Ted Kennedy

:This article is about the U.S. senator, for information about the ice hockey player see Ted Kennedy (hockey player).

Early career

Kennedy is the senior Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He also serves on the Judiciary Committee, where he is the senior Democrat on the Immigration Subcommittee, and the Armed Services Committee, where he is the senior Democrat on the Seapower Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, a founder of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, and a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C..

Related Topics:
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee - Judiciary Committee - Immigration Subcommittee - Armed Services Committee - Seapower Subcommittee - Congressional Joint Economic Committee - Congressional Friends of Ireland - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington, D.C.

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Kennedy's career in the Senate attracted national attention at its inception, as it has several times since. During his 1962 campaign, he was accused by his opponents of riding on his family's name and fortune, and (having no previous experience in elected office) of not being sufficiently qualified to hold so high an office. Soon after entering office, he went through the trauma of the assassination of his brother John, an event that focused much attention on him.

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In 1964, Kennedy was in a plane crash in which the pilot and one of Kennedy's aides were killed. He was pulled from the wreckage by fellow senator Birch E. Bayh II (D-Ind.) and spent weeks in the hospital recovering from a severe back injury, a punctured lung, broken ribs, and internal bleeding.

Related Topics:
1964 - Birch E. Bayh II - D - Ind.

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In 1968, his last surviving brother, Robert, was assassinated during his bid to be nominated as Democratic candidate for the presidency. Kennedy delivered a very emotional eulogy at Robert's funeral. After the shock from this event wore off, Ted was looked upon as a likely future presidential candidate. For about a year, the Democratic establishment began to focus attention on him as the carrier of the torch for the Kennedys and the party. His eulogy showed one thing: Since his father suffered a stroke which left him invalid, he has been the family patriarch and had given such tributes for the family in times of crisis.

Related Topics:
1968 - Eulogy

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In October 1971 Kennedy called for the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland, and for all political parties there to begin talks on creating a United Ireland. The senator has retained an interest in the Irish political situation since that time.

Related Topics:
British - Northern Ireland - United Ireland

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