TRAVERSE CITY -- The sadness was evident in George Bennett's voice as he recalled his brief but meaningful encounters with U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy after the legendary political figure died late Tuesday night.
Bennett, a former chairman and tribal councilor for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, was once a guest at a clam bake at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, Mass., where Native American leaders from across the country gathered to discuss creation of an Indian caucus in Congress.
"I was very impressed with his support of Indian causes and civil rights," Bennett said. "It really touches me as a really sad day for everyone."
Bennett donated a collection of photographs of tribal leaders taken with the Kennedy family to the new tribal museum and cultural center in Peshawbestown, and is proud of the band's connection to the Kennedys. The tribe worked closely over the years with Sen. Kennedy's son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, along with Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee, on Native American issues in Washington.
"It was important for the tribe to be connected with Congress," Bennett said. "It was an honor to meet members of the (Kennedy) family ... I'm very saddened to hear of his loss."
Former Michigan Gov. William G. Milliken of Traverse City also crossed paths with Kennedy over their long political careers. Although they were from opposite sides of the political aisle, Milliken said he enjoyed Kennedy personally and expressed deep admiration for his political skills.
"I considered him to be one of the great senators of all time," Milliken said. "He was enormously effective."
Milliken first met Kennedy in the mid-'70s, when both were speakers at a "Fight for Freedom" dinner held at Cobo Hall in Detroit. After dinner, Kennedy invited Milliken on his plane where the two talked for more than a half-hour. The two renewed acquaintances years later at a restaurant in New York City, and later met in Washington.
"I certainly didn't know him well," Milliken said. "But we developed a friendship, in a way, from a distance."
"He had his trying times in his personal life, but his public and political life was exemplary," Milliken said.
The ex-governor said Kennedy earned respect from members of both major political parties, and called him "a senator's senator."
"He was highly respected by his colleagues, both by Democrats and Republicans," Milliken said.
Attempts to reach former U.S. Sen. Robert Griffin, of Traverse City, who served with Kennedy in the Senate, were unsuccessful.
Lynn Larson, former chairwoman of the Grand Traverse County Democratic Party, met Kennedy at a major Democratic fundraiser in Detroit about ten years ago.
Larson called Kennedy "one of the formidable leaders of the Senate," who devoted his career to health care reform.
"Were he still here, we would have arrived before August at a health plan, it would have been a done deal," Larson said. "That was his passion ... I feel bad he didn't get to see what I hope will happen, which is universal health care for all Americans."
