The Lion's Roar is Silenced: I cannot remember a time when MY life and our nation's political life was not filled with and touched by Kennedys. Memories flood my mind of Jack, Bobby and Ted teaming with life, running around playing touch football in Hyannisport. Those were the best of times.

We know what the worst of times bestowed upon them but Teddy had the good fortune to live much longer than his brothers. We the people of Massachusetts, the nation and, indeed, the world have been the beneficiaries of that.

I stand in amazement at a man who suffered so much but was an example for all of us when we experience the vicissitudes of life to simply persevere and go on. I will miss him as I miss his brothers still. I am so grateful that he was on the side of the poor and the dispossessed. I continue to hope that a health care public option bill for which he so long and so tirelessly worked to extend medical care to all Americans will have his name on it.

I thank this lion of the Senate and so many in the Kennedy family for what they have given and continue to give to our nation. I extend my heartfelt condolences to them all!