Teddy's Final Days

Kennedy biographer Adam Clymer on the private depth of the family patriarch’s Catholic faith, including his regular attendance of noontime Mass and how as a divorcee, it pained him to be refused Communion.

Larry Downing / Reuters

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-14_rzwcxi — Ted Kennedy, moments after being escorted by President Obama into the East Room of the White House during the White House Forum on Health Reform in Washington, on March 5. Applauding are White House Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes and his son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
Larry Downing / Reuters

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-16_pj1ugw — Vice President Biden, President Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama with Kennedy at a celebration concert in honor of Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, March 8.
Jason Reed, Reuters / Landov

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-12_tivxa0 — Kennedy questions Kathleen Sebelius during her confirmation hearing to be secretary of Health and Human Services on March 31.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-10_bidzjs — Kennedy shows off the first pen used by President Obama as he signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act at the SEED School of Washington, a public boarding school that serves inner-city students, in Washington on April 21.
Charles Dharapak / AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/kennedy-final-days-01_zkgv5h — Kennedy throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Boston Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on April 7.
Adam Hunger / Reuters

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-11_qo4jt4 — President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with former President Clinton and Kennedy on April 21 in the Oval Office to discuss national service.
Charles Dharapak / AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-13_er1gtt — Obama chats with Kennedy before signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
Gary Fabiano, Sipa Press / Newscom

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-15_vrvqbk — Obama and Kennedy walk on the grounds of the White House, before the signing of the Kennedy Service Act.
Pete Souza / Official White House Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-06_dw5mga — Kennedy sails with his wife, Victoria, and friends aboard the Mya on August 3 off Hyannis Port, Mass.
AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-07_e5e4li — Kennedy rides with Victoria on a wharf in Hyannis Port on August 7.
AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-08_wd8cav — Kennedy arrives at the home of his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver in Hyannis Port on August 11, after Eunice's death.
Steven Senne / AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/kennedy-final-days-04_yg5w3k — Bobby Shriver, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, Anthony Shriver, Mark Shriver, and Bobby Shriver carry the coffin of Eunice Kennedy Shriver out of St. Xavier Church following her funeral August 14 in Hyannis Port.
Darren McCollester / Getty Images

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/kennedy-final-days-02_fygl7b — President Obama reads a statement about the death of Kennedy. At right, an emotional Biden talks about his friend.
Alex Brandon / AP Photo; Tim Sloan, AFP / Getty Images

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/kennedy-final-days-03_mv1sxn — The news media sets up outside the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Mass.
AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-09_y5pry0 — Alex Gahl, left, and her friend Rylee Thomas, both 2, accompany Rylee's mother, April, top, of Marstons Mills, Mass., to say goodbye to Kennedy.
Michael Dwyer / AP Photo

galleries/2009/08/26/teddy-s-final-days/ted-kennedy-final-days-05_hmk9ld — Flags at the Washington Monument fly at half-staff in honor of the passing of Kennedy.
AP Photo

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