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Sunday, August 25, 2013

LION OF THE SENATE DIES IN HYANNIS

August 25, 2013

TEDDY DIES AT HOME IN HYANNIS PORT

Hyannis Port, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy* passed away four years ago today, August 25, 2009, at his home here in Hyannis Port.

Teddy, who became a United States Senator in 1962 when his brother Jack was President, had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2008.

He underwent brain surgery at Duke University Medical Center and then was treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Senator Kennedy was able to make an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and said...

"The work begins anew.  The hope rises again.  And the dreams lives on."



Ted attended the inauguration of Barack Obama, who he had endorsed a year earlier, on January 20, 2009 but suffered a seizure at the luncheon.

President Obama later awarded the Medal of Honor to the Senator.


   Ted Kennedy and President Obama
                        April 21, 2009
      Signing of the Serve America Act

Upon the announcement of Edward M. Kennedy's death, the Kennedy family issued the following statement:

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and  joyous light of our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism and perseverance will live in our hearts forever.  He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it."

Ted's former Republican opponent in Masssachusetts, Mitt Romney, said that Ted Kennedy...

"was the kind of man you could like even if he was your adversary."

Edward M. Kennedy's funeral service was attended by Presidents Obama, Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush, 3 former Vice-Presidents, 58 senators, and 21 former senators.

Senator Kennedy's survivors included wife Victoria Anne 'Vicki' Reggie who he married in 1992 and sister Jean Kennedy Smith.  His sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away two weeks earlier.


                Ted Kennedy's Gravesite
          Arlington National Cemetery
         Photo by Ben Schumin (2009)

*Edward Moore Kennedy (1932-2009) was born in Boston the youngest of Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy's 9 children.  Because of his father's work movements, Ted attended 10 different schools by age 11.

He graduated from Milton Academy in 1950, served in the US Army, and graduated from Harvard with an A.B. in history and government in 1959.

After managing Jack's re-election campaign in 1958, Ted managed the West in the 1960 presidential campaign.

Ted served in the US Senate from 1962 until his death.  He was chairman of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources 1987-1995.



                         Ted and Jimmy
                       The White House
                       December 5, 1977
         Carter Library/NARA Image



PARIS LIBERATED 69 YEARS AGO TODAY 

Paris, France (JFK+50) After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris was liberated 69 years ago today, August 25, 1944, by the French 2nd Armored Division and the US 4th Infantry Division.

In the afternoon General Charles de Gaulle led a triumphant march down the Champs d'Elysees.

Paris fell to the Germans on June 14, 1940.



            US Army Victory Parade
                          Paris, France
                     August 25, 1944


"WIZARD OF OZ" OPENED 74 YEARS AGO TODAY

"We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz...."

Hollywood, California (JFK+50) The film produced by MGM Studios and based on the children's book by L. Frank Baum, "The Wizard of Oz," opened in theaters across the nation 74 years ago today, August 25, 1939.

The film starred JUDY GARLAND as Dorothy, FRANK MORGAN as the Wizard, RAY BOLGER as the Tin Man, BERT LAHR as the Cowardly Lion and JACK HALEY as the Scarecrow.

The opening scenes were filmed in black and white but most of the movie is in TECHNICOLOR.

"The Wizard of Oz" was first televised in 1956 and watched by 45 million people.






JFK+50 recommends Rick Ryan's "Childhood's End."  



                       "Childhood's End"
                            by Rick Ryan