Ted Kennedy, Junior Senator

 

I was so sad to learn yesterday that Ted Kennedy has inoperable brain cancer. Like many Americans, I feel that my life has been inextricably linked to the Kennedys for as long as I can remember. Indeed, as I’ve mentioned before, my very first memory is of JFK’s assassination. I had just turned four years old and I vividly remember the reaction of my parents to the devastating news. I remember watching the funeral on TV with my sobbing mother who was ironing a stack of clothes through her tears, and I remember the moment when John-John saluted hid dad’s casket as it went by.

For almost three decades, my mother was the receptionist at the Kennedy-owned Merchandise Mart in Chicago. She often took calls from crazed Kennedy fans on the anniversary of the assassinations, and she turned over to the authorities gifts that arrived in her office intended for various Kennedy family members. My mother welcomed several visiting Kennedys over the years including sister Eunice whose husband Sargent Shriver used to run the Mart. When I worked there as a mail boy one summer during college I discovered a cache of stowed-away boxes from Shriver’s old office. I sifted through these long-forgotten boxes but never found Eunice’s wedding dress which was rumored to have been lost somewhere in the Merchandise Mart. Shortly after my stint at the Mart, the storage rooms where I found the boxes were cleared out and turned into retail stores. I’m almost positive that the boxes were thrown away and I could kick myself for not removing their contents for “safekeeping” including original photographs of President Kennedy, Bobby, and Teddy at Mart functions and a large collection of signed Time magazine covers that once covered the walls of Sargent Shriver’s office.

During the last years of my mother’s life, her boss at the Mart was Chris Kennedy, Bobby’s look-alike son, and I’ll never forget my mother bursting into his office unannounced, holding my baby daughter in her arms, to show him Leah’s “Kennedy red hair.” I was too embarrassed to follow her into the office but I recall the large portrait of patriarch Joseph Kennedy staring down at my daughter as my mother interrupted the young Kennedy’s meeting.

When my mother got sick with lung cancer in 1999, it was the Kennedys who pulled some strings to get her moved to a better hospital and I will always be grateful for that. Two months after my mother’s death I happened to be in Kennedy territory for a meeting at my former publisher’s and I sat glued to the television set in my hotel room watching the frantic search for John Kennedy, Jr. and his wife and sister-in-law in the waters off Cape Cod. I kept reaching for the phone to call my mother who would have been blown away by this tragedy. Uncle Teddy was once again called into service to deliver a moving eulogy at John’s memorial service a few days later, just as he had done at the funerals of his two older brothers. About his nephew he said, “We dared to think that this John Kennedy would live to comb gray hair, with his beloved Carolyn by his side. But, like his father, he had every gift but length of years.”  

I don’t mean to be eulogizing Ted Kennedy who is still very much alive despite a rather grim prognosis. He left the hospital today surrounded by his family, looking very chipper as he headed back to Hyannis. It was very touching to hear the reactions of his colleagues in Washington. I was especially moved to hear the heartfelt comments by some of the Republican senators. Though obviously ideological opponents to Kennedy’s liberal views and programs, it was easy to sniff through the layers of politics and see the true respect and admiration that lay at the foundation of some of these relationships. Orrin Hatch called Kennedy his “good friend” and said he knew firsthand what a formidable fighter Ted is. “I join my Senate colleagues, Massachusetts residents, and a grateful nation in wishing him a full and speedy recovery.” Arlen Specter, who himself was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor two years ago, agreed that Kennedy is a real fighter. “We all know that. And…I'm betting on it.”

Kennedy has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 1962. He’s been there longer than anyone in history except for Robert Byrd who seemed distraught yesterday and wept openly upon hearing the news. “I hope and pray that an all-caring, omnipotent God will watch over Ted and keep Ted here for us and for America,” Byrd said. “Ted, my dear friend, I love you, and I miss you.”

Ted Kennedy is clearly one of the most formidable senators who ever served this country, whether or not you agree with his policies. It’s hard to imagine a U.S. Congress without Kennedy in a leadership role. But it wasn’t always that way.

