Changes

Kennedy exerted enormous power thanks to his seniority and committee chairmanships, his willingness to work with Republicans, his unusually energetic staff, and the celebrity accorded the most famous name in politics. More than any senator in recent decades he was the master of legislative legerdemain: handling negotiations over broad policy goals, vetting the smallest details, negotiating with the concerned lobbyists, orchestrating the public hearings, briefing and leaking to the media, crafting compromises, cutting deals with the White House and with Republicans, and designing a legislative path through committee and onto the floor to get his legislation passed.  

Kennedy exerted enormous power thanks to his seniority and committee chairmanships, his willingness to work with Republicans, his unusually energetic staff, and the celebrity accorded the most famous name in politics. More than any senator in recent decades he was the master of legislative legerdemain: handling negotiations over broad policy goals, vetting the smallest details, negotiating with the concerned lobbyists, orchestrating the public hearings, briefing and leaking to the media, crafting compromises, cutting deals with the White House and with Republicans, and designing a legislative path through committee and onto the floor to get his legislation passed.  

Kennedy garnered the nickname "Lion of the Senate" for his long and vigorous career in public service. In the club-like atmosphere of the U.S. Senate, Kennedy enjoyed personal support from Washington insiders.<ref>Republican Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] (R-Utah) said "he's like a brother to me,"[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-lion-of-the-senate_b_103322.html] while Senator [[John McCain]] (R-Arizona) said that he has "the highest respect for him," calling him a "skillful, fair, and generous partner" in the times they have worked together.[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1807447,00.html] [[Barack Obama]] called Kennedy "the greatest United States Senator of our time."[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Senator-Kennedy]</ref>  But outside of Washington, Rev. Thomas Euteneuer had a more objective view of his fellow Catholic:  "It is not enough for Kennedy to have been a 'great guy behind the scenes' as we have seen him referred to even by his political opponents. ...  Every indication of Senator Kennedy's career, every public appearance, every sound bite showed an acerbic, divisive and partisan political hack for whom party politics were much more infallible than Church doctrines."<ref>[http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/6125411376.html Human Life International's Statement on the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy]</ref>  

Kennedy garnered the nickname "Lion of the Senate" for his long and vigorous career in public service. In the club-like atmosphere of the U.S. Senate, Kennedy enjoyed personal support from Washington insiders.<ref>Republican Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] (R-Utah) said "he's like a brother to me,"[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-lion-of-the-senate_b_103322.html] while Senator [[John McCain]] (R-Arizona) said that he has "the highest respect for him," calling him a "skillful, fair, and generous partner" in the times they have worked together.[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1807447,00.html] [[Barack Obama]] called Kennedy "the greatest United States Senator of our time."[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Senator-Kennedy]</ref>  But outside of Washington, Rev. Thomas Euteneuer had a more objective view of his fellow Catholic:  "It is not enough for Kennedy to have been a 'great guy behind the scenes' as we have seen him referred to even by his political opponents. ...  Every indication of Senator Kennedy's career, every public appearance, every sound bite showed an acerbic, divisive and partisan political hack for whom party politics were much more infallible than Church doctrines."<ref>[http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/6125411376.html Human Life International's Statement on the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy]</ref>  

The [[Kennedy Family]] has been a major part of the Democrat Party for a century, beginning with his grandfather as mayor of Boston, his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968) and their [[special needs]] sister Rosemary.  Despite the family's immense [[financial]] resources she was shunted off to an institution in [[Wisconsin]] at the age of 23 and spent her entire life abandoned by the family where she died alone in 2005 at the age of 86.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-07-kennedy-death_x.htm Rosemary Kennedy dies at 86], [[USA Today]]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/RonaldKessler/Rosemary-Kennedy/2008/06/17/id/324146/ Rosemary Kennedy's Inconvenient Illness], [[Newsmax]]</ref>  Ted Kennedy was long a presumptive nominee for president himself, but the [[Chappaquiddick]] scandal in 1969 caused him to delay his candidacy until 1980, when he was defeated by the unpopular incumbent Democrat President [[Jimmy Carter]].  

