US immigration reform pioneer Edward Kennedy dies
August 26 2009 by Rebekah Nahai
Sen Kennedy drove the US Immigration Act
Senator Edward Kennedy, a respected politician and lead sponsor of the 1965 US Immigration Act, has died at age 77.
Sen Kennedy died of a brain tumor late last night at his Massachusetts home following a terminal diagnosis in May 2008.
US President Barack Obama today hailed Kennedy as the greatest senator of our time. He said in a statement:
“An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.”
Time magazine called him one of America's "Ten Best Senators" and said he had "amassed a titanic record of legislation affecting the lives of virtually every man, woman and child in the country".
Sen Kennedy was first elected to the Senate in 1962 at age 30 and worked tirelessly for social and political reform for nearly 50 years. His efforts were instrumental in the US Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and in abolishing US immigration quotas which favoured Europeans over migrants from other parts of the world.
The Kennedy family mourned their loss publicly in a statement, saying: "We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."
Sen Kennedy was the third longest serving senator in US history.
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