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Book Review By Nathaniel Ford
The Senator: My Ten Years With Ted Kennedy by Richard E. Burke

    In the 1970s, an idealistic Georgetown student named Richard Burke went to work for his political hero, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Richard Burke shared Senator Kennedy's dream of a better America, but together the two men would have a falling out, a young man led into the fast lane by a hero who was crumbling before his very eyes. Richard Burke came to know Ted Kennedy better than anyone outside the Kennedy clan itself. He was a witness to all of the private excess which the media could only guess at.
    Ted Kennedy is a complicated, and often contradictory man. A family man who saw his son through the ordeal of cancer, and then snorted cocaine with his three kids, at least according to Richard Burke. Also, Ted Kennedy's numerous affairs supposedly include the seduction of a 17-year-old intern. Ted Kennedy was also one of the most respected members of congress, but he used his Washington office as a drop-off for his personal drug supply. Richard Burke saw it all, he was a willing participant in Ted Kennedy's adventures, he openly admits his own participation. Burke loved life in fast lane, the women, the drugs, and the special privileges, but he managed to escape before burning out completely.


Plot & Themes
job/profession:
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Politician story? - Left wing pol fighting right wing
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
City? Yes
City: - Washington D.C.
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 1960's-1970's

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - concerned
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - mostly dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
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