American Legends: The Life of Ted Kennedy

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of historys most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of Americas most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. When Edward Kennedy was born in 1932, he was the youngest sibling in a family destined to produce some of Americas most influential political leaders. By the time he was a teenager, his oldest brother, Joseph Kennedy Jr., had died a war hero, his brother John was on the fast track to political stardom, and his brother Bobby was managing Johns campaigns. Though Ted was a star athlete, his parents were more focused on his older brothers. Ted may not have been the center of attention in the Kennedy family then or now, but he had the same charisma and skills of his older brothers, as well as the same controversial vices. And as fate would have it, Teds political legacy may have eclipsed them all. His brothers were victims of two of the countrys most tragic assassinations, two other siblings died in plane crashes, and he would have to eulogize nephews. But Ted had the extra gift of length of years, surviving his encounter with the Kennedy Curse, a 1964 plane crash that severely injured and nearly killed him. Although controversy ensured Ted would never be president, he spent nearly half a century in the U.S. Senate, forging a legacy that earned him the nickname The Lion of the Senate. Indeed, in the course of becoming the 4th longest serving Senator in American history, Ted became the patriarch of both the Kennedy family and the Democratic Party, as well as one of the most forceful and outspoken advocates of progressivism. But he also held the respect of his Republican counterparts, and Ted was able to bridge political gaps in the process of authoring and sponsoring hundreds of bills that became law. American Legends: The Life of Ted Kennedy details Teds life and career within the Kennedy family and the political world, including all of its famous ups and infamous downs, while also analyzing the legacy of the youngest Kennedy brother. Along with pictures of Ted and important people, places, and events in his life, you will learn about The Lion of the Senate like you never have before, in no time at all.