Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Senator Edward Kennedy was the power house for the Democrats and a subject of ridicule for the Republicans. But such was the capability of the Senator to span the partisan divide on an array of legislative matters that it drew condolences not only from the Democrats but from the Republicans as well, following his death on Tuesday after succumbing to a brain tumor. He was 77.

The Democrats were led by the current US President Barack Obama who said, “For five decades, virtually every piece major of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.”

From the Republican’s side, the widow of the President Ronald Reagan , Nancy Reagan was the first one to speak up first about the Senator who passed away on Tuesday. “Given our political differences people are sometimes surprised by how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family,” said Reagan in a statement released in Los Angeles following the death of Edward Kennedy. “But Ronnie and Ted would always find common ground, and they had great respect for one another. In recent years Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research, and I considered him an ally and a dear friend. I will miss him,” Reagan added.

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose wife Maria Shriver was Kennedy’s niece expressed his grief as he said, “He was known to the world as the Lion of the Senate, a champion of social justice and a political icon. Most importantly he was the rock of our family: a loving husband, father, brother and uncle.”

Teddy’s death was soon after the demise of Maria’s mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away on 11th of this month.