I was wondering how Ted Kennedy’s first Senate campaign, which occurred when I was two years old, was greeted by the politicians of the day and the rest of the country. Perusing the newspaper archives from the early 1960s, I soon learned that his first candidacy was not greeted with universal excitement and encouragement.

Ted Kennedy threw his hat in the ring for the U.S. Senate the minute he was old enough to do so, when he turned 30 in 1962. His rival in the contentious Democratic primary was Edward J. McCormack, Jr., the popular Attorney General of Massachusetts. At the beginning, McCormack seemed like such a shoo-in that Kennedy’s campaign was considered a joke.

 

Rumors circulated that young Teddy would drop out of the race. An article on May 7, 1962, stated:

The ambition of Edward (Ted) Kennedy, 30-year-old brother of the President, to be a U.S. Senator is fizzling out fast. With approximately three-fourths of the 1,763 delegates to the June 7-9 Massachusetts Democratic endorsement convention already selected, young Ted is running far behind Atty. Gen. Edward (Eddie) McCormack—858 to 542.

All signs point to McCormack, 39-year-old nephew of Speaker John McCormack, not only maintaining this 8 to 5 margin but probably even bettering it. If young Kennedy doesn’t pull out of the race by the time the convention meets, he will do so immediately afterward.

But there were already signs that the Kennedy family was pulling out all the stops to get their boy the votes he needed.

Kennedy henchmen are striving mightily behind the scenes to swing delegates to young Kennedy. Delegates are daily reporting heavy pressure from White House sources.

McCormack’s slogan during the campaign became “I Back Jack, But Teddy Ain’t Ready.” During one debate, McCormack confronted Kennedy with the charge, “Teddy, if your name was Edward Moore instead of Edward Moore Kennedy, your candidacy would be a farce.” Other prominent politicians agreed:

Former President Harry Truman is making no secret he does not approve of Ted’s candidacy.

The Missourian is keeping hands off this fight. But although assiduously courted by the Kennedys, Mr. Truman, with characteristic candor, is frankly critical of Ted’s aspiring to the Senate on what amounts to no other ground than that he is the President’s brother.

 An Independence visitor asked the one-time President what he thought of the McCormack-Kennedy race.

 “I hope Eddie wins,” was the instant and emphatic reply. “He is entitled to the nomination. He has earned it by conscientious hard work, and by twice being elected attorney general by big majorities. Ted has never run for anything or done very much of anything. His family ought to call him in and pull him out of that race. He doesn’t belong in it. He ought to earn his political spurs first before running for the U.S. Senate.”

Yep, the odds were stacked against poor Ted but he had one thing in his pocket that Eddie McCormack could only dream of—the Kennedy charisma, power, mystique, and millions. There was nothing McCormack could do but watch his numbers plunge in fast order. Ted Kennedy won the party’s nomination by a landslide.

Still, he had a lot of vocal critics leading up to the general election including many public figures and even a prominent Roman Catholic priest who stated in no uncertain terms:

“The candidacy of this boy is both preposterous and insulting.”

The statement refers particularly to Ted’s singular lack of qualifications for the U.S. Senate and to the pressure tactics being used to get him elected.

“When the 1960 Presidential race ended and Ted returned to Massachusetts, he appeared to be a young, clean and active prospect for some political office,” Father McEwan says.

“But when it comes to running for the Senate, that’s going too far. He simply hasn’t the qualifications for the office. “

“Many people apparently are saying: “I voted for President Kennedy and I support his policies, but I won’t take that kid (Ted).”

But the Kennedy machine prevailed, and Ted Kennedy was victorious in November. Both Jack and Bobby often said that Teddy was the smartest politician in the family and they were right. Ted Kennedy may not have had the qualifications for the U.S. Senate, according to many, he may have gotten there because of his last name, but he sure played his cards right in building a solid reputation for himself, beginning with his decision not to capitalize on his connections to the White House.

