Kennedy to receive honorary Harvard degree Dec. 1

Wasn't Ted tossed out of Harvard for cheating? Unreal....

Kennedy earned C grades at the private Milton Academy, but was admitted to Harvard as a "legacy" -- his father and older brothers had attended there, so the younger and dimmer Kennedy's admission was virtually assured. While attending, he was expelled twice, once for cheating on a test, and once for paying a classmate to cheat for him. While expelled, Kennedy enlisted in the Army, but mistakenly signed up for four years instead of two. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to England, pulled the necessary strings to have his enlistment shortened to two years, and to ensure that he served in Europe, not Korea, where a war was raging. Kennedy was assigned to Paris, never advanced beyond the rank of Private, and returned to Harvard upon being discharged.

Is his honorary degree, in comparison with an incident from 50 years ago, any more unreal than the actions of George W. Bush in the last 8 years - after vowing to restore honor and dignity and morality to the White House? At least Kennedy wasn't systematically dismantling the Constitution at Harvard, and he did get punished for cheating. So...when do we get to impeach ol' Beady Eyes?

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ...

He was...this is disgraceful. I guess a $35billion endowment can always use a few more $$$ for the common good. Afterall, if Ted succumbs to the brain cancer, his estate will get redistributed under Obama's economic realignment program just like when his Mom, Rose, passed...oh wait that got settled in Florida which has no estate tax, go figure?!?

Of course the Globe didn't bother to mention that Kennedy was expelled for cheating but rather made it sound like his relationship with his alma mater was consistently positive.

Now if he were a Republican.....

Hey Lucy, er Craig Lawless, last time I checked Senator Kennedy had a lengthier criminal record versus President Bush. Next time you open your mouth, know your role and shut it.

Hey, Dave,

"Last time you checked," you overlooked Bush's many war crimes under international laws, which remain in force because the Senate ratified the treaties. It's quite clear to everyone in the world (except those who continue to drink the neo-con KoolAid) who the real criminal is.

I am guessing everyone on this board went to Harvard and also spent their life serving in the Senate??

BTW Clueless...I mean Lawless

Ole W graduated from Harvard as well as Yale...how about you?

Maybe you can tell us what part of the Constitution Bush has dismantled...Ever read it?

Nick

Which international laws and crimes would those be exactly? Since you are making the charge, lets see the evidence...not just your opinion

Well said Skipper. Many of the issues that have been discussed here are true, and I'm still very troubled by the Chapaquidik incident where a young girl died while in Senator Kennedy's company. There have been grave issues with his son(s) as well. In any case, Mr. Kennedy has performed admirably as a senator and his done much good since then. Many of us have benefited from his presence in the senate. So to follow Skipper's comment, those who live in glass houses . . . you know the rest.

Just before I got my diploma, H informed me that I'd better find a library book if I wanted to get it. Ted cheated his way through and got caught, and gets an honorary degree? If I cheat on my taxes this year, can I get an honorary refund from the IRS some year? Do you think H ever wonders why some of us alums never give it any $$$?

Nick, what part of criminal record did you not understand? President Bush stands convicted of a DUI, and paid a fine of $150 and had his license suspended. The rest of your BDS rant is a wish list not a historical fact.

By comparison, Senator Kennedy stands convicted of leaving the scene of an accident (causing death) and was sentenced to two suspended months in county jail and had his license suspended.

In fairness to the historical record, how could your report legitimately leave out the cheating incident(s)? What has happened to the Globe?

When I was at Harvard College many years ago, the late great Professor Albion, who taught a course on the history of the sea, began the semester by stating: "I know you've all heard that this class is a gut. I won't confirm that, but let me just say that Teddy Kennedy took it and got a B."

Why so angry? Senator Kennedy is being recognized for his service to our country, not for things that happened 40-50 years ago. If he were receiving an honorary degree for cheating or for Chapaquidick then that would really be something, but it's for his 45 years of service in the Senate. And it seems kind of stupid to praise President Bush while criticizing Senator Kennedy (and vice versa) when it is clear that both were children of privilege. Senator Kennedy is universally hailed as a great leader and statesman by Republicans & Democrats alike. People can disagree with his politics but only a great fool would question his service. I really can't get over what miserable people so many posters are. Lighten up. It's an honorary degree. Whoop dee do.

