CHICAGO. August 27, 2009. Two weeks after the death of his sister Eunice, Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) has died of brain cancer at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sister Jean Kennedy Smith, and his three children.

All the facts of his life are on Wikipedia, good and bad. Many headlines and bi-lines deal with the sad and the sordid from the death of his brothers, “Bobby” and “Jack” to his involvement in the Chappaquiddick tragedy. But take those away and you still have one of the most influential politicians of his time. He truly was a Lion of the Senate. Many of the 300 plus bill he put forward were enacted into law. He was Chairman of and served on some of the most important influential Committees in the U.S. Senate. He was its second most senior member and the third longest serving member of all time.

From the cradle to the grave he was groomed for high office and although he was unsuccessful in his bid for his party’s nomination as Presidential Candidate in a political sense he never failed his party or the people. He was one of the few politician to grow stronger the more time passed. He was a man of great vision and principle. His support and endorsement of the presidential candidacy of Barak Obama, was pivotal in getting him elected.

In a letter/email to his supporters the President said that he “and Michelle were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of (his) dear friend”.

He went on to say “In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that’s one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy….Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still“.

The body of Ted Kennedy will lie in repose at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston Mass. A procession on Friday, August 28, will travel from the library to the Mission Church in Boston, where a funeral mass will be held. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of his brothers.

A Political Giant is not an inappropriate description. He was respected by friend and foe alike. The world of American politics will be much the poorer for his passing.

A.L.

National Politics Insider