Senator Ted Kennedy 2/22/32-8/25/09

Senator Ted Kennedy 2/22/32-8/25/09 The "Lion Of The Senate" It's a sad day for all Democrats. Teddy Kennedy, the last of the Kennedy brothers, died today of brain cancer. The Kennedy family, for me, has been such an inspiration with all their work on behalf of underprivileged people all over the country. Less than 2 weeks ago Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, passed away. I'm just so happy he lived to see President Obama be elected as President. It proved all the work his family did on behalf of civil rights wasn't in vain. Kennedy, who became known as the "Lion of the Senate," played major roles in passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, and was an outspoken liberal standard-bearer during a conservative-dominated era from the 1980s to the early 2000s. He was "not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy," President Obama said. Obama said that Americans knew Kennedy's death was coming for some time, but have been "awaiting it with no small amount of dread." Choking back tears, Vice President Joe Biden said his family was "truly distressed" by Kennedy's death. "We lost a truly remarkable man," Biden said during an event in Washington. "He's left a great void in our public life." Obama named Kennedy as one of 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. A White House statement explained that the 2009 honorees "were chosen for their work as agents of change." "Senator Kennedy has dedicated his career to fighting for equal opportunity, fairness and justice for all Americans. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that every American has access to quality and affordable health care, and has succeeded in doing so for countless children, seniors, and Americans with disabilities. He has called health care reform the "cause of his life."

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2/22/32-8/25/09 Senator TED kennedy

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