Ted Kennedy

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009) was the Senator for the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1962 to 2009.

Ted Kennedy
United States Senator from Massachusetts
In office November 7, 1962 – August 25, 2009
Preceded by	Benjamin A. Smith II
Succeeded by	Paul G. Kirk
Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
In office January 3, 2007 – August 25, 2009
Preceded by	Mike Enzi
Succeeded by	Tom Harkin
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Jim Jeffords
Succeeded by	Judd Gregg
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Orrin Hatch
Succeeded by	Nancy Kassebaum
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	James Eastland
Succeeded by	Strom Thurmond
Senate Majority Whip
In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1971
Leader	Mike Mansfield
Preceded by	Russell B. Long
Succeeded by	Robert Byrd
Personal details
Born	Edward Moore Kennedy (1932-02-22)February 22, 1932 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	August 25, 2009(2009-08-25) (aged 77) Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Joan Bennett ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1983)​ Vicki Reggie ​ (m. 1992)​
Relations	See Kennedy family
Children	Kara Edward Jr. Patrick
Parents	Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Education	Harvard University (BA) University of Virginia (LLB)
Net worth	$43–162 million (USD)
Signature
Website	Official website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1951–1953
Rank	Private (1st Class)
Unit	SHAPE

Early life

Ted Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, which is a neighborhood in Boston. He was the youngest son of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was the younger brother of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated, as well as Joe Kennedy, who was killed in World War II. A lot of other sad things happened in his life: he almost died in a plane crash, he was involved in a car crash that took the life of a campaign worker, and one of his sons had cancer as a child.

Education

Ted Kennedy went to Harvard and served in the Army before entering politics. He ran for and won the seat given up by his brother when he became president. While in the Senate, he fought for the working class, mainly for health care and the minimum wage. In 1980, he ran for president, but lost in the primaries to Jimmy Carter.

Chappaquiddick incident

See the main article: Chappaquiddick incident

On July 18, 1969, Senator Kennedy and passenger Mary Jo Kopechne were driving in Chappaquiddick Island where the car crashed over the bridge into the ocean. Kennedy left the scene leaving Kopechne to drown to death as she was trapped in the car. Kennedy plead guilty. Many believe this is why he decided not to run for President in 1972 or 1976.

Later life

In 2008, he found out he had glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. Despite the cancer, he campaigned for Barack Obama and sometimes appeared in the Senate.

Death

He died from the cancer at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts just before midnight on August 25, 2009.

References

Ted Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetery