Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77, died last night in Hyannis, Massachusetts of brain cancer.
Although he was a hard left partisan Democrat, he was not afraid to strike compromises with the Republicans in the senate. He also had many friendships with GOP members.
He also had a good relationship with President Ronald Reagan. Funny thing, when Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in 1980, Kennedy, who ran against Carter for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination, was reportedly pleased about Reagan's victory. Kennedy spoke at the Reagan Library in April 2007.
His career was forever marred by the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, 28. Kennedy's Oldsmobile drove off a bridge in Chappaquiddick and became submurged. Kennedy was able to get out the car, but Kopechne was unable to. He did not report the accident until the next day, but authorities already were alerted to it.
His only explanation was that he "panicked."
It has been reported that he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers John and Robert.
Democrats are planning to turn Obamacare into a memorial to Kennedy, but observers note that Kennedy would be willing to compromise and work with Republicans had he been fit enough to participate. This has been something the Obama Administration has been unwilling to do.
As Rush Limbaugh noted today, Kennedy now just becomes "a pawn" in the jockeying over health care reform. Not much of a tribute to the man called "The Lion of the Senate."
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