Kennedy: 'The model of public service'

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Praise for the long political career of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., began coming in early Wednesday as word of his death was reported.

The Kennedy family released a brief statement announcing the death and thanking those who cared for the senator in his last months.

"He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it," the statement said. "He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it's hard to imagine any of them without him."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Massachusetts Democrat leaves a legacy that will stand with those of the greatest men and women in Congress, Fox News reported. He spoke particularly of Kennedy's work on healthcare.

"It was the thrill of my lifetime to work with Ted Kennedy," Reid said. "He was a friend, the model of public service and an American icon."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., recalled Kennedy as a family patriarch, the youngest of four brothers who outlived the older ones by 40 years and more.

"Over a lifetime of leadership, Senator Kennedy's statesmanship and political prowess produced a wealth of accomplishment that has improved opportunity for every American," she said in a statement.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, married to Kennedy's niece, Maria Shriver, and a Republican in the leading Democratic dynasty, called Kennedy "a champion of social justice" and "the rock of our family.'

"I have personally benefited and grown from his experience and advice, and I know countless others have as well," Schwarzenegger said. "Teddy taught us all that public service isn't a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life and his legacy will live on."