Ted Kennedy worked with other politicians.
Edward Moore Kennedy ( February 22 , 1932 -- August 25 , 2009 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts . His only attempt , in the 1980 election , resulted in a Democratic primary campaign loss to incumbent President Jimmy Carter . Unabashedly liberal , Kennedy championed an interventionist government that emphasized economic and social justice , but he was also known for working with Republicans to find compromises among senators with disparate views .