Chris Matthews, "Hardball" host and longtime Kennedy observer, takes a not entirely uncritical look at the political dynasty that began with Joe Sr., and came to a generational end with Teddy Kennedy, who died late Tuesday night after battling cancer. Matthews covers vast and well-trod territory , the ambassador's push to get his firstborn son elected president, then, after Joe Jr.'s death in the war, his push to get the second-born son in the White House; JFK's circumvention of politics-as-usual, by targeting states rich in Catholic votes; his embrace of TV; the battle for civil rights; Bobby's eventual ascendancy and tragic death; and, finally, Teddy's fitful and failed attempt to become president. Matthews gets lots of help from his friends, with extensive interviews with former CBS/NBC anchor Roger Mudd, Kennedy advisers Ted Sorensen, Bill Wilson, Frank Mankiewicz, historian/NBC News contributor Doris Kearns Goodwin; former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, and many others.