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'''Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy''', (February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009) was the third longest-serving [[United States|U.S.]] [[Senator]] in history, a [[Democrat]] from [[Massachusetts]]. He was a leading [[liberal]] force in American politics, opposing free market solutions in everything from [[education]] to [[health care]].  He pushed for federal taxpayer funding of education in the 1960s, poverty programs in the 1970s, disability coverage in the 1980s and education again in the 2000s; throughout his Senate career -- and especially in 2009 until the day he died -- he promoted [[socialized medicine]].   

'''Edward Moore ("Ted" or "Teddy") Kennedy''', (February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009) was the third longest-serving [[United States|U.S.]] [[Senator]] in history, a [[Democrat]] from [[Massachusetts]]. He was a leading [[liberal]] force in American politics, opposing free market solutions in everything from [[education]] to [[health care]].  He pushed for federal taxpayer funding of education in the 1960s, poverty programs in the 1970s, disability coverage in the 1980s and education again in the 2000s; throughout his Senate career -- and especially in 2009 until the day he died -- he promoted [[socialized medicine]].   

Ted Kennedy always led the most [[liberal]] side of the Democratic Party, from support for taxpayer-funded [[abortion]] to [[same-sex marriage]].  He voted against saving the life of the disabled [[Terri Schiavo]].

Ted Kennedy always led the most [[liberal]] side of the Democratic Party, from support for taxpayer-funded [[abortion]] to [[same-sex marriage]].  Kennedy tried and failed to win the White House and was ousted in his Senator leadership role by [[Robert Byrd]], who defeated him for a leadership position (Majority Whip) in 1971. Kennedy exerted enormous power thanks to his seniority and committee chairmanships, his willingness to work with conservative republicans, his unusually energetic staff, and the celebrity accorded the most famous name in politics.  

Kennedy tried and failed to win the [[White House]] and leadership in the Senate, where [[Robert Byrd]] defeated him for a leadership position (Majority Whip) in 1971. His power came from seniority and committee chairmanships, an unusually energetic staff, and the celebrity accorded the most famous name in politics.<ref>http://www.notablebiographies.com/Jo-Ki/Kennedy-Edward.html</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 acreos s the board. Conservative Senator [[Orrin Hatch]] (R-Utah) said "he's like a brother to me,"<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-lion-of-the-senate_b_103322.html</ref> 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<ref>http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1807447,00.html</ref>.

The [[Kennedy Family]] has been a major part of the Democratic Party for a century, beginning with his grandfather as mayor of Boston, and his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968).  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 whipped by incumbent Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]].  

 

The [[Kennedy Family]] has been a major part of the Democratic Party for a century, beginning with his grandfather as mayor of [[Boston]], and his older brothers President [[John F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1963) and [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (assassinated in 1968).  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 unable to overcome the power of incumbency enjoyed by Democratic President [[Jimmy Carter]].  

==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  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]], receiving 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</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, with Supreme Court Justice [[Stephen Breyer]] providing  featuring remarks, and a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. <ref>Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press; ''Harvard to Honor Ted Kennedy, Once Expelled for Cheating'' (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  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. Kennedy served in the [[United States Army]], then was allowed to return to Harvard, where he graduated in 1956. Kennedy 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</ref><ref>Adam Clymer; ''Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography''</ref>   

==Life and career==

==Life and career==

[[Image:000Kennedybrothers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|President Kennedy and his brothers, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 08/28/63.]]Kennedy married Virgina Joan Bennett on Nov. 29, 1958, and on Nov. 8th, 1960, he saw his brother, [[John F. Kennedy]], elected [[President]]. After passing his bar exam and briefly serving as an assistant district attorney, Kennedy was elected to Senator in 1962, with the help of his Presidential brother's maneuvering,<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/21/ted-kennedys-last-will-and-tes  Daniel J. Flynn, ''Ted Kennedy's Last Will and Testament'' (Aug. 21, 2009]</ref> and was re-elected to that office eight times. On. Nov. 22. 1963, Ted Kennedy suffered the death of his brother and President, due to assassination. Kennedy was seriously injured in a plane crash in 1964, which broke his back in nineteen places. As a result Kennedy suffered back and neck pain for the remainder of his life.

[[Image:000Kennedybrothers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|President Kennedy and his brothers, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 08/28/63.]]Kennedy married Virgina Joan Bennett on Nov. 29, 1958, and on Nov. 8th, 1960, he saw his brother, [[John F. Kennedy]], elected President. After passing his bar exam and briefly serving as an assistant district attorney, Kennedy was elected to Senator in 1962, with the help of his Presidential brother's maneuvering,<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/21/ted-kennedys-last-will-and-tes  Daniel J. Flynn, ''Ted Kennedy's Last Will and Testament'' (Aug. 21, 2009]</ref> and was re-elected to that office eight times. On. Nov. 22. 1963, Ted Kennedy suffered the death of his brother and President, due to assassination. Kennedy was seriously injured in a plane crash in 1964, which broke his back in nineteen places. As a result Kennedy suffered back and neck pain for the remainder of his life.

June 5,1968 saw the assassination of his brother, Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. The following year  Kennedy drove his car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick, Mass., and managed to escape, but failed to attempt to rescue his passenger, campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne from drowning, or notify authorities till the next day.  

June 5,1968 saw the assassination of his brother, Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]]. The following year  Kennedy drove his car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick, Mass., and managed to escape, but failed to attempt to rescue his passenger, campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne from drowning, or notify authorities till the next day.