Here is more about the relationship between Ted Kennedy and Yuri Andropov. Ted Kennedy showed poor judgement in that case, as he frequently did at other times. His acolyte John Kerry had a similar tendency to engage in near treasonous activities as in his discussions with the Viet Cong in Paris, and his forays into Nicaragua. In fact, it is a characteristic of the far left Democrats that they consider Republicans to be more dangerous than ommunist dictators. They like America's foes who are collectivists (socialists or communists) better than their true enemies, the capitalists.