Kennedy remembered for intellect, passion

WASHINGTON -- Within hours of his Tuesday death, friends, family and colleagues hailed Sen. Edward Kennedy as a stalwart of the Senate whose intellect, passion for the underdog and ability to find common cause with Republicans made him a towering figure in American public life for nearly a half century.

Congressional Democratic leaders promised to pay lasting tribute to Kennedy's legacy by passing a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health-care system — a cause the Massachusetts Democrat championed for decades. Republicans praised his willingness to compromise on health care and other issues while sticking to his convictions.

"Ted Kennedy's dream of quality health care for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and his inspiration," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement.

"The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent,," added Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., "but his dream shall never die."

Kennedy's battle with brain cancer kept him on the sidelines as the congressional fight raged over President Obama's health-care initiative, but ConnecticutSen. Chris Dodd, one of his closest friends in the Senate, said he "fought to the very end" for its passage. Dodd took Kennedy's place at the helm of the Senate health committee and visited with him over the summer at his Hyannis Port, Mass., home to plot strategy.

When the Senate panel passed its version of the health-care initiative in July, "the first call I got at 6 a.m. in the morning was from Ted Kennedy, bellowing and cheering that his committee was the first" in Congress to finish action on the bill, Dodd told reporters Wednesday.

Dodd called Kennedy "a hero for those Americans in the shadow of life who so desperately needed one ... I will miss him every day I serve, and every day I live."

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., who has emerged as a leading voice on health care as head of the Senate Finance Committee, said he would "continue to advance the ideals and issues that were so close to his heart and such a part of his remarkable life."