am very proud to have that role. Vicky, for bringing us all together to celebrate the legendary life of senator john secretary john kerry. , and johnki Kennedy Kerry who first encouraged me to run for the United States senate four years ago. In 1976, john kerry knocked on my door after the speaker of the house had kicked my desk out in the hall and he offered me his furniture for my very first congressional race. I amforward to today, still benefiting from his work, his friendship, and his furniture and United States senate. [laughter] ted loves you so much love you so much. He would be so proud of what you have accomplished here together with his beloved sons. You areedy, for what kabul she has a great senator in connecticut and Patrick Kennedy for taking president kennedys mission to the moon you all continue to carry the torch making impossible dreams come true. Thank you to the greatest mayor and United States, marty walsh [applause] and the two senator Elizabeth Warren, the best partner you could ever have in the United States senate. Thanks for jim karen, patty jacobs, dr. Mary grant, to ambassador caroline, kennedy, and the great congressman joe kennedy. And to johns extraordinary wife, teresa kerry and his daughters and family, you are his and our national treasure. How wonderful it is to be here at the Emk Institute two years after its opening. Ofis etched into the history our city and our nation. The Lasting Impact of this institute rises beyond our imagination. Teaching kids that there are three branches of government. We are going to put donald trump in a constitutional Remedial Program on that issue. [laughter] dreaming of the responsibilities of the kennedy brothers taught us to get back to this country. They taught us to be bold. It was the honor of my wife to serve with and learn from ted kennedy in the United States congress for 33 years. It has been my great honor to serve and work with and be a friend of john kerry for 40 years. Both of these great men are known for their bipartisanship and nations of friendship for civility and dedication to social justice, for standing up to the American People standing up for the American People, and getting it done. That is why it is so fitting to celebrate him at the edward m. Kennedy institute a hub of history. A place that showcases how effective up with policies of fuel and progress across all deals. Spreading dreams across towns and nations and building bridges. Those are the hallmarks of john kerrys career. This is who he is diplomacy and fighting for social justice is in john kerrys dna. He is a genetically hardwired for service to this country. He is a master political strategist with the energy of a wind turbine in a hurricane. That is john kerrys life story. He has always stood up and answered the call. He has always given back. He has always been bold. From his navy service and heroism to his later courageous ,pposition to the vietnam war First Assistant to District Attorney to middlesex county, lieutenant governor, and is incredible and his incredible career in the senate. And as democratic nominee for president in 2004, how much better with United States and world be in john kerry had been president. How much better would united johns and world be iif kerry had been president. He builds bridges of understanding between people and nations and provided exemplary leadership on some of the most pressing issues of our time. He is both fearless and a fair. Whether he is creating coalitions, or cross the aisle as a great United States senator. He is the embodiment of truly doing to gods work here on earth. He turned the sermon of the mount on his into his mission. Blessed are the poor, blessed are the sick, the children, the elderly, and the planet. Resolve tirelessly to conflicts in the middle east. He was americas peacemaker in chief. We honor you. John has been a champion of the environment with longstanding leadership of protecting our planet Climate Change, to inrt the first earth day 1970, protecting our oceans, and negotiating the paris climate agreement in 2016. The Paris Agreement would never have happened without his leadership. His work in negotiating the 2014 bilateral climate agreement with china was the piece of the puzzle that made it clear that both countries, the two largest economies and sources of carbon pollution, Work Committee were committed to taking action. That was the component to a college and the climate accord in paris. And while this new Administration May try to , mr. President , 75 degrees on october 15 and boston, the truth is that the climate revolution is underway and there is no turning back. Because of john kerry, the goals of the Paris Agreement are being met. America areoss stepping up accepting the challenge and moving board and moving forward. By the way, we have the great Sheldon Whitehouse from rhode island leading the charge on Climate Change with us tonight. [applause] we are deeply concerned about north korea expanding and using their nuclear arsenal, we do not need to donald trump attempting to decertify the historic iran proliferation of agreement that secretary kerry so brilliantly negotiated. Morning, the Foreign Relations democrats had an senators and died to strategize the actions needed to protect this important agreement that john kerry senators and i to strategize the actions needed to protect this important agreement. John kerry is a master statesman who has used tools, education, health, and development to help our country. Through his service, he has lifted the days of all americans he is lifted the gaze of all americans to possibilities for ourselves. Mount rushmore for diplomats, john kerry would be carved in that stone. His final one of visionary acts, senator ted kennedy wrote a letter to president obama. He told them what was at stake for the debate of the Affordable Care act worth the fundamental principles of social justice and the character of the United States. We celebrate a man who embodies that character. This institute, a place where hope and history runs, allows te ddys words to run. That is why it is so fitting that we honor secretary john kerry with the Lifetime Achievement award as a man who s legendary Public Service has made hope and history rise. Congratulations, john. [applause] ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome the honorable Patrick Kennedy, the honorable and kurtdy junior, westwood. [applause] i always wanted to speak on the floor of the senate. And asnored to be here they say in the congress, associate myself with the two gentleladye n from out in the voyeur. In the foyer. We could not have a better place to honor you than the floor that is also here to honor my dad who loved you so much. There is that you had for him is something that all of us are so grateful for. Over the time in the senate, you yourself many mentees and some of people that respected the work that you did. I am honored to say thank you for not only being such a good friend of my dads, but for me and the rest of my family. You never hesitated to reach out for any of my family whenever we needed help. I know a couple of those occasions it was on my behalf and i will always be grateful to you personally. I want to thank Jean Mccormick who is really shepherded this institute through the early days of its founding. But sheean is leaving will always be a part of this institute because of her formative work and helping and helping us build this institute and establish the relationships that we have established because people love you, jean. This was a warm and welcoming place because you were there to make it. I am so grateful. My dad would be so over the moon and full of gratitude with all that you have done for this institute. Thank you so much. Now i turn it over to senator kennedy. Thank you, patrick. Before we are all here to recognize an amazing friend and american, senator kerry. An honor for those of us in the Kennedy