Ted Kennedy

By Alex Lopez

Early Childhood

Full Name is Edward “Ted” Moore Kennedy

He was born in Boston, He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on Massachusetts on February 22, 1932.February 22, 1932.

He was the youngest of nine He was the youngest of nine children and was brought children and was brought up in an Irish Catholic up in an Irish Catholic family.family.

This is his entire family, which contains some famous people like John. F Kennedy and Robert F.

Kennedy

Early ChildhoodHis parents were Rose Fitzgerald and Joseph. P. Kennedy and that is a picture of his dad.

Since his father was a businessman they had to shift a lot to accommodate his father’s posts.

He moved so much that he had switched to ten different schools by the age of 11.

One great thing about his early childhood was that his father was still a part of his life. He would send telegrams and letters home to his family and would also come home at a moments notice if his children needed him.

Education

His mother was a person who taught her children the value of education.

One interesting fact about the Kennedy’s was that dinner would involve quizzes over politics, history,

and literature.

Ted liked sports more than Ted liked sports more than academics.academics.

Since he wasn’t going to be in the Since he wasn’t going to be in the spotlight for having good academics spotlight for having good academics he decided on other ways to get the he decided on other ways to get the spotlight. spotlight.

Ted was a an extrovert and the Ted was a an extrovert and the family’s jesterfamily’s jester

Since he was the youngest child, his Since he was the youngest child, his parents had a soft spot for himparents had a soft spot for him

EducationSince his expectations were lowered than that of his brothers when he tried entering the professional world he had some troubles.

In 1948 he entered Milton Academy, but did not stand out like his brothers and sisters.

After he graduated he went on to Harvard University. He was expelled, and returned in two years where he was almost recruited to the Green Bay Packers.

He declined and said he interested into another contact sport--politics.

He went on to the International Law School and then went to the Virginia Law School and got his law degree in 1959.

Tragedy

These incidents of death in Ted’s family would seen be known as “The Kennedy Curse”.

In 1941, Ted’s older sister, In 1941, Ted’s older sister, Rosemary, was Rosemary, was lobotomized. The lobotomized. The operation failed and she operation failed and she was institutionalized.was institutionalized.

In 1944, Joe Jr. was killed In 1944, Joe Jr. was killed when his plane was shot when his plane was shot down during a Navy down during a Navy Mission.Mission.

Dictionary.com’s definition of lobotomy is, the operation of cutting into a lobe, as of the brain or

the lung.

In 1948, Kathleen died in a private plane crash over the French Alps.

In 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. As seen in the above picture where John is laying on his wife’s lap hurt.

A year later Ted was in a horrific plane crash that he survived, but he had sustained a back injury and internal bleeding that ultimately left him with chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Robert who was his closest brother in the family was assassinated during his presidential campaign in 1968.

Tragedy

Work

After JFK was elected president, Ted was elected to his brother’s old Senate seat.

At age 30, he was now the At age 30, he was now the representative for the state representative for the state of Massachusetts. of Massachusetts.

Kennedy was supporting the Kennedy was supporting the Vietnam War, but changed Vietnam War, but changed slowly and started to oppose slowly and started to oppose it and also criticize the war.it and also criticize the war.

Ted was the youngest-ever Ted was the youngest-ever majority whip in the U.S. majority whip in the U.S. Senate.Senate.

Vietnam War was a time of turmoil for Ted Kennedy.

Work

Ted Kennedy was involved in the Chappaquiddick incident

The Chappaquiddick incident The Chappaquiddick incident was when Ted Kennedy was when Ted Kennedy accidentally drove off a bridge accidentally drove off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island and on Chappaquiddick Island and his companion in the car was his companion in the car was Mary Jo Kopechne, who Mary Jo Kopechne, who drowned. Ted was found guilty drowned. Ted was found guilty of leaving the scene of an of leaving the scene of an accident.accident.

He was reelected to numerous He was reelected to numerous times even after this scandal. times even after this scandal.

He also ran for President.He also ran for President.

This incident would always haunt Ted and also stopped him from running for President numerous

times.

Work

After Bill Clinton was elected President, Ted Kennedy After Bill Clinton was elected President, Ted Kennedy started to become an influential legislator who started to become an influential legislator who supported the health-care reform. supported the health-care reform.

From then on he was know as a prominent member From then on he was know as a prominent member in the Senate with what he was doing for the in the Senate with what he was doing for the American people.American people.

Accomplishments

Ted Kennedy accomplished A LOT!

Ted was involved in a lot of Ted was involved in a lot of bills that helped many bills that helped many people. people.

He was an author of the He was an author of the 1966 Health Insurance 1966 Health Insurance Portability and Portability and Accountability Act and also Accountability Act and also the 1977 Children’s Health the 1977 Children’s Health ActAct

This is a picture of Bill Clinton and was a person that helped Ted become who he is today.

AccomplishmentsHe worked on immigration reform, criminal code reform, fair housing, health care, AIDS research, public education, and numerous programs to help the poor.

He also upheld his positions on abortion, busing, and capital punishment. He was a kind of guy that used his political skills and his bipartisan friendships to his advantage while still being liberal.

One act that was very important was the No Child Left Behind Act and a picture is shown on the right depicting its logo.

He also worked with September 11th victims and he even helped pass an act over terrorism.

He passed acts for the disabled, the current war in Iraq, Medicaid, and so much more.

Legacy

He left behind many ideas and values with his family and friends

He offered ideas and He offered ideas and proposed so many bills proposed so many bills and acts and helped so and acts and helped so many people.many people.

He survived a plane crash He survived a plane crash and avoided “The Kennedy and avoided “The Kennedy Curse”Curse”

Ted with his brothers

Legacy

1932-2009

He was known as the He was known as the “liberal lion of the Senate”“liberal lion of the Senate”

He proved he was a He proved he was a formidable forceformidable force

He left behind a legacy of He left behind a legacy of of public service for of public service for everyone to see and everyone to see and benefit frombenefit from

He was a great man, thank you Ted Kennedy.