Edward M. Kennedy "America Back On Track" Signed Limited First Edition, Leather Bound Collector's Numbered Edition of 1,750 [Sealed]

Personally signed Edward M. Kennedy, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate for 47 years.

SIGNED FIRST EDITION. NUMBERED EDITION OF 1,750

Easton Press, Norwalk CT. 2006. Edward M. Kennedy "America Back On Track" Signed First Edition. Luxuriously bound with full genuine leather with 22kt gold accents. Hardcover book without dust-jacket as issued. Personally signed by the author on the special title page. Sealed with COA.

The four-decade senator identifies a crossroads in America while contending that the country has stepped away from its basic ideals, in a call for national reform that proposes changes to national security, health care, education, civil rights, energy, and the environment.

Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009) represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate for 47 years. In 2004 he began interviews at the Miller Center of the University of Virginia for an oral history project about his life. For his 2009 memoir, "True Compass," he drew from his 50 years of contemporaneous notes from his personal diaries and worked closely on the book with Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Powers, co-author of "Flags of Our Fathers" and author of "Mark Twain: A Life."

Features

Includes all the classic Easton Press qualities:

* Premium Leather
* Silk Moire Endleaves
* Distinctive Cover Design
* Hubbed Spine, Accented in Real 22KT Gold
* Satin Ribbon Page Marker
* Gilded Page Edges
* Long-lasting, High Quality Acid-neutral Paper
* Smyth-sewn Pages for Strength and Durability
* Beautiful Illustrations

From Publishers Weekly

As the title implies, Senator Kennedy's book of political history, criticism and advice is an effort to reawaken the belief in progress that underlay politics in the 1960s, often lauding his brother's presidency and Johnson's just after. Kennedy presents some of his most important points in bulleted lists, giving the appearance of simplicity and clarity on complex topics like ways to adjust to globalization and "the shrinking world," steps to achieve "a sound energy conservation policy" and how to provide health care for all. Although Kennedy isn't often as clear as his bulleted points make it appear, his straightforward solutions—like equal federal, state and local government funding for education and an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25—are refreshing. Not unexpectedly, Kennedy's proposals also involve sharp criticism of the Bush administration: for focusing on the military war on terror rather than taking a broader view of global security; for the "politicization" of government agencies and departments like the FDA; for undermining civil liberties. His book will probably not start the next revolution, but Kennedy's talking points and proposed solutions offer a good basis for discussion, which, after all, is one aspect of democracy—which he fears is disappearing, or rather, being repressed. (Apr. 20)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

America's iconic liberal offers his analysis of how and why the nation has gone astray from its values and principles and how it can recover. Kennedy begins with a short history of the challenges that have faced the nation in the past and the proud achievements that have resulted from bold action. He acknowledges the changing political landscape since 9/11 with increased political polarization and concern about national security. Kennedy identifies seven challenges, devoting a chapter to each with historical references to provide cautionary lessons and solutions for getting back on track. With a Senate career spanning four decades, Kennedy sees the nation's primary challenge as reclaiming our constitutional democracy built in checks and balances between the branches of government. Kennedy criticizes the "unprecedented secrecy" of the Bush administration and the "bullying" of Republicans that prevents greater cooperation between Congress and the executive. In his first major policy book in more than 20 years, Kennedy also identifies other challenges, such as achieving an economy that provides equitably and providing healthcare to all Americans. Whether Kennedy fans or not, readers will appreciate his heartfelt concerns about the nation's direction and the ideals we all share. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edward M. Kennedy

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for almost 47 years, from 1962 until his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic Party and the Kennedy political family, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the third-longest-continuously-serving senator in United States history. Kennedy was a brother of President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy—both victims of assassination—and was the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy.

Ted Kennedy was 30 years old when he first entered the Senate following a November 1962 special election in Massachusetts to fill the vacant seat previously held by his brother John, who had taken office as the president. He was elected to a full six-year term in 1964 and was later re-elected seven more times. The Chappaquiddick incident in 1969 resulted in the death of his automobile passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident and later received a two-month suspended sentence. The incident and its aftermath hindered his chances of ever becoming president. His only attempt, in the 1980 election, resulted in a Democratic primary campaign loss to the incumbent president Jimmy Carter.

Kennedy was known for his oratorical skills. His 1968 eulogy for his brother Robert and his 1980 rallying cry for modern American liberalism were among his best-known speeches. He became recognized as "The Lion of the Senate" through his long tenure and influence. Kennedy and his staff wrote more than 300 bills that were enacted into law. Unabashedly liberal, Kennedy championed an interventionist government that emphasized economic and social justice, but he was also known for working with Republicans to find compromises. Kennedy played a major role in passing many laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the National Cancer Act of 1971, the COBRA health insurance provision, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Ryan White AIDS Care Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Mental Health Parity Act, the S-CHIP children's health program, the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. During the 2000s, he led several unsuccessful immigration reform efforts. Over the course of his Senate career, Kennedy made efforts to enact universal health care, which he called the "cause of my life." By the later years of his life, Kennedy had come to be viewed as a major figure and spokesman for American progressivism.

In 2008, Kennedy suffered a seizure and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, which limited his appearances in the Senate. He died of the cancer at age 77 on August 25, 2009, at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of his assassinated brothers.