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Historians weigh in on released Kennedy FBI files

The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy lived under the constant threat of violent death, a burden he inherited from his slain brothers, according to FBI records released yesterday detailing hundreds of threats issued by hate groups or relayed by agency tipsters and police across the country....

“Many people thought the FBI may have been digging into Ted Kennedy’s personal life. We’re so used to the FBI stories of the ’60s and ’70s being about Hoover bugging famous people’s bedrooms,’’ said historian Douglas Brinkley. “But what emerges is the FBI as the great protector of a US senator....

While Kennedy politicians have always attracted a core of vocal dissenters, “I had no idea’’ of all the threats against the senator, said historian Robert Dallek. “I’m kind of surprised there would be so much rage at him."...

Read entire article at Boston Globe