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I wanted to say a few words this morning, about the passing of an extraordinary leader Senator Edward Kennedy. Over the past several years, I've had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counsel and a friend and even though we have known this day was coming for sometime now. We awaited it with no small amount of dread. Since Teddy's diagnosis this year we've seen the courage, with which he battled his illness. While these months have no doubt been difficult for him they've also led him here, from people from every corner of our nation and from all around the world to show just how much he meant to all of us. His fight has given us the opportunity we were denied when brothers John and Robert were taken from us, the blessing of saying 'Thank you' and 'Goodbye.' The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all bourne witness, is a testament to the way the singular figure in America history touched so many lives. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws, and reflected in millions of lives. Seniors who now know dignity, families that now know opportunity and children who know educations promise who now and are allowed to pursue an AMerica that is more equal and more just, including myself. Kennedy became synonymous with the Democratic Party, and at times Ted was the target of partisan campaign attacks. But in the United States Senate, I can think of no-one engendered greater respect or affection of members of both sides of the isle. A seriousness of purpose, that was fully matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. Compassionately battled others and did so fearlessly on the senate floor, with the causes he held dear and still maintained friendships across party lines. And that one reason why he became one of our greatest Senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. His extraordinary life has come to an end, his extraordinary good lives on to his family he was a guardian. For America he was a defender of a dream. I spoke earlier to Senator Kennedy's beloved wife Vicky, who was to the end a wonderful source of encouragement and strength. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, his children Kare, Edward and Patrick. His step children Karen and Caroline the entire Kennedy family. The decades worth of his staff, the people of MA and all Americans who like us loved Ted Kennedy.
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