[TinyRedLeaf]

Senator Ted Kennedy dies of brain cancer

Washington (Aug 26): Senator Edward Moore Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy brother who was left to head the family's political dynasty after his brothers, former president John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, were assassinated, has died at age 77.

Known as the "liberal lion of the Senate", Sen Kennedy, fondly known as Ted or Teddy, championed health-care reform, working wages and equal rights in his storied career. He was awarded this month the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by President Obama. His daughter, Ms Kara Kennedy, accepted the award on his behalf.

Sen Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in May last year and underwent a successful brain surgery soon after that. But his health continued to deteriorate, and he suffered a seizure while attending the luncheon following President Barack Obama's inauguration.

For Sen Kennedy, the ascension of Mr Obama was an important step toward realising his goal of health-care reform. At the Democratic National Convention last August, the Massachusetts Democrat promised: "I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test."

He made good on that pledge, but ultimately lost his battle with cancer.

Sen Kennedy was first elected to the Senate in 1962, at the age of 30, and his tenure there would span four decades.

A hardworking, well-liked politician who became the standard-bearer of his brothers' liberal causes, his career was clouded by allegations of personal immorality and accusations that his family's clout helped him avoid the consequences of an accident that left a young woman dead.

But for the younger members of the Kennedy clan, from his own three children to those of his brothers, JFK and RFK, Sen Ted Kennedy -- once seen as the youngest and least talented in a family of glamorous overachievers -- was both a surrogate father and the centre of the family.

And, certainly, it was Sen Kennedy who bore many of the tragedies of the family -- the violent deaths of four of his siblings, his son's battle with cancer, and the death of his nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr, in a plane crash.

It was an all-too-familiar sight for those who remember Sen Kennedy mourning the deaths of his brothers, and helping the family bear up after the deaths of RFK's sons, David and Michael.

For decades, it was Sen Kennedy who carried the burden and led the way as the patriarch of a family seen as America's answer to royalty.

- ABC NEWS