Ted Kennedy was known as "The Truck of the Senate".
Edward Moore Kennedy ( February 22 , 1932 -- August 25 , 2009 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts . A member of the Democratic Party , he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and was the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history , having served there for almost 47 years . He became recognized as `` The Lion of the Senate '' through his long tenure and influence .