Vicki Was "Light of Ted's Life"
Sen. Ted Kennedy leaves behind a large family, including three children with his first wife and two stepchildren with his second wife, Victoria Reggie Kennedy.
Kennedy, a once notorious bachelor, never intended to remarry after his divorce from Joan Bennett Kennedy in 1982, "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith said Wednesday. But, when he married Victoria Reggie in 1992, Smith remarked, his union could seem like fate, when you look back.
The Kennedy and Reggie families were politically and personally close. In 1956, Reggie, Victoria's father, supported Jack Kennedy's bid for the vice presidency and managed all the Kennedy operations in his home state of Louisiana. Vicki interned at Ted Kennedy's Senate office in 1976. But the two didn't meet again until an anniversary party in 1991 for her parents.
Vicki, a divorced mother of two, and Kennedy became friends, and a year later were married.
Vicki told CBS News, "I saw him with my children. I saw him with his own family. I just knew I had this wonderful, wonderful man who had come into my life."
With Vicki, Smith said Kennedy found stability and laughter after years of turmoil.
Peter Canellos, editor of "Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy," said, "Her relationship signaled a major change in his life. She kept him strong, and she kept him focused on his work. She gave him the kind of anchor that he really needed after a very rough time."
Vicki was also Ted's partner in politics. During his hotly contested re-election campaign in 1994 against Mitt Romney, Vicki was considered his biggest asset. Kennedy boasted on the trail, "I can tell you if November was a referendum on Vicki, we could all go home now."
Together, they became a fixture of the Washington establishment. When Ted was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2008, he faced the public and the fight of his life with Vicki by his side. She remained there until the end.
CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said on "The Early Show" Wednesday that, when the two married, Vicki became "the light of his life."
"That is when he really seemed to get it together," Schieffer said. "He was around her in those early days. You know, he did have problems with alcohol and things of that sort. But when he used to come to 'Face the Nation' on Sundays, she was always with him."
Schieffer added, "I don't think they spent maybe two or three nights apart in all the 17 years they were married. She was truly the light of his life. And I think, in many ways, changed his life."
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Kennedy, a once notorious bachelor, never intended to remarry after his divorce from Joan Bennett Kennedy in 1982, "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith said Wednesday. But, when he married Victoria Reggie in 1992, Smith remarked, his union could seem like fate, when you look back.
The Kennedy and Reggie families were politically and personally close. In 1956, Reggie, Victoria's father, supported Jack Kennedy's bid for the vice presidency and managed all the Kennedy operations in his home state of Louisiana. Vicki interned at Ted Kennedy's Senate office in 1976. But the two didn't meet again until an anniversary party in 1991 for her parents.
Vicki, a divorced mother of two, and Kennedy became friends, and a year later were married.
Vicki told CBS News, "I saw him with my children. I saw him with his own family. I just knew I had this wonderful, wonderful man who had come into my life."
With Vicki, Smith said Kennedy found stability and laughter after years of turmoil.
Peter Canellos, editor of "Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy," said, "Her relationship signaled a major change in his life. She kept him strong, and she kept him focused on his work. She gave him the kind of anchor that he really needed after a very rough time."
Vicki was also Ted's partner in politics. During his hotly contested re-election campaign in 1994 against Mitt Romney, Vicki was considered his biggest asset. Kennedy boasted on the trail, "I can tell you if November was a referendum on Vicki, we could all go home now."
Together, they became a fixture of the Washington establishment. When Ted was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2008, he faced the public and the fight of his life with Vicki by his side. She remained there until the end.
CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said on "The Early Show" Wednesday that, when the two married, Vicki became "the light of his life."
"That is when he really seemed to get it together," Schieffer said. "He was around her in those early days. You know, he did have problems with alcohol and things of that sort. But when he used to come to 'Face the Nation' on Sundays, she was always with him."
Schieffer added, "I don't think they spent maybe two or three nights apart in all the 17 years they were married. She was truly the light of his life. And I think, in many ways, changed his life."
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Rest assured, that our agenda & history would have suffered greatly, if you didn't make it out alive, and were the one to have drowned, instead of Mary JO at Chappaquiddick. Your quick thinking during that tragedy saved the day. You're A Great American Hero, Icon, An Example to all of Our Children & The People. We're so very proud of you!
A man, born into extradornary priviledge, he was a stalwart for the less fortunate, a champion for the rights of the common man. It'll be 100 years, if ever, that we witness as great a Senator - truly the Lion of the Senate has passed.
Ted Kennedy was respected by the world for his tireless efforts to shore up the rights of the less fortunate, to champion the causes of the common man, for the respect he extended all men despite their background, race, religion, or political affliation.
America will miss him - I know I will.
The many derisive comments posted here just show how utterly devoid of class so many republican sheep are.
The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Fascist Party has released the trolls and they are hungry for their daily dose of bashing just about everything including this great man and Senator.
The American Taliban Revolutionary Republican Facist Party needs to be outlawed and renamed what it, and all its little ignorant and evil trolls represent, a domestic terrorist organization.
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Yes...a family of millions who loved him and respected him. Even his enemies admired and respected Kennedy. (Something the republicans could learn)
The greatest legacy we could leave Ted Kennedy, is in memoriam to his steadfast 40 year long support of healthcare as a right, not a priviledge, and pass this healthcare reform.
It will be ironic that in life we missed his fire on this issue, but his death may end up being the impetous that'll get it done.
We lost his crucial vote. But reconciliation, as I have been saying all along, is the way to go. Kennedy, I believe, at this point, would support that.
We'll miss you Teddy...alot.
SHAME on her father.