The [[Kennedy Family]] has been a major part of the Democrat Party for a century, beginning with his grandfather as mayor of Boston, his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968) and their [[special needs]] sister Rosemary.  Despite the family's immense [[financial]] resources she was shunted off to an institution in [[Wisconsin]] at the age of 23 and spent her entire life abandoned by the family where she died alone in 2005 at the age of 86.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-01-07-kennedy-death_x.htm Rosemary Kennedy dies at 86], [[USA Today]]</ref><ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/RonaldKessler/Rosemary-Kennedy/2008/06/17/id/324146/ Rosemary Kennedy's Inconvenient Illness], [[Newsmax]]</ref>  Ted Kennedy was long a presumptive nominee for president himself, but the [[Chappaquiddick]] scandal in 1969 caused him to delay his candidacy until 1980, when he was defeated by the unpopular incumbent Democrat President [[Jimmy Carter]].  

==Early life==

==Early life==

==Religion==

==Religion==

Kennedy was raised [[Roman Catholic]], and though he disagreed with church leaders on such issues of [[abortion]] and [[homosexual]] rights, he was described by ''[[USA Today]]'' "as a devout Catholic who clung to his religion's belief in the potential for human redemption".<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-08-26-ted-kennedy-obit_N.htm Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77, dies of cancer]</ref> His mother, Rose Kennedy, was a strong Catholic who often attended Mass twice daily. She once told her now adult son that he was guaranteed to go to heaven if he went to Mass seven straight Fridays. Ted's close friend Dick Clasby recalls, "So Ted and I went seven Fridays, and that was it,".. that was the deal."<ref>Peter Canellos; ''Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy'' pp. 45-48</ref>  As a politician, Ted Kennedy aggressively promoted taxpayer-funded abortion and same-sex marriage in direct violation of Catholic teaching.

Kennedy was raised [[Roman Catholic]], and though he disagreed with church leaders on such issues of [[abortion]] and [[homosexual]] rights, he was described by ''[[USA Today]]'' "as a devout Catholic who clung to his religion's belief in the potential for human redemption".<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-08-26-ted-kennedy-obit_N.htm Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77, dies of cancer]</ref> His mother, Rose Kennedy, was a strong Catholic who often attended Mass twice daily. She once told her now adult son that he was guaranteed to go to heaven if he went to Mass seven straight Fridays. Ted's close friend Dick Clasby recalls, "So Ted and I went seven Fridays, and that was it,".. that was the deal."<ref>Peter Canellos; ''Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy'' pp. 45-48</ref>  As a politician, Ted Kennedy aggressively promoted taxpayer-funded abortion and same-sex marriage in direct violation of Catholic teaching.

[[Regent University]] School of Government Dean Charles Dunn sees Kennedy as one who turned from his Family's conservative roots.

[[Regent University]] School of Government Dean Charles Dunn sees Kennedy as one who turned from his Family's conservative roots.

Kennedy also wrote:

Kennedy also wrote:

<blockquote>When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.<ref>[http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09082601.html Ted Kennedy, Abortion Advocate and Health Reform Mastermind, Dead at 77], [[LifeSite News]]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09082601.html Ted Kennedy, Abortion Advocate and Health Reform Mastermind, Dead at 77], [[LifeSite News]]</ref></blockquote>

Later, in 1983, Kennedy spoke of his faith in a speech in 1983 at the late [[Jerry Falwell]]'s Liberty Baptist College, now called [[Liberty University]], stating that "I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith",<ref>[http://www1.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2009/08/26/watch-ted-kennedy-talk-about-his-catholic-faith Watch Ted Kennedy Talk About His Catholic Faith ]</ref> but expressed that there was no monopoly on truth, while suggesting that "God has taken no position on the Department of Education."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/10/05/tolerance-and-truth/7c6b77ab-cf42-4b5b-84db-45b273f12717/ Tolerance and Truth], [[Washington Post]]</ref>  

