Kennedy, Harvard, and That Spanish Exam
EmailTed Kennedy’s sometimes stormy personal life was always fodder for his critics and the tabloids. Yet one scandal often forgotten centers on his abrupt exit from Harvard in the spring of 1951. Then a freshman, Kennedy was forced to withdraw from Harvard for two years after cheating on a Spanish final. According to “The Education of Edward Kennedy,” by Burton Hersh, the future U.S. Senator and presidential candidate had the roommate of one of his football teammates take the exam for him. Within minutes of the exam's conclusion, Kennedy got a call from the Dean’s office announcing his immediate suspension. The story eventually made the front page of the Boston Globe. Kennedy enlisted into the Army during his time off and after 16 months of service returned to Harvard in 1953, eventually graduating in 1956.
–Troy McMullen
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Eddie learned by example. His father was no picnic: From Gloria Swanson, to sister Rosemary, to how he made his money. My sympathy lies with Eddie’s mother, Rose. Little Eddie was just a product of his parents – just like everybody else.
I do believe Eddie found redemption.
God bless him.
Posted by: ddg | August 26, 2009, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
Ted was always the screw up and an embarrassment to his brothers.
He was kicked out of Harvard. Left a woman to die. Communicated with the USSR against the USA.
A terrible human being.
Posted by: DJ | August 26, 2009, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Everyone has done some wrong things, but the Kennedys seem to do more than most. But one wonders if their antics are no worse than their peer group (rich, bratty Eastern kids with millionaire parents to get them out of trouble and set them up in jobs and politics). At least Ted did something useful after being caught cheating and joined the Army. Sure he wasn’t sent to Korea- but to an honor guard in France, but that is what rich, connected people get. But at least he served doing something and not just carousing at the Kennedy Compound or something. And he did go back to school and graduated. RIP.
Posted by: Ed | August 26, 2009, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
You’re kidding right? This “scandal” happened 58 years ago. Why was this article written? It has no purpose other than to trash the memory of Senator Kennedy. The world is a much worse place because negative crap like this is let to happen. It has become common to speak evil against each other and that is truly shameful. R.I.P. Senator Kennedy. Everyone errs. Just like the person who posted this article.
Posted by: pfr | August 27, 2009, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Dear pfr, it is far more important that people can express themselves in any way they’d like to than to reprimand or belittle folks who spew negative crap.
What makes the world a much worse place to live in is PC-Speech Police.
The Spanish test dealio wasn’t just an honest mistake, it was a purposeful attempt at cheating. It was also an indication of what lay in the heart of the man.
Posted by: Noz | August 27, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
‘Speech Police’ – I like that.
Do you know what is NEVER mentioned when this story is told? -
THE OTHER PERSON Kennedy involved with this test -
Do we know what happened to the person who cheated FOR Ted? I assumed he was given something for his trouble, but you can bet he was kicked out of school, too. Did his life go as well as Ted’s life did? This guy was just another fall-out of Hurricane Ted.
Like I said, young Ed learned by example – he watched his father’s shady dealings and he felt entitled.
I believe Eddie found redemption, but not until late in the game. It was AFTER he took his nephew, William, drinking one night. You remember William, don’t you? After William was found ‘not guilty’, Ted stopped drinking. The rest is history.
Posted by: ddg | August 27, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
I’m with Noz on this one. It’s one thing to speak respectfully of the dead. It’s quite another to squelch valid information about a very public person’s life. We love to deify our politicians’ memories, especially at their passing. It’s a good thing to be reminded that they too were human beings with human failings. What Kennedy did as a freshman at Harvard does not negate the good he did for our country over the years. Life’s just not black and white. Everyone of us has done things we are not proud of. What matters is that we leave this world a better place.
Posted by: Susan | August 29, 2009, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm