Transcript: Kerry, Hatch

Aug 30, 2009 — -- ABC NEWS, THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR JOHN KERRY AND SENATOR ORRIN HATCH

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS: Edward Moore Kennedy.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Ted Kennedy became the greatestlegislator of our time.

STEPHANOPOULOS: A life in full.

KENNEDY: I plan that I shall dedicate all of my strength andwill to serving you in the United States Senate.

The hope rises again, and the dream lives on.

(singing): I love sweet Rosie O'Grady and Rosie O'Grady lovesme!

STEPHANOPOULOS: Our headliners this morning, two of Kennedy'sclosest friends in the Senate. Democrat John Kerry and RepublicanOrrin Hatch.

Then.

REP. EDWARD J. MARKEY, D-MASS.: Senator Kennedy's spirit willinfuse the Congress.

HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS: Hopefully at every step alongthe way, they'll ask themselves, what would Teddy do?

STEPHANOPOULOS: Without Kennedy, what's next for health care?That and all the week's politics on an expanded roundtable with GeorgeWill, Sam Donaldson, Gwen Ifill, E.J. Dionne and Liz Cheney. All thison a special edition of "This Week.

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STEPHANOPOULOS: Good morning. He was the youngest Kennedybrother who lived the longest. The only one who could prepare for hisdeath.

And the by the time Teddy Kennedy was buried next to Bobby andJohn late yesterday, you just knew it was the farewell he wanted. From the Senate he served. The sons he loved.

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EDWARD KENNEDY, JR., SON: I said, I can't do this. He said, Iknow you can do it. There is nothing that you can't do. We're goingto climb that hill together even if it takes us all day.

REP. PATRICK J. KENNEDY, D-R.I.: When he first got elected andmy cousin Joe was a member of Congress and I came to Congress, dadfinally celebrated saying, finally after all these years, when someonesays, who does that damn Kennedy think he is? There's only a one inthree chance they're talking about me.

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STEPHANOPOULOS: And the president.

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OBAMA: The greatest expectations were placed upon Ted Kennedy'sshoulders because of who he was, but he surpassed them all because ofwho he became.

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STEPHANOPOULOS: And with that, let me bring in senators JohnKerry and Orrin Hatch. Welcome to you both.

And you both spoke movingly Friday night as a celebration forSenator Kennedy. And I want to begin with you, Senator Kerry, becauseyou called this last year of Senator Kennedy's life the sweetest ofseasons. And I wonder if you could share a little bit of what youlearned and saw of your friend in his last year.

KERRY: Well, he -- he was so graceful, George. And courageous.And I think the most important thing is that he was able to see andfeel the love and affection and the accomplishment of his lifetime.

So that in the end when he went, he was truly ready and at peace.And I think there is a beauty in that.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And that was one of the themes really of thiswhole week. And, Senator Hatch, you cracked everybody up Friday nightwhen you talked about your friend, Senator Kennedy, and especiallywhen you talked about those old days sometimes when he was feeling nopain, in your words, on the Senate Floor.

But you spun it out into a story of redemption.

HATCH: Yes. Actually, Teddy was a very religious person. And,you know, when Vicki came into his life, it changed a lot of things.

Of course, we had some experiences before that as well that werevery redemptive and helpful. And all I can say is that the latterpart of Teddy's life was really, really tremendous. And I enjoyedbeing with him, you know?

We were like fighting brothers. I mean, we would go at eachother and he would walk up to me and throw his arms around me and say,how did I do?

(LAUGHTER)

HATCH: And I used to just laugh. And I used to really rib himand give him a rough time too.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You said fighting brothers, and I couldn't helpbut notice you and Senator Kerry already talking about health careright before we went...

KERRY: Yes, listen, we're going to get Orrin. Orrin is going tobe our man. He is going to be the go-to Republican. He is going todo what Ted Kennedy would have done. Right, Orrin?

HATCH: All they have -- all they have to do is just startthinking straight, and I'll be right there with them, I'll tell you.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But that's the big question. You say, do whatTed Kennedy would have done. And you know, this has been a big partof the debate this week. In fact, Secretary Sebelius engaged it justa couple of days ago.

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