Later, in 1983, Kennedy spoke of his faith in a speech in 1983 at the late [[Jerry Falwell]]'s Liberty Baptist College, now called [[Liberty University]], stating that "I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith",<ref>[http://www1.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2009/08/26/watch-ted-kennedy-talk-about-his-catholic-faith Watch Ted Kennedy Talk About His Catholic Faith ]</ref> but expressed that there was no monopoly on truth, while suggesting that "God has taken no position on the Department of Education."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/10/05/tolerance-and-truth/7c6b77ab-cf42-4b5b-84db-45b273f12717/ Tolerance and Truth], [[Washington Post]]</ref>  

==Education==

==Education==

Among other schools, Kennedy attended Fessenden School, and later the private Milton Academy, earning only C grades. He was admitted to [[Harvard University]] as a "legacy", due to his father and older brothers having attended there. In 1951, Kennedy was expelled from Harvard for cheating, having paid a classmate to take a [[Spanish]] test for him. His father, [[Joseph P. Kennedy]], former U.S. Ambassador to England, worked with the Boston Globe's top political editor on how to blunt the impact of this revelation. His father further advised him to refrain from cheating, stating,  "you're not clever enough." After his expulsion, Kennedy enlisted in the [[United States Army]], applying for a position in Army intelligence at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He departed abruptly after a background investigation "linked him to a group of 'pinkos.'"<ref>Memo, FBI Assistant Direstor Louis Nichols to FBI Associate Director Clyde Tolson, May 11, 1954. Cf. Athan Theoharis, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=hjRUNMqXYUwC From the Secret Files of J. Edgar Hoover]'' (Ivan R. Dee, 1993), ISBN 146171799X, p. 322</ref> He received no special treatment according to his sergeant, but his father worked to keep his son out the [[Korean War]]. Instead, in 1952 Kennedy was assigned to the NATO honor guard in Paris, France.<ref>Peter Canellos; ''Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy'', pp. 39,40</ref>  Kennedy failed to advanced beyond the rank of Private, and upon being discharged he returned to Harvard, subsequently graduating in 1956. Kennedy also graduated from the [[University of Virginia]] law school in 1959, where he was the winner of the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/timeline/timeline2.html Timeline: Generations of the Kennedy Family], [[Public Broadcasting Service]]</ref><ref>Adam Clymer; ''Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography''</ref>  Harvard University later bestowed an honorary degree on Kennedy when he was 76-years-old, featuring remarks by Supreme Court Justice [[Stephen Breyer]], and a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/harvard-honor-ted-kennedy-once-expelled-cheating Harvard to Honor Ted Kennedy, Once Expelled for Cheating], Steve LeBlanc, [[Associated Press]] (Monday, December 01, 2008)</ref>

