it was when he met and married vicki.e being a prominent legislator -- legislator, it seemed that teddy had a life that most people only dream of. i think at times, the pressures that came with that life left him unable to enjoy it. that all changed when he met vicki. she was the love and light of teddy's life. their marriage in many respects save him. he was forever a different man. he was still a fierce, stubborn leader in the senate he always was, but it was clear from that time on that he enjoyed his life and the role that he played far more than he had in the past. their marriage made him a better man and a better senator. iwell, i remember one time he gt mad as heck at me, and he started yelling at me. finally i said, wait a minute, i wrote a song for you and vicki. he said, you did? i said yeah, do you want to hear it. he forgot all about his anger. it took out a cassette and a platform. he said, i have to have that. it was called, "souls along the way." here i was, working as usual, on july 3 of that year, in salt

that all changed when he met vicky. vicky was the love and light of teddy's life. their marriage in many respects saved teddy. he was forever a different man. he was still the fierce, stubborn leader in the senate he always was, but it was clear from that time on that he enjoyed his life and the role he played far more than he had in the past. teddy and vicky's marriage made him a better man and a better senator. well, i remember one time he got mad as heck at me and demanded to come to the office and i brought him in and he started yelling at me and i said wait a minute, i wrote a song for you and vicky. he said you did? i said yeah, you want to hear it? and he said, oh, yeah, he forgot about his anger. i had a little cassette and i played it for him. and he said i've got to had that. it was called "souls along the way" that song was in "ocean's twelve," you couldn't hear it, but it was in there. but here i was working as usual. i think july 3rd of that year in salt lake city and i get this phone call from ted kennedy. he was out on his boat, you know, as usual. a

it was when he met and married vicki.ad a life that most people only dream of. i think at times, the pressures that came with that life left him unable to enjoy it. that all changed when he met vicki. she was the love and light of teddy's life. their marriage in many respects save him. he was forever a different man. he was still a fierce, stubborn leader in the senate he always was, but it was clear from that time on that he enjoyed his life and the role that he played far more than he had in the past. their marriage made him a better man and a better senator. iwell, i remember one time he gt mad as heck at me, and he started yelling at me. finally i said, wait a minute, i wrote a song for you and vicki. he said, you did? i said yeah, do you want to hear it. he forgot all about his anger. it took out a cassette and a platform. he said, i have to have that. it was called, "souls along the way." here i was, working as usual, on july 3 of that year, in salt lake city. i get this phone call from ted kennedy, out on his boat,

especially because of the love and the life he found in vicky. after so much loss, and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for ted to risk his heart again. and that he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from louisiana. and she didn't just love him back as ted would often acknowledge vicky saved him. she gave him strength and purpose, joy and friendship, and stood by him always. especially in those last hardest days. we cannot know for certain how longe have here. we cannot foresee the trials or misfor tunes that will test us along the way. we cannot know what god's plan is for us. what we can do is to li out our lives as best we can with purpose, with love, and with joy. we can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them. and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. we can learn from our mistakes and grow from our fail yrs. and we can strive at all costs to make a better world so that some day, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our

ted and vicki continued their political work.ogether they became a fixture of the washington establishment. when ted was diagnosed with brain cancer in may of 2008, he faced the public in the fight of his life with vicki by his side. she remained there until the end a female announcer: from jennifer, while supplies last, this luxurious microfiber sofa and chair for just $399. our most dramatic offer ever: both pieces, just $399. while supplies last. from jennifer: you don't have to spend a lot to have good taste. end. >>> we're learning more about the final hours of michael jackson's life, especially the period of time between when police say his doctor found the singer not breathing to the moment someone called 911. cbs ' patty kauffman has more from las vegas. >> reporter: a police officer police affidavit says dr. conrad murray found michael jackson not breathing at 11:00 a.m. the day the singer died. >> did anyone witness what happened. >> no, just the doctor, sir. the doctor has been the only one here. >> reporter: but the 9

