Ted Kennedy – some inaccuracies in NYT obit

Oh page 6 of the New York Times obituary of Ted Kennedy, John Broder has a few inaccuracies, primarily of timeline implications.

Freed at last of the expectation that he should and would seek the White House, Mr. Kennedy devoted himself fully to his day job in the Senate. He led the fight for the 18-year-old vote, the abolition of the draft, deregulation of the airline and trucking industries, and the post-Watergate campaign finance legislation. He was deeply involved in renewals of the Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing law of 1968. He helped establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He built federal support for community health care centers, increased cancer research financing and helped create the Meals on Wheels program. He was a major proponent of a health and nutrition program for pregnant women and infants.

But, as the obit notes itself in preceding paragraphs, Ted wasn’t “freed” until after losing his one official attempt at the White House in 1980. And, 18-year-old votes? 1972. End of the draft? 1973. Airline dereg? Carter Administration. The Voting Rights Act? 1968, as noted. WIC? Not sure when, but well before 1980. OSHA? Nixon years.

I mean, he did plenty AFTER 1980, some of which is mentioned in paragraphs after the one cited above. But, not only were those accomplishments before 1980, Ted was one of many in the Senate, not a leading pusher, on them.
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