When the New Bedford Standard-Times Took a ‘Cheap Shot’ at Ted Kennedy

Without a doubt, Massachusetts Democrats have enjoyed a cozy relationship with the state's media for decades, but the two haven't always seen eye to eye.

Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy served as United States Senator from Massachusetts for nearly 47 years until his death on August 25, 2009.

Born February 22, 1932, the brother of slain president John F. Kennedy and former U.S. Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, also killed by an assassin, Edward "Ted" Kennedy pleaded guilty in 1969 to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne and received a suspended sentence of two months in jail.

Kennedy took a lickin' from the press. The voters forgave him.

Many assumed that Kennedy, like his brothers, would someday seek the presidency. In 1980, Kennedy decided to challenge sitting President Jimmy Carter for the Democrat presidential nomination.

However, when he appeared unable to answer a reporter's query as to why he wanted to be president, Kennedy bowed out of the race.

Sensing Kenedy had been weakened by his failed presidential bid, Republican businessman Ray Shamie challenged Kennedy's re-election in 1982.

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The day following a Sunday, October 24, 1982 Kennedy-Shamie debate, Jim Ragsdale published an editorial in the New Bedford Standard-Times suggesting that while Kennedy would more than likely win re-election, "The Standard-Times feels no temptation to get on the bandwagon and endorse his candidacy."

Ragsdale's editorial accused Kennedy of not doing enough for the Greater New Bedford area during his time in office.

According to a United Press International article from October 28, 1982, Kennedy called the editorial a "cheap shot" that "doesn't help inform people who look to the newspaper for information."

"The New Bedford editorial failed to realize that I am running for U.S. Senate, not the City Council," Kennedy was reported to have said.

Kennedy demanded and was granted a meeting with Ragsdale two days after the editorial appeared in the paper. According to UPI, Ragsdale said, "The whole thing was just a very brief spat. It ended with a smile and a handshake."

Kennedy defeated Shamie in 1982 by a margin of 60.81 percent to 38.26 percent.