vicki is lebanese. rose was irish.cki was very astute when he helped to head with his picking out -- when she helped ted. bill: she had a lot of influence over him. now, he was first married to joan kennedy, who had a tragic life, and when they separated, he was a wild man, ted kennedy. >> he was. he lived in this kind of fantasy bachelor life, yes. bill: and his reputation was, in washington and boston, awful. >> yes. bill: is that all true? >> yes, worse than the reputation, actually. bill: ok. then he marries his wife, and how old was kennedy? >> 60. bill: and she is about tenure jogger? >> about 20 years younger. -- she is about 10 years younger? >> about 20 years younger. bill: i have met her, and from the beginning, she basically took him and changed him. >> that is correct. bill: how? >> by making it very clear that she would go into is live and help him get through the palm beach trial and that he had to stop philandering. he had to stop going after women. he had to cut back on the drinking, and he had to be re

. >> this is vicki mabry in california. >> cheers to vicki for that. >>> when we come back, the tv host who has been accused of playing a deadly ratings game. did his script for success lead to murder? she wants to make up. we decide to turn in early.

it was when he met and married vicki. being a prominent legislator -- legislator, it seemed that teddy had a life that most people only dream of. i think at times, the pressures that came with that life left him unable to enjoy it. that all changed when he met vicki. she was the love and light of teddy's life. their marriage in many respects save him. he was forever a different man. he was still a fierce, stubborn leader in the senate he always was, but it was clear from that time on that he enjoyed his life and the role that he played far more than he had in the past. their marriage made him a better man and a better senator. iwell, i remember one time he gt mad as heck at me, and he started yelling at me. finally i said, wait a minute, i wrote a song for you and vicki. he said, you did? i said yeah, do you want to hear it. he forgot all about his anger. it took out a cassette and a platform. he said, i have to have that. it was called, "souls along the way." here i was, working as usual, on july 3 of that year, in salt

vicki helped turn his image around.cal interests and together they advocated for social issues. she also curbed his drinking. >> she never allowed her husband to be photographed with a drink in his hand. he was well dressed, well coifed, looked official, looked senatorial. she really rehabilitated ted kennedy. >> reporter: for the senator that loved to sail, vicki kennedy was both first mate and soul mate to the end. randi kaye, cnn, los angeles. >> first mate and soul mate. the kennedy families remembering senator kennedy as their irreplaceable senator. in a moment, why many now see his death as the end of the dream of camelot. >>> also ahead, we remember dominick dunne, who today also lost his battle with cancer. >>> a sad day for many reasons. reading about washington these days... i gotta ask, what's in it for me? i'm not looking for a bailout, just a good paying job. that's why i like this clean energy idea. now that works for our whole family. for the kids, a better environment. for my wife, who commutes, no more

you showed sound from vicki earlier in the program.or's widow, to say thank you to all these people. bobby kennedy spent two hours, we lost track of him, robert kennedy jr. shaking hands, saying thank you to people for woman coming. i talked about his final conversation with senator kennedy. he talked about his role in keeping the family together and what he hoped the american people would think of senator kennedy's legacy. >> he really thought that his mission was to help america to live up to its ideal, to perfect the union, to make us an exemplayerry nation that we ought to be, a paradigm of democracy and justice and to persuade americans that we all have to be heroic and resist the seduction of the notion that we can advance ourselves by leaving our poor brothers and sisters behind, believing that everybody has some good. he did that with our family. >> very telling. john king with young mr. kennedy. david gergen, columnist george will today, declared ted kennedy the most consequential of the kennedy brothers. what do you think of

vicki and all the children. i remembered we were talking about angola once and you and teddy were working out a deal with some of our more conservative friends and you agreed on a particular course of action. and i was along with your colleague dick clark. you and dick and teddy and myself in teddy's office. and being nooif as i was as a young senator, we started about how we were going to approach this issue on the floor, and teddy said we've got to do this. and i satd but -- i said, but that's not what we said. we told these guys were going to do that. and teddy very politely tried to say to me, well, no, this went on far few minutes. and finally, john, in a roaring voice said biden, what the hell do you think this is? boy state? that was my introduction to the squeeze over kennedy and culver, what the hell do you think this is? boy state? >> we're here to celebrate the life of an incredible man. i want to say thanks for your father, thanks for your husband, thanks for your uncle, thanks for your brother. who