Family to know that you are going to be the very first recipient of the prize named in my fathers name that recognizes an outstanding personal commitment to Public Service and that really fills me with gratitude and thanks to you. To patty jacobs and and lou karam thank you. To you vicki, thank you. My father could not have had a better companion and confidant and partner than you. Thank you for everything you have done. I have the privilege of reading a special message from another Great American who could not be here tonight. Before i do, i want to echo the words of my brother patrick to say thank you, john, for everything you have done for our family. We have heard the accolades in , recognizing your incredible achievement and Public Service, but i can stand here and say thank you for being such an incredible friend to my father. My father had so much admiration for you. Not just for your military service and coming back here and leading the effort here in our country, but watching your career, he thought you were a person of the highest integrity. He thought there were very few people who had your dedication to Public Service. I also want to thank you for the incredible friendship that you had with my dad. You guys were a dynamic duo who loved the state of massachusetts. We will forever be grateful for your service to the state. It is a special message that just came in earlier this evening. To to sendam pleased greetings to everyone participating and edward m. Kennedy institutes celebration of secretary kerry. I wish i could join you in person tonight in boston, but i wanted you to know how grateful i am for your continued dedication to this place that ted left to a new generation. A monument not to himself but to what we the people have the power to do together. Almost three decades that john represented the commonwealth of massachusetts in the senate, nearly 25 years of he wasere alongside ted, tireless in pursuit of americas progress. In his service as secretary of state, john led our strong principled american diplomacy, rallying other nations to help us combat Climate Change, dismantle Irans NuclearWeapons Program without firing a shot. John kerry helped make america a more respected place in the world and a stronger place than when it was when he began his journey in Public Service. Im grateful for john faso friendship and all that he is contributed to the life of this country we love. Because thevening work goes on and michelle and i will be with you every step of the way. Sincerely, barack obama. [applause] and now a Video Tribute from a great friend to all of us, joe biden. [video clip] welcome to the edward m. Kennedy institute for the United States senate. If you are there, you feel like you are in the senate. It is an incredible facility. Wouldoud teddy and kara be if they were here. We all miss them. Patrick, you are all a chip off the old block. Dedicated to Public Service and you are dedicated to one another. Vicki, i know you are there tonight as well. You have been wonderful to me and my family you have been wonderful. And the that you institute have done to introduce young people to the nobility of Public Service is incredible. Not only i think you but the whole nation think seo. I really wish i could beat thanks you. I really wish i could be there. Because you are honoring a great Public Servant and that sounds almost stale, a really Great American. A great friend of mine and a guide that is still my great friend. John, congratulations. Being the chair of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee was one of the highest privileges i ever had of my career. As you can imagine, handing over that gavel was not all that easy. Knowing it i was handing it to john made me feel good. To tell you what a courageous, honorable man of integrity john is. Country asended our a young naval officer, you all know about that, but in the nearly 50 years since, he has demonstrated more and rare trait. Moral courage. Speaking up for his fellow veterans back home, taking on global corruption, unraveling what would eventually be the ira n contra affair. He was one of the early leaders on the environment for the dangers of Climate Change. He is still doing it. We need you. Johnr secretary of state, tackled some problems with passion that was second to none. And endurance that used to make the president when you would walk out of the office, john, he would make the president say how in the hell does he do it . From securing the Paris Agreement with persistence and integrity, the middle east peace accords, which you came really made theit would have world even safer and stronger had we been able to get it done. Congratulations on this great honor. I want toe it and thank you for being a really good and loyal friend and then an incredible partner. In case it was not already clear , john, we still need you. I am confident that we are going to be able to continue to count have notecause you no once let this country down. Everyone enjoy it. Enjoy, john. Congratulations. Mrs. Victoria reggie kennedy. [applause] thank you. Thank you, all. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here to support the edward m. Kennedy institute and to celebrate and honor a very special man who continues to devote his life to Public Service. Our dear friend, secretary john kerry. To all ofad my word those wonderful words we have heard tonight about john, i hope you will indulge me for just a few minutes to say a few thank yous. Thank you to ambassador lou whatto patty jacobs a wonderful job you have done. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To answer new kin and bank of anukin and two anne f bank of america, thank you so much. To our host committee, to our table sponsors thank you so much for making tonight to success that it is. I am so forever and deeply grateful for all of you for being here because what we do here inspires young people and you make that possible. Thank you. Lydia shire and the executive chef alexander scheier for the fabulous meal we had tonight. And to bob gibbs at gourmet. I appreciate all they have done to make this night special. To all of our team at the Kennedy Institute. , ouring with you, jean president to has told me she was retiring for how long and i said, no, it is not possible. I am still not quite accepting it except for the fabulous mary grant is sitting next to you. Mary, we are looking forward to you. Jean. You for everything, to jim karam and all of the the incrediblef staff, chris mosher, gina for , thank youa perill all so much. As we gather in this replica of the Senate Chamber, im reminded told me hehusband won this place to be. He wanted a place that inspires new generations to get back and serve our nation. He hoped that by walking through those doors and feeling the awe and the majesty of this room that new generations would remember the men and women who had served in the United States senate throughout our history. Who had come together to address the great challenges facing our nation. He hoped that by remembering those Public Servants who made such a difference, we would all be inspired to give back and make a difference as well. It is in that spirit that we that the very first person we have ever honored at this institute, a Public Servant, a man who has given back and made a difference for his entire adult life. Lets watch this video. [video clip] from his service in the military to returning home and helping to raise the consciousness of a nation, to his service as an assistant District Attorney, to his service and state government, to his service in the United States senate, to his Incredible Service as our secretary of state, to his continued service inspiring new generations, john kerrys life has been about service. My dad has been a Public Servant his entire life. The place i am most comfortable speaking is the example he has set for me. Ive seen him take stances on issues that many other