Ted Kennedy and the Senate - In the Beginning
Ted Kennedy was elected Massachusetts US Senator at age 30. He had, at the time, no first hand political experience. But his brother was the President of the United States and his other brother was Attorney General.
Kennedy’s early Senate career was hampered by tragedy and, perhaps, sibling rivalry. Within one year of Teddy’s being elected, his brother John was assassinated in Dallas (November 22, 1963).
In 1964 Ted was in a plane crash that left him unable to do much campaigning during his first bid for a full Senate term; regardless, he won with over 70% of the vote.
That year he was joined in the Senate by his older brother, Robert F. Kennedy, who had just been elected Senator in New York. Robert Kennedy would get much of the national attention while the two served together.
Kennedy, during this time, wrote and advocated legislation regarding immigration (eliminating the quota system), and speaking out about the Vietnam War (working toward draft reform).
In 1968 the Kennedy family met with another tragedy. Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated in California while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic Presidential Nomination.
Following the death of his brother, Ted Kennedy returned to his work in the Senate. From 1969 through 1971, Kennedy held the position of Majority Whip (the second in command in the party - generally, it’s the Whip’s task to “whip” the party members into voting the party line).
He focused much of his attention on hand gun control and national health insurance. In 1972 he wrote In Critical Condition, a review of the US Healthcare system.
While Ted had begun his career as a more moderate and mellow legislator, he learned that he could use his influence and family name to be the champion of causes that would have otherwise failed, or never even been introduced to the US Government, media and citizens. He utilized his family’s “superstar” potential to cross party lines and worked as a tireless advocate for controversial issues regarding race, women’s health and the Vietnam War.
In 1978 Ted became chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Through the late 70s Kennedy continued his “people first” attitude through his legislative record.Kennedy had, for various reasons, resisted the calls for him to run for President - but by the end of the 1970s he found it more and more difficult to resist…
Tags: Majority Whip, Senate Judiciary Committee, ted kennedy, US SenateRelated Stories
POSTED IN: The US Political Process
1 opinion for Ted Kennedy and the Senate - In the Beginning
Adam S. Cardwell and Wife
Aug 27, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Ted, the Dems need to get bold like or there will be a Rep.in the Whitehouse 2009 . John McCain
will not be passive and so far the Dem`s are
very weak and will lose. TELL THE TRUTH and God will bless this endeavor. Sincerely, Adam Cardwell-Willow, ALaska resident-11 years (08/27/08)
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