Just five months before his death, Teddy Kennedy was awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. Not permitted to be called ‘Sir’, Kennedy was recognized as being a Knight of the British Empire.
Kennedy’s death marks the near end of a political legacy, as Patrick J. Kennedy, Teddy’s son, is still in congress. Teddy Kennedy was widely known as ‘The most iconic liberal lawmaker’.
Kennedy was not only a towering figure in the Democratic Party, he was one of the most influential senators of all time. He served nine terms in the Senate and became the third-longest-
In 1962, when he first sought office as a senator, he adopted the same slogan his brother John had used ten years previously. “I (Teddy Kennedy) can do more for Massachusetts”
Tragedy appeared to badger Kennedy throughout his life. A 1964 plane crash damaged his spine, causing him pain for the remainder of his life. Teddy’s son, Edward Jnr., lost a leg to bone cancer. Kennedy’s first wife battled with alcoholism and emotional strain. Pilot, Joe Kennedy was killed in World War 11. In 1968 Robert Kennedy was assassinated during a presidential election campaign. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. In 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr., was killed with his wife, in an aircraft accident.
Evolving into the family patriarch, ‘Uncle Teddy’ became the surrogate father to the 13 Kennedy children.
In 1992 a second marriage to lawyer, Victoria Anne Reggie, seemed to stabilize Kennedy’s often tumultuous and controversial personal life.
Kennedy firmly backed the Clinton’s, particularly through the Lewinsky scandal. However, he became disillusioned with some of Hillary Clinton’s policies. Kennedy swapped camps and backed Barak Obama, becoming a central-figure in the 2008 presidential election. This was seen by many as being a symbolic passing of the torch, which the Kennedy clan had proudly carried for nearly fifty years.
"He (Kennedy) grew up in the long shadow of his brothers,” said Arizona Senator John McCain, “But found a way to be useful to his country in ways that will outlast their accomplishments."
Kennedy suffered a seizure during a luncheon to celebrate Barack Obama’s inauguration. He made his final public appearance in April, when he joined Obama at the White House for the signing of a national service bill named in his honour. In May Teddy was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He passed away at his home on August 25th.
