Ted Kennedy entered the United States Senate in 1962 immediately after the Cuban Missile Crisis. In Senator Kennedy's tenure, we have seen 10 presidents, Vietnam, Watergate, the Iran Hostage Crisis, The Challenger and Columbia disasters, the fall of communism, two wars in Iraq, 911, the war in Afghanistan, and the first black president. Throughout this period, Kennedy was a constant and evolved into the most outspoken proponent of liberal causes.
The Senator's career was colorful. He was considered presidential timbre until Chappaquiddick. Despite this and other personal scandals, Kennedy challenged incumbent Jimmy Carter for the presidency in 1980. It helped Ronald Reagan that November, but Carter was so ineffective, Kennedy felt compelled to act. During the 80s, he led the opposition against Ronald Reagan and basically ended Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court.
Despite the hyper-partisanship, Kennedy could also work with the other side. Liberals can't stand No Child Left Behind. Well, the Liberal Lion Ted Kennedy was responsible for that act.
As a result of his willingness to compromise and forge personal relationships, many laws were enacted for the betterment of Americans. Kennedy's opponents have a tendency to praise him. If you cut a deal with the Senator, he stuck to it and always kept his word. As a result, Ted Kennedy deserves to be considered one of the giants of the senate alongside Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.
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