August 26, 2009 1:26 PM

Will Kennedy Charisma Fade?

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CBSNews
(CBS)  The next generation of Kennedys is on the rise, but the legendary age of the Kennedys is possibly over, Peter Canellos, a Kennedy biographer said on "The Early Show" Wednesday.

CBS News consultant Canellos, the editor of "Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy," said Ted Kennedy's grandchildren are getting ready to enter public life by working in charitable organizations and possibly getting ready to run for public office. But things won't be the same.

"It's not the end of the Kennedys," Canellos said, "but perhaps the end of the Kennedy myth."

Click here to see that Kennedy myth of Camelot in photos.

Canellos added that the Kennedy family is committed to public service based on the influence of famous family members, such as Ted.

"(Ted's) told them, the children and grandchildren, that the Kennedys mean something more than money. They have to get into public service. … I think with him, that connection to the '60s and to Camelot and to the golden era of the Kennedy family has passed. We'll see more Kennedys, but I don't think they'll exert the same mythic influence that they have so far."

To view more of Canellos interview with "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, in which he discusses the Kennedy family dynamic, click on the video below:


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Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
by handyman5108 August 27, 2009 12:59 AM EDT
The end of Camelot, I will always remember the Kennedy's and what they stood for. This day is the end of an era, I am truly saddened.
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by brianp55 August 27, 2009 12:22 AM EDT
The Kennedys are an intersting group and certainly a part of American political culture...but I gotta tell ya, I'm really getting tired of hearing about them.
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by signseeker1717 August 26, 2009 11:39 PM EDT
The REPUBLICANS in Congress, the Presidency, past and present, Orrin Hatch among many others, knew him a LOT better than any of us - respected, admired, venerated him. Look at the statements by Nancy Reagan, both Bushes, McConnel, McCain, even Gingrich and Palin. Are THEY all lying hypocrites for their comments? They have called him a GREAT public servant, to put it mildly. May some of you be so mild too. RIP, Sen. Kennedy. You were a tower of strength, dedication and bipartisanship for 47 years. You are sorely missed already.
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by aubfmet August 26, 2009 10:29 PM EDT
For me Ted is defined by Chappaquiddick . He was totally responsible for that girls death. He was drunk, he lied and he got away with it because he was a Kennedy.
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by signseeker1717 August 27, 2009 12:03 AM EDT
Sad that you ignore 47 years of public service, and his colleagues, former Presidents, rivals and opponents laud him for his accomplishments. Note there are no "enemies" making public statements of that ilk other than a few simple- and -single minded, vindictive posters clinging to that long-ago tragic mistake of youth. Too bad you have no sense of perspective.
by xmissile August 26, 2009 10:24 PM EDT
Maybe now the Cape Wind project can finally move forward. Any more objections to ruining the view of Nantucket Sound?
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by trapbreaking August 26, 2009 7:54 PM EDT
Ironic that the guy who fought tooth and nail against the ban on partial birth abortion is having his funeral in a Catholic church.

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by signseeker1717 August 27, 2009 12:04 AM EDT
His priest had no problem with it. Why should you?
by trapbreaking August 26, 2009 7:50 PM EDT
Will Kennedy charisma fade? Of course. Ted, Robert, John, Joe Jr. all dead to round out the boys. Ted's sister Rosemary was lobotomized and institutionalized, and Kathleen died. Caroline lost out in N.Y.

The mystique is finished.
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by HGOODGUY August 26, 2009 7:40 PM EDT
THIS WILL BE MY LAST POST.
I AM NOT ANGRY,NARROW,FOOLISH AND PETTY. MANY OF YOU ARE INTELLEGENT, SINCERE AND SPEAK WITH SANENESS AND LOGIC.
THE MAJORITY ARE ENGAGED IN AN UNENDING PISSING CONTEST SO I AM SAYING BY BY AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.
I AM TAKING MY "CAP KEY" AND MOVING ON.
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by alltropy August 26, 2009 6:47 PM EDT
What "Kennedy Charisma"? What's charismatic about a debauched, murdering, red-nosed boozehound?
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by Hosheen August 26, 2009 6:40 PM EDT
How can the "charisma be lost" when it was only there in the minds of a few deluded people who believed that they weren't all self-serving, womanizing, elitists?
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by signseeker1717 August 26, 2009 11:56 PM EDT
An evaluation of decades of political history just won't fit into tiny posts from tiny minds. How can you be "self-serving" when you have plenty of money, and you're working for the poor, the elderly? I've often wondered - why "elitist" {Elite: finest, best, most distinguished} (note spelling) is used as a bad word? Unless it's coming from someone who is at the opposite end of the spectrum...
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