An article from February 19, 1963, reiterated Kennedy’s low profile in Washington:

Sen. Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy’s struggle for national anonymity is puzzling colleagues who would be delighted to embrace some of the opportunities he rejects.

The Massachusetts senator, who is the President’s youngest brother, is so cautious in his approach to the publicity spotlight he hasn’t even joined middle brother Bobby for a hike.

For Sen. Kennedy, Washington is a place to be seen and not heard—and not too much of the former, either.

He has gone a long way toward making good on his promise in his only speech here to the Women’s National Press Club, that he intends to “stay out of the limelight, out of the headlines and out of the swimming pools.”

In five weeks, Kennedy has introduced only two general bills. One would make Columbus Day a legal holiday and the other would provide mass transportation aid to metropolitan areas.

When Kennedy did speak up, he often disagreed with the White House and he was bolder than either of his brothers in promoting civil rights. In an article he wrote about the space program on July 15, 1963, Sen. Kennedy lobbied for a more diverse team of astronauts.

We should also try to train and orbit an astronaut who is a Negro. Most of the people of the world are non-white. This trip would serve to establish a personal identification between them and our space program.

Ironically, it was President Kennedy’s assassination less than a year into Ted’s first term that really allowed the younger Kennedy to find his place on the national stage.

The President’s death has altered Sen. Kennedy’s position in the sense that he now has greater freedom of action and of expression. When his brother was in the White House, the senator knew that every word he uttered might have been taken as a reflection of the President’s views. Every move he had might have been interpreted as being in line with the President’s wishes.

“He used to walk on tiptoes up here,” a Boston reporter observed this week. “Now he moves right in and gets involved. He’s become a stand-up guy. He’s all muscle now. He can speak out. The difference between Ted Kennedy now and a year ago is the difference between night and day.”

He seems to have lived down much of the public resentment over his plunging into a Senate race at the age of 30. By general consent he has conducted himself well in the Senate. He has not set the place on fire—freshmen senators rarely do—but he has won the respect of many older senators, which is important to him at this stage of the game.

By a curious turn of fate, Robert Kennedy does not now have the firm political base that Ted Kennedy has. If the attorney general’s political future is uncertain, Sen. Kennedy is on a course that seems destined to carry him over the years to growing power in the Senate and growing influence in the Democratic Party.

 

How true that premonition was. Of course Kennedy was far from perfect and despite a few attempts he never nabbed the presidency, but who can argue about the important role he has played in our government for so many years? Once this current presidential campaign is over, Hillary Clinton would do well to follow Ted Kennedy’s lead in digging in to her important job in the Senate and staying true to her beliefs about what America is all about, not what she needs to say or do to get elected President.

Browsing through articles about Ted Kennedy in the later part of the 1960s, I am impressed by his chutzpah. His trip to Vietnam, his fight for civil rights and for the rights of veterans, his attempts to protect immigrants, his efforts regarding gun control, there is so much Kennedy has done for which the American public should be grateful. Senator Kennedy voted against giving President Bush the authority to use force against Iraq in 2003 and he was the first Senator to propose legislation opposing last year’s troop surge. Kennedy has certainly had his fair share of questionable judgment (No Child Left Behind, anyone?) and who knows what led him as a young man to wait a day before reporting that awful accident on Chappaquiddick.

 In 1964, Kennedy was in a plane crash in which the pilot and one of Kennedy’s aides were killed. The “Kennedy Curse” yet again? He was pulled out of the wreckage with a broken back and punctured lung by fellow senator Birch Bayh who was also on the plane. There were fears that Kennedy might die from his injuries or be incapacitated for life but it didn’t keep him down for too long. Less than a year later he was at the center of another hotly contested national debate.

Sen. Edward (Ted) Kennedy has surprised a lot of people by becoming the strong man in the Senate liberal bloc’s battle for a tough Negro voting rights bill.

“I never thought Teddy would have the guts to buck Lyndon,” a senior senator said. “We felt he was too soft to try anything like this.”

