Teddy’s Legacy Too

In all the commentary I’ve heard about Senator Ted Kennedy this week, there is one portion of his legacy I haven’ t heard mentioned -- The Airline Deregulation Act.

You only get a glimpse of Senator Kennedy’s involvement in Wikipedia’s entry.

”While this initiative was in process, in the follow-on Gerald Ford Administration, the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, which had jurisdiction over the antitrust laws, a part of competition law, began 1975 hearings on airline deregulation. Senator Ted Kennedy took the lead in these hearings. This committee was deemed a more friendly forum than what likely would have been the more appropriate venue, the Aviation Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee. “

If, as I suggested, you read Thomas Petzinger’s book Hard Landing, you already know the story. One of Senator Kennedy’s staffers, Phil Bakes, convinced him to support the idea and President Carter -- looking for a quick legislative victory -- signed it.

At the time, it seemed as if everyone was getting what they wanted. Except the unions. Kennedy got a reputation as fighting for the common man through lower air fares. The business crowd was getting rid of government regulation.

That was before Frank Lorenzo. Before a bevy of bankruptcies. Before the ruination of a once-proud and thriving industry.

I don’t hold a grudge about it. Kennedy was still a great Senator. And Carter, while not the greatest President, is perhaps the greatest ex-President. We all make mistakes. But I do think it’s time to fix this one.

(Note: I found in my research that The Middle Seat thought of the same angle.)

Don Brown
August 28, 2009