The Kennedy family Wikipedia
The life of Edward Kennedy
Veteran US Senator Edward Kennedy, the brother of former President John F Kennedy, has died at 77, after a long battle with a brain tumour.
He became a Democratic Massachusetts senator in 1962, replacing his brother when he resigned to become president, and was re-elected seven times.
Senator Kennedy was a dominant force in US politics for almost 50 years.
President Barack Obama, of whom he was an active supporter, said he was "heartbroken" to hear of his death.
"An important chapter in our history has come to an end," he said in a statement.
"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."
The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die
Later, in a televised tribute, Mr Obama described him as one of the "most accomplished Americans to serve our democracy".
Senator Kennedy had championed issues such as education and healthcare, central to Mr Obama's first term.
In 2006, Time magazine named him as one of America's "Ten Best Senators", saying that he had "amassed a titanic record of legislation affecting the lives of virtually every man, woman and child in the country".
The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says Senator Kennedy, known affectionately as Teddy, will be remembered as one of the most effective and popular legislators in American history.
President Obama was leading the tributes, saying that Senator Kennedy was the greatest US senator of our time.
But the praise was coming from right across the political divide. The Republicans were also praising him, saying that he was the kind of man that you couldn't help but like even if you disagreed with him.
That kind of praise has been echoing across the morning shows - they all broke into special coverage of the kind that is normally reserved for when former presidents die.
But of course all of the coverage has also included the controversies in Edward Kennedy's life, not least of all the death of Mary Jo Kopechne at Chappaquiddick bridge in 1969.
Our correspondent says he was also skilled at forging alliances across party lines: pushing an education initiative with President George W Bush, and immigration reform with Republican John McCain.
But he was a fierce critic of the Bush administration, in particular over Iraq and the prisoner abuse scandal.
He will also be remembered as a staunch supporter of Irish Republicanism - at one time calling for British troops to leave Northern Ireland - although he was later involved in the peace process leading to the Good Friday Agreement.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said the Kennedy family and the Senate had "together lost our patriarch".
This is the cause of my life... Now the issue has more meaning for me - and more urgency - than ever before, but it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of healthcare has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years
Edward Kennedy
Senator Kennedy's Newsweek article on healthcare, July 2009
"The liberal lion's mighty roar may now fall silent, but his dream shall never die," he said.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Senator Kennedy would be "mourned not just in America but in every continent".
"Even facing illness and death, he never stopped fighting for the causes which were his life's work.
"I am proud to have counted him as a friend."
'Joyous light'
Dawn broke over Washington's Capitol building, the home of the Senate, with the US flag flying at half mast.
The Kennedy family announced Senator Kennedy's death in a brief statement in the early hours of Wednesday.
EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY
1932 Born, youngest of nine children
1962 Becomes country's youngest senator
1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated
1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young passenger dies
1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter
"Edward M Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)," the statement said.
"We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."
Edward Kennedy was the only one of four brothers not to die a violent death.
His brother Joseph was killed in an air crash in World War II, and both President John F Kennedy and presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy were assassinated in the 1960s.
He was widely expected to be the next Kennedy in the White House, but he was never able to fully overcome the scandal caused in 1969, when he drove a car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick near his home, killing his female passenger.
The incident helped derail his only presidential bid, more than a decade later.
But he remained active in politics right up until his death, famously endorsing Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination during a tight race with Hillary Clinton last year.
At his death, he was the third longest serving senator in US history.
Last week, he asked the Massachusetts governor to change state law to allow a speedy succession when his Senate seat became vacant.
Analysts suggest that Senator Kennedy feared a lengthy gap could deny Democrats a crucial vote on Mr Obama's flagship health reform.
His death comes weeks after that of his older sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, on 11 August.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8221686.stm
Beside the one sentence obituary we wrote at AKS after being requested that we need to be more forwarding if that is the "proper English" We had written an important obituary to Senator Edward Kennedy - suddenly the whole power system blackout and obviously lost everything we had thoughtfully written. We are now endevouring to rewrite this obituary article - being more mindful what we state in the process. So we do not cause another blackout.
Very many will ask/may ask why did/have we waited after the person an important person like Senator Edward Kennedy died for us to write what we are about to. It is not proper.
