Former President Joe Biden received the lifetime achievement award at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston Sunday night, saying that it was "one of the most meaningful honors" he had ever received.
The event marked Biden's first public appearance since completing a round of cancer treatment a week ago.
The institute honored Biden as part of its tenth anniversary celebration. It noted his contributions to public service, including his election to the Senate in 1972, his time as vice president under Barack Obama, and his eventual election as the 46th president. Biden is the first-ever recipient of the award and was introduced by Kennedy's widow, Victoria Kennedy.
"I want to tell you how much this means to me, to receive an award that honors the legacy of my friend Teddy Kennedy, who was by my side for every consequential moment of my political life," Biden said at the event. "He made such a profound difference in my personal life."
Biden explained that Kennedy helped him in his Senate campaign and continued to help through the death of his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and his daughter, Naomi Christina Biden.
"I was planning to give up my seat in the Senate," Biden explained. "Teddy wouldn't let me give up."
Biden speaks about democracy
He said that Kennedy believed in "the fundamental goodness of the American people" and the "power of our democracy." He said both are values he believes in and upholds.
"In over 50 years of public life, this is one of the worst I've seen. Our very democracy is at stake in my view," Biden said in his speech. "It's no time to give up. It's time to get up. Get up now!"
Biden also briefly referenced Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, saying that "late-night hosts that continue to shine a light on free speech, knowing their careers are on the line."
He also spoke about the importance of the Kennedy Institute and the work that it does.
"Teaching young people how to fight for, strengthen, and cherish the institutions that make our democracy, literally a beacon for the world," Biden said.
He hopes his presidential library will one day inspire people to have the same values.
"Whatever my legacy may be, I hope it will be said of me that is true of Teddy, who believed in our democracy and knew it was worth fighting for."
He finished his nearly 25-minute speech by calling on people to get involved and act, and "fight like Teddy would fight."
"These are dark days. But we are one of the only countries in the world that has time and again has come out of every crisis we faced, stronger than we went into that crisis, every one," Biden finished. "I still believe we will emerge, as we always have, stronger, wiser, more resilient, more just."
Former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was in attendance to support her husband. Biden said his children could not attend the event.
Marty Walsh receives award at Kennedy Institute
Former Boston Mayor and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U.S. Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti were also honored with leadership awards.
"A good secretary of labor and the best friend you could possibly have," Biden said of Walsh during his speech. "What Marty says, he does, and he doesn't back off."
Walsh thanked veterans for their contributions, keeping the country safe. He spoke about the importance of "listening to every voice and returning every phone call."
"We brought people together from all over the city of Boston. Democrats, Republicans, Independents," Walsh said of his time as mayor. "Marty Walsh, a Democratic mayor, and Charlie Baker, a Republican governor, worked collectively together to make sure that people were safe, moving us forward, creating a message that was positive. Our disagreements happened behind the scenes, not in front of everybody. It's important for us to continue to come together."
Walsh thanked the Kennedy family for the award Sunday.
"It's an honor to be standing up here tonight as a kid who grew up not too far from here," Walsh said. He grew up in the Savin Hill area of Dorchester.
