Ted Kennedy — The Last Brother

(CBS)  CBS News will look back at the life and legacy of Senator Edward "Teddy" Kennedy, who died on late on Aug. 25, 2009, with the primetime special "Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother," anchored by Katie Couric on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on the CBS Television Network.

Featuring exclusive footage culled from CBS News' vast archives, the program is an intimate look at Kennedy - both the public face and the private man - as told through intimate interviews and candid moments captured over the last 40 years.

Complete Coverage

Highlights from the broadcast will include:

Kennedy giving Lesley Stahl a tour of his office where shows her a framed hand-written note from his brother Jack from Choate School. The letter, written when Ted was born, read:

"Dear Mother, It's the night before exams so I will write you Wednesday. Lots of love. Can I be godfather to the baby?"

Kennedy, overcome with emotion during an interview with correspondent Gloria Borger just months after his nephew John F. Kennedy Jr., wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren were killed in a place crash. "We've had, you know, difficult losses in the family," he says as he walks along the beach. "I remember the Friday night, the night we actually knew that he was lost and we gathered at Ethel's house…." Choking back tears he does not finish his thought, simply saying, "We better walk along."

Asked by Lesley Stahl about what he would like to be remembered for, Kennedy answers, "I think making a difference, in the country, for the country. The family set high standards and they're always worth measuring up to. And exceeding them when I can."

Kennedy reminisces about his mother's ritual of playing the piano before suppertime and sings one of her favorite songs, "Sweet Rosie O'Grady."

Kennedy talking to CBS correspondent Ed Bradley about the amputation of his 12-year-old son's leg due to cancer. A prideful Kennedy shows Bradley one of his favorite pictures, that of his son Teddy Jr. racing in a handicapped skier's race, with a note that says:

"A favor to Dad, who taught me that you can always be a winner."

Kennedy listening to Gloria Borger read a letter from Jackie Kennedy after he gave niece Caroline Kennedy away at her wedding. In the letter Jackie writes:

"…you have always been there. Every graduation, every big decision, every trouble, every sad and every happy day. On you, the carefree youngest brother, fell a burden a hero would beg to be spared. Sick parents, lost children, desolate wives. You are a hero. Everyone is going to make it because you are always there with your love."

A touched Kennedy responds simply, "It's about as nice as you can get."

More On Kennedy's Death:
Arrangements for Kennedy Funeral Announced Kennedy Memoir Set for Release Next Month Flags to Fly at Half-Staff for Kennedy
"Liberal Lion" Remembered
No Immediate Action on Succession
In His Own Words
"The Last Brother"
Life in the Public's Glare
In Pictures: The Kennedys
Obits from U.S. Newspapers
Brothers "Would Have been Proud"

[angelbabe53]

Heartfelt respect to the family and what great sons were turned out. Ted did much for our country and his state as well. God Bless the family and Ted enjoy seeing your brothers, sisters, children and nephews when you reach Heaven.

[kennedyfan2]

Ted Kennedy: The Last Brother was a beautiful tribute to Senator Kennedy. Would you please consider airing it again as an encore presentation over the weekend? More people need an opportunity to see it! Thank you.

[dddnumbnuts]

Dude NICE SPELL CHECK YOU MORON...what, are you an undergrad intern? A "place" crash killed JFK JR? What, did he follow uncle teddy's path and get so drunk that he face-planted into a set of nice china? Hence the "place crash" killed him? Holy crap, the "c" isn't even anywhere near the "n" on the keyboard!!! How about some PRIDE in what you do, you mope!!!

[theinric]

Please tell me how we can purchase a dvd copy of this show.
we missed the first half hour and want to watch it

[Irish-Man]

Did you succeed in getting the dvd? If so please let me know how as I would like to get one. Thank You.

[bumblefudge]

THANK YOU TED KENNEDY FOR DOING ALL OF US THE GREATEST FAVOR OF ALL FINALLY KICKING THE BUCKET, AND TO ALL YOU IDIOTS WHO THOUGHT OF HIM AS A GREAT MAN, CLEAN THE COW PATTIES OUT FROM BETWEEN YOUR EARS, WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE ITS TOO LATE||||||||

[bumblefudge]

all i have to say is that anyone who thinks this idiot was a good man is about brain dead, its about time this son of a ***** died, he is a real life look into the dumb ***** we appoint to congress, this man was a lier a thief and a murderer, he should have done
the world a favor and stayed in the car also. and any of those bleeding hearts who think he was a good person are all screwed in the head, it just proves if you are rich, the country dont care what kind of a dumb ass you are, or even if your a murderer they will stand behind them and kiss there ass, we need to do something about the whole lot of idiots that we have running this country,THERE IS NO AMERICA ANYMORE AINT THAT RIGHT COMRADE OBAMA.

[raddavidson]

I truly appreciated CBS Lesley Stahl's coverage and story. I had always had a very low opinon of Senator Ted Kennedy;the Chappaquiddick
event and then other stories. I have a totally changed prespective of a much greater man. He admited he'd made mistakes along the way but he learned and in the end, left a legacy of love; for his family and the nation who so proudly served. Thank you for such a gracious, honest and up close interview of a man, a brother, father and leader who may have made a horrible decison on a night, but never forgot and spent his entire life dedicated to doing good for all man kind, everyone. I thought it was so selfless and amazing that he gave his time, once a week, for four years to teach a young child to read. Senator Ted Kennedy did that. He didn't send someone, didn't appoint someone, he went to meet with her and read with her-Wow!

[breddout]

Thank you CBS News for a wonderful program! Clearly those who worked on this program viewed this as a labor of love. What a wonderful tribute for a great American.

[reveal5]

Today, this day....is Senator Ted Kennedy's day. This day Ted Kennedy is dead. Tuesday night, Ted Kennedy breathed his last breath. Today, Ted Kennedy will be remembered. Today, Ted Kennedy will be mourned. Today, Teddy Kennedy's accomplishments, failures, faults, foibles, strengths and courageous and uplifting nature will be considered. The passing of Ted Kennedy is a moment in the history of the United States. This moment, now, will be remembered in the history books of America for as long as our history is written.

[ArmandB]

It?s about time! The man was an immoral drunken fool who was an embarrassment to the Kennedy name and to our country. He never could pass up a drink or an opportunity to spend taxpayer money. Hopefully Massachusetts can now get past their need to have a poor excuse for a Kennedy in office and vote for someone qualified and sober in the next election.