Yes.  That's what I said in my third sentence: "Ted Kennedy was gracious enough . . . ."  I'm not sure how gracious he was, though.  This quote from his aide could be read as a back-handed compliment: "'She wasn't a legislator, she didn't write the law, and she wasn't the president, so she didn't make the decisions,' Littlefield told the Associated Press. 'But we relied on her, worked with her and she was pivotal in encouraging the White House to do it.'"  Usually when I compliment someone for a job well done, I don't list all the things they didn't do.