Senator Kennedy, who died aged 77, was advocate of US health reform

BOSTON, Wednesday

US senator Edward Kennedy, who died yesterday aged 77, was a longtime advocate of healthcare reform in America and a champion of civil rights worldwide.

His death has dealt a major blow to Democrats as they seek to answer President Barack Obama’s call for an overhaul of the healthcare system.

Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America’s most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, was the epitome of US healthcare reforms, a signature issue of Obama’s presidency.

Obama said today he was heartbroken to hear of the death of Kennedy, a crucial supporter of his presidential candidacy.

One of the most influential and longest-serving senators in US history – a liberal standard-bearer who was also known as a consummate congressional dealmaker – Kennedy had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.

“I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I’ve profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom,” said Obama, who was elected last November and took office in January.

Kennedy had recently urged Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law so the governor, if necessary, could quickly fill a Senate vacancy as the chamber debates the contentious healthcare issue.

Known as “Teddy,” he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in World War Two.

When he first took the Senate seat previously held by John Kennedy in 1962, he was seen as something of a political lightweight who owed his ascent to his famous name.

Yet during his nearly half century in the chamber, Kennedy became known as one of Washington’s most effective senators, crafting legislation by working with lawmakers and presidents of both parties, and finding unlikely allies.

At the same time, he held fast to liberal causes deemed anachronistic by the centrist “New Democrats,” and was a lightning rod for conservative ire.

He helped enact measures to protect civil and labour rights, expand healthcare, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.

After Robert Kennedy’s death, Edward was expected to waste little time in vying for the presidency. But in 1969, a young woman drowned after a car Kennedy was driving plunged off a bridge on the Massachusetts resort island of Chappaquiddick after a night of partying.

Kennedy’s image took a major hit after it emerged he had failed to report the accident to authorities. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene and received a suspended sentence.

Kennedy eventually ran for his party’s presidential nomination in 1980 but lost to then President Jimmy Carter.

His presidential ambitions thwarted, Kennedy devoted himself to his Senate career.

Became ill

Kennedy had been largely sidelined in Congress since becoming ill. The “Lion of the Senate” began to use a cane and often looked tired and drained as he mixed work with treatment.

Yet colleagues and staff said he remained determined to fulfil what he called “the cause of my life,” providing health insurance to all Americans. He helped draft legislation to overhaul the $2.5 trillion US healthcare system.

Kennedy’s interest in healthcare dated from his son’s bout with cancer in the 1970s. More recently, he cited his own illness as he made a case for reform.

His illness kept him from attending the funeral of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a leading advocate of the mentally disabled, who died on August 11 at the age of 88.

Senator Kennedy, spoke out on several occasions in defence of democracy and human rights in Kenya.

Most recently, Mr Kennedy alerted the US Senate four months prior to his death to “the serious dangers that exist for human rights today in Kenya.”

The senator called specific attention in April to death threats made against lawyer Paul Muite, whom Mr Kennedy described as “an outspoken critic of the hundreds of extrajudicial killings that have taken place in Kenya since 2006.”

With Kenya in turmoil following the disputed presidential election, Senator Kennedy warned in January 2008 that the country’s “constitution and its democratic tradition are threatened by the government’s repression of the rights of its citizens.’

The Democratic senator joined several of his colleagues in sponsoring a Bill to impose financial sanctions and travel bans on Kenyan politicians who refused to help resolve the post-election crisis peacefully.

Mr Kennedy began promoting democratic rights in Kenya nearly 20 years ago.

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while mourning the senator, said his push for an independent and transparent review of the electoral process was quite helpful in reforming the country.

His has been a politician for 47 years running through 10 regimes of different US presidents.

Reported by Kevin J. Kelley, Benjamin Muindi and Reuters