The last of the Kennedy brothers, who died at his Hyannis Port, Mass. home on August 25th at age 77, left behind a distinguished legislative legacy over the last 47 years, ranking him as the third longest serving U.S. Senator, who authored more than 2,500 bills, several hundred of which became law, including the Immigration Act of 1965, the national community health center program, the Disabilities Education Act, Fair Housing Act Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act
With such a treasure of legislative accomplishments to his name, it only seems natural to assume the “Liberal Lion’’ as he was known, will join the 44 other U.S. senators who have U.S. postage stamps dedicated in their honor, including three from his home state: Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, and the 35th U.S president and former junior senator from Massachusetts: John F. Kennedy
But before there is any talk of issuing a postage stamp in honor of the late senator, the U.S. Postal Service requires individuals to be deceased for at least five years. The only exception to this rule are U.S. presidents, in which case a special stamp can be issued a year following their death. In addition, the USPS won’t entertain any submissions for stamp subject ideas until at least three years after someone has died.
Each year, the USPS receives thousands of letters from the American public–recommending stamp ideas, from historic events to prominent public figures. All suggestions, interestingly enough, are considered by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC), regardless of the subject or who suggested it; assuming, of course, it meets the criteria
The Postmaster’s advisory committee, which meets four times yearly, consists of no more than 15 members, which reflect a wide range of distinct backgrounds in education, the arts, history and other professional expertise. One binding element of committee members is that they all share an interest in stamps, including the needs of the mailing public.
The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee for 2009 has 12 members, including Henry Louis “Skip’’ Gates Jr., Professor of African and African-American Research at Harvard University, Joan Mondale, former Vice President First Lady, and Jessica Helfand, an author, columnist and lecturer on graphic design
Since 1957, when CSAC was first created, the committee takes the following standards into consideration before recommending a new subject to the Postmaster General
1.) Subjects are of broad national interest, stand the test of time, and are interesting and educational.
2.) Stamps be issued which takes into consideration the attention of all Americans, not just stamp collectors and should be considered “consistent with public opinion.’’
After reviewing the recommendations from the public in writing (proposals are prohibited from being presented in person), the committee will either reject the proposal or set it aside for future consideration. If a stamp idea is rejected, the idea can be resubmitted, but not before at least a year has lapsed.
Currently, New York, with four, has the most U.S. senators depicted on U.S. postage stamps: William Henry Seward, Martin Van Buren, John Foster Dulles, and Robert F. Kennedy. In addition to Massachusetts, states with three senators on postage stamps include: Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Margaret Chase Smith, a Maine Republican, the first woman to serve in both the House and the Senate from 1940 through 1973, had a stamp issued in her honor in 2007 (a 58¢ Distinguished American Issue); marking the last time a U.S. senator has received such an honor
In 2009, new stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service included: Alaska and Hawaii Statehoods, Hollywood icons Bob Hope and Gary Cooper; 200 year anniversary issues for Edgar Allan Poe and Abraham Lincoln; a series of stamps for 12 Civil Rights Pioneers; and commemorative stamps for former United States Supreme Court Associate Justices Joseph Story, Louis D. Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter, and William J. Brennan, Jr.
-Bill Lucey
WPLucey@gmail.com
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