Among other schools, Kennedy attended Fessenden School, and later the private Milton Academy, earning only C grades. He was admitted to [[Harvard University]] as a "legacy", due to his father and older brothers having attended there. In 1951, Kennedy was expelled from Harvard for cheating, having paid a classmate to take a [[Spanish]] test for him. His father, [[Joseph P. Kennedy]], former U.S. Ambassador to England, worked with the Boston Globe's top political editor on how to blunt the impact of this revelation. His father further advised him to refrain from cheating, stating,  "you're not clever enough." After his expulsion, Kennedy enlisted in the [[United States Army]], applying for a position in Army intelligence at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He departed abruptly after a background investigation "linked him to a group of 'pinkos.'"<ref>Memo, FBI Assistant Direstor Louis Nichols to FBI Associate Director Clyde Tolson, May 11, 1954. Cf. Athan Theoharis, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hjRUNMqXYUwC From the Secret Files of J. Edgar Hoover]'' (Ivan R. Dee, 1993), ISBN 146171799X, p. 322</ref> He received no special treatment according to his sergeant, but his father worked to keep his son out the [[Korean War]]. Instead, in 1952 Kennedy was assigned to the NATO honor guard in Paris, France.<ref>Peter Canellos; ''Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy'', pp. 39,40</ref>  Kennedy failed to advanced beyond the rank of Private, and upon being discharged he returned to Harvard, subsequently graduating in 1956. Kennedy also graduated from the [[University of Virginia]] law school in 1959, where he was the winner of the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/timeline/timeline2.html Timeline: Generations of the Kennedy Family], [[Public Broadcasting Service]]</ref><ref>Adam Clymer; ''Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography''</ref>  Harvard University later bestowed an honorary degree on Kennedy when he was 76-years-old, featuring remarks by Supreme Court Justice [[Stephen Breyer]], and a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/harvard-honor-ted-kennedy-once-expelled-cheating Harvard to Honor Ted Kennedy, Once Expelled for Cheating], Steve LeBlanc, [[Associated Press]] (Monday, December 01, 2008)</ref>

==Life and career==

==Life and career==

:MUDD: Do you think, Senator, that anybody really will ever fully believe your explanation for Chappaquiddick?

:MUDD: Do you think, Senator, that anybody really will ever fully believe your explanation for Chappaquiddick?

:KENNEDY: Well the problem is that from that night I found that the conduct and behavior almost beyond belief myself.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/26/national/main5267991_page2.shtml Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother], [[CBS News]]</ref>

:KENNEDY: Well the problem is that from that night I found that the conduct and behavior almost beyond belief myself.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/26/national/main5267991_page2.shtml Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother], [[CBS News]]</ref>

Kennedy's response in the third person, "the conduct," was viewed by many as failure to accept personal responsibility.

Kennedy's response in the third person, "the conduct," was viewed by many as failure to accept personal responsibility.

==U.S. Senate==

==U.S. Senate==

[[File:Winter Soldier inquisition.jpg|thumb|275px|left|Edward M. Kennedy and [[John Kerry#Opposition to the Vietnam War|John Kerry]] at the time of the slanderous inquest of American servicemen in the so-called "Winter Soldier inquisition".  [http://www.wintersoldier.com/index.php?topic=NewSoldier] ]]

[[File:Winter Soldier inquisition.jpg|thumb|275px|left|Edward M. Kennedy and [[John Kerry#Opposition to the Vietnam War|John Kerry]] at the time of the slanderous inquest of American servicemen in the so-called "Winter Soldier inquisition".  [http://www.wintersoldier.com/index.php?topic=NewSoldier] ]]

Kennedy gained a reputation as a very [[liberal]] Senator, even further to the left than most Democrats. He had a [[pro-abortion]] voting record.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Ted_Kennedy_Abortion.htm Ted Kennedy on Abortion]</ref> He voted against confirming [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] and was in the minority of his own party to vote against confirming [[John Roberts]] to the Court. On [[immigration]] Kennedy had been a strong supporter of amnesty for [[illegal aliens]].<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/342053 Kennedy-McCain Amnesty Plan Falls Flat]</ref> He voted against the war in [[Iraq]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623184215/http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8I0G3JG0&show_article=1 Kennedy: Vote Against Iraq War My Best]</ref> and Kennedy was one only five senators who had publicly announced support for same-sex "marriage".<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/06/democrats_platform_shouldnt_back_gay_marriage_kerry_says/ Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says], [[The Boston Globe]]</ref>