people would not but he took the stand. He is a tough, courageous guy. E confronts the obstacle that is the kind of soldier he was. I am proud of the service that he showed. More important was the courage it took to protest that service. John has demonstrated over and over again his commitment to the United States of america. He was a war here. He fought in vietnam. He served his country with great distinction in the congress. Chiefved as our nations diplomat. I really acknowledge him as an outstanding Public Servant. Close blessing of working with him, not only did i could to see his incredible intellect and expertise and command of the issues, but he was a statesman. He did not allow anyone to take him outside of his character. The word determination is something that i have admired about john. He is a very determined guy. When he gets his teeth into something, he doesnt let go. When i think of john kerry, the word that comes to my mind is persistent. He doesnt give up. If he cant get it done one way, he comes back and looks at it another way and continues until he accomplishes whatever he sets his mind to. And thats one of the things that made him such a great senator. Its one of the things that made him so good as secretary of state. I think john kerry was a good, strong secretary of state. In a way, its a job he had been preparing for his entire life, so its not a surprise. I personally think he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for the iran nuclear deal. The one thing that i really admire about john is he wasnt afraid to fail, and you cant be an effective secretary of state unless you are willing to take on the hard issues. You cant sit back and say, im not going to take that. John took on all the difficult issues. We have a lot of colleagues who served with us. We developed friendships. Theres only a handful you develop special friendships with. I think everyone i know can describe a friendship theyve had like that. If youve had a friendship like that, you are a very rich person indeed. I feel like a very rich person because of my friendship with john. s dedication as a Public Servant and his diehard optimism that we can make this world a better place and that we can help people truly have better lives has completely altered my personal career choice and the path that ive taken. Thank you, john, for all you have done for this commonwealth and for this nation. I have been so proud to call you my senator, to call you my secretary of state, and i am so happy to call you my friend. [applause] one more minute. One more minute. [applause] one more minute. Friend, and he was teddys friend, too. Voice ish teddys missing in that video, we feel his presence in our hearts and in our memories tonight. During the president ial campaign had the Great Fortune of traveling around the country and witnessing firsthand the sheer joy of the ted and john show. Men who were much more than colleagues. They were dear and close friends. They shared a bond, an unbreakable bond of friendship, forged by love and respect. I will never forget teddys poignant description of meeting young vietnam veteran john kerry on the mall in d. C. In 1971. Teddy vividly described how one of them was tall and thin and handsome, with dark hair, and then my husband caused and said, paused and said, that was me. I dont know who laughed harder, teddy or john. And then i had the privilege of hearing the joy and, dare i say, pride, as he went on to describe johns qualities as a leader and a man of courage and conviction. Perhaps the best way i can pay to view to john kerry tonight is in ted kennedys own words about him. He said, i have known john kerry as a soldier, as a peacemaker, as senator, and as friend. He understands that americas strength comes from the power of our ideas. He knows that a true leader inspires hope and vanquishes fear. He is someone committed to heal, to build, to hope, and to dream again. Again. Firstt, john kerry is the recipient of the edward and Kennedy Institute lifetime award edward m. Kennedy institute Lifetime Achievement award. Im thrilled and honored award o present this award to you now. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome him now, my friend, our friend, john kerry. [applause] [cheers and applause] be careful. John i dont want to do to that what teddy did. [laughter] honestly dont know where to begin. Most profoundly touched and personal thank you to you, vicki, to the whole family, the Kennedy Family, to , to the institute and all that it means, but to all of you who have come here tonight. I dont really process that you are talking about me, to be honest with you. Way, is a disconnect, in a but everybody passwords tonight were just everybodys words tonight were just the kindest and most heartfelt and most touching, personal honoring of a lifetime of effort , to try to be true to principles and to try to live up to the highest standards of Public Service. State has set that standard, so i am deeply honored and grateful. I will overlook the fact that i had to rise from Mitch Mcconnells seat tonight. [laughter] [applause] john but i know its all right, because elizabeth, you are over there, too. [laughter] ann so, you know, this is extraordinary edifice. Before i Start Talking about it, i just want to say a few single out a few folks, if i may. All of us in Public Service are where we are because, yes, we want to serve and we want to somehow make a difference and contribute, but it doesnt just work that way. People have to join us. Theres a lot of hard work, as all of you know. And i want to ask, first, all those of you here who worked with me in the senate or in the campaign, if i could ask you to stand up, and i would like everybody here to say thank you to you first. Would you do that, please . [applause] john now, if i may, i would like to also because we were a family. We really were a team. We had our moments where one staff or another had a different view about how we ought to do something, and even teddy and i had a difference on one issue or another, but in a 26 years that we were by the way, we were the uh,ndlongest living, seniorjunior act in washington. [laughter] john and we were second to Strom Thurmond and chris hollings. So, we look at that in a very special way, i want you to know. And teddy and i both, we kept saying, god, look at strom. Theres hope. [laughter] john but it was really a special relationship. Indeed, vicki is absolutely correct. Through iowarmed and new hampshire, we got into this routine which was just plain fun. It really was fun. And teddy would inevitably get up there and go on about, to paraphrase vicki, you know, we have this great senator here, with a great we have this great senator with us today. He is strong, he is tall, he is vigorous, he is charismatic, but enough about me. [laughter] john and then we would go back and forth. We both worked out a way to make it work. People loved it. They loved teddy. My god, they loved teddy in iowa, ive got to tell you. They loved him everywhere he went. He would stir them up and get everybody rowsed and energized. I have no doubt about it that Teddy Kennedy and vicki, you, to were a great part of that enormous victory in iowa, which was a lot of fun. I want to ask that family, that staff, all those of you, a whole bunch of folks, everybody who worked for Teddy Kennedy, please stand up. I want everybody to be able to say thank you. Barbara, paul senator paul kirk. Absolutely. [applause] john great, great group. Learned an i enormous amount from teddy. When you saw that last picture up there, there was an inscription on it, which i have on my desk to this day. I made extra copies of it so its around me different places. Me. Teddy gave it to this was right after we had walked out of the Senate Chamber at the swearingin, and we were going over to the reception. Teddy sent it to me. He wrote on it, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. [laughter] john