Edward M. Kennedy was the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and the second longest-serving current member of the Senate. He was first elected in 1962 to complete the final two years of the Senate term of his brother, Senator John F. Kennedy, who was elected President in 1960. Since then, Senator Kennedy has been re-elected to eight full terms.
Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy has been an advocate for health care, education, civil rights, immigration reform, raising the minimum wage, defending the rights of workers and their families, assisting individuals with disabilities, protecting the environment, and safeguarding and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. He is also a strong opponent of the war in Iraq.
Senator Kennedy was the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He also served on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee. In addition, he was a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee and the Congressional Friends of Ireland, and a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Senator Kennedy was a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia Law School. He lived in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, with his wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy. Together, they have five children—Kara, Edward Jr., and Patrick Kennedy, and Curran and Caroline Raclin.
Republican Senator Orin Hatcher said, “Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend. Ted Kennedy was an iconic, larger than life United States senator whose influence cannot be overstated. Many have come before, and many will come after, but Ted Kennedy’s name will always be remembered as someone who lived and breathed the United States Senate and the work completed within its chamber.”
Source: firstgov.gov
