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Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy (b. 1932) is the second longest-serving U.S. Senator, a Democrat from Massachusetts.  His family has been a major part of the Democratic Party for almost 50 years, beginning with his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968).  Ted Kennedy was long assumed to become the Democratic nominee for president himself, but the [[Chappaquiddick]] scandal in 1969 caused him to delay his candidacy until 1980, when he was unable to overcome the power of incumbency enjoyed by Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]].

Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy (b. 1932) is the second longest-serving U.S. Senator, a Democrat from Massachusetts.  His family has been a major part of the Democratic Party for almost 50 years, beginning with his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968).  Ted Kennedy was long assumed to become the Democratic nominee for president himself, but the [[Chappaquiddick]] scandal in 1969 caused him to delay his candidacy until 1980, when he was unable to overcome the power of incumbency enjoyed by Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]].

Ted Kennedy has always represented the most [[liberal]] side of the Democratic Party, from support for taxpayer-funded abortion to same-sex marriage. He is unbeatable in his home state of Massachusetts, but the crafty Senator [[Robert Byrd]] did defeat him for a leadership position (Majority Whip) in the Senate in 1971 and Kennedy was never able to become Majority Leader.  Nevertheless, his political power behind the scenes is undisputed, and he played a key role in the crafting the language in the [[No Child Left Behind]] of 2001 (Public Law 107-110), a massive [[education]] bill signed into law by Republican President [[George W. Bush]].   

Ted Kennedy has always represented the most [[liberal]] side of the Democratic Party, from support for taxpayer-funded abortion to same-sex marriage. Senator [[Robert Byrd]] defeated him for a leadership position (Majority Whip) in the Senate in 1971 and Kennedy has never5 served as Majority Leader.  His political power behind the scenes is undisputed.

 

In addition to many other bills, Kennedy played a key role in the crafting the language in the [[No Child Left Behind]] Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110), a massive [[education]] bill signed into law by Republican President [[George W. Bush]].   

He is currently Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where the first bill he pushed through was an increase in the minimum wage by $2.10, to $7.25.

He is currently Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where the first bill he pushed through was an increase in the minimum wage by $2.10, to $7.25.

[[Category:US Senators]]

[[Category:US Senators]]