and i think he once wrote, we can always have paris, but there was a different meaning. Anyway, at his services, i told you the wonderful story about how they were in Indian Country and they went for a great b lessing, the feather blessing. And in the middle of the ceremony, vanessa is standing there very rigid and teddy is standing there very rigid and the chief is moving around. And teddy leans down to vanessa and says, i think we just got married. [laughter] so, we had fun. The bottom line is, folks, teddy knew how to have fun. He took life he took things seriously, but never so seriously that he forgot the human side of all of this. And i learned a lot from that. I really did learn a lot. Vicki, thank you for your stunning stewardship of this institute and the dream that i know teddy had about it. I remember sitting down with both of you and talking about his vision of it. And all of yourd have delivered in the most magnificent way. You should be very proud. I know teddy would be elated with the way in which this institute has is going to inspire young people to come and to serve. We also have here tonight a group of ambassadors that i was privileged to work with. You all know who they are. They are great friends of massachusetts. They have contributed to our lives in so many different ways, but i want to recognize them very quickly if i can. , including tos brotherinlaw and Longtime College friend, who served as ambassador to italy, and, finally, and you all know her really well, Caroline Kennedy schlossberg, who did a brilliant job in japan. We are so happy you are all here. Thank you very, very much. [applause] john i also want to thank the mayor. I did vote for him the other day. Colleague. Mer friendshipor your and all the work we did together in a short time. [applause] i also want to single out a very special friend of mine. We have gotten to know each other really well. Weve been sailing together. Weve had a lot of fun in washington. His wife was just with me in malta, where i attended the ocean conference, which i started as secretary of state. We held them in washington and butin chile, up until now, im proud to tell you that what we began as the First International effort on oceans is now continued this year by the europeans in malta, next year by the indonesians in bali, the year after by the norwegians in norway, and the year after that, we just learned tonight, that the Pacific Island state, and the year after that, the russians are now seeking to do it. Globally on the map and we can be very proud of that. [applause] eddie and elizabeth, thank you for your brilliant continued service in the best traditions of teddy and of massachusetts. I just cant thank you enough for your overthetop comments am a both of you, tonight, but i will take them both. I loved it. Thank you so much. Everybody here loves what you are doing. Thank you. [applause] john i want to thank my family, needless to say, who everybody here knows politics. You all know politics really well. Vicki is surrounded by family here. I know your dad is so proud of what you are doing. It is only just beginning. We all know that. Atrick, you are putting difficult issue on the map. You are so dedicated to it. A different path, but we are so honored by that. [applause] and joe and matt, the dynamic team, nothing but great challenges ahead, and you are doing a brilliant job down there. I loved what you said about health care. I couldnt agree more about the sermon on the mount being the guideline to so many of us who were raised with that ethic and youre carrying it on in the best tradition, so thank you for that. In terms of my family, im very blessed because you cant do this without the support of family. I think all of you know that. Its hard. I can remember doing homework from the pay phone with alexandra or calling vanessa to find out about college or boyfriend or whatever the challenge of the moment was. [laughter] john she is hiding. She is cringing. Her husband is sitting beside her, too. But they are doing such brilliant work, vanessa and brian. Brian is a new or of surgeon doing brilliant is a neurosurgeon doing brilliant work. Focusings a physician so much more on building Global HealthCare Capacity in countries, five of them in africa, with some 20 countries knocking on the door and trying to get in. And im proud of both of them and what they do. Proud of my daughter, alexandra, who is not able to be here. She has gone out to california. She is involved in the Film Industry and has never met harvey weinstein, so dont worry about that. But she is out there doing business with two of my grandchildren and im very blessed with them and with jul ian. And finally, but not finally, not last that all, because she captured the hearts of people all around the country, i have so many people i still go out with, when i go somewhere in the nation, who talk to me about my wife and about how she affected them with her independence, with her courage, with her willingness to stand up and tell it like it is. And you all got to know her pretty darn well. But she makes so many contributions in so many ways. She is leaving her late here late tonight to go back to pittsburgh, head up what their foundation is doing with 6000 people coming for a threeday conference on the environment. She doesnt quit either. Teresa heinzkerry. [applause] john one last thing, forgive me if i start down the road, i know im in serious trouble. But one of the groups that just you talk about loyalty and you talk about flag and country and your willingness to stand up and be counted. Ive never had a group of friends as strong and as there for you, as loyal as the firefighters of the United States. [applause] stand up. Thanks, friend. God bless you. [applause] i want you to look around here. Its really strange to stand here in the well of the United States senate. We wouldnt speak from the well. You would if you were involved in an impeachment process. [laughter] [applause] john but we are not at this moment. And, uh, but its a privilege to be able to speak to you, and i just have to keep thinking, hoping this door doesnt open and ted cruz doesnt rush out. [laughter] john but this is an amazing place that vicki and the institute have created. And i want you to know that this replica of the United States senate is so accurate that you can close your eyes and actually hear the republican senators whispering about donald trump. [laughter] john try that. Try that. And they know exactly what im talking about. A whole lot of kids have been able to come in here and been able to act out what its like to be a United States senator. Thatso realistic, folks, 15 times this year, they failed to review Obamacare Repeal obamacare. [laughter] [applause] john in fact, three of them announced that they are not going to run for reelection. And one of them called the white house an adult day care center. [applause] deference to my colleagues who are serving, i will not carry this further. But [laughter] but its real when i tell you that this chamber brings back a lot of memories. I started out number 99, way up over there. Jay rockefeller was to my left. Mitch mcconnell was in our class. He is the only remaining member from the class that i came in with in 1985. And slowly, i worked my way over. Teddy was sitting right up there in the empty seat thats in the middle there, right beside jerry. And i know i speak for everybody when i say that im sure each of us have shared a moment of deja vu, where there was a nostalgia that made us think that, somehow, we had heard a great, big laughter, that booming voice that represented the lion of the United States senate. Day one ofim from 2009, but i think never has he been missed more than in these last 10 months when more than ever we have reason to ask, what would teddy have done. In their say that, entire lives, theyve never seen a moment like this in our country. This is a dangerous time. Its a really dangerous time. Its a dangerous time because of the things we are not deciding, the things that arent being done. Its a dangerous time because of the things that other people are doing or that Mother Nature is doing because of other things we have done over a period of time. But it is a dangerous time. There is nothing normal about this moment. But a number of us here are old enough to have seen the movie somewhat like this somewhat like this. Watching ken burns brilliant pbses on vietnam on these last weeks, i was reminded exactly what teddy did when we faced a moment not unlike this one, when it seemed like the country was coming apart. After the navy, as you know, i came home to a country at war with itself. It was a time of division and people were attacked for speaking their mind. I felt compelled to speak out against the war, because those men on my crew, both boats, came back here, sharing a belief that we were blessed enough that every day was extra. We lived by that motto. It liberates you. It really does. It frees you up to say what you think. We used to have a saying over there. If we got into trouble or we were doing something kind of stretching the rules a little bit, we would say, what can they do to us . Send us to vietnam . We were liberated there. Let me tell you something, we have been even more liberated and siu returned. Liberated since we returned. I felt compelled them to speak out against war. Id lost some very good friends and i saw this really what ken burns showed over the course of those 18 hours. I thank the bank of america for having the courage to help bring that to america. Elt compelled [applause] legitimateespite how i felt in making the comments that i made at the time and drawing the conclusions that i nonetheless, was, little taken aback by the personal nature of Richard Nixons assault on me and others. And i have to tell you something. This is a total aside. I was angry when i came back. I was even angrier after i read Neil Sheehans brilliant book bright shining lie, but i have to tell you i was even angrier the other day when i read about the treason of a president of the United States who engaged in the conduct that prolonged a war for the purpose of his election when he was a mere candidate and interfered with what Lyndon Johnson and the people were trying to do with a legitimate peace process. That is one of the most egregious abuses of power we have ever seen in our country, and it should motivate people to do whatever they can now to hold this government accountable, because the American People have a right to expect that. [applause] john so, in april, 19 71, i was among thousands of veterans, a few of them are here, some with long hair and beards, and most in fatigues. Some singing protest songs. Some waving the american flag. Some who felt alienated from the very country that they went to defend. All of us encamped on the mall in washington, trying to make our government finally listen to the men that they had sent off to fight and die in southeast asia. The Nixon White House was threatening to arrest all of us, and we were under surveillance. We were literally having debates and discussions amongst ourselves about whether we would stay on the mall or whether that was the best way to try to reach america. Because we were, after all, trying to build support, not push people away. How do we get through to america was a question we debated. Some even wondered whether we should go somewhere else, but we didnt. We took a democratic oath, every soldier there voted, and they all voted to stay on that mall and reach the country by making it clear that we had earned the right to protest. And i will never forget [applause] how senatorsforget and congressmen who had opposed the war in speeches werent too sure who these guys really were or whether they wanted to affiliate with them. They didnt dare come down to the mall and have our backs at first. But, no surprise to anybody in this chamber tonight, among the first to show up was senator ted kennedy. He spent hours just listening to hisshowin hi showing complete solidarity with us. He visited again at night, no cameras, nobody around. He came down and sat in a tent, shared a little wine with a few guys, talked, listened. It was the best debrief you could have had on the war in vietnam. And soon other senators followed him,. Way was clear frost to testify before the senate until the country what was happening clear for us to testify before the senate and tell the country what was happening in vietnam. If Richard Nixon tried to remove us, they would have had to tackle some senators, too. Today . Uld teddy do hed do exactly what he did then. He would stand firm on principle, not just in defense of the position, but in defense of an institution called the United States senate, which was designed by the framers of our constitution to meet the toughest of times, and it has. Not by standing still, not by acquiescing, but by standing up to those who would damage our country. And if there were ever a moment for the senate to be the senate again, this is it. In this last year, our discourse, if it could even be called that, in the supposedly greatest democracy on the face of the planet, our discourse rose to a new level of the main and the out the mean and the outrageous, the coarse and the ugly. The public dialogue has become no dialogue at all, just some shouting match alienating citizens across the board, right, left, center, all of whom yearn for something better. We seem trapped in a kind of political pinball machine where, as a country, we careen from flickr to flipper, bounce flipper to flipper, bouncing off walls, where down is up and up is down and white is black and black is white, and nothing means anything more to anybody and words just dont carry the truth that they used to. Well, a democracy relies on free speech, yes, it does, but you know as well as i do, it relies even more on that speech being truthful. How many times have we been reminded that it is the truth that sets us free . In speeches and in the scriptures. It is the truth that affirms the aunt any doubt there is no such thing as alternative facts, folks, and it is the truth that this is not a normal time. It is not normal to feed your country a daily dose of your own reality that, each day, is proven false, whether its a crowd size with a photo that ositively or whether its the burden of the Paris Agreement, which is, in fact, no burden at all. It is not normal to demonize immigrants who have built our country and defended our freedom. Even as American Cities are underwater from extreme storms and large parts of our countryside are ravaged by fires normaldrought, its not to rip the work of 169 nations over 26 years to save our planet from Climate Change, which isnt. Ust real its proving to be more and more deadly. Last year at election time, november 8, 2016, i was on an airplane flying down to antarctica. And, yes, when i got the results, i thought about staying down there. [laughter] john but i didnt, obviously. I went to antarctica because i listened, because, as secretary, i was told by the scientists that i visited in norway and greenland, you have to go to antarctica if you really want to understand whats happening with Climate Change. After seeing the fjord and enland which sits on rock in greenland, which sits on rock, therefore all the ice does not displace water today everything that notices increased displacement. I saw a fjord in which, every single day, 86 million metric intoof ice is falling off the ocean, floating out to melt. 86 Million Metric Tons is enough water every day to take care of all of the Greater New York city for an entire year. Day. In miami, the mayor is raising roads because, on sunny days, high tides now come over the city. Here in boston, you heard the mayor. We have a seawall on a sunny day at a high tide, certain times, water will come over the top. Why does this matter . Because the oceans, which we are now starting to focus on, actually produce 51 of the oxygen we breathe. Life itself depends on this. Itself greenhouse effect is not some scientific thing that suddenly got made up. The Greenhouse Gas itself, the greenhouse effect, is the reason we have a mean temperature of 57 degrees now higher on this planet. We cant live without a greenhouse effect. Thats how we know it works. Over 169 nations came together, anded this agreement, without any evidence, without any science, without any reality to his accusation that there is a burden put on america there is no burden at all, because the way we got everybody to agree was that each country designed its own plan and no country put in a planned that they werent able to achieve, including the United States of america. One of the great lies to the American People of these last months is the basis for the socalled withdrawal from paris. Im proud to tell you something, folks. 