Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 ANALYSIS 
4

Kennedy's Senate Class Full of Lions

Giants abound in 88th Senate

Share

(Newser) – It’s no wonder Ted Kennedy became a lion of the Senate, writes Tom Schaller of FiveThirtyEight.com: he learned from the best. Kennedy began his first full term with the 88th Congress in 1963, and the list of senators sworn in alongside him contains “a safari’s worth of talent.” Including:

  • Margaret Chase Smith—the first woman to serve in the House and Senate

  • A whopping six future presidential or vice-presidential nominees—John Sparkman, Barry Goldwater, Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Strom Thurmond and Harry Byrd
  • Some notable dads—Al Gore Sr, Thomas Dodd, and Birch Bayh among them
  • J. William Fulbright and Claiborne Pell—whose names became synonymous with landmark education law
  • Some guys with longevity—Current longest-serving senator, Robert Byrd, and the man who served Congress longest, Carl Hayden

In this Jan. 9 1963 file photo, Edward M. Kennedy takes the oath of office as a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts in a re-enactment of the swearing-in ceremony with Vice President Lyndon Johnson.
In this Jan. 9 1963 file photo, Edward M. Kennedy takes the oath of office as a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts in a re-enactment of the swearing-in ceremony with Vice President Lyndon Johnson.   (AP Photo, File)
Barry Goldwater, seen in this 1967 file photo, was in Kennedy's Senate class.
Barry Goldwater, seen in this 1967 file photo, was in Kennedy's Senate class.   (Getty Images)
In this Feb. 22, 1962 file photo, Edward
In this Feb. 22, 1962 file photo, Edward "Ted" Kennedy is pictured in guesthouse of the Berlin Senate on Feb. 22, 1962.   (AP Photo/Reichert)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
4 comments
VIEWING:
 
nick
Aug 27, 09 8:08 AM CDT
So? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-5
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Aug 27, 09 8:25 AM CDT
So "the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die".
Vote up! Vote down!
0
JaneMP
Aug 27, 09 9:04 AM CDT
Where are the Repbulican leaders now? We've gone from Smith and GOldwater to those two idiots from Oklahoma. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
Sacrifice
Aug 27, 09 12:50 PM CDT
I agree. So what? The only 'talent' these guys need is to convince enough people to vote for them. Case in point, I would get a billion thumbs down on this Newser community if I claimed George W. Bush was 'talented' because he was the first son of a former US president to be elected president. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

67 Stories

Robert Byrd Now Longest-Serving Legislator Ever

By the senator's count, his career spanned 20,774 days

Nov 18, 09 8:39 AM CST
(AP) - West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd has become the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history, a milestone to be marked today with a Senate resolution. "I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days," Byrd said, adding that he was sorry his late wife... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate • West Virginia • US Congress • Robert Byrd • Democratic Senators • milestone

 Healthcare 
 Bill Boosts 
 Pay for 
 Prayer 

Insurance firms urged to cover praying healers

Nov 3, 09 5:34 AM CST
(Newser) - A little-noticed provision in a Senate version of the pending health care bill would require insurance companies to consider paying for prayer as a medical expense. The addition was inserted by Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch and backed by Democrats John Kerry and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, the home state... More »

MORE ABOUT:
health care • health insurance • Senate • Ted Kennedy • Massachusetts • church • Orrin Hatch • prayer • shark attack • Christian Science

analysis

 Jay Rockefeller 
 Is the New Teddy 

Senator inherits Kennedy's cause of health care reform

Oct 7, 09 1:10 PM CDT
(Newser) - Jay Rockefeller shares little of the temperament of the late Ted Kennedy, but what they do share is essential. “Massive wealth and a virtual lock on his Senate seat frees a man to do what he believes in,” writes Margaret Carlson. And for both men—the West Virginia... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate • Ted Kennedy • West Virginia • health care reform • Jay Rockefeller • political dynasty • public option • Edward Kennedy

67 Stories


Politics  •  Opinion 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Senate • Ted Kennedy • Barry Goldwater • George McGovern • Hubert Humphrey • Strom Thurmond • Robert Byrd • Fulbright

from our news partners