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Ted Was the Greatest Kennedy

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2009 8:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – On the weekend of his inauguration, John F. Kennedy gave his youngest brother a cigarette case engraved with the words, “And the last shall be first.” Fifty years later, that prophesy has come true, writes Richard Lacayo of Time. The "long shadow of Chappaquiddick" may have kept Ted Kennedy out of the White House, but "as the Romans understood, there can be Emperors of no consequence—and Senators whose legacies are carved in stone."

Because he never reached the White House, Kennedy never drifted into a post-presidential twilight. Instead he helped shape America over 46 years in office, leaving his mark on everything from civil rights to health care reform. “Without Ted, the Kennedy legacy would be mostly beautiful afterglow, just mood music and high rhetoric,” writes Lacayo. “He took the mythology and shaped it into something real.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this Aug. 25, 2008 file photo, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, FILE)

Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Sen. Edward Kennedy, and President John F. Kennedy speak, circa 1962. (Getty Images)

In an Oct. 14, 1970, file photo Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., speaks at the dedication ceremonies of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham, Mass. (AP Photo/JWG/FILE)

In a Sept. 27, 2004 file photo Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, delivers his speech about the effect of the war in Iraq on America's security at George Washington University. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta/file)

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He went forward against great odds, the voice of progressivism in a conservative age. When people were getting tired of hearing about racism or the poor, he kept talking. - Richard Lacayo

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

youngblood

Aug 26, 2009 9:20 AM CDT

Accident, sure Wrath , I'll give you that. Was it an accident that Ted walked away from it and did not report it till the next day, NO! He walked pass houses with telephones and lights on in the houses, people in those houses were up and not sleeping and could have help if they were alerted. Me, I would have run into those house and called for help and I don't really care if you believe me or not Wrath because I know that I by myself with no help whatsoever have saved Three lives in my life by not running away but by running toward them, helping them even though I almost blacked out from it and had to keep myself from not passing out and these people I saved, I did not even know them and I went the extra mile even though i was in danger and if I was in a life threatening situation I would want someone like myself in my corner who does not run away like Ted did to Mary Jo. And let me tell you Wrath, truthfully I feel really proud of myself whenever I think of that time that I saved three lives. I wonder how Ted feels about that night with Mary Jo? So Wrath maybe to you I'm not worth shit but to the people who I have help save, to them I was a God Sent.

NxBigmouthery

Aug 26, 2009 9:11 AM CDT

This is not only tasteless, it's really badly written.

easterner

Aug 26, 2009 8:35 AM CDT

Cold Very Cold ....not because you dragged Kennedy thru the mud but you included Mary Jo

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John F. Kennedy • Ted Kennedy • Chappaquiddick • political dynasty • Robert F. Kennedy • senator • appreciation • Kennedy

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