Senator Ted Kennedy is gone. The patriarch of the Kennedy dynasty, the de facto royalty of American politics or at least Democratic politics of the 20th century. The longest living scion of Joseph P. Kennedy, Senior, hard-living, ambitious Irish-American businessman who passed his love of politics and back-room dealmaking to his sons.
Joe Kennedy hung his initial hopes on his eldest son, Joseph Kennedy, Jr., graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall and Harvard. Unfortunately, Joe lost his life during Operation Aphrodite during World War II. Operation Aphrodite was a series of bombing runs by explosive-laden airplanes piloted by a skeleton crew who would parachute from the aircraft before detonation. Following Joe's untimely death, JFK and later Bobby took over the family political helm. Teddy was elected to the Senate in 1962. Following his brothers' subsequent assassinations, he rose like a phoenix to serve nine terms in the Senate.
Marked by the Chappaquiddick scandal, his presidential aspirations were dashed. However, he spent 47 years in the Senate, championing the poor, working, and middle classes, civil rights, and working tirelessly on the issue of universal healthcare.
The Senator was a hard drinking, football tossing Kennedy who loved to sail at Hyannis Port. He helped his extended family whose lives were often marred by tragedy, from his brothers' assassinations to the premature deaths of JFK Jr., David, and Michael, sons of Bobby.
Senator Kennedy is gone. The end of an era. Of crusty lifelong politicos who knew how to play the game, to negotiate bills, to command respect from both sides of the aisle. He is survived by his family, the Senate, and a political legacy that will live on for eternity.
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