and teddy jr. and patrick, the poignant recollections of teddy jr. about his amputation, the leg he lost to cancer at age 12. and how, when he thought he could not meet that challenge, physically, he felt the strong arms of his father around him, helping him through. and patrick, acknowledging his frailties, his recurring problems with substance abuse and how proud he was to sponsor with his father the legislation that he said his father worked on so hard to take the stigma away from he, among the 50-plus million americans suffering from that. the mental health act. both of them, so powerful in the emotional connection, the father, and the grandchildren and grand-nieces and nephews. the deliberate choice of the family of teddy and vicki who planned all of this so carefully, to have the youngest of each generation, their grandchildren, but also the youngest of each other part of the family, rory and the others, speaking today. it could not have been a more powerful portrait of all of the public and private and prayerful reasons why teddy kennedy is so

he pointed to a photo of teddy jr. skiing down a mountain. teddy is a survivor of osteosarcoma. he started crying and telling about the battle of his son's with cancer. it was really moving. >> reporter: a lot of people don't know teddy, jr., also having a type of bone tumor. the kennedys had dealt with cancer before. when we talk about this type of malignant glioma, the average survival, right around 14 months. we talk about surgery, radiation, chemotherapy. despite all that, the average life span, life expectancy, right around 14 months. ted kennedy surviving since may of last year, about 15 months. there are some things sort of in the pipeline, so to speak. they talked about vaccines, sort of getting the body's own immune system to try and target the brain tumor. they also talk about different types of therapies including something known as monochromeal radiation therapy. people are hoping for some sort of genetic break through. the stat tas tickparticulars ar pretty grim. >> josh levs has been following that for us. what did you find? >> we have this page set up at i-report.

they were at his bedside, including his wife, victoria, and his three children, teddy jr., cara and patrick kennedy of rhode island, and care can line and karen. the extended kennedy family, they came throughout early evening last night to be with the family as well. there's no word on funeral arrangements at this time. we expect perhaps we will hear something later today or tomorrow. but in a statement today, the kennedy family said in announcing the death of senator kennedy, that they had lost the irreplaceable center of their family. christina, back to you. >> all right, thank you. ann thompson joining us live from hyannisport this morning. thank you, ann. >>> a police chase in kentucky took a wrong turn for law enforcement. while responding to the pursuit of a suspect on foot, a sheriff in an suv crashed into a metro police officer's squad car. the collision sent the sheriff's suv into a fish store, knocking out the front en trance. both law enforcement officials went to the hospital with nonlife threatening injuries. >>> meanwhile, firefighters in louisiana battled a three-alarm fire w

teddy jr. who, as a 12-year-old, lost a leg to bone cancer. >> as i struggled to walk, i slipped and i fell on the ice and i started to cry and i said, i can't do this. i said, i'll never be able to climb up that hill. and he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something i will never forget. he said, i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can't do. we're going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day. he taught me that nothing is impossible. >> reporter: and patrick, the rhode island congressman, revealing the private yearnings as a lonely child who kept his father at his bedside. >> i couldn't see it at the time, but having asthma was like hitting the jackpot for a child who craved his father's love and attention. >> reporter: president obama eulogized the senator as an heir to a weighty leg acy. >> we weep because we loved this hero who persevered through pain and tragedy not for the sake of ambition or vanity, not for wealth or power, but only for the pe

his three children were by his side -- kara, teddy jr., and patrick. and the senator's wife, vicki. all saying their good-byes, though in the end, kennedy couldn't speak. also in the room, the priest administering last rites, who today described generations of kennedys praying and crying. and ted kennedy's own peace in the end. >> the truth is he had expressed to his family that he did want to go. he wanted to go to heaven. he did want to die and he did want to go. it was -- he was ready to go. >> reporter: and with the darkened sky over hyannis, the kennedy family said they'd lost their patriarch. the capitol flag lowered before sunrise. and not long after, flags after half staff dotted new england. here in hyannis, dorothy said her flag was lowered by 5:30 this morning. >> he was for the people. he was not in it for himself. >> reporter: a heavy heart? >> of course, yeah. >> reporter: while on the kennedy compound tonight, the senator's own flag, now signaling the family's loss. the senator's son patrick kennedy, the congressman from rhode island, said one gift from this 15 months

