Kerry called on students to perform public service, touting the Peace Corps in particular. He hailed the US forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, and then called Reagan "one of our greatest optimists" who similarly fought for US interests in the Cold War
Kerry postpones fund-raisers, rallies
By Patrick Healy, Globe Staff | June 7, 2004
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Senator John F. Kerry yesterday postponed two star-studded, multimillion dollar fund-raisers and canceled other public campaigning this week as a tribute to President Reagan, whom the Democrat hailed in a speech as "a modern giant" who "taught us that there was a difference between strong beliefs and bitter partisanship."
Kerry, who explicitly appeals to Republicans in his campaign stump speech, told reporters that he would "suspend any sort of overtly political rallies, things like that," in honor of the 40th president.
"We will miss him, no matter what party, no matter what our beliefs," Kerry said outside St. Anthony Shrine in downtown Boston, where he attended 8 a.m. Catholic Mass.
Reagan's death made it difficult for Kerry to go forward with this week's fund-raisers, which were expected to be awash with Hollywood liberals and Democratic entertainers whom the GOP probably would have mocked. Barbra Streisand was scheduled to headline a Los Angeles gala concert tonight, joined by Willie Nelson and Neil Diamond, while a Thursday concert in New York City had a playlist of live performances by Bon Jovi, Bette Midler, and John Mellencamp.
Tickets for the two events cost $150 to $25,000, with the proceeds to be split between the Kerry campaign and the Democratic National Committee -- the first $2,000 from each ticket would have gone to the Kerry campaign. Several million dollars were expected to be netted at each event. A Kerry spokeswoman said the concerts will be rescheduled.
In recent weeks, Kerry has praised Reagan as strengthening America's historic alliances with Britain and other nations, and he placed him in a pantheon of presidents -- from Theodore Roosevelt to Bill Clinton -- who built global respect for America. At a rally in Minneapolis on Friday, Kerry praised presidents from Truman to Reagan for "winning us the Cold War" with a "can-do" American spirit that Kerry pledged to continue in the White House.
By contrast, Kerry has criticized Bush's approach to national security and foreign affairs as "reckless" and "ideological" and accused him of weakening US ties to those allies.
Kerry went ahead with a commencement speech at the University of Toledo yesterday before the 375 graduating seniors of Bedford High School in nearby Temperance, Mich. A graduating senior, Brandon J. Spader, who is to attend the US Air Force Academy in the fall, invited Kerry to speak, saying people in town were "in a state of demoralization" over unemployment and were "in dire need of a strong flame to brighten the future of our lives." The ceremony nevertheless had a spirited and patriotic feel: The loudest applause occurred when a speaker noted that Spader and other students were joining the military.
The thrust of Kerry's remarks was marking the 60th anniversary of D-day yesterday, and the speech was broadened to include praise for Reagan. The Massachusetts senator opened his 15-minute address with a contrast to Reagan's sunny optimism; Kerry said he wished the students were heading out into "a world of peace, a world of justice," but "we know it's not our world, not yet."
He called on the students to perform public service, touting the Peace Corps in particular. He hailed the US forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, and then called Reagan "one of our greatest optimists" who similarly fought for US interests in the Cold War.
Kerry harkened back to Reagan's anniversary remarks in Normandy in 1984 to connect his themes, in light of Spader's request that Kerry talk about "ideas and values" that could "make our country greater.
"The answer was given 20 years ago," Kerry said. "Standing above the cliffs of that point between Omaha and Utah beaches, Ronald Reagan asked those great veterans, 'What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief, it was loyalty and love.'
"Brandon, for you and for all your classmates, the answer hasn't changed -- it's you, all of you. It's your commitment to a cause bigger than yourselves. You're the ones who'll lift up this land up with your ideas and your values, with your faith and your love of family and country."
Kerry's commencement address was not without controversy. Some graduating seniors and their parents criticized the invitation, concerned that the senator would take away attention from the students, while other families were thrilled to have a possible president in their midst.
Kerry had been scheduled to speak in Denver today, campaign in Tucson tomorrow, and make stops in California through Wednesday; those events have been canceled. He plans to work in Washington, D.C., this week, except for a quick trip to Los Angeles for his daughter Alexandra's graduation from the American Film Institute.
Patrick Healy can be reached at phealy@globe.com
