Paul Kirk is to be sworn in Friday afternoon in Washington.
The appointment by Gov. Deval Patrick lets Paul Kirk, who was close friends with the senator, serve in the post until voters pick a permanent replacement in a Jan. 19 special election.
A family confidant said Wednesday both Edward Kennedy Jr. and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., had endorsed Paul Kirk in separate phone calls.
It's the first memoir from one of the Kennedy brothers, and it's theme is redemption.
"True Compass," one of the year's most anticipated books, is scheduled to come out next week.
Over the years, Ted Kennedy and Denis Reggie developed a close relationship.
Lawmakers on Thursday planned three hours of remembrances of the Massachusetts Democrat.
The decision surrenders a seat the Kennedy family has held for all but two years since 1953.
Martha Coakley becomes the most prominent candidate to officially declare.
"True Compass" is to be published Sept. 14
Vicki Reggie Kennedy has told family friends she does not want to
succeed her late husband in the Senate, but that didn't stop two of
Sen. Kennedy's close associates from talking up the prospect.
As a U.S. senator, Kennedy earned a base salary of $165,200 a year, but that just skimmed the surface of his net worth.
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