and our hearts go out to teddy jr. nd patrick and kara and vicki, with whom i spoke this morning, and the whole kennedy family. you know, teddy spent a lifetime working for a fair and more just america. and for 36 years, i had the privilege of going to work every day and literally not figuratively sitting next to him and being a witness to history every single day, the senate was in session, i sat with him on the senate floor in the same aisle. i sat with him in the judiciary committee physically next to him. and i sat with him in the caucuses. and it was in that process, every day i was with him and this is going to sound strange, but he restored my sense of idealism and my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do. he and i were talking after his diagnosis and i said, you know, i think you're the only other person i've met who, like me, is more optimistic, more enthusiastic, more idealistic, seized greater possibilities after 36 years than when we were elected. he was 30 years old when he was elected an

we will also hear from his sons, teddy jr., who will share their rep braremembrances well. >> kelly o'donnell for us this morning. thank you. here's aim. >>> savannah guthrie is outside the basilica. good morning, savannah. >> reporter: good morning, amy. president obama arrived here in boston last night, and this morning has already had a private meeting with the widow of senator kennedy, vicki reggie kennedy. after that meeting, of course, they'll come here to the church where the president will deliver a eulogy. i'm told it will be a personal statement, but one that really focuses on the impact senator kennedy has had on the country. of course, there is a special bond between president obama and senator kennedy. at key moment in the campaign of january 2008, senator kennedy came out and put his weight behind president obama, endorsing him. he has told me that was a moment that had a tremendous momentum for the campaign. it meant a lot personally to the president, in many ways senator kennedy at that moment passed the torch

and teddy very politely, teddy jr.a few minutes and finally john in a roaring voice said, biden, what the hell do you think this is, boys state? that was my introduction to the squeeze of kennedy and culver, what the hell do you think this is, boys state? you know, i know we're all here to celebrate, celebrate the life of an incredible man but i want to first say to the whole kennedy clan, i want to give thanks, thanks for your father, thanks to your husband, thanks for your uncle, thanks for your brother, who in an astonishingly and unexpected way ended up playing an important part in every critical moment of my adult life. it was laterally an accident of history. but he crept into my heart and before i knew it, he owned a piece of it. today i was thinking about teddy was -- i wouldn't be standing here if it were not for teddy kennedy and wouldn't be standing here as vice president of the united states and wouldn't be a united states senator if it not for teddy kennedy. he was the catalyst for my improbable win as a 2

and teddy very politely, teddy jr.his is? boise state? i know we're all here today to celebrate. celebrate the life of an incredible man. but i want to first say that the whole kennedy clan. i want to give thanks, thanks for your father, thanks for your husband, thanks for your uncle, thanks for your brother who in an astonishing and totally unexpected way ended up playing an important part in every critical moment of my adult life. it was literally an accent of history. but he had -- he crept into my heart and before i knew it he owned a piece of it. today i was thinking about how teddy was -- i wouldn't be standing here were it not for teddy kennedy. i wouldn't be standing here as vice president of the united states, i would not be a united states senator were it not for teddy kennedy for he was the catalyst for my improbable win as a 29-year-old kid running for the senate in a year when the senator only got 35% of the vote in my state. i was running against a fella who was extremely popular. an incumbent senator. an

and then in november of 1973 teddy jr. is diagnosed with cancer in his right leg.rouble, crumbling under the weight of joan's drinking problem and the rumors of ted's affairs. the family fractures in 1977 when joan moves out of the couple's virginia home and relocates to boston. >> their marriage had fallen apart really when joan had moved to boston. they weren't ever legally separated and they did see each other occasionally. >> ted remains in washington. he has established himself as a major voice in the senate and is positioning himself to run for the presidency in 1980, challenging incumbent president jimmy carter. >> i had no doubt that jimmy carter was going to lose to ronald reagan, and that if the democratic party didn't put up a real alternative, someone who was strong and seen as strong, that we would lose that election. >> kennedy's main legislative interest at that point was a national health care system. kennedy became convinced that carter wasn't serious about it and thought carter was not -- not really a liberal enough democrat. >> today i formally a

