Obama: The greatest United States senator of our time

PRESIDENT Barack Obama said yesterday the nation had lost “the greatest United States senator of our time” as world leaders joined inlionising Ted Kennedy.

“For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts,” Obama said of the Massachusetts senator, who died Tuesday at his home on Cape Cod, Mass, after a year-long struggle with brain cancer. He was 77.

A senior official said Obama was told of Kennedy’s death shortly after 2am yesterday, and spoke with the senator’s widow, Victoria, around 2.25am.

The president, vacationing at Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast, thanked Kennedy for “his wise counsel” during Obama’s short time serving as a senator from Illinois. “I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the presidency,” Obama added.

Kennedy and his niece, Caroline, shook up the Democratic establishment in January 2008 when they endorsed Obama over Hillary Clinton for the party’s nomination for president.

Exactly one year before his death, Kennedy gave a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where Obama accepted the presidential nomination. Kennedy returned to the Capitol in January to see Obama sworn in as thenation’s first black president, but suffered a seizure at a celebratory luncheon afterward. He was away from the Senate for much of this year, leading to speculation about the impact of his absence on Obama’s healthcare proposals. Still, Obama said, “even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I’ve profited as president from his encouragement and wisdom.”

“An important chapter in our history has come to an end,” Obama said. “Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time.”

World leaders lionised Kennedy as a towering figure in American politics, praising his dedication to causes ranging from healthcare reform to peace in the North.

In Britain, Kennedy was praised for his indefatigable work on causes such as healthcare and judicial reform. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said “even facing illness and death, he never stopped fighting.

“He led the world in championing children’s education and healthcare, and believed that every single child should have the chance to realise their potential to the full.”

Former British prime minister Tony Blair called Kennedy “a true public servant committed to the values of fairness, justice and opportunity.” Britain gave Kennedy an honorary knighthood earlier this year.

Achmat Dangor, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, said Kennedy had been “a champion of democracy and civil rights. . . He made his voice heard in the struggle against apartheid at a time when the freedom struggle was not widely supported in the West. We remain grateful for his role.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Kennedy “made an extraordinary contribution to American politics, an extraordinary contribution to America’s role in the world”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced “deep sorrow” at Kennedy’s death.

“Edward Kennedy was for decades one of the outstanding personalities of American politics. His advocacy of justice and peace was marked by conviction and steadfastness.”

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said Kennedy “has left a deep mark and deserves the homage of all the free world.”