WASHINGTON (CNN) – The young senator inspired a new generation of voters with his message of change and extended America's hand to the global community in an effort to promote a different kind of diplomacy.
One magazine characterized him as having a "quick charm, the patience to listen, a sure social touch, an interest in knowledge and a greed for facts."
A biographer recalled that he "had to touch the secret fears and ambivalent longings of the American heart, divine and speak to the desires of a swiftly changing nation - his message grounded on his own intuition of some vague and spreading desire for national renewal."
Those words could have been written about Barack Obama's rise to the presidency last year but actually come from coverage about the ascendancy of John F. Kennedy to the White House.
Kennedy's presidency is remembered as "Camelot," for the Broadway show about an idealized King Arthur's Court that opened the month after Kennedy won the presidency in November 1960.
After JFK's assassination in 1963, the Camelot legacy was handed down to younger brother Robert Kennedy, who served as John Kennedy's attorney general and was later elected to the Senate from New York. Ted Kennedy assumed the mantle after Robert Kennedy was assassinated during his run for the presidency in 1968.
And with the death of the youngest Kennedy brother, the question arises: Has Obama become the Kennedy family's heir apparent?
From CNN Politics
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Mr. President you are at the plate, swing the bat already!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As far as dynasties go, the Bushes have kept up or surpassed the Kennedys in several respects, including two presidencies. As far as liberal politics go, won't there always be liberals? No one really owns that do they? Seeing the old photos of Ted Kennedy reminds me of "Mad Men." It's an era that passed a long time ago.
Mr. President.., you could make it 'Camelot' again. You and your family certainly have the makings of 'Camelot'. You certainly can tell by this 'blog' that I am a baby boomer. Mike in Montana
Oh dear lord... can we BURY the "chamelot" idealism with Teddy??
This isn't the middle-ages and Obama isn't a knight.
Why would anyone compare Nobama with the Kennedys? Obama is a loser and is dragging this country down!
Is Camelot's future in Obama's hands?.............lolol....if Camelot means a failed presidency, a strong push towards socialism and a deeply divided nation, then yeah, Obama is Camelot.
Today's media is a joke.
this socialist community organizer is going to be like the peanut farmer.....FOUR and GONE..
No, MY FREEDOM is in his hands and he is taking a little more away each and every day he stays in office. Camalot wasn't even Camalot; that was a charade. No, Obama's legacy is Spendalot, Taxalot and Lyalot.
Camelot? Obama? I think Obama has more substance than to simply have a camelot legacy. Camelot is image....reemember Dutch....Ronald....Gipper whoever was camelot after JFK
Camelot is fiction, a fantasy that swirls around in the heads of those on the far left who have never liked America and want to change it.
Obama clearly sucumbs to this fantasy.
Reality is America is and always has been a great Nation. The majority of Americans know this to be so. The imperfections in America that need fixing are not so severe that they require America to be transformed into something it was never intened to be. But that is the fantasy of those like Obama. So yes, if some want to name him the heir apparent to the Kennedy Camelot legacy, I don't disagree.
And this is why Obama is already failing so early, he wants to change America into something a majority of voters are clearly saying they do not want.
President Obama is not failing, the Republican Party is failing, it is plain to see that the Republicans are intent on destroying democracy, through lies, hatred, and scare tactics, Uhmm, I remember this happening some place else, in the 30's and 40's, now what is the name of that (hopefully) long gone party, It started with an F, ?