. >> reporter: son teddy jr. stirred the crowd to tears. but there were also moments of laughter. >> he even taught me some of life's harder lessons, such as how to like republicans. >> reporter: the day followed the path of ted kennedy's life, from massachusetts to washington, with brothers john and robert at his side. honored by a new generation of kennedys who some day may hear their family's call to service. from beginning to end, the memorial services were sharply focused on family, both political and the kennedys, literally bus loads of children, grandchildren and a sprawling extended family paying tribute to its fallen patriarch. brian moore, nbc news at the arlington national cemetery. >> some of the people who lined the streets to say good-bye to ted kennedy knew the senator very well. others, though, had never met him. we take a look at how ted kennedy touched the lives of so many people. >> reporter: emma lang is a grad studenat gw but she was born in cambridge, massachusetts. >> i grew up with ted kennedy. he was senator before

and then in november of 1973 teddy jr. is diagnosed with cancer in his right leg.he leg is amputated. six months later, the kennedy name is making headlines once again. joan is arrested in virginia for drunk driving. ted and joan's marriage is also in trouble, crumbling under the weight of joan's drinking problem and the rumors of ted's affairs. the family fractures in 1977 when joan moves out of the couple's virginia home and relocates to boston. >> their marriage had fallen apart really when joan had moved to boston. they weren't ever legally separated and they did see each other occasionally. >> ted remains in washington. he has established himself as a major voice in the senate and is positioning himself to run for the presidency in 1980, challenging incumbent president jimmy carter. >> i had no doubt that jimmy carter was going to lose to ronald reagan, and that if the democratic party didn't put up a real alternative, someone who was strong and seen as strong, that we would lose that election. >> kennedy's main legislative interest at that point was a nationa

teddy jr.ho lost a leg to cancer at the age of 12 spoke of his father's indomitable will. >> i said, i'll never be able to climb up that hill, and he lifted me up in his strong gentle arms and said something i will never forget. he said "i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can't do." we're going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day. >> reporter: his widow vicki proud and gracious listening to every tribute. ♪ >> reporter: and so many nieces and nephews. the youngest of each kennedy branch spoke the senator's own words. >> the work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on. >> reporter: as he once eulogized his brother bobby, on this day ted kennedy was nearly idealized nor enlarged in death beyond what he was in life. ♪ ave maria >> the greatest expectations were placed upon ted kennedy's shoulders because of who he was, but he surpassed them all because of who he became. [ applause ] ♪ >> reporter: and then the final leg of his journey from one h

of course, his wife vicki and his son teddy jr. daughter kara and his son patrick who is a congressman, along with two step-children curran and caroline. eye an hyannisport is forever change. the kennedys have been a presence here for at least six decades enanne they truly put hyannisport on the map. now, not everybody here in hyannisport which is only a small community of 130 homes might agree with senator kennedy politically but there was great love and affection for him here. they would see him walking along the roads and see him driving his convertible and see him walking out to the pier to go sail on nantucket sound on his beloved sailboat me use ya and recent months seen him taken by golf cart and wheelchair out to that boat because being on the sea brought him so much peace and meant so much to him. the family compound has been the site of many joys for the kennedy family and now will be the site for mourning yet again. it was just two weeks ago that the family gathered here when eunice kennedy shriver died at age 88, the se

