--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator…" description: "\"Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over his time, changing the lives of far more Americans than remember the name Mary Jo Kopechne.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png" --- # Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over… ![“Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over his time, changing the lives of far more Americans than remember the name Mary Jo Kopechne.” quote by Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png) > “Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over his time, changing the lives of far more Americans than remember the name Mary Jo Kopechne.” [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights Kennedy’s legislative impact, noting his lasting influence on American lives despite lesser public memory. **In simple terms:** Kennedy’s work changed many lives, even if forgotten. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor unseen contributions. Themes public service legacy political impact Mood respectful analytical Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - legislative achievements - public health reforms - civil rights - education policy Key Concepts policy making historical memory Questions to Reflect On - What contributions of public figures go unnoticed? - How can we preserve important legacies? A Different Perspective His influence may be overstated; not all initiatives succeeded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Changing Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-lives/) ## Related quotes > [Ted Kennedy is the only person alive who might know more than we do about Chappaquiddick, and he may not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-is-the-only-person-alive-who-might-know-more-than-we-do/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [When I came back to Washington to be The Times' chief congressional correspondent in 1991, I was looking for a book subject, and Ted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/when-i-came-back-to-washington-to-be-the-times-chief-congressional/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [Well, the senators I've enjoyed working with the most would be Ted Kennedy and Kent Conrad, because they were both either chairman or ranking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-gregg/well-the-senators-i-ve-enjoyed-working-with-the-most-would-be-ted/) [Judd Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-gregg/) > [A Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, John Edwards, Howard Dean, George Soros, or Al Gore looks - no, acts - like he either came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/a-ted-kennedy-john-kerry-john-edwards-howard-dean-george-soros-or-al/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [In the end, Ted Kennedy was a politician, plain and simple. Yet he embodied how politics and public service can be successfully intertwined. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/in-the-end-ted-kennedy-was-a-politician-plain-and-simple-yet-he/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [In what might be a motto of those who sought the presidency and lost, Ted Kennedy once said, "Frankly, I don't mind not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/in-what-might-be-a-motto-of-those-who-sought-the-presidency-and-lost/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts has got to have Ted Kennedy rolling over in his grave, spilling his drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/scott-brown-s-victory-in-massachusetts-has-got-to-have-ted-kennedy/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [What was Ted Kennedy? Was he not the ultimate insider in Washington, yet maintaining philosophical views, when necessary?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/what-was-ted-kennedy-was-he-not-the-ultimate-insider-in-washington/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [Ted Kennedy was a giant - no doubt about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-capuano/ted-kennedy-was-a-giant-no-doubt-about-it/) [Michael Capuano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-capuano/) > [There is nobody that's ever going to fill Ted Kennedy's shoes, and that's a tall order for somebody in the family to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/there-is-nobody-that-s-ever-going-to-fill-ted-kennedy-s-shoes-and/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [“...the words of young Ted Kennedy, Jr., who lost his leg to cancer. "People are taught we should look perfect," he said. "I wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-words-of-young-ted-kennedy-jr-who-lost-his-leg-to-cancer-people/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Ted Kennedy will go down in history as one of the giants of the U.S. Senate and one the most accomplished legislators in American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/ted-kennedy-will-go-down-in-history-as-one-of-the-giants-of-the-u-s/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I ran for Congress in 1996 to help Ted Kennedy pass a comprehensive health insurance reform bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcgovern/i-ran-for-congress-in-1996-to-help-ted-kennedy-pass-a-comprehensive/) [Jim McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcgovern/) > [The last time I saw Ted Kennedy was a generation after my first meeting, at the Senate subway below the Capitol on Obama's Inauguration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/the-last-time-i-saw-ted-kennedy-was-a-generation-after-my-first/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [I enjoyed working with Ted Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/i-enjoyed-working-with-ted-kennedy/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) ## More by Adam Clymer > [Another thing that's quite different in writing a book as a practicing newspaperman is that if you look at what you've written the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/another-thing-that-s-quite-different-in-writing-a-book-as-a/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [Democratic politicians have disliked things I've written, Republican politicians... if they all love you, you might as well be driving a Good Humor truck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/democratic-politicians-have-disliked-things-i-ve-written-republican/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [When I came back to Washington to be The Times' chief congressional correspondent in 1991, I was looking for a book subject, and Ted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/when-i-came-back-to-washington-to-be-the-times-chief-congressional/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [I thought writing about somebody current would be a little closer to what I'm used to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/i-thought-writing-about-somebody-current-would-be-a-little-closer-to/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [Gore speaks to America as if English is its second language; George W. speaks as if English is his second language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/gore-speaks-to-america-as-if-english-is-its-second-language-george-w/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [Ted Kennedy is the only person alive who might know more than we do about Chappaquiddick, and he may not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-is-the-only-person-alive-who-might-know-more-than-we-do/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) > [There's a Washington standard of casually putting things off the record. It's really gone too far. I don't know an easy way to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/there-s-a-washington-standard-of-casually-putting-things-off-the/) [Adam Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) [Explore all 8 Adam Clymer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over his time, changing the lives of far more Americans than remember the name Mary Jo Kopechne.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Clymer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator-have-towered-over-his-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator-have-towered-over-his-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/adam-clymer-46470_achievement_ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator_640931.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator have towered over his time, changing the lives of far more Americans…” — Adam Clymer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Clymer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clymer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ted Kennedy's achievements as a senator...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator-have-towered-over-his-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clymer/ted-kennedy-s-achievements-as-a-senator-have-towered-over-his-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```