But the Massachusetts senator, who just turned 33, now has found a major cause—outright abolition of poll taxes in state and local elections. And he is sticking to his guns despite pressure from both the Justice Department and the bi-partisan Senate leadership to accept their ideas on the issue.

Go, Ted! And now that he faces this ultimate challenge, I find myself more grateful than ever for his long service to this country.

Comments

[Heather]

This is really interesting -- thanks for the history lesson. I first became interested in (some would say obsessed with) the Kennedy family when I was in high school. I had about 30 books about them, though mainly JFK and RFK. But I still remember the little thrill I got when I went to UMass in 1991 and got a letter in the mail from Senator Edward M. Kennedy about some issue or other that I had written to him about. When I woke to NPR the other morning and heard about his brain tumor, I exclaimed, "OH NO!" I hope that Senator Kennedy will be with us for many more years, but his contribution to our government will never be disparaged by me.

[Judy]

Another great blog...going down Memory Lane... I feel like copying it and sending it to Sen. Kennedy with a get well card. Thanks again.

[tiki]

Thanks for this wonderful appreciation. Far too many Americans realize what a difference Sen. Kennedy has made ---and that when he steps down, there is no one who's proven willing to pick up the reins and continue the fight. Is there an heir? Someone who understands how important it is to stay in the Senate and continue Kennedy's role as the conscience of the people. Who is going to stand up and fight for our civil rights, our minimum wage, affordable health care, etc....as they're repeatedly threatened.
Before Barrack Obama announced his intentions to run for the White House, I thought he might be that person ---he has the ability to excite people, and get them interested in the world around them...and could perhaps turn more young people to public service. He could do more lasting good for his fellow Americans by staying in the Senate and fighting for those battles than he could as a one or two term president.
Who's going to be fighting for us now? I honestly don't see anyone in the House or the Senate who seems to want to stay in the job long enough to make a difference.
(BTW, David Broder had a great column about Ted Kennedy yesterday: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001570.html

should take you there. It was on the Post editorial page, right next to this interesting one arguing that Hilary Clinton should fill the next Supreme Court vacancy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001571.html

[churlita]

Another great post. Growing up Southside Chicago Irish Catholic, my family worshipped the Kennedys. My mom was pretty disappointed with him during Chappaquiddick, but she got over it and was a life long Kennedy supporter.

[Isabella]

It is indeed sad news. Great post and thanks for sharing this!

[Jane]

Danny, I didn't even know about the brain tumor until I came here today. I must have been hiding under a rock.

My mother's family is from back East, and I grew up on the Kennedys. It is hard to imagine a world where there are not several of them in politics, fighting the good fight for democracy, fairness, ethics, and justice.

Such sad news, but I'll hold out for a recuperation or remission. And, I must say, every time I read your blog I am struck by the rich and diverse life you've lead. Truly amazing.

[Distractions]

Wow, what a great blog post. Thanks Danny.

[Ian]

Danny, this post expressed so well what I'd been feeling, but couldn't articulate, since hearing the news about Kennedy last week. I also learned a great deal I didn’t know. Truman could be such a horses-ass(excuse me). This is a man who held fast in the Senate despite tragedy and controversy and who has shown how operating in the heights of public service can bring about significant social and historical change. I did find myself taking issue with the media signing Senator Kennedy's death warrant with their negative prognosis, practically giving him less-than-a-year to live with little specifics on his individual case. I pray for him. What a giant.

[EJ]

I have been researching my mother's side of the family (her father and John McCormack - Edward McCormack's Uncle - were cousins). It is interesting to read campaign coverage from 60 odd years ago to see that the media hasn't really changed much! How many times have they named Hillary the underdog? My family has a connection to Boston politics and we were all saddened to hear of Ted's diagnosis. He is the last of a great legacy and has proven himself to naysayers time and time again. Let's hope he can prove it again wth a full recovery!

[Wendi Goodman]

I was at a friend's house when my sister called me from England & told me to turn on the news. She said, "Ted Kennedy has the same tumor mom had." All I can say is that my thoughts and prayers are with the Kennedy family. It's going to be a rough road as I can testify to.