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Edward M. Kennedy, 1932-2009

Sen. Edward Kennedy listens to fellow Democrats criticize the House economic stimulus package passed earlier, during a Washington news conference in the Capitol on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001. Kennedy has died after battling a brain tumor, his family announced early Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. (AP)
Sen. Edward Kennedy during a news conference in Washington on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001. Kennedy has died after battling a brain tumor, his family announced early Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. (AP)

Senator Ted Kennedy — liberal lion and liberal lightning rod — died last night at 77.

He was the last of nine children in a storied American political family. The last of a generation of Kennedy brothers who left a nearly incalculable mark on American politics and culture.
JFK. RFK. Teddy.

As senator, Ted Kennedy became, over decades, legend and workhorse. Champion of the disenfranchised. Friend to Republican peers. Key supporter of Barack Obama.

This hour, On Point: the passing of Ted Kennedy and the state of the dream he said would never die.

You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Guests:

Gerald Seib, executive Washington editor and "Capital Journal" columnist for The Wall Street Journal. He's co-author of "Pennsylvania Avenue: Profiles in Backroom Power."

Martin Nolan, former Washington bureau chief and editorial page editor for The Boston Globe. His obituary for Ted Kennedy runs in today's paper.

Senator Judd Gregg, Republican of New Hampshire.

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic.

Ross K. Baker, professor of political science at Rutgers University and author of “House and Senate" (4th edition, 2008), “Strangers on a Hill: Congress and the Court” and “Friend and Foe in the U.S. Senate.”

Bob Shrum, longtime Democratic strategist. He was press secretary for Senator Kennedy from 1980 to 1984, and served as Kennedy's principal speechwriter during and after the 1980 presidential campaign. He's the author of "No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner."

See full coverage of Ted Kennedy from WBUR, and a timeline of his life from NPR.org.

Watch a slideshow of Ted Kennedy's life in pictures:

http://storage.wbur.org/slideshows/2009/kennedy

This program aired on August 26, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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