Kennedy gained a reputation as a very [[liberal]] Senator, even further to the left than most Democrats. He had a [[pro-abortion]] voting record.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Ted_Kennedy_Abortion.htm Ted Kennedy on Abortion]</ref> He voted against confirming [[Samuel Alito]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] and was in the minority of his own party to vote against confirming [[John Roberts]] to the Court. On [[immigration]] Kennedy had been a strong supporter of amnesty for [[illegal aliens]].<ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/342053 Kennedy-McCain Amnesty Plan Falls Flat]</ref> He voted against the war in [[Iraq]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623184215/https://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8I0G3JG0&show_article=1 Kennedy: Vote Against Iraq War My Best]</ref> and Kennedy was one only five senators who had publicly announced support for same-sex "marriage".<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/06/democrats_platform_shouldnt_back_gay_marriage_kerry_says/ Democrats' platform shouldn't back gay marriage, Kerry says], [[The Boston Globe]]</ref>

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]].<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/bill-clinton-bl.html Bill Clinton Blames Kennedy for No Child Left Behind Flaws], [[ABC News]]</ref>

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]].<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/bill-clinton-bl.html Bill Clinton Blames Kennedy for No Child Left Behind Flaws], [[ABC News]]</ref>

===No Fly List===

===No Fly List===

On August 19, 2004, Kennedy made news for being stopped by airport security, because a suspicious individual was using the alias "T. Kennedy".  While not actually Ted Kennedy himself, he had been flagged by the [[TSA]] and privately acknowledged the embarrassment that the situation created.<ref name=flagged>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17073-2004Aug19.html Sen. Kennedy Flagged by No-Fly List], [[Washington Post]]</ref>  At a Judiciary Committee hearing in 2005, Kennedy ripped into the unjust nature of the no fly list, because it captures innocent Americans in its web.<ref name=testimony>[http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/08/flashback-ted-kennedy-tears-into-the-no-fly-list-video/ FLASHBACK: Ted Kennedy Tears Into The No Fly List &#91;VIDEO&#93;], [[The Daily Caller]]</ref> "''I got on the watch list last April''," Kennedy said "''He couldn't even get my name off the list for a period of weeks. Now if they have that kind of difficulty for a member of Congress - my office has had a number of instances where we've had a leader of a distinguished medical school in New England and the list goes on, how in the world are average Americans who are going to get caught up in this kind of thing - how are they going to be treated fairly and not have their rights abused?''"<ref name=testimony />

On August 19, 2004, Kennedy made news for being stopped by airport security, because a suspicious individual was using the alias "T. Kennedy".  While not actually Ted Kennedy himself, he had been flagged by the [[TSA]] and privately acknowledged the embarrassment that the situation created.<ref name=flagged>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17073-2004Aug19.html Sen. Kennedy Flagged by No-Fly List], [[Washington Post]]</ref>  At a Judiciary Committee hearing in 2005, Kennedy ripped into the unjust nature of the no fly list, because it captures innocent Americans in its web.<ref name=testimony>[https://dailycaller.com/2015/12/08/flashback-ted-kennedy-tears-into-the-no-fly-list-video/ FLASHBACK: Ted Kennedy Tears Into The No Fly List &#91;VIDEO&#93;], [[The Daily Caller]]</ref> "''I got on the watch list last April''," Kennedy said "''He couldn't even get my name off the list for a period of weeks. Now if they have that kind of difficulty for a member of Congress - my office has had a number of instances where we've had a leader of a distinguished medical school in New England and the list goes on, how in the world are average Americans who are going to get caught up in this kind of thing - how are they going to be treated fairly and not have their rights abused?''"<ref name=testimony />

The issue of Kennedy's last name appearing on the no fly list became an issue during the [[2016 presidential election]].  Candidates [[Jeb Bush]] and [[Marco Rubio]] discussed the controversy.  Some confusion arose on the issue since not only did papers at the time report that he was on the watch list, but Kennedy himself stated "I got on the watch list".  However, Factcheck.org attempted to shift focus on the issue and make it seem as if Republicans simply made the issue up.<ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/ted-kennedy-and-the-no-fly-list-myth/ Ted Kennedy and the No-Fly List Myth]</ref>

