Ted Kennedy was a shroom.
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 was the youngest brother of U.S President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy , both victims of assassination , and the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy . The Chappaquiddick incident in 1969 resulted in the death of his automobile passenger , Mary Jo Kopechne .