Edward Kennedy Biography (February 22 1932 – August 25 2009)

American senator Ted Kennedy is one of the most influential figures in the democratic political scene. Noted for his influential family, Kennedy recently made headlines when he was diagnosed with malignant cancer.

Edward Moore Kennedy, alternately known as Ted Kennedy, was born February 22, 1932 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Kennedy’s parents were Joseph P Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Born into a large family, Kennedy was the youngest of nine children. Among his siblings are noted politicians John F Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.

He obtained his initial education from Fessenden School followed by Milton Academy. He pursued his secondary education from the prestigious Harvard College. He was expelled, however, after one year for cheating on his Spanish exam.

He subsequently enrolled in the army, where he was stationed for two years in Paris. After his stint here was done, he was reaccepted to Harvard, and he left in 1956 with his degree. Two years later, he was attending the Hague Academy of International Law, and later, the University of Virginia.

Kennedy’s senate career began in 1962 when he was elected to represent Massachusetts. Winning a six-year term in 1964, Kennedy was reelected every six years after. His most recent reelection was in 2006.

After suffering the assassination of his brother, Kennedy received his own scare in 1964 when he was involved in a plane crash. The pilot and several aides received fatal wounds, while Kennedy just barely survived. He had a punctured lung, several broken ribs, and extensive injuries to his back.

In 1968, he once again had to go through the trauma of a brother’s assassination. This time, it was Robert, to whom Kennedy was extraordinarily close.

Eyes soon turned to Kennedy as the next potential presidential candidate. His personal life and professional career were rocked, however, by what later became known as “The Chappaquiddick Incident.” It occurred in 1969 when Kennedy was driving with Mary Jo Kopechne. Careening over the Dike Bridge, Kennedy was able to swim to safety, but Kopechne died in the car. Rather than call the authorities, Kennedy fled the scene. An inquest was initiated, but the district attorney opted not to pursue manslaughter charges.

He finally tried for the presidency in 1980, attempting to unseat Jimmy Carter. While his campaign showed promise early on, Carter’s popularity waxed, and Kennedy eventually bowed out of the race.

He never made another attempt for the White House, but his presidential endorsements are always highly sought. To date, he has given his endorsement to Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, and others.

On May 17, 2008, Kennedy suffered stroke like symptoms and was rushed to Cape Cod Hospital. Subsequent tests revealed Kennedy had a malignant brain tumor.

In his personal life, he married Virginia Joan Bennett on November 29, 1958. They had three children together before divorcing in late 1982.

Kennedy remarried in July of 1992 to Victoria Anne Reggie. They are currently still together.

He also served as the unofficial surrogate father to both John and Robert’s children after their respective assassinations.

In 2007 Kennedy stated that he would support John Kerry should he run for president in 2008, but in January 2007, Kerry said he would not be running for office and at that time. During the 2008 presidential elections Kennedy decided to remain neutral as the 2008 Democratic nomination battle between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama raged.

Kennedy soon became dissatisfied with the Clinton campaign and what he saw as racially tinged remarks by former President Bill Clinton at which time Kennedy gave an endorsement to Obama on January 28, 2008. Kennedy compared Obama's ability to inspire with that of his brothers, John F Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963.

On May 17, 2008, Edward suffered a seizure, and then another one as he was rushed from the Kennedy Compound to Cape Cod Hospital and then by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. At this time Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant glioma, a type of cancerous brain tumor. Following the diagnosis, on June 2, 2008, Kennedy underwent brain surgery at Duke University Medical Center in an attempt.

Although the operation was deemed a success it left Kennedy with signs of obvious weight loss and prone to seizures.

On August 25th 2009 Kennedy died of his tumor while at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Jean Kennedy Smith, and his three children.

After lying in state following his death, on Saturday, August 29, Kennedy’s memorial took place in Boston.  President Obama and former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, who was representing his father, former President George H. W. Bush attended, along with Vice President John Biden.

Kennedy's body was returned to Washington, D.C. for burial at Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of his brothers, John F Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.