Senator Teddy Kennedy

West Ender · 26-08-2009, 22:11

So Teddy has died, the last of the 4 Kennedy brothers and the only one who didn't die violently. I have always associated him with the Chappaquiddick incident, which must have always been a shadow over anything he did, but to his credit he worked hard to sort out the IRA problem.

His sister Eunice died very recently, too, so I'm not sure there are any of that Kennedy generation left. A most remarkable family, in every sense of the word.

Mancie · 26-08-2009, 22:23

The man did have a good influence on what are now supposed to be Democratic ideals..health care.. social security..fair wages...decent housing.
Apart from "Chappaquiddick" (copy and paste LOL)..he could have been a US President..he seemed a decent bloke.

shakermaker · 26-08-2009, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

The man did have a good influence on what are now supposed to be Democratic ideals..health care.. social security..fair wages...decent housing.
Apart from "Chappaquiddick" (copy and paste LOL)..he could have been a US President..he seemed a decent bloke.

Many say that it was Kennedy's defeat in the race for presidential nomination that spurred him on to do all the good work within the senate that made him such a respected man.

junetta · 26-08-2009, 23:44

I always knew that there was another son but didn't know what had happened to him. I did a search on wiki earlier and was really shocked. Joseph P Kennedy jnr was so brave and lost his life in the second world war aged 29.

Such a tragic family.

Eric · 27-08-2009, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by junetta

I always knew that there was another son but didn't know what had happened to him. I did a search on wiki earlier and was really shocked. Joseph P Kennedy jnr was so brave and lost his life in the second world war aged 29.

Such a tragic family.

"Tragic" .... a much overused term ... and don't forget Joe Sr. was yanked from England as the US ambassador during the Battle of Britain for comments like "Democracy is finished in Britain" .... Kennedys are overated .... The positive thing about JFK's assassination is that it rescued his image. Bay of Pigs, escalation of the Viet Nam war, taking the world to the brink, screwing Marilyn Monroe .... what a sterling record as President! And Ted, a great date, but don't let him drive you home.

steeljack · 27-08-2009, 00:30

I'm waiting to see what Bullseyebarb's views are , I'm sure she will be kind and not speak ill of the dead

the Funeral will be interesting to see how many of his IRA friends turn up

Eric · 27-08-2009, 04:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

I'm waiting to see what Bullseyebarb's views are , I'm sure she will be kind and not speak ill of the dead

the Funeral will be interesting to see how many of his IRA friends turn up

If they do show up, they will probably show up drunk ... which will be appropriate.

Mancie · 27-08-2009, 07:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

I'm waiting to see what Bullseyebarb's views are , I'm sure she will be kind and not speak ill of the dead

the Funeral will be interesting to see how many of his IRA friends turn up

Did'nt hear to much from any of our "American" friends during the bombings of women and children by the IRA over here....Clinton did at least try to sort it out.. the Americans only learned what was going on after 9/11.. to late for anyone ...and if this man was part of the IRA then he is off my list of good blokes.

Eric · 27-08-2009, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

Did'nt hear to much from any of our "American" friends during the bombings of women and children by the IRA over here....Clinton did at least try to sort it out.. the Americans only learned what was going on after 9/11.. to late for anyone ...and if this man was part of the IRA then he is off my list of good blokes.

Family and friends of Mary Jo Kopechne probably don't think too much of him either.

bullseyebarb · 28-08-2009, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

I'm waiting to see what Bullseyebarb's views are , I'm sure she will be kind and not speak ill of the dead

Yes, definitely inappropriate to comment at the moment. Let's wait until the old boy has been planted.

glasgow guy · 31-08-2009, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

So Teddy has died, the last of the 4 Kennedy brothers and the only one who didn't die violently. I have always associated him with the Chappaquiddick incident, which must have always been a shadow over anything he did, but to his credit he worked hard to sort out the IRA problem.

His sister Eunice died very recently, too, so I'm not sure there are any of that Kennedy generation left. A most remarkable family, in every sense of the word.

are you serious when you say that?
the guy supported and had sympathy with the IRA ffs!
the man was a fool, he also tried to commit suicide by driving his car off a bridge - with his innocent wife in it - the car hit the ground - he broke his arm and ran off - leaving his wife for dead - in which she died.

wont be missed in my eyes.

garinda · 31-08-2009, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by glasgow guy

are you serious when you say that?
the guy supported and had sympathy with the IRA ffs!
the man was a fool, he also tried to commit suicide by driving his car off a bridge - with his innocent wife in it - the car hit the ground - he broke his arm and ran off - leaving his wife for dead - in which she died.

wont be missed in my eyes.

The women, Mary Jo Kopechne, who died in his car, wasn't his wife. He wasn't attempting suicide, he was drunk after a party, and ran off like a coward.

I agree.

This active supporter of terrorism, and fundraiser for Sinn Féin, wasn't a person I admired.

glasgow guy · 31-08-2009, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

The women, Mary Jo Kopechne, who died in his car, wasn't his wife. He wasn't attempting suicide, he was drunk after a party, and ran off like a coward.

I agree.

This active supporter of terrorism, and fundraiser for Sinn Féin, wasn't a person I admired.

thanks for correcting me on that one - I always thought it was his wife

....

still a coward and sinn fein supporter...

garinda · 31-08-2009, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by glasgow guy

thanks for correcting me on that one - I always thought it was his wife

....

still a coward and sinn fein supporter...

No not his wife.

Like his brothers he liked to cheat on his spouse.

I was reading just yesterday an article from 1991. Teddy was riding around Washington in his chauffeur driven limo, he stopped two sixteen year old girls, and tried to lure them for a ride with the offer of wine, from the bottle he was holding. Stupidly all this was witnessed by the journalist who was trying to interview him at the time.

Classy.

Kennedy Snr. was a bad apple, and little apples don't fall far from the tree.

West Ender · 31-08-2009, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by glasgow guy

are you serious when you say that?
the guy supported and had sympathy with the IRA ffs!
the man was a fool, he also tried to commit suicide by driving his car off a bridge - with his innocent wife in it - the car hit the ground - he broke his arm and ran off - leaving his wife for dead - in which she died.

wont be missed in my eyes.

I am deadly serious. I'm sure he was an IRA supporter, certainly initially, but he did a lot to get the two sides talking in recent years, whatever his motives were. I only mentioned this because, as I said, he always had the shadow of Chappaquiddick over him. I see Garinda has already given you the proper account of that particular incident which, may I say, I remember well as I was a grown woman when the media were full of it. Ted proved himself a spoiled, rich brat and Kennedy money got him off the hook.

I hold no brief for Teddy Kennedy, I merely commented that the family was remarkable. That is not to say that I liked them (though I had a regard for President Jack). Their father was a crook, a bootlegger and a womaniser and they were all flawed to whatever degree but their story is fascinating.