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