Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009) was an American politician and lawyer who served as US Senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years from 1962 until his death in 2009.
He was a member of the Kennedy family, with his older brothers being Joseph Patrick Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962, Kennedy became known as the 'Liberal Lion' of the Senate over the following decades, often being at the forefront of major legislation. He was re-elected many times, although briefly had something of a scare against Mitt Romney (yes, that one) in 1994. He gave what was seen as an important symbolic endorsement of Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries, although, ironically, Obama went onto lose the Massachusetts primary itself.
Ted was involved in a car accident known as the Chappaquiddick incident
that resulted in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, and received a two month suspended sentence as a result. This is believed to have cost him the chance to be able to run for president himself; he still tried in 1980, but lost the Democratic primaries to Jimmy Carter.
Ted was married to Joan Bennett and Victoria Reggie and had three children with Bennett.
He continued to serve as Senator until he died from brain cancer in 2009 at the age of 77.
Books he had written
- The Fruitful Bough
- Decisions For A Decade Policies And Programs For The1970s
- In Critical Condition The Crisis In Americas Mental Health
- Our Day And Our Generation The Words Of Edward M Kennedy
- Freeze How You Can Prevent Nuclear War with Mark Hatfield
- America Back On Track
- My Senator And Me A Dogs Eyed View Of Washington DC
- True Compass
Media
Film- Chappaquiddick: Jason Clarke plays him in the movie.
Live-Action Television
- For All Mankind: In this Alternate History series the Chappaquiddick incident never happens and Kennedy wins the 1972 presidential election, then loses re-election to Ronald Reagan.
- The Kennedys After Camelot: Matthew Perry plays him in the Mini Series.