AT 36, Edward M. Kennedy became the youngest majority whip in the history of the U.S. Senate. By moving from a backbench to the cockpit of congressional power, the senior Senator from Massachusetts could now overtly exercise the influence that has hitherto been his primarily by virtue of legend, tragedy and guilt. He disavowed his election as a personal victory or as a steppingstone toward the presidency. "I view it," he said, "as expressing the sense of the Democratic Senators in favor of an aggressive and creative program in the upcoming Congress."
The loser...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
