Kirk literally inspired people. He was a model that guided many young people to a better life with his inexhaustible inner light. He would have angry liberals line up to make their best arguments at him attacking him, and just sat there smiling, was polite and actually talked to them instead of just shouting back and it just blew their mind, but they seldom if ever proved him wrong on any issue, and was instead, polite and he engaged them with facts and turned many heads around.
I think in another 10-20 years, Kirk could have had a real shot at being president.
We may have just witnessed a future president execution.