Obama Mourns Kennedy, His 'Colleague, Counselor and Friend'

Aug. 26, 2009— -- President Obama praised Sen. Ted Kennedy as "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy" and called the response to his passing "a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives."

"Over the past several years, I've had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counselor and a friend," Obama said from the Blue Heron Farm on Martha's Vineyard. "And even though we have known this day was coming for some time now, we awaited it with no small amount of dread."

"His extraordinary life on this Earth has come to an end. An extraordinary good that he did lives on," the president said.

In an earlier statement, the president said he and first lady Michelle Obama were "heartbroken" to learn of Kennedy's death.

The president said Kennedy's fight against cancer gave the nation the opportunity it was denied when his brothers John and Robert were assassinated: "the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye."

The president heralded his legacy in the United States Senate and the impact he had on generations of Americans.

"His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including myself," he said.

Obama was awoken at 2 a.m. with news of Kennedy's passing. He called the late-Senator's wife, Vicki at 2:25 a.m. to express his condolences.

White House officials said the president has no plans to travel today. The first family is vacationing on Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts this week and as of now there are no changes to their plans.