. >> reporter: teddy kennedy jr. lost his right leg to cancer when he was 12.ew months later there was a snowfall. >> my father went to the garage to get the old flexible flyer, and asked me ifimented to go sledding down the steep driveway and i was trying to get used to my new artificial leg and the hill was covered ice and snow, and it wasn't easy for me to walk. i slipped and i fell on the ice, and i started to cry. and i said, "i can't do this." i said. "i'll never be able to climb up that hill." and he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms, and said something i will never forget. he said, "i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can't do. we're going to climb that hill together, even it takes us all day ♪ you see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable and it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father's greatest lessons. he taught me that nothing is impossible. ( applause ) >> reporter: patrick was his youngest, a congressman from rhode island. >> my cou

the rest of his family was here, vicky and teddy jr.nd all the rest of the family were at the service and i'm sure, right now, he is there and thinking about his sister. >> what do we know about his condition and how he is doing? >> well, you know, i'm looking forward to being on the white house lawn at the signing of the health care bill that president obama will actually complete by the end of this year, and i think teddy will be there for that signing. >> do you think that the president can regain the momentum for the health care bill, despite all this opposition? >> i can already feel it turning around, as people learn more about the bill. there were so many red herrings that were put out in the first couple of weeks, we needed an aquarium to hold them all. and now i think the president's done a good job, one by one, of dispelling a lot of those concerns and i think we are back on track to see a bill passed and put on his desk before the end of the year. >> thank you very much. congressman ed markey. >> glad to be here. thank you. >

teddy jr. has a house down the street.ere and kara was nearby. vicky has two kid that is live in boston, so they were there and four grandchildren were running around and jean kennedy smith rented a house in the neighborhood for the summer just to be close to ted and also to euni eunice, who lived up the street before she died a few weeks ago. they ooused to get together for dinner. one night late last month vicky decided to issue what she called the noble call, which would mean it's now time for whoever she called upon to sing. they would go around the table, and it started sheepishly. i think patrick got the first song. i think he sang some irish song. i don't remember what it was, but it became a nightly tradition if they felt up to it or if the senator felt up to it to go around the table and sing songs. this is after dinner and right before the dessert was served. they used to bring in special ice cream that senator kennedy loved, mocha chip and butter pecan blended together from a joint called the four cs ice cream p

his son, patrick, accompanied the body from cape cod here and then his children, teddy, jr., and kara, and then the senator's four grandchildren along with victoria, his wife, and his surviving sister, jean kennedy smith, all led the family. you saw ethel kennedy holding joe kennedy's hand. she led the robert f. kennedy contingent of the family in, and then they were followed by caroline kennedy and maria shriver. so it is going to be a long night here. it has already been a long day, but it is something that the people who have stayed here and come here, they feel very committed. it is something they have to do, and that is say thank you to this man who served massachusetts for almost a half century. >> okay, anne thompson, thank you so much for that report from the kennedy library at columbia point. i can't think of a more nautical place to honor the former president. you really out at sea there. i know the feeling, especially on gray days out there. thank you so much. >> you're welcome. >> thank you so much, anne thompson. when we return, we'll have much more on ted kennedy and his

until the grandchildren came along so he was going through for me every single detail of the -- of teddy jrild being born and how things went at the hospital and said, you know, when it was my turn back then they didn't care where i was. i was off having a drink waiting to be ordered into the hospital to see the baby once everything was over. and so it's that incredible, personal charm up close, that individual attention. that's something orrin hatch couldn't resist and something none of us could resist. >> his ability to connect with those people. with him gone is it gone from the senate? was he the last of that breed? >> it's not gone from the senate. chris dodd learns -- learned everything he knows about being a senator from his best friend ted kennedy. he will probably take over ted's chairmanship. there are others who have it who know how to do it. there are younger members of the senate who haven't been tested on this yet, people like olympia snowe for example who 20 years from now may be a great leaders of compromise in the senate. the model is there. ted kennedy didn't invent it. he