In certain Circles, jargons to take a page from Sir James Mancham several years ago - there is a time for everything.
Our connection to the Kennedy family relates to archaic, fraternal - Christian, the election in the USA then, War issues, the Kennedy young politicians. The election of John F Kennedy. Political events, the tragic assassination of the President and events which ensued until I was compel to go onto exile with my Austrian wife - who had worked a Pirate's Arms recruited by the Von Oswald family - Austria.
The next important moment/time this link - connection was used was my decision to research the concept for an Indian ocean Industrial Investment and promotion Center. The position of those we had discussed the Seychelles then political situation, the state of things in the Indian Ocean, the region, the world and events related to our exile community in Britain and France.
The research had been based upon the working of the CARICOM system then and the Pacific Group of small nations, many discussions in Vienna - then Vienna Interdisciplinary Management Institute, Professor Micheal Hoffman, other important government officials, the media. other government representation in Vienna. Important businessman in Vienna with important business working connection around the world and Africa.
There were/are a few who knew and were aware of certain workings and connections individuals associated in the USA, the UN, Africa, India and the middle East.
Equally important, the election of Pope John Paul ll and events in the Communist/Socialist world, the COMECON, USSR and OAU - the Dockers Strike. development. The failed attempt in Seychelles and London. My involvement in more complex - problematic, challenging issues of Seychelles beside Economic, management and diplomacy. One needs important personalities in the given places. Those who knew and were aware of our connections then.
From a different prospective, again for those who have known certain important USA working system in high politic, diplomacy, economy, scientific sphere, religious matters, ethnic issues. The working of the UN Institutions, those appointed - how one get appointed by whom and for what reasons.
Many have asked - question how we managed to communicate such issues we have to very important and influential USA personalities and politicians, economist and Presidents. They require special training and knowledge. Hence when over the years we have presented the topics of the then Communist/COMECON, events, the then situation in the USSR, development and Perestroika, the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Germany reunification. The privatization of Russian economy. On our part the important connections with certain high parties in the USA - these included Senator Edward Kennedy.
Equally the very many important issues we have lent a hand, contributed in EU since 1977, then President Francois Mitterrand, his knowledge of what was going on and who was involved. Later President Jacques Chirac and numerous leading EU politicians and the Commission officials.
We have mentioned our important relation with the Irish people in Australia, USA, France and elsewhere - those who know and have known how they work - the many important crises and our relation.
During the sometime bitter relation between Lady Tacther Ministers, Officials - the important support we got from those parties in the USA. Including the Office time of John Major and later Prime Minister Blair.
In any given crises one need strong and influential personalities on can rely/relate - the Balkan wars, the Kuwait invasion, the last Iraq war, Lebanon conflicts, other regional conflicts.
Equally important, given our belief - the situation - issues which led to the first Live Aid - Ethiopia famine, Bod Geldof, the important relation of the Kennedy family involvement from our side to get things working.
Most important the SIROP etc exile return program - who were those important USA politicians involved and gave us their support, from the UN - Senator Edward Kennedy was one of those important personality. Even when those from the USA, UN, EU and the Commonwealth tried by all means to take the Program from us and share it with other Seychelles exile politicians, Sir James Mancham and others. Individual like Senator Edward Kennedy knew they would fail - because of long working relation, knowledge of certain abilities, expertise.
From our prospective the past 18 years, since multi party have returned to Seychelles, changes in South Africa, the Arab Region, Central Europe and the EU itself - the importance of this connection and relation. There have been moment when we have been alone - the early years of President Bush, what took place and the last two years of Prime minister Blair turn of Office.
Hence over the years our Sechelles - Seychelles EU community have been building and reinforcing this special working relation and the important goodwill involved. They have not always bee rosy.
We do trust the younger Kennedy generation would have been informed of such issues, the special good will and how they have come about. For those of you reading these for the first time - be it Russia, China, the Arab world, African Union - we have endevoured to state very briefly for hose who wants to question how our important relation with the Kennedy family.
The very many important tribute and obituary coming in via the global TV station, radio and web. The need on our part to mention just a few issues.
There are very many important issues we have omitted to mention.
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