The Life of Edward Moore Kennedy
February 22, 1932 – August 26, 2009
At the age of 77, the liberal lion of the senate, Ted Kennedy, passed away. Known for his sharp politics and political royalty, Edward M. Kennedy has a history of tragedy, success and failures. He passed away on August 25, 2009. Along with his personal achievements and honors, his character has also been peppered by press articles with rumors of alcoholism and a tattered reputation.
Born into political royalty, Senator Kennedy was among nine children, and the youngest of four brothers that carved a political remnant into Washington, paving the way for new ideals and standards in immigration, health care and other domestic issues that have pressured the decisions of America. He was born in Boston and well educated. Ted Kennedy was primarily elected to the senate in 1962, and has remained one of the longest serving senators in history. He has had influence for change and reform and seniority among both republicans and democrats in the senate, creating a spirit of bipartisanship among politicians.
A Political Dynasty
Senator Kennedy was the youngest brother of President John Kennedy, and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who were both killed by assassins early on in their careers. Impassioned by their platforms, Ted Kennedy became an informed politician, intent on changing policy and furthering their dreams of fairness and equality for all Americans. He became a key piece in the political dynasty of the Kennedy family.
Hard Times
His character came in to question several times in his life, with morality coming to the forefront in his 1980 presidential race. His morals were questioned in his dismissal from Harvard for cheating, his heavy drinking, and his guilt from leaving the scene of an accident, in which a passenger in the car he was driving died after going over a Chappaquiddick bridge. His bid for the White House was lost to incumbent democrat, Jimmy Carter, but vowed that, “the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
Aside from the tragedies of family deaths, Senator Kennedy himself narrowly escaped death through a fatal car accident and a 1964 plane crash. He was married in 1958 to Joan Bennett, a marriage that was later dissolved in 1982. He remained in the Senate for more than forty-eight years, endorsing more than 300 bills that came into law, including issues covering health care and education, which were his passion.
Final Years
Ted Kennedy happily remarried in 1992, and sustained healthy approval ratings among constituents for most of his time as senator. He had a fond love of his Cape Cod vacation home, as he spent much time there in the final years of his life. He was an immediate supporter of President Barack Obama’s nomination for President, putting his voice at the forefront of the Chicago senator’s campaign. An endorsement from Ted Kennedy was considered political gold, and the two became friends quickly. Senator Kennedy had a particular love for Barack Obama’s universal health care plan, and passionately encouraged the reform of health care until days before his death.
After suffering a seizure in May of 2008, the liberal senator was diagnosed with malignant brain cancer. Despite efforts to remove the tumor, and Kennedy’s seemingly good attitude throughout the cancer battle, Ted Kennedy passed away at this Cape Cod vacation home on August 26, 2009, after recently being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He left behind a wife, children and much extended family that seem to be committed to protecting his cause and legacy. He was a force to be reckoned with, and is certainly missed on Capitol Hill.
Senator Edward Kennedy
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