'Such a Sad Day'

Well one of the things that was that was that was Ted Kennedy showed up today a number of senators that they thought it looked better than -- in the -- months Lindsey -- particularly who we -- just a short time ago. So that he was delighted to see how. How strong Ted Kennedy look but during the lunch or rather just shortly after the launch. Ted Kennedy had what appeared to be some sort of a convulsion. A series of sort of seizure behaviors. And ultimately he had to be removed from the room in a wheelchair were told that. -- they had to help his legs onto the wheelchair and he was sort of having seizures as he was being removed from. The hall now. That much we know there have been a whole series of other stories and reports that Robert Byrd the most senior member of the Senate. Was also sort of taken by the moment perhaps out of concern for Ted Kennedy that he too left the room now mr. Byrd whose longest serving member of the Senate. Fifty years in the six years before that and house has actually been in a wheelchair for some time so when he left the room was helped out in his wheelchair. It's not necessarily say that he was involved in some sort of health ailment. So Ted Kennedy has now left were told that the seizure of the convulsions lasted a considerable length of time. At the time he was at a table not close to Barack Obama and the head table but. That's something of a distance and at that table with the carries. As well as the Hawaiian senator dead in -- so they were not at the table Ted Kennedy was sort of alone at the table for by himself for a few moments when the convulsions or seizures. Whatever this health incident was began. On and it was some moments before he was actually helped out of the room and and to part of the capital and an ambulance -- It was through a difficult day on the medical front a lot of viewers of messages Carl asking what happened to. What happened to former Vice President Cheney we went through that to some degree how's he doing today that we know. Well he he he left just a short while ago with President Bush et cetera he was in a -- he was in a wheelchair as well. We're told because he strained his back in moving boxes. As they were prepare the cheneys are preparing their departure not only from the vice president's mansion. But also just from Washington in general a strained back nowhere near as serious as what might be the case for Ted Kennedy . And and ship we can see here. Mr. driven. -- Dick Durbin one of the ranking Democrats and democratic leader number two in the Senate Leadership. -- chip producer Trish turner is there on his side at his side trying to get more information about this obviously very serious moment dark. A dark moment in this inaugural festivities and can't -- Somebody's that we're just delighted it was -- it was a really uplifting moment to see that Ted Kennedy who played such a pivotal role of the Obama candidacy. Would be able to come here he's obviously been ailing and has been absent for most of the time in the US senate in recent weeks and months. So his appearance here was taken something out of very important symbol of his commitment to Obama -- the important historic nature of this inauguration. Certainly the prayers that all of those at the luncheon with Ted Kennedy now. As people begin to worry about what his condition is as they look forward to the future with such optimism when

And battling terminal brain cancer democratic Senator Ted Kennedy wants Massachusetts law change. So the government make a speedy interim appointment when his senate seat becomes vacant. Current law prohibits the governor from an interim appointment had provided the five months for a special election too long for Democrats who have big -- on health care and other issues looming in the Senate. Kennedy wrote quote serving the people of Massachusetts in the United States senate has been and still is the greatest honor of my public life. As -- look ahead I'm convinced that enabling the governor to fill a senate vacancy through an interim appointment followed by a special election. Would best serve the people of our commonwealth and country should a vacancy occur. But in 2004. It was Kennedy who got the -- changed to prohibit interim senate appointment by the governor in the first place. Back then democratic Senator John Kerry was running for president . Had he won then governor Mitt Romney a Republicans by law could have appointed a GOP's successor. Kennedy didn't want that. And

Ailing Senator Ted Kennedy is pushing for a change in Massachusetts state law. To circumvent existing rules mandating a special election to fill a senate vacancy.

him. And we wanted him to stay there forever. I first met Ted Kennedy when I was eighteen years old. As a volunteer for his first senate campaign in the summer before I went to college. That I met him again when I returned from Vietnam and we veterans encamped on the mall in Washington. It was Ted Kennedy who has the courage to come down to the mall one night in an attempt. Listened to us talk about Vietnam. We

for an anti terrorism. The first aboard the train to Wilmington was Ted Kennedy . When Jesse Helms announced that he had to undergo heart surgery. Heart valve surgery Helms told us constituents back in North Carolina. It's not BCK. But it sure he's listening to Ted Kennedy on the Senate floor. So -- wrote a note to -- saying. I'd be happy to send you tapes of my recent senate speeches that while you -- speedy recovery. And just two weeks ago when I was in the hospital after hip surgery. Just like Chris. There was Ted Kennedy on the phone -- now I was doing. With -- all that he was dealing with. It is life. As we all know Ted news Dark Knight but lost. I think that's why his sympathy. Was global. And deeply personal. After my father died of cancer just days before the convention in 2000. There was a knock at the door completely unexpected. And standing there on the front porch was Ted Kennedy dropping by the hugged and talked. And just it is past time -- us. Detroit five years as privileged to work by

hope again. For more than 17000. Days as the United States Senator. Ted Kennedy changed the course of history. As few others have. Without -- there might still be a military draft. The war in Vietnam