38 states in the United States of america passed renewable portfolio laws. 29 have passed them, eight of them have voluntary ones, but they have all agreed they are going to continue to do that. What does that mean . Those 38 states constitute 88 of the population of the United States of america. So, donald trump may have pulled out of the Paris Agreement, but ive got news for donald trump. That 80 and more than 90 mayors and 38 states are committed to stay in the Paris Agreement and we will achieve those and more. [applause] its also not normal to attack reporters for doing their job in the nation that invented the free press. Its not normal to turn your back on diplomacy that united the world against the Nuclear Threat when your own cabinet, your own allies, the iaea, the International Atomic energy agency, and the world say it is working. Preventing a Nuclear Arms Race in the middle east. Ive got news for you. This deal has shattered because malevolent intent in congress is trying to take away the deal by the back door, passing such extreme measures that iran cant stay in it and it falls apart of its own weight. Turkey will have a bomb. Egypt will have a bomb. Saudi arabia will have a bomb, and it ran will start moving toward enrichment again and it ran and iran will start moving toward enrichment again. What is the rationale that suggests you are better going back to where we were when you know what the world was like when we were where we were . We know what happens with no deal. They were 2000 months away from a breakout. They had a plutonium reactor ready to commission, which would , weaponsced plutonium grade material, enough for two bombs per year thats what its like without the deal. How in gods name is this country safer without this agreement . It is not normal to override your own cabinet, your own military advisors, and everybody else, and throw this in some cowardly fashion to the congress and ask political people to mess it up even further. And i trust that congress will stand up and do whats right. [applause] and, by the way, if thats the deal,nts art of the we all understand why he declared bankruptcy six times. There is no art in that deal. I will tell you why. If you are iran, if you are the Supreme Leader and nobody knows those intricacies better than a few of us who negotiated this over time, the Supreme Leader was extraordinarily suspect of even dealing with the United States. And it was because rouhani and pleaded and pulled him that blessing, gave his but he said i dont trust the United States. Can you imagine now what happens in his mind and the mind of the hardliners in iran who not only say to themselves, now we have a reason that we know why we have to have a bomb, which is precisely what kim jongun is saying in north korea . This step by the president makes it harder also to negotiate with north korea because it reinforces the lack of american credibility and the lack of americas willingness to keep a deal. It doesnt work. [applause] theres also, obviously, nothing normal theres something cruel and cynical about stripping away health care from the neediest americans, without any plan to replace what they have or provide for those who dont have anything. Ironically, in his myopic zeal to attack all things obama, President Trump has actually raised the cost for many of the very people who voted for him. What hes doing is not only not President Trump has actually a cruel attack onits the fundamental values of the United States of america, and there is nothing normal about whats happening, nothing president ial about it either. Teddys brother, president of the United States jack kennedy, banned the testing of Nuclear Weapons so that, never again, with the world come so close to mutual destruction. Today, in service of a campaign promise, donald trump bans not only bans not the testing of nuclear arms, but focuses on the travel of muslims, and he says he actually said this. And this is part of the struggle that the secretary of state has had over this question, the blowup over at the pentagon. Because the president is arguing that we should have 10 times the number of Nuclear Weapons that we have today. The president says hes strong. He, the president , is strong because he wants this. Well, ive got news for you. Medical professionals say he is compensating. And here is the bitter irony of his socalled leadership. On paris, we know that we are going to keep it, so, in the end, donald trump can pull out, but we actually wind up staying in. On iran he criticizes it, talks about getting out, winds up turning around and throwing and is evenngress. More irresponsible because he leaves it up to the date the vagaries of politics and whatever movement might gain a foothold, rather than whatever strategy ought to be in cemented to be implemented. When youre dealing with Nuclear Weapons, that is about as dangerous as it gets. I say this and i think you know me on this. Ive had four years of being secretary of state. Im not saying this to be partisan or political. And i know that the institutions that our founders created to keep america strong and together have always worked best in times like these when america needed them the most. We need them to work now like never before. You somethingith else that teddy taught us, which is important to where we go with this. In a journey, obviously, of both triumph and hegedy, through which managed to find a path that was so clear, where he always showed up to fight and did his duty in the fights that needed fighting. Us, a lot of us, how much better and stronger our country could be if we could come together as a country to focus on the longterm for the special purpose, a national. Urpose that is absent today its a focus that is deprived of all oxygen by the fight thats going on in washington. And the reason is that we are stuck trying to prove or disprove the crazy proposition that two and two is five, while huge fighting mostly a amount of energy being expended just to hold on to the truce truths that we long ago established. Were living in an age when far more is at stake, folks. Its hard to emphasize that enough. And we arent even scratching the surface of what needs to be done on behalf of our nation and on behalf of this planet. Thats what i find the hardest thing to deal with right now. There is a struggle for the future. There are two billion kids between the ages of 15 and 24 today, and about 400 million of them are not going to go to school at any time. When i was with the foreign minister in an african country, with a 40 muslim minority, i asked him, how do you manage that minority . What are you thinking about the longterm . And he described for me how extremists grab these young kids who are 13 and 14 years old and they proselytize them and they pay them a stipend. And then they dont need any stipend anymore. They are fully indoctrinated. They go out and become the recruiters. He said, you know what . Those guys have a 35year plan. We dont even have a fiveyear plan. That sentence has stayed with me every day since the day i heard it, and everything that i thought about as we put together a coalition to fight isil, as we redefined the battle against extremism. There are 1. 