Statement from Victoria Reggie Kennedy on the passing of Senator Birch Bayh

Senator Birch Bayh was a wonderful friend and an extraordinary public servant. I mourn his loss.

Birch and my late husband Ted Kennedy were both elected to the United States Senate in 1962, where they became fast friends and great colleagues, often working together to further our nation’s march for progress. From civil rights to voting rights to equal rights, Birch made a lasting impact on generations, most notably by passing Title IX to ensure girls had the same opportunities as boys in school and on the playing field, and giving 18-year-olds the right to vote. He also possessed a remarkable sense of humor that we’ll miss very much.

There is another, quite personal reason that Birch Bayh was special to our family — he saved Ted’s life by pulling him from the wreckage of a small plane crash in 1964 when they were headed to the Democratic State Convention in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ted never forgot it nor did the rest of our family.

My prayers and deepest sympathies are with all the Bayh family.