Synopses & Reviews
The closing of Ted Kennedys chapter in Americas political and cultural life means that, for the first time perhaps, the real measure of the Kennedy legacy can finally be taken. John, Robert, and Ted Kennedys individual stories can now be seen as essentially one, with each brother striving to fulfill the interrupted promise of the brother before. How did the brothers pass the family torch to each other? And who carries the torch forward now? Vincent Bzdek compellingly answers these questions and much, much more.
Review
“Washington Post news editor and features writer Bzdek. . .delineates [the story] succinctly and compellingly. . .Bzdek does a fine job.”--Kirkus “The strength of Bzdek's book is to put Kennedy's accomplishments in the context of his family history”--St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Vincent Bzdek is a superb writer and terrific researcher. He's gotten to the heart of what made the Kennedy brothers such a powerful force in American politics." --Tom Cronin, author of The Paradoxes of the American Presidency "In a timely and readable biography, Vince Bzdek describes in authoritative and colorful detail Ted Kennedy's remarkable rise from the bottom rung of the legendary Kennedy family's public service ladder to a transcendant role in American politics, government and public life." -- Len Downie, former executive editor of The Washington Post, and author of The Rules of the Game
About the Author
Vincent Bzdek is the news editor and a features writer at The Washington Post. He has also written for The Wall Street Journal, Wired Magazine, The Denver Post, and is the author of Woman of the House. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Table of Contents
Prologue The Last Hurrah Joe, Jack, Bobby and Teddy The Blowtorch An Army of Mothers A Letter from Joe The Sweet-and-Sour Brother Act The Kennedy Generation Let Us Begin Ted's Turn Brothers in Arms The Impossible Dream The Reluctant Patriarch The Torchbearer A Camelot Too Far The Minotaur Four Funerals and a Wedding His Finest Hour The Fight of his Life Epilogue - The Dream Lives On