Ted Kennedy was a U.S. senator.
The Chappaquiddick incident was a single-vehicle car accident on Chappaquiddick Island , Massachusetts on July 18 , 1969 that was the result of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy 's negligence and resulted in the death of his 28-year-old companion , Mary Jo Kopechne , who was trapped inside the vehicle . Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act . The U.S. Senate debated and approved an amended version of the bill on March 26 , 2009 , renaming it the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act , after Senator Ted Kennedy . Edward Moore Kennedy ( February 22 , 1932 -- August 25 , 2009 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts . Kennedy played a major role in passing many laws , including laws that addressed immigration , cancer research , health insurance , apartheid , disability discrimination , AIDS care , civil rights , mental health benefits , children 's health insurance , education and volunteering .