the love that has been felt today by everyone connected to ted kennedy but particularly vicky and teddy, jrpatrick and kara is extraordinary. and they're just very, very grateful. >> but my husband is very thankful, very thankful. he -- we'd been expecting this. vicky told us yesterday that it could happen any minute. but, you know, listening to teddy speak, he said my dad died in such a peaceful way, i was so afraid of what it might be like but it was wonderful. >> reporter: mary ann barbosa lived here her entire live, she said, look, i've never really met ted kennedy other than to just say hello, he wouldn't necessarily know me but all of the people like her who ted kennedy touched as a legislator and also a neighbor and a friend, they're the kind of people that we've been seeing today, the kind of folks that come out and say he meant so much to me and when i think about it i feel like a family member died. >> you can learn more information about senator ted kennedy's life. log on to abcnews.com slash kennedy. lots of interesting, rare stuff there. >> we'll be right back. >> we have some

. >> since kennedy's death late tuesday, patrick and teddy jr. have been among family and cousins, family members say, keeping round the clock watch over uncle teddy, larger in life, even in death. >> my dad died in such a peaceful way. i was afraid of what it would be like, it was wonderful. >> reporter: the trip from cape cod to boston expected to take less than two hours. the senator's body will lie in repose at the library he built for his older brother, president john kennedy transforming it to a forum of exchange and public service. memorial service to be held friday at 7:00 in the evening. a private mass nearby as one of kennedy's favorite churches before he's flown to arlington national cemetery to be buried near his brothers. over the next 60 days, kennedy's staff will archive the materials and close his office. the secretary of the senate saying they cannot continue any legislative or other work under way before he died. senior senator john kerry is hoping to fight to have kennedy's seat temporarily filled. >> he's asking simply for a te

office where there were just so many family photos and so much history and he pointed to a photo of teddy jre mountain. teddy, of course, is a survivor of osteo sarcoma and he started crying telling the story of his son's battle with cancer and the impact that had on his family. it was really moving. i'll never forget that moment. >> you may not know but teddy jr. had osteo sarcoma which is another type of cancer sthoe familiso this family has been touched by cancer quite a bit. many organizations around the world really influenced by ted kennedy's personal and legislative experience with cancer. >> it's fascinating, how the cure rates with some diseases we've made such strides with but something like this, many cancers in such a vital and delicate part of our body, the prognosis has not changed much regardless of age, as well. sanjay, we'll try to check in with you one more time. thank you very much for your insight and expertise this morning. >> sure. >>> right now at 12:minut minut after the hour we bring in david axelrod. how are you going to remember senator kennedy? >> well, like all a

. >> reporter: since kennedy's death late tuesday, his sons patrick and teddy jr.family and cousins, inside insiders say, keeping round-the-clock watch over uncle teddy, larger in life, even in death. family teresa heinz kerry -- >> i was so afraid what it might be life and it was wonderful. >> reporter: the trip from cape cod to boston expected to take less than two hours. the senator's body will lie in repose at the library he built for his older brother, president john kennedy, lovingly transforming it into a forum for change and public service. a memorial to be held there friday, at 7:00, in the evening. and on saturday, a private mass nearby at one of ted kennedy's favorite churches, before he is flown to arlington national cemetery to be buried near his brothers. over the next 60 days, kennedy staff will archive the senator's materials and close his office. the secretary of the senate saying they cannot continue any legislative or other work under way before he died. new senior senator john kerry is hoping to fight to have ted kennedy's seat temporarily be fi

senator kennedy's three children, teddy jr., kara, congressman patrick kennedy, and then behind them the family, the kennedy, the shrivers, many of them, all of them, just two weeks ago here not in boston but on the cape for the funeral of eunice shriver, the senator's sister. you see them now walking in the family procession to the john f. kennedy memorial library. scripted by the senator himself with his wife, vicki's cooperation, in his final year. wolf, every bit of this three-day remembrance and the family keeps asking us to use the word "celebration." scripted by the senator himself. and you see now more family friends going in. the family has made its way into the building, and some very close family friends and associates now going in. several catholic priests were here to greet the motorcade. vicki kennedy taking time to hug one before rushing back in to lead the procession into the library. very solemn scene, wolf. remarkable. thousands of people here and it fell so silent when they opened the back door to that hearse. >> right. it looks like all the family are now inside t

