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True Compass

A Memoir

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True Compass

Written by: Edward M. Kennedy
Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
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About this listen

 In this landmark autobiography, five years in the making, Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story -- of his legendary family, politics, and fifty years at the center of national events.

The youngest of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, he came of age among siblings from whom much was expected. As a young man, he played a key role in the presidential campaign of his brother John F. Kennedy, recounted here in loving detail. In 1962 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he began a fascinating political education and became a legislator.

In this historic memoir, Ted Kennedy takes us inside his family, re-creating life with his parents and brothers and explaining their profound impact on him. For the first time, he describes his heartbreak and years of struggle in the wake of their deaths. Through it all, he describes his work in the Senate on the major issues of our time -- civil rights, Vietnam, Watergate, the quest for peace in Northern Ireland -- and the cause of his life: improved health care for all Americans, a fight influenced by his own experiences in hospitals.

His life has been marked by tragedy and perseverance, a love of family, and an abiding faith. There have been controversies, too, and Kennedy addresses them with unprecedented candor. At midlife, embattled and uncertain if he would ever fall in love again, he met the woman who changed his life, Victoria Reggie Kennedy. Facing a tough reelection campaign against an aggressive challenger named Mitt Romney, Kennedy found a new voice and began one of the great third acts in American politics, sponsoring major legislation, standing up for liberal principles, and making the pivotal endorsement of Barack Obama for president.

Hundreds of books have been written about the Kennedys. True Compass will endure as the definitive account from a member of America's most heralded family, an inspiring legacy to readers and to history, and a deeply moving story of a life like no other. Politicians Politics & Activism Heartfelt

What the critics say

"In bringing Kennedy's sweeping memoir to life, John Bedford Lloyd conveys an intimacy and sincerity that allows for reverence without idolatry...Bonus features include a video interview, largely a summary of the book's contents, though still priceless from the standpoint of historical posterity. The PDF of photographs offers a rather impressive visual resource spanning the time period of Kennedy's narrative."—Publishers Weekly
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Most Relevant
This is one of my very favourite Audible books. The only thing that could possibly have improved it would be if Ted Kennedy had narrated it, but given his health, the last year of his life, that would be asking a lot. Ted talks about his Faith, and that clearly was a very important part of his life. The 1990s, when Jackie Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, and then John Kennedy Jr. died must have been a very tough time for him. He filled in for Jack and Robert, in raising a whole generation of Kennedys. All in all, a really good book.

A Great Story

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It was quite enlightening and inspiring to listen to Teddy Kennedy’s life story. Especially since he was born more in the middle of the family, his perspective and experiences were most informative and helpful to know and understand how he left his mark on the matters that were near and dear to his heart.

Excellent autobiography

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