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Edward M. Kennedy

Edward M. Kennedy is 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 is currently Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Seapower Subcommittee. In addition, he is 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 is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia Law School. He lives 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.

Almost a Packer

On November 20, 1955, in a 21-7 defeat to Yale, Harvard's lone score came on a low five-yard pass that was snared by #88, the Senior Right End Ted Kennedy.

Just one month earlier, Kennedy's promise on the football field had caught the notice of Green Bay Packer Head Coach Lisle Blackbourn. "You have been very highly recommended to us by a number of coaches in your area and also by our talent scouts as a possible Pro Prospect," Blackbourn wrote to the young Right End.

Kennedy declined the offer, saying he was flattered, but that he had plans to attend law school and to 'go into another contact sport, politics'.