our hearts go out to teddy jr., and vicki -- with whom i spoke this morning. amily. teddy spent a lifetime working for a fair and more just america. for 36 years i have the privilege of going to work every day, sitting next to him, being a witness to history every single day that the senate was in session. i would sit with him on the senate floor, in the judiciary committee, sitting with him in the caucuses. it was in that process, every day i was with him, and this will sound strange, but he would restore my sense of idealism and my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do. he and i were talking after his diagnosis. i told him that he was the only other person that he had -- that i ever met that was more optimistic than when he was elected. he was 36, i was 29. you would think that that would be the peak of the idealism. but i genuinely feel more optimistic about the prospects for my country today than i have in any other time in my life. it was infectious when you were with him. those of you who knew him, those of you who did not, you could se

. >> teddy jr.poke personally about his dad. >> i said i will never be able to climb up that hill. he lifted me up in his strong gentle arms and said something i will never forget. he said, "i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can't do." we are going to climb that hill together. even if it takes us all day. >> later on the steps of the senate where he served 47 years, hundreds of staffers and friends burst into applause, paying homage to their former boss. while some called at this time end of an era, questions about his legacy remain when it comes to health care. >> a lot has been written about how much his voice has been missed and think it has, but i think perhaps his passing will reinvigorate people to get it done. >> republican senator o ren hatch, a personal friend said kennedy was the only democrat who could have cut a bipartisan deal. >> there is no other democrat to get them to do what they have to do in a compromise situation. >> nostalgia is not likely to bring republicans to

teddy's children, patrick, a great congressman, ted jr., also in the health care world. daughter has her own successful career and all the nieces and nephews carolyn kennedy, bobby's children. they are all going to continue in the family tradition of commitment to public service and the national good. >> ted sorensen we appreciate your thoughts very much. thanks so much for joining us. >> my pleasure. >>> we'll continue to remember the life and times of senator ted kennedy, he's being called the defender of the dream. we're bringing you the pictures and the legacy this hour. [ female announcer ] introducing the latest body wash from olay. tone enriching ribbons. two separate ribbons. the white cleanses. the gold moisturizes and has a touch of mineral shimmer to enhance skin's tone. olay tone enriching body wash. for skin that shimmers. ...or if you're already sick... ...or if you lose your job. your health insurance shouldn't either. so let's fix health care. if everyone's covered, we can make health care as affordable as possible. and the words "pre-existing condition"

and it's amazing when you imagine even 12-year-old teddy jr. is in the hospital with bone cancer.n kennedy at her wedding and then come back and be with his own son. i mean, the kids felt they could call him at any time in the world. i think jackie kennedy said it best in a letter that she wrote to him at the time of caroline's wedding, where she says, "on you, the youngest, care-free brother, fell a burden that no hero would beg to be spared, lost children, desolate wives and sick parents." i think that says it better than any of us could. >> and yet, he did face his own demons, as we have all been hearing about. what do you think, having looked at all of this, allowed him to rise past these restrictions upon him to greatness? >> i think, you know, he learned from his father both great affection and great discipline. and when the role of being the patriarch fell on his shoulders at 36 years old for this big, sprawling family, he first could handle the affection part. it was the discipline part that he struggled with. ultimately, i think, as he seasoned and matured and then marrie