8 billion kids who are 15 years old or younger. And if they dont see opportunity in a world where they have a smart phone and can see what everybody else has and can communicate if they dont begin to get a chance to share in the future, to have a say in their own countries, then we inherit the downside of that. Thats part of the reason we are in afghanistan, a war that should end, but were there for a counterterrorism platform, because that is the ungoverned space from which our country was attacked and people fear that could happen yet again. So, my friends, this is a complicated time and this is complicated stuff. Nobody knows that better than joe and elizabeth and people who are wrestling with this on a daily basis, but they dont get le with it in the reality we are living in now, because of what just happened to washington and to the presidency. Were engaged in a struggle for the future and the challenges we are confronting, the issues that we are not confronting the challenges we are not confronting, the issues that we are not confronting, thats where we need to shake the world free from its slumber and wrestle with whats really coming at us. Because not only do we have to care about that group of people that make up the potential pool of extremism and terrorism in some parts of the world, we have a problem here at home, where a whole bunch of people are so angry because theyre separated from the process, they dont believe in governance, they dont believe in their leaders. And they are angry. And we have to establish the credibility to do both. I leave you with a thought. The last big project i can think of in america, in which we were building something where we were dreaming, was the big dig. To build as trying highspeed rail system out in california. Most people dont even know about it. It should be something that we are doing as a national project, not just there, but on the east coast, to rebuild the country. Much of the world right now, my friends and i saw this andgrateful to my country grateful to the president for giving me the job to be able to see this up close and personal. 1. 4 million miles, 91, 92 countries i dont remember the number. But i will tell you the world is riding a wave of technological transformation on the scale of the industrial revolution, only it is happening at a digital pace. Country, ideaser are moving faster, people are moving faster, the marketplace is moving faster. The only thing that isnt coming at us faster and faster is government playing constructive role in trying to help the private sector to do what needs to be done. I dont believe government is going to make this difference, to be truthful with you. Government is critical to doing it, but its the private sector that actually is going to break through. Because thats where the capital is and it takes capital to do what we need to do. During this tectonic shift in the workplace, too many people have been left behind in our country. Theres a brilliant story in the New York Times, i think its today, talking about a woman in indiana who struggled, lost her job at a ball bearing factory, and what happened is deprivation played out. Millions of americans know right now that we can do better than we are doing now, better than we have done in these last bitter years. Because our history has proven that we can do better time and time again. , president kennedy summoned the nation to that kind of a challenge. And, guess what . He said weve got to reach that audacious goal before a decade is out of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. Within 12 years, the United States, by committee by committing all of us together, made that happen. And there were no partisan divisions that blocked the doing of that. There was unflagging determination, daring. We moved immediately to put unprecedented levels of research and development, technology and engineering into the effort. Back then, democrat and republican had deep disagreements on a lot of issues, but they also shared an even deeper commitment to stand together for the strength and success of our country. And for them, american exceptionalism, which is so important dont you get a little bit tired seeing politicians run around, talking about how exceptional we are all the time . I would hear it from people in other countries all the time. You guys love to beat your own drum, but have you passed a budget . What are you able to do . What are you building . Its a question we should be asking ourselves. And i believe in american exceptionalism, folks, but i will tell you, we are not exceptional because we run around beating our chests and saying we are. We are exceptional because we do exceptional things. [applause] thats what we thats the difference. So, i would just close by saying to all of you thats what we have to get back to. This is so obvious. This is not complicated to figure out. I think everyone of you understands that. Its the politics that get tough, but the decisions that we make or fail to make right now on new energy sources, on education, on infrastructure, on technology, on research all of which will produce the jobs of the future and our decision on deficits and entitlements, without doubt these are the things that are going to decide whether or not we continue to lead the world or whether or not the world just gives up on us and moves further into a different place and we are left to follow in the wake of others ourre less prosperous in own land. Again and again as secretary of state, i was privileged to see how critical American Leadership is. The United States led the effort to put together a coalition against isil. We love the effort on the refugee crisis. Every single year we put more american money into that crisis than any other country. We led the effort to arrive on the cusp of now seeing the first generation of children born in aidsfree for the first time. We leave the effort [applause] you all remember how it was predicted that 4 Million People were going to die from ebola in west africa in a span of four months before christmas several years ago . We led the effort to stop the ebola in its tracks and prevent that Million People from dying over four months, and a mere fraction died because we went over there and build Health Care Capacity and made the difference. I could go on and on, giving you examples of what we do where we are indispensable. I know teddy would summon us to this task with a sense of urgency right now, and i think you do, too. We have to break out of this ball balkanized, paralyzed politics which have divided us into this patchwork of narrow interests and they have driven the concept of National Good far from the National Dialogue altogether. Issue andue after during consensus, which did exist, has been frayed. And its been shredded by a pretty raw lust for power. In Donald Trumps america, silence is complicity. Century,n the 21st where choices and consequences come at us so much faster, the price of inaction is not that we just sort of standstill stand still. The price of inaction is that we are going to stay behind and see the best policy possibilities of the future to others who are more disciplined and more focused and, at this moment, even more visionary. If teddy were here, he would insist that every single one of us face up to these new challenges, not just as individuals or along party lines, but he would call on us to do it with a national purpose. He would know that we can do it only if we restore a larger sense of responsibility and replace the cacophony of twitter and alternative facts with a genuine discretion of what is best for our country. Politics is tough. Everybody in this chamber