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| Edward Kennedy taken to hospital | Edward Kennedy taken to hospital |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy has been taken to hospital suffering stroke-like symptoms. | US Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy has been taken to hospital suffering stroke-like symptoms. |
| Senator Kennedy, 76, was taken by ambulance to hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and then by helicopter to Boston, the Cape Cod Times reported. | Senator Kennedy, 76, was taken by ambulance to hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and then by helicopter to Boston, the Cape Cod Times reported. |
| His condition was not immediately clear - he is said to be under evaluation. | His condition was not immediately clear - he is said to be under evaluation. |
| Mr Kennedy, brother of ex-US President John F Kennedy, is one of the most prominent members of the Democratic Party and a leading reform campaigner. | Mr Kennedy, brother of ex-US President John F Kennedy, is one of the most prominent members of the Democratic Party and a leading reform campaigner. |
| He has been an active supporter of Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for US president. | He has been an active supporter of Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for US president. |
| Mr Obama, widely expected to win the Democratic nomination, described Mr Kennedy as "a giant in American political history". | |
| "He's done more for health care than just about anybody in history. We are going to be rooting for him. I insist on being optimistic about how it's going to turn out." | |
| EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings1962 Becomes country's youngest senator1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young passenger dies1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter | EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings1962 Becomes country's youngest senator1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young passenger dies1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter |
| The presumptive Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, said: "Senator Kennedy's role in the US Senate cannot be overstated. He is a legendary lawmaker, and I have the highest respect for him." | |
| Mr Kennedy had preventative surgery in October to unclog a partially blocked carotid artery in his neck - a condition that can lead to a stroke. | Mr Kennedy had preventative surgery in October to unclog a partially blocked carotid artery in his neck - a condition that can lead to a stroke. |
| His latest illness came as the Kennedy family prepared to host a major charity event at their estate in Hyannisport, Massachusetts. | His latest illness came as the Kennedy family prepared to host a major charity event at their estate in Hyannisport, Massachusetts. |
| It includes a music concert, scheduled for Saturday night. | It includes a music concert, scheduled for Saturday night. |
| Mr Kennedy is the second longest-serving member of the Senate. | Mr Kennedy is the second longest-serving member of the Senate. |
| He was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960. | He was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960. |
| Since then he has been re-elected seven times. | Since then he has been re-elected seven times. |
| Tragic history | |
| Born into a rich and powerful Irish-American Catholic family, the son of powerful congressman Joseph Kennedy, he became the head of the clan after the death of his three elder brothers. | |
| The eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed while flying a bomber during World War II. | |
| John was assassinated while president in 1963, and Robert was shot dead while running for president in 1968. | |
| Edward, or Teddy, as he was known, ran against sitting President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but failed, after struggling to put the infamous "Chappaquiddick incident" behind him. | |
| He had, in 1969, crashed a car off a bridge, and while he escaped, his young female passenger drowned in the water below. He fled the scene and was later convicted of doing so. | |
| Mr Kennedy is also the father of Congressman Patrick J Kennedy. |