The issue of Kennedy's last name appearing on the no fly list became an issue during the [[2016 presidential election]].  Candidates [[Jeb Bush]] and [[Marco Rubio]] discussed the controversy.  Some confusion arose on the issue since not only did papers at the time report that he was on the watch list, but Kennedy himself stated "I got on the watch list".  However, Factcheck.org attempted to shift focus on the issue and make it seem as if Republicans simply made the issue up.<ref>[http://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/ted-kennedy-and-the-no-fly-list-myth/ Ted Kennedy and the No-Fly List Myth]</ref>

Two years later, on March 5, 1980, Tunney met with the KGB in Moscow on behalf of Kennedy, who was then running to unseat incumbent Jimmy Carter for the Democrat presidential nomination. In the midst of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Tunney conveyed Kennedy’s concern that "nonsense about ‘the Soviet military threat’ and Soviet ambitions for military expansion in the Persian Gulf ... was being fueled by [President Jimmy] Carter, [National Security Advisor Zbigniew] Brzezinski, the Pentagon and the military industrial complex," according to another KGB report, discovered in KGB archives by defecting KGB agent Vasiliy Mitrokhin and reported by him in a monograph published in February 2002 by the Cold War International History Project of the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.<ref>Vasiliy Mitrokhin, ''[http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/WP40-english.pdf The KGB in Afghanistan]'' (Cold War International History Project, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), 2002), p. 160</ref>

Two years later, on March 5, 1980, Tunney met with the KGB in Moscow on behalf of Kennedy, who was then running to unseat incumbent Jimmy Carter for the Democrat presidential nomination. In the midst of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Tunney conveyed Kennedy’s concern that "nonsense about ‘the Soviet military threat’ and Soviet ambitions for military expansion in the Persian Gulf ... was being fueled by [President Jimmy] Carter, [National Security Advisor Zbigniew] Brzezinski, the Pentagon and the military industrial complex," according to another KGB report, discovered in KGB archives by defecting KGB agent Vasiliy Mitrokhin and reported by him in a monograph published in February 2002 by the Cold War International History Project of the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.<ref>Vasiliy Mitrokhin, ''[http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/WP40-english.pdf The KGB in Afghanistan]'' (Cold War International History Project, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), 2002), p. 160</ref>

Three years after that, in 1983, Tunney, on Kennedy's instructions, carried a message to Yuri Andropov, General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, expressing Kennedy’s concern about the anti-Soviet activities of President Ronald Reagan: "[I]n Kennedy’s opinion the opposition to Reagan remains weak. Speeches of the president’s opponents are not well-coordinated and not effective enough, and Reagan has the chance to use successful counterpropaganda," according to a KGB report discovered in the KGB archives by London ''Times'' reporter Tim Sebastian and published in that newspaper in February 1992. Kennedy offered to "undertake some additional steps to counter the militaristic policy of Reagan and his campaign of psychological pressure on the American population." Kennedy asked for a meeting with Andropov for the purpose of "arming himself with the Soviet leader’s explanations of arms control policy so he can use them later for more convincing speeches in the U.S." He also offered to help get Soviet views on the major U.S. networks and suggested inviting "Elton Rule, ABC chairman of the board, or observers Walter Cronkite or Barbara Walters to Moscow." Tunney also told the KGB that Kennedy was planning to run for president in the 1988 elections.<ref>Tim Sabastian, “[http://www.scribd.com/doc/19401082/Teddy-the-KGB-and-the-Top-Secret-File-Tim-Sabastian-the-Sunday-Times-Feb-2-1992 Teddy, the KGB and the Top Secret File],” Sunday ''Times'' (London), February 2, 1992 (scribd.com). Cf. Paul Kengor, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=6yidZucL-KAC The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism]'' (HarperCollins, 2009), ISBN 006174099, pp. 207-210, 317-320; Steve Gilbert, “[http://sweetness-light.com/archive/kgb-letter-details-ted-kennedys-offer-to-help-ussr#.Ul6tO5DD_IU Text of KGB Letter on Ted Kennedy],” sweetness-light.com, December 31, 2006; Herbert Romerstein, “[http://www.humanevents.com/2003/12/05/ted-kennedy-was-a-collaborationist/ Ted Kennedy was a ‘Collaborationist’],” ''Human Events'', December 5, 2003</ref>

Three years after that, in 1983, Tunney, on Kennedy's instructions, carried a message to Yuri Andropov, General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, expressing Kennedy’s concern about the anti-Soviet activities of President Ronald Reagan: "[I]n Kennedy’s opinion the opposition to Reagan remains weak. Speeches of the president’s opponents are not well-coordinated and not effective enough, and Reagan has the chance to use successful counterpropaganda," according to a KGB report discovered in the KGB archives by London ''Times'' reporter Tim Sebastian and published in that newspaper in February 1992. Kennedy offered to "undertake some additional steps to counter the militaristic policy of Reagan and his campaign of psychological pressure on the American population." Kennedy asked for a meeting with Andropov for the purpose of "arming himself with the Soviet leader’s explanations of arms control policy so he can use them later for more convincing speeches in the U.S." He also offered to help get Soviet views on the major U.S. networks and suggested inviting "Elton Rule, ABC chairman of the board, or observers Walter Cronkite or Barbara Walters to Moscow." Tunney also told the KGB that Kennedy was planning to run for president in the 1988 elections.<ref>Tim Sabastian, “[http://www.scribd.com/doc/19401082/Teddy-the-KGB-and-the-Top-Secret-File-Tim-Sabastian-the-Sunday-Times-Feb-2-1992 Teddy, the KGB and the Top Secret File],” Sunday ''Times'' (London), February 2, 1992 (scribd.com). Cf. Paul Kengor, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=6yidZucL-KAC The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism]'' (HarperCollins, 2009), ISBN 006174099, pp. 207-210, 317-320; Steve Gilbert, “[http://sweetness-light.com/archive/kgb-letter-details-ted-kennedys-offer-to-help-ussr#.Ul6tO5DD_IU Text of KGB Letter on Ted Kennedy],” sweetness-light.com, December 31, 2006; Herbert Romerstein, “[http://www.humanevents.com/2003/12/05/ted-kennedy-was-a-collaborationist/ Ted Kennedy was a ‘Collaborationist’],” ''Human Events'', December 5, 2003</ref>

[[File:Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.jpg|thumb|''Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help'' where Kennedy used to pray.]]

[[File:Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.jpg|thumb|''Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help'' where Kennedy used to pray.]]

== Final Illness and Death ==

== Final Illness and Death ==

On May 20, 2008, Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080614043722/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/20/kennedy.tumor/index.html Doctors: Ted Kennedy has malignant brain tumor], [[CNN]]</ref>  He succumbed to the disease on August 25, 2009.  

On May 20, 2008, Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080614043722/https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/20/kennedy.tumor/index.html Doctors: Ted Kennedy has malignant brain tumor], [[CNN]]</ref>  He succumbed to the disease on August 25, 2009.  

Despite his pro-[[abortion]] stance throughout his life, his [[Catholic]] funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in the Mission Hill section of [[Boston]].<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/kennedy.funeral/index.html?eref=rss_politics&iref=polticker Ted Kennedy's funeral planned at Boston church.]</ref>  The senator was buried beside his brothers in [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in [[Virginia]].

Despite his pro-[[abortion]] stance throughout his life, his [[Catholic]] funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in the Mission Hill section of [[Boston]].<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/kennedy.funeral/index.html?eref=rss_politics&iref=polticker Ted Kennedy's funeral planned at Boston church.]</ref>  The senator was buried beside his brothers in [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in [[Virginia]].