How much is Ted Kennedy worth?
| Net Worth: | $100 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Former American Senator |
| Date of Birth: | February 22, 1932 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 1.88 m |
About Ted Kennedy
Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy was seen as a lightweight when he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962 at the age of 30, and he was only there because his brother was the President. Sen. Kennedy rose to prominence as one of the most accomplished senators in American Senate history 46 years later.
When Ted Kennedy passed away in 2009, his estimated net worth was over $100 million.
Kennedy was designated one of “America’s 10 Best Senators,” by Time magazine in 2006. According to the publication, Kennedy has “amassed a titanic record of legislation affecting the lives of virtually every man, woman and child in the country.”
He advocated for equal opportunity for all and spoke up vehemently for immigrants, the poor, and the middle class.
Notability
On August 25, 2009, Sen. Ted Kennedy lost his valiant 15-month fight with brain cancer. With more than 250 successful laws under his belt, Sen. Kennedy was the third-longest serving senator in American history and maybe its most prolific author.
Despite his lifelong acquaintance with Bill and Hillary Clinton, Sen. Kennedy supported Barack Obama for president on January 28, 2008. Kennedy declared, “With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group, and straight against gay.”
Political Knowledge and Interests
Kennedy, who Time magazine dubbed “The Dealmaker” was a friendly, outgoing leader who frequently leaned across the aisle to secure agreements to pass legislation.
Democrats frequently cringed at the compromises Kennedy pushed for to achieve legislative goals, such as the Immigration Reform Act of 2007 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, while Republicans labeled him as an ultra-liberal.
Kennedy served as the chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, and Labor Committee during the 110th Congress, demonstrating his intense concern for meeting the fundamental needs of all Americans. The cause of Sen. Kennedy’s life, according to him, was universal health care.
Regarding Immigration, Kennedy
“My family and I were quite conscious of the experiences that our great-grandparents had as immigrants. All discovered the American dream, and I was lucky enough to benefit from it “Kennedy said in his autobiography from 2006.
The Hart-Celler Act of 1965, which shifted American immigration law toward a more multiethnic perspective, was Kennedy’s first significant piece of legislation.
Kennedy put up a lot of effort to craft the 2007 Immigration Reform Act, which was unsuccessful.
Kennedy wants to “is to leave behind… immigration reform legislation that will establish a clear path to citizenship for most of the 12 million undocumented workers.” according to Eleanor Clift of Newsweek.
Kennedy and the Problem of Education
On his Senate website, Kennedy states that “Our capacity to meet the challenges of the global economy depends on our ability to improve public schools and ensure that every child in America has a quality education,”
Kennedy, who fervently believes that every child in the United States has a democratic right to a high-quality public education, collaborated closely with President Bush to create the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.
The provisions of the Act are meant to close the achievement gap in the country’s schools, but the reforms cannot be successful without adequate funding, the senator laments, adding that “has never been fully funded… The Act’s provisions are intended to close the achievement gap in the nation’s schools, but the reforms can’t succeed without adequate funding.”
Additional Significant Kennedy Laws
Ted Kennedy, who abstained from the Iraq War vote in 2002, continues to speak out against the fight. He declared outright in 2004 that “Iraq is George Bush’s Vietnam.” Even though Kennedy has been involved in foreign politics, his focus has been on domestic issues.
Kennedy had a key role in the success of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and civil rights movements. He has long been a fervent pro-choice supporter and a strong proponent of labor unions.
Inadequacy and Redemption
Ted Kennedy acknowledged that he had a history of bad choices, including a young-adult adultery scandal and the fatal 1969 car crash that killed a young woman. Accused of womanizing and abusing alcohol, Sen. Orrin Hatch, a close friend, allegedly addressed Kennedy in 1991 about the necessity of making changes in his life.
Kennedy claimed he “ended partying.” after he wed lawyer Victoria Reggie in 1992. Following that turning point, Kennedy regained his enthusiasm for his senatorial career and went on to become one of the most admired and tenacious liberal leaders in American history.
Senate Committees in the 111th Congress, 2009-2010
- Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, Chair
- Armed Services Committee
- Joint Economic Committee
Personal Data
- Birth – February 22, 1932 in Boston, the last of nine children born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy, a prominent Irish-Catholic family.
- Armed Forces – Served in the U.S. Army at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Paris, 1951-1953
- Education – B.A. Harvard University, 1956. International Law School, The Hague, Holland, 1958. J.D. University of Virginia, 1959.
- Family – Second marriage, 1992, to Victoria Reggie. Three adult children: Kara (b. 1960), Edwards, Jr. (b. 1961), and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (b. 1967). Five grandchildren. Two stepchildren. (Married to Joan Bennett, 1958-1982.)
- Faith – Roman Catholic
Memorable Quotes
On Opportunity for All Americans
“The defining aspect of our country is opportunity – the hope that you can do better, that your children can do better. But you need an even playing field.
“To do that, you can’t be sick and be in school. You’ve got to have health care. You’ve got to have an economy working to give people a chance to get ahead. It is not guaranteed. But you have to have an opportunity.
“Our country is big enough and strong enough and wealthy enough to give that kind of opportunity to everybody. That’s what I work on every day.”
—- Reuters interview, April 21, 2006
Kennedy’s Brothers and High Standards
“I think about my brothers every day. They set high standards. Sometimes you measure up, sometimes you don’t.
“I have tried to learn from my mistakes and sought to be better in the course of my life — better husband, better brother, better father, better grandfather, better senator.”
—- Reuters interview, April 21, 2006
The Right to Health Care
“The United States must also join the other industrialized nations of the world in granting every citizen the right to affordable and effective health care.
“Health care should be a basic right for all, not just a privilege for a few. The new Congress should be committed to this goal, so that no family has to choose between a visit to the doctor and paying the rent or putting food on the table.”
—- Per Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Senate website
On Economic Well-Being for Americans
“The most effective way to increase opportunity for American families is with good paying jobs, starting with raising the minimum wage… Raising the minimum wage is an essential step in providing hardworking people with fairness and real security for their families and their future…
“The economic well-being of our citizens depends on other factors as well, including good health benefits and pension benefits, fair tax laws, fair trade laws, and fair policies on family and medical leave.
“Economic well-being is also closely tied to educational attainment, and we’re committed to improving the nation’s schools and making college more affordable.”
