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Obama tribute to 'mentor' Kennedy | Obama tribute to 'mentor' Kennedy |
(10 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has paid tribute to his "friend and mentor", Edward Kennedy, at the senator's funeral Mass in Boston. | President Barack Obama has paid tribute to his "friend and mentor", Edward Kennedy, at the senator's funeral Mass in Boston. |
Mr Obama said Senator Kennedy was the "greatest legislator of our time" and a "champion for those who had none". | Mr Obama said Senator Kennedy was the "greatest legislator of our time" and a "champion for those who had none". |
Senator Kennedy's sons delivered emotional tributes to their father. | Senator Kennedy's sons delivered emotional tributes to their father. |
Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday aged 77, will later be buried in Washington near his assassinated brothers, ex-President John and Robert. | Mr Kennedy, who died of brain cancer on Tuesday aged 77, will later be buried in Washington near his assassinated brothers, ex-President John and Robert. |
During a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library, some 50,000 people have paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin. | During a two-day public viewing at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library, some 50,000 people have paid their respects before the Massachusetts senator's flag-draped coffin. |
Private meeting | Private meeting |
Among the guests attending Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica are former Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. | Among the guests attending Saturday's Roman Catholic Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica are former Presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as some 80 serving and former senators. |
Death leaves no clear heir href="/2/hi/americas/8228693.stm">In pictures: Kennedy funeral | |
Dozens of Kennedy relatives are attending the service. | Dozens of Kennedy relatives are attending the service. |
Senator Kennedy's son, Ted Kennedy Jnr, said it had not always been easy living with the Kennedy name but that he was "never more proud of it than today". | Senator Kennedy's son, Ted Kennedy Jnr, said it had not always been easy living with the Kennedy name but that he was "never more proud of it than today". |
In a heartfelt, emotional and at times humorous tribute to his father, he said: "He was not perfect but he believed in redemption. He never stopped trying to right wrongs, whether they were the result of his failings or of ours." | In a heartfelt, emotional and at times humorous tribute to his father, he said: "He was not perfect but he believed in redemption. He never stopped trying to right wrongs, whether they were the result of his failings or of ours." |
A succession of nieces, nephews and grandsons also delivered tributes to Senator Kennedy. | A succession of nieces, nephews and grandsons also delivered tributes to Senator Kennedy. |
KENNEDY FUNERAL PLANS (PROVISIONAL TIMES IN GMT) 1340: Procession from JFK Library1430: Funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica1700: Procession to Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusets1800: Coffin arrives at Andrews Air Force Base2030: Motorcade stops at US Capitol for brief prayer2130: Burial service in Arlington National Cemetery | KENNEDY FUNERAL PLANS (PROVISIONAL TIMES IN GMT) 1340: Procession from JFK Library1430: Funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica1700: Procession to Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusets1800: Coffin arrives at Andrews Air Force Base2030: Motorcade stops at US Capitol for brief prayer2130: Burial service in Arlington National Cemetery |
Ahead of the service, family members had gathered for a brief prayer at the John F Kennedy library. | Ahead of the service, family members had gathered for a brief prayer at the John F Kennedy library. |
Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki fought back tears as the coffin was then removed to be taken to the basilica. | Senator Kennedy's widow Vicki fought back tears as the coffin was then removed to be taken to the basilica. |
At the basilica, the flag-draped coffin was then carried into the service by an honour guard of eight servicemen. | At the basilica, the flag-draped coffin was then carried into the service by an honour guard of eight servicemen. |
Earlier, Mr Obama had held a private, 10-minute meeting with Vicki Kennedy. | Earlier, Mr Obama had held a private, 10-minute meeting with Vicki Kennedy. |
After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. | After the funeral, Mr Kennedy's body is to be flown to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, before being driven past the US Capitol and along the National Mall for his burial in Arlington National Cemetery. |
'Thank you Teddy' | 'Thank you Teddy' |
Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. | Three days of ceremonies to commemorate the senator's life began on Thursday with a private family Mass at the family property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. |
Guests including John McCain, Al Gore and Jack Nicholson arrive | Guests including John McCain, Al Gore and Jack Nicholson arrive |
His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". | His body was then driven in a long procession to Boston along roads lined with thousands of mourners - some waving American flags, others holding up signs that read "Thank you Teddy". |
After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. | After the public paid their respects in Boston, a three-hour memorial service described as a "celebration of life" began at the JFK library on Friday evening. |
In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. | In keeping with the Kennedy family's Irish heritage, the service featured laughter and music, as well as tributes to the senator, who had long been the leader of one of America's great political dynasties. |
"Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. | "Now Teddy has become a part of history, and we are the ones who will have to do all the things he would have done, for us, for each other and for our country," said his niece Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John. |
In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. | In the US, Mr Kennedy's death has been seen as the end of an era, following the assassinations of his brothers in 1963 and 1968. |
In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". | In a televised tribute on Wednesday, Mr Obama said Mr Kennedy had achieved "extraordinary good" and was "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". |
But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. | But others have noted that his legacy of public service was counter-balanced by heavy drinking in his early years - and the death of a female companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, in 1969 when he drove off a bridge at Chappaquiddick in Massachusetts and fled the scene. |