Edward Kennedy: tribute from US Democrat spokesman in UK

Edward Kennedy battled tragedy and controversy throughout his remarkable political career. February 22, 1932 - Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy is born. He is the last of four sons and five daughters born to millionaire businessman Joseph Kennedy, later the US ambassador to Britain, and his wife Rose. November 7, 1962 - Kennedy becomes a United States Senator. He will go on to serve nine terms in the Senate as the Democrat representative for Massachusetts. November 22, 1963 - His older brother, President John F Kennedy, is shot dead in Dallas, Texas. June 19, 1964 - Kennedy's private plane crashes, injuring his spine and leaving him with persistent back pain. The pilot and one of Kennedy's aides are killed. June 5, 1968 - His last surviving brother, Senator Robert Kennedy, is assassinated after winning California's Democratic presidential primary election. July 18, 1969 - Kennedy drives off a bridge on his way home from a party on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. An aide, Mary Jo Kopechne, dies in the crash. Kennedy later pleads guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. August 11 1980 - Kennedy withdraws from his first attempt to win the Democratic presidential nomination after losing key votes to President Jimmy Carter. He never stands again. January 28, 2008 - Kennedy endorses Barack Obama in his battle to become the Democrat presidential nominee, comparing Obama favourably to his dead brothers. May 17, 2008 - He collapses at his Cape Cod home. He is flown to hospital in Boston, where he is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. March 4 2009 - Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces that Kennedy has been given an honorary knighthood for his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. August 11, 2009 - Older sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a leading advocate of the mentally disabled, dies aged 88. Kennedy is too ill to attend her funeral. August 25, 2009 - Kennedy dies of brain cancer aged 77 at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He is the third-longest-serving US senator of all time and the author of more than 300 bills enacted into law.

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ITN | August 26, 2009

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