knows politics is tough. Teddy certainly knew that. On thebeat it hard playing field. We both knew it was better to be in the minority the majority than the minority, and its not hard to come to that conclusion. But the truth is that some of the most fiercely independent, plaintalking, direct and determined partisans that i have ever known in the senate have also been the ones who tackled the toughest issues, finding Common Ground with people that they disagreed on with everything else. Thats the difference today. Ideology is not new to the american political arena, and ideology isnt unhealthy. The biggest breakthroughs in american politics have been brokered not by the mushy middle, but by splitting the difference by people who had a Pretty Healthy sense of ideology. Ted kennedy and orrin hatch were powerful price i sleep because they didnt agree on that much powerful because they didnt agree on that much and they spent a lot of time fighting each other, and so the senate leaned in and listened on the occasions when, somehow, this ultimate odd couple found things they were willing to fight for together. Sometimes, as john kennedy once said, party asks too much. Sometimes, a president can also ask too much. And if they do, when they do, both parties have a duty to stand up and reclaim the independence of an institution and the future of the country. Thats what i know teddy would be doing, fighting on principle against those who would move always,backwards, but always working at the same time to find that bipartisan consensus just waiting to lift our country. That is the spirit of this institute. And thats the United States senate that i love and remember and the true spirit of the institution that this institute itself is built to defend. That, i think,s than defined teddys entire approach. Fight for the things you believe in, but always fight to try to find a Common Ground. And nothing less than that should define our country right now. Thats the real american exceptionalism, if you want to know the truth. And together with senators and congressmen weighing in as lions all, i hope that we will hear a roar that will once again unite us to do the exceptional things that keep america exceptional for generations to come. Im so privileged to have , to be parts award of this extraordinary institution, to be part of this family. I love teddy. And i love your love story and all you did together to harness ofds unbelievable sense direction and purpose. And everybody here, i know, feels privileged by the fact that we are part of that journey. And teddy would be the first to tell us tonight that journey is not finished. Thank you all very much. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2017] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] President Trump gave several thanksgiving messages today, both on video and in person. A tweet from early in the day starts with happy thanks giving and mentions the economy, the military, the supreme court, and building the wall. He also gave this thanksgiving video message to u. S. Troops overseas. Trump hello, everybody, and happy thanksgiving. , very special you are very, very special people to me and everybody in this country. That i can tell you. Ive got units bravely representing each branch of our armed forces. We are going live now. Surrounding me is a lot of press. Better me then you than you. Its an honor to speak with you all and to give god thanks for the blessings of freedom and for the heroes who really have this tremendous courage that you do to defend us and defend freedom. We want to thank you all very much. There he, very special very, very special people. It doesnt get more special. Representing the army, we have the First Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd airborne, who are conducting operations in kandahar, afghanistan. Raise your hand. Wheres toby . Thank you, toby. I hear so many good things about you, toby. Thats good news. Ofpy thanksgiving to all you. And i have to say to the folks in afghanistan, everybody is talking about the progress you have made in the last few months since we opened it up. We said go ahead, we are going to fight to win. We are not fighting anymore just to walk around. We are fighting to win. They are talking about it. So thanks very much. Rave, incredible fighters. Directs of 14 on the Marine Corps Special operations also on the line. These granaries are operating in iraq these brave marines are operating in iraq in support of operation inherit result. Sempermanding officer fi. Fi. I have a great marine who is chief of staff, as you know, john kelly. Does an incredible job, like any marine would. To you and all the marines during this great work in delivering defeat after defeat isis. Sis. We are being talked about again as an armed forces. We are really winning. We know how to win. They werent letting you win before. There were letting you play even. Were letting you win. I want to say hello to the captain and all the sellers on board the uss monterey. Montereys primary missions include Ballistic MissileDefense Command i surface warfare, and antisubmarine warfare. Thank you, everyone on board the uss monterey for your dedication. Thank you very much. We are joined by the 74th expeditionary fighter squad from incirlik airbase. Your squadron has done a tremendous job, tremendous. And we appreciate it. Cominght against isis is our way. Coming our way. Big, big difference. A lot of things have happened. They say we have made more progress against isis than they did in years of the previous administration, and that is because im letting you do your job. Performing more than 1000 missions over the skies of iraq and syria over the last 4 months, we are very, very proud of you. Believe me, everybody in this , and seeingatching that the positive reports of change, instead of the negative reports. Welcome, and happy thanksgiving to lieutenant ryan hudson. Areand the entire crew doing incredible in the arabian gulf on operations and Maritime Infrastructure protection. Thank you very much for your service. Very important area. , i know it isu hard to be away from home at this time of the year. Were doing well at home. The economy is doing really great. When you, back to you will see the jobs and companies coming back into our country and the stock market at a record high, unemployment the lowest it has been in 17 years. You will find something good. A lot of things have happened over this short period of time that are really good. They are really good. I especially like seeing companies starting to come back. We are working on a beautiful tax plan and hopefully we will get that and you will really see things happen. For all americans when i say that we totally support you in fact, we love you. And this is a thanksgiving that you get in a very different part of the world than you are used to, but you are doing a great job, and thank god for you. Thank god for you. Ourant to give thanks to loved ones, military families. They miss you so deeply and so badly there. They put up with so much. They put up with the time away and all of those things that they have to endure and they endure it because they love our country and they love you. Believe me, i know so much about military families. They respect and appreciate what you are doing for this country, and they respect and appreciate what you are doing for them as a family. The familys love you and they miss you. Allowain, im going to reporters and press i will ask them to leave, and we will confidential, personal conversations. We are set up for that. Really wonderful what technology can do. Fired. , youre and have a happy thanksgiving, i must say. Have a good thanksgiving cspan come here from New York Times columnist david brooks and historian ronald white discuss the presidency, comparing past administrations to the trump administration. [applause] so character and the presidency is quite a subject, isnt it