Only Hahvahd would bestow honors on such detritus!!

Only Hahvahd would bestow honors on such detritus!!

I think it's a nice gesture. It's an "honorary" degree given to someone who has given alot to politics.

Chapaquiddick.
Happened 40 years ago, a year after the murder of a brother and six years after the murder of his eldest brother.
He showed enourmnously poor judgment.
He broke the law.
He was convicted.
He served the sentence ordered by the court.
And he has to live with it. Every day. He knows he's responsible for this woman's death. He knows he acted irresponsibly.
So I guess it's OK to keep beating up the guy for it. Or you can just just forgive the man and get on with your life.

If all of us were able to rise above our mistakes and errors, as productively as has Senator Ted Kennedy, the world would be a far better place. More years of smooth sailing ahead, Sir.

Liberals are morons, period. He was driving a young, attractive secretary home from a party, and was so drunk his car submerged. He left her in Davy Jones locker for 10 hours before notifying anyone. His pill popping, imbecile son has been in 2 car crashes in the last year and one half, only to receive a ride home both times. He has shoved a female security guard, left a woman at sea, wrecked the boat, and admitted to binge drinking while on anti depressants. What did Haaavard give him? The Chivas Regal Lifetime Award for Public Drunkenness? You morons keep voting for this philandering, drunk, murder and chastise those who criticize him and you. Liberalism is the only mental disorder without an effective antedote...

Harvard currently has a policy of seeking and accepting government grants. Ted Kennedy despite his lackluster academics has had a valuable part to play in getting Harvard those grants. I am known to Ted Kennedy as an opponent of the McCain Kennedy Bill and his immigration policy in general and I am involved in NumbersUSA and Massachusetts Citizens for Immigration Reform .
Immigrant family members owe a debt to each other and should seek to assist each other to mutual benefit but not violate the immigration laws. The Third World needs investment and jobs there not passage money for human traffickers.

I am planning to help organize protest against Ted Kennedy's immigration policy at this event but am not going to opine that granting Senator Kennedy an honorary is something that is out of keeping with policies and other honorary degrees granted by Harvard.

If any of the Kennedys are reading this if your uncle Ted is healthy enough that he is in office on July 4th I will be protesting on your lawn in Hyannis Port again.

Richard Bond,
You are a mean person. Teddy has been a great champion of the poor and downtrodden. I hear, from reliable sources, that he is proposing amnesty for Obama's Auntie Mau Mau, so we know he's compassionate. You are mean, and not a caring Massachuseets loony liberal. Get on board now, you nasty, horrible person.

My word! This man, who does have a record of grievous past errors in his life, as stated by others, HAS had the worst punishment...to LIVE WITH HIS DEEDS; & see his son have cancer, a boy's amputation, & then CA himself!
HOW MANY OTHERS WITH SUCH HISTORIES have given so much to our Country?The vile words here could frighten a citizen. Where is honor & dignity in any of YOU? It takes away from his GOOD work, from You,& from ALL of us; as poor reflections of MANKIND in this day and age.Yes, it does show that 'People in Glass Houses Shouldn't!" It also proves that some hold onto grudges that 'll be judged by the Creator&NOT by us. Can't we limit ourselves?

Trudy,
Nice compassionate points, but........He's a murderer. As to living in glass houses, neither I, nor nearly all of the posters here, have ever murdered someone.

THANK YOU Senator Kennedy
for all your hard work in making MA and America a better place!
After all you and your family have gone through; murders, harrassment,
etc. I think you deserve at least an honorary award- in fact- There are so few men I can think of that have done a better job. How can anyone complain?
What have they done?
Congrates and thank you!!

The Kennedys have too much power. He is a cheat, a murderer, and giving him an honorary degree from Harvard is rediculous. He lives around the corner from me in Hyannisport and I am sick of hearing his name and also the rest of his family!