Changes

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

|state=Massachusetts

|state=Massachusetts

|terms=November 7, 1962 – Present

|terms=November 7, 1962 – 2009

|preceded=Benjamin A. Smith

|preceded=Benjamin A. Smith

|former=n

|former=n

}}

}}

'''Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy''', born February 22, 1932 (age {{age|1932|2|22}}), is the second longest-serving [[United States|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]]. Kennedy is sometimes referred to as the [[Chappaquiddick|Hero of Chappaquiddick]]<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453846/posts</ref>

'''Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy''', February 22, 1932 - April 22, 2009 (aged {{age|1932|2|22}}), was the second longest-serving [[United States|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]]. Kennedy is sometimes referred to as the [[Chappaquiddick|Hero of Chappaquiddick]]<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453846/posts</ref>

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 never served as Majority Leader.<ref>http://www.notablebiographies.com/Jo-Ki/Kennedy-Edward.html</ref>  His  political power behind the scenes is undisputed.  

Ted Kennedy 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 never served as Majority Leader.<ref>http://www.notablebiographies.com/Jo-Ki/Kennedy-Edward.html</ref>  His  political power behind the scenes is undisputed.  

After being expelled from Harvard for cheating on exam, he served two years in the [[United States Army]] and subsequently graduated from Harvard in 1956.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/timeline/timeline2.html</ref>  He graduated from the University of Virginia law school in 1959.  He is the father of Congressman [[Patrick J. Kennedy]].

After being expelled from Harvard for cheating on exam, he served two years in the [[United States Army]] and subsequently graduated from Harvard in 1956.<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/timeline/timeline2.html</ref>  He graduated from the University of Virginia law school in 1959.  He is the father of Congressman [[Patrick J. Kennedy]]. He died from heart complications on the morning of the 22nd of April.

==Chappaquiddick Scandal==  

==Chappaquiddick Scandal==