truly, truly our distress by his passing and our hearts go out to teddy jr. ck and karen and vicki, with whom i spoke this morning and the whole kennedy family. you know, teddy spent a lifetime working for a fair and more just america. and for 36 years i had the privilege of going to work every day and literally not figuratively sitting next to him. and being a witness to history. every single day the senate was in session i sat with him on the senate floor in the same aisle. i sat with him in the judiciary committee physically next to him and i sat with him in the caucuses and it was in that process. every day i was with him, this will sound strange, but he restored my sense of idealism and my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do. he and i were talking after his diagnosis and i said, you xwkno who, like me, is more optimistic and more enthusiastic and more idealistic and sees greater possibilities after 36 years than when elected. he was 36 years old when elected and i was 29 years old and you would think that would be the peak of our idea

gathering early last evening and that around him was his immediate family, including his wife vicki, teddy jr., patrick kennedy and his daughter kara, along with his stepchildren caroline and curran. i was thinking as i was watching people go about their daily business, they're waking up this morning, they're jogging, getting their newspaper and here in this tiny village of about 130 homes, it is a day that starts like any other day but it is a day that will really mark a change here because the kennedys put hyannis port, massachusetts when rose and joe kennedy moved their family here so many years ago. for the last 50 years it has been a place where america has looked to, in part to chart its political history. it is here where the kennedys waited the returns when john kennedy ran for president in 1960. it is here where they celebrated weddings. caroline kennedy's wedding in 1986. maria shriver's wedding to now-governor of california arnold schwarzenegger. it's also here where they have mourned the ones they love. john f. kennedy jr. ten years ago. eunice kennedy shriver two weeks ago. and n

the immediate family includes vicki, his wife, his sons, teddy jr.nd patrick, who is a congressman from rhode island, daughter tara and two stepchildren at caroline and ann. we are waiting on the funeral arrangements. have not been made public yet. mark, back to you. >> ann thompson, nbc news, thank you very much. >>> the fdic holding a board meeting later today and expected to vote on new rules making it easier for private equity firms to buy troubled banks. hampton pearson in washington with more. >> it is really an outside the box proposal for the fdic but the bank closings are relentless and draining the insurance fund. 81 bank closings so far this year costing the insurance fund an estimated $21 billion and the worst pace of bank failures in 17 years. the fdic has already imposed one emergency fee on healthy banks this year. there could be another one on the way. opening the door or, if you prefer, lowering the bar to allow private equity investors to buy failed institutions is now on the table. this afternoon it is expected the fdic will issue

in 1973, the senator's son, teddy jr., then 12 was diagnosed with bone cancer, he survived, but only after losing a leg to amputation. >> he really felt that everybody should kind of have the health care that his son had. >> reporter: the senator himself recently wrote this, "my family has had the care they needed, other families have not simply because they could not afford it." daughter kara fought off cancer, as well, beating a lung tumor in 2002. >> the many things he worked on, nothing struck quite as close to his heart as health care reform. he once said universal health care was an issue that burned in his soul. >> reporter: in 1997, he and republican orrin hatch were behind expanding health coverage for children. and in 2006, he worked with mitt romney to push through a ground-breaking system of universal care in his home state of massachusetts. at a crucial point in last year's presidential campaign, the senator threw himself behind barack obama and the push for universal health care. >> this is the cause of my life. new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee

and carolyn and teddy jr. and -- i don't want to leave anyone out. there are so many distinctive people. bobby shriver marx rea. i mean, it's an extraordinary third generation. they may live it differently than their parents did, i mean, only a few of them have gone into politics, but they're all doing things that are really important. and, you know, inside, when you get a chance and -- we all have a little funny story we can tell or a memory we can exchange. >> this is going to be that tonight, right, an irish wake. >> yes. >> explain for people who might not quite understand the laughter they may hear tonight. >> you celebrate somebody's life and remember the funny stories and remember the moments. i have some of those moments. i told the story earlier that he was always convinced the teleprompter was break and that's why i was sitting on the stage for the convention speech. and it didn't. two months later, three months later in washington for warren magnusson's campaign, an old bull in the senate, lost in the reagan landslide, and every time anyon

