Articles about Ted Kennedy from Harvard Magazine's archives

Kennedy debated Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger ’38 at a special event for the Kennedy School in 1986.

Senator Kennedy acknowledges his audience in Sanders Theatre last December, when he received an honorary degree.

Senator Kennedy acknowledges his audience in Sanders Theatre last December, when he received an honorary degree. | Jon Chase/Harvard News Office

In memory of Senator Edward M. Kennedy ’54, LL.D. ’08, Harvard Magazine offers a glimpse of the man in action, debating then Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger ’38, J.D. ’41, in Washington, D.C., in 1986 as one of several special events marking the fifteenth anniversary of the Harvard Kennedy School. (According to Harvard president Derek Bok, who moderated the debate, both speakers were “shy, inarticulate, somewhat ill-at-ease, and not too well informed” when they entered Harvard, but “When they got their diplomas, they were supremely self-possessed and equipped with formidable forensic skills.”) Michael J. Abramowitz ’85 filed the report.

Read Harvard Magazine’s coverage of the honorary-degree ceremony for Senator Kennedy in December 2008

Read President Faust’s statement on Senator Kennedy’s death

Most popular

The former economics concentrator brings his talent for crunching numbers to netminding.

Naval architect William Francis Gibbs, designer of the SS United States

Brief life of America’s greatest naval architect: 1886-1967

Human origins driven by technological and cultural revolutions

Ofer Bar-Yosef argues that cultural and technological revolutions have been more important than biological ones during the past 100, 000 years.

Explore More From Current Issue

A profile illustration of a man surrounded by colorful, whimsical text in multiple languages.

For both American and international students, growing up is like learning a new language.

An open book with a film strip emerging, trailing popcorn and a dancer silhouette.

Readers Respond to Our Adaptations Survey

We asked people to share their favorite art adaptations. Here’s what they said.

A woman with long, silver hair rests her chin on her hand, wearing a black top.

Author and Harvard Divinity School writer-in-residence Terry Tempest Williams finds beauty in the world around us.