R.I.P. Ted Kennedy

Guardian:

Barack Obama has praised Ted Kennedy as “the greatest United States senator of our time” as political friends and foes pay tribute to the veteran politician, who has died of a brain tumour

Obama lauded Kennedy for his work on civil rights, health and advancing the economic wellbeing of all Americans. He thanked Kennedy for “his wise counsel in the Senate” and his support in last year’s presidential race. As the party’s elder statesman, Kennedy helped swing the Democratic party behind Obama when he endorsed the Illinois senator rather than the more politically experienced Hillary Clinton.

As the tributes flowed, some of the warmest words came from Republicans including Nancy Reagan, the former first lady.

“Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised by how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family. In recent years Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research, and I considered him an ally and a dear friend. I will miss him,” said Reagan, whose husband, the former president Ronald Reagan, died after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.