our hearts go out to teddy jr. and patrick and cara and vicki, with whom i spoke this morning, and the whole kennedy family. you know, at teddy spent a lifetime working for a more fair and just america. for 36 years, i had the privilege of going to work every day and literally, not figuratively, sitting next to him. and being a witness to history every single day that the senate was in session. i sat with him on the senate floor. i sat with him on the judiciary committee, is it the next to him. and i sat with him in the caucuses. every day i was with him -- and this is going to sound strange -- but he fortified my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do. he and i were talking after his diagnosis. i said, you know, i think you're the only other person that i have met, like me, is more optimistic, more enthusiastic, more idealistic, and sees more possibilities after 36 years. you would think that there would be the peak of their idealism. but i genuinely feel more optimistic about the prospects for my

our hearts go out to teddy, jr., and patrick and kara and vicki with whom i spoke this morning, and thewhole kennedy family. you know, teddy spent a lifetime working for a fair and more just america. for 36 years, i had the privilege of going to work every day and literally not figuratively sitting next to him and being a witness to history every single day the senate was in session. i sat with him on the senate floor and the same route, i sat with him in the judiciary committee, and i sat with him in the caucuses. it was in that process -- every day that i was with him, this is going to sound strange, but he restored my sense of idealism and my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do. he and i were talking after his diagnosis, and i said, you know, you are the only other person i have met who, like me, he is more optimistic and enthusiastic and idealistic, sees greater possibilities, after 36 years when reelected. you think that would be the peak of idealism. but i genuinely feel more optimistic about the prospect for my country today than i had at any time in my life.

but in terms of his family, i think you're going to see his children, cara, teddy jr. and patrick, and some of his cousins, caroline and joe the second, and others as well. it will be a real -- [inaudible] brian: we're losing ed a little bit. it will be everybody going up to speak. the passing of senator ted kennedy at the age of 77. we're going to be covering other issues this morning. gretchen: health care, that's still front and center with the american people right now. and the democrats are having a hard time selling their plan. now they're threatening to push through a bill without bipartisan support. a closer look at how will that play in the upcoming election. eric: plus, she's calling herself bernie madoff's other secret. the woman who says she had an affair with the swindler. Ñq that's a-- tiny netbook. yeah, it's-- good-looking, lightweight. generally awesome. and you could just-- go online, video-chat with my cousin. this is un-- under $200. are you some kind of-- mind reader, visionary ? no, i have them. huh. the new lightweight hp mini netbook with window

when you look back, teddy kennedy jr. has had bouts with cancer. two of his three children suffer from cancer he was one of the core people behind the national cancer institute back in the 1960's. it has affected his family in such a deep way. a lot has been said about the fact that he is the first of the kennedy brothers to see old age. he is the only one of the four to have that experience. trace: you mentioned his daughter having cancer. you talk about the funeral being held in a church tomorrow which is also known as the mission church. she went there every day while she was battling this cancer. it kind of ties all in together. she successfully battled that cancer. he has become a very important part of this church community. tomorrow is where the funeral will be held. martha: you just can't help but watch this scene and think about all of the years of watching the family here. there is a feeling that is the end of the line to a certain point. yet, there are younger kennedy members who are interested in office and some of home or in office and

family had health problems all those years especially with rosemary and jack and then with teddy and then ted jrrd k, all the cancer in the family, addiction problems and serious medical needs and i'm sure ted kipt saying to himself i'm glad we have the money to take care of it. most people don't. >> when he had that terrible injury, the back, the plane crash, that's when i believe he started painting, doing water colors, many of his friends were beneficiaries. i have to confess, full disclosure here, that when i was engaged, became engaged he sent over a wonderful sailing picture which is framed in my dining room so he was very generous with his talent as well. let's talk for a moment about the legacy and the brothers. you've been working so hard. you've been immersed in the history of this family for this documentary airing tonight at 9:00. let's watch a little bit and then you can talk about what you've learned. >> sure. >> i do not run for the presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new policies. >> robert kennedy's impassioned 1968 campaign had little in common with the well oile