Ted Kennedy

**Edward Moore Kennedy** (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American Democratic politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from his brother's death in office in 1976 until his own death in 2009. A member of the prominent Kennedy political family, he was a leading figure within the Democratic Party, along with his brothers John and Robert.

John's ailments and battles with Addison's Disease cost him his life in 1976. 5 days later, Ted was appointed to the Senate seat, winning the general election that year and serving six terms until his own death from brain cancer in 2009. His widow Victoria succeeded him as a caretaker, but she then refused to run in 2010 to complete the term or in 2012 to challenge the new Republican, Scott Brown.

## Career

Kennedy entered politics by managing John's 1964 presidential campaign, but when tragedy stuck in 1963 in Dallas; a motorcade carrying the 3 brothers, and Texas Governor John Connally, and their wives was struck by repetitive machine gun rifle fire, the fire striking all inhabitants of the motorcade at least once and killing Robert & Governor Connally, John dropped out of the presidential race. JFK won re-election to his Senate seat that year. Ted was the closest to Robert within the family; Robert Kennedy aide Frank Mankiewicz said of seeing Ted at the hospital where Robert lay mortally wounded: "I have never, ever, nor do I expect ever, to see a face more in grief."

Kennedy's legacy changed throughout his life and afterwards. In his first year, President pro tempore Lyndon B. Johnson, known for his rivalry with Kennedy's brother, grew a fondness for Ted, later stating privately to close aides that Ted had "the potential to be the best politician in the whole family.” Inheriting his brothers' popularity, Ted spent less effort on his public image, working more on his private image by doing his committee work and deferring to the more senior Democratic politicians, such as Johnson, Washington Senator Warren Magnuson & Louisiana Senator Russell B. Long, each of whom Kennedy gained the respect of as a workhorse. Kennedy was consistently floated as a potential presidential candidate, as his brother John had tried and as his brother Robert had aspired, but he never gained the courage to run, given the constant death threats against him and his family. Kennedy helped West Virginia U.S. Senator Robert Byrd win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976, an underdog defeat against Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, who Kennedy held a rivalry with for the rest of his life.

However, Byrd lost to Republican Howard Baker, carrying huge coattails in both chambers of Congress and flipping the Senate into Republican hands. In the minority for the first time since 1955, Democrats in the Senate were unsure how to approach the Republican majority chaired by Senate Majority Leader Ted Stevens, who aggressively propelled Baker's legislation throughout the Senate. Kennedy was key in the opposition, and, when Democrats gained the Senate back in 1986, Kennedy tried for the Health Committee's chairmanship, in a battle that defined his Senate career from then on to battle AIDS and bring a national affordable healthcare program to fruition.