this week, vicki told us, she was simply grateful for the outpouring of the love.ate snow, abc news, boston. >>> when we come back, we'll have some of the day's other news. we'll hear from the father of the sex offender accused of holding a young girl hostage for 18 years. she says his son son is troubled and dangerous. >>> and new hope for the brain cancer that claimed ted kennedy's life. we'll take "closer look." >>> and the send-off for the senior senator from massachusetts. i've had asthma forever. i've had asthma for 5 years. 10 years. i used to wonder why my controller medicine wouldn't help prevent... ...help prevent my symptoms from coming back. i just figured it couldn't get any better. and then i found out something i didn't know... i found out there are two main causes of asthma symptoms... ...airway constriction you feel and inflammation you may not. most controllers don't treat both. so my doctor prescribed advair. advair treats both main causes to help prevent symptoms in the first place. (announcer) advair contains salmeterol. salmeterol may increase

vicky and the family, thanks, thank you for what you are.te office, went back home to iowa, served in the congress of the united states and then the senate of the united states. a great friend for a long time, john culver. >> thank you very much, paul. to vicky who as orrin hatch said really was the love of ted's life, to his sister jean smith who always told me she was ted's favorite sister, and to all of the children, ted's children, vicky's children, and all of the extended kennedy family. in a real sense everyone here in the room who i think feels very strongly part of that extraordinary family. it was in the winter, i believe of 1975 and ted called me and said i'd like you to come up to boston with me and they've suggested several sites for the john f. kennedy museum and library. and i'd like you to come along. so i did. and i remember it was a winter day rather cold and overcast and there was snow on the ground. and when we came to this particular place and looked across dorchester bay, i saw boston, saw the water. ted turned to me and

i mean, his sailing, his time with his children, his cherished time with vicky. i mean, i think up until the very end he enjoyed every minute of the time that he was given. >> he said that in the convention almost exactly a year ago, at the democratic convention speech in denver that he really wanted to live to see barack obama sworn in. that day, that cold day, it could not have been easy. it certainly was not medically advisable for him to be out in a crowd and out in that wicked cold on the steps of the capitol. we know what happened at the lunch when he had a setback and collapsed, but it was so important for him to see the president being sworn in. >> oh, he believed in the president before many people even realized the president was running. i mean, i think all of us remember when he and caroline did the speech with president obama, and we could feel the tide turning. his enthusiasm for the president was something that you could feel in the room. his belief turned out to be so true when the american voters believed the same way, and i think that senator ken

vicki kennedy, the senator's widow.before the public was allowed in. gen jean kennedy has left a bit earlier. most of the family members are in. former congressman, joe kennedy. vicky, the widow leaning forward to say thank you to the members of the public coming through. >> they are black and white, young and old. many in wheelchairs. most from here in massachusetts. joe kennedy smiling, he is the son of robert f. kennedy. vicky reggie kennedy for the last 17 years, senator kennedy's wife and a woman credited with the senator once used the term saving him. it is a remarkable scene, a beautiful day outside. people waited so patiently. wolf, as this unfolds, the state is saying good-bye to a man who served in the senate for 47 years. it has been more than a half century since the state of massachusetts has not had a senator kennedy. a remarkable tribute and a passing and a changing of the guard here in massachusetts. >> david gergen, you live in cambridge, massachusetts, you teach at harvard. this library has been so spe

vickie and family, thanks, thank you for who you are.nk you. >> john culver was a harvard classmate of senator kennedy's, football teammate, worked in his senate office, moved back home to iowa, served in the congress of the united states, and then the senate of the united states. great friend for a long time, john culver. >> thank you very much, paul. to vickie who as orrin hatch said was the love of ted's life. to his sister jean smith who always told me that she was ted's favorite sister. [laughter] >> and to all the children, ted's children, vickie's children, and all the extended kennedy family, in a real sense everyone here in the room who i think feels very strongly part of that extraordinary family. it was in the winter, i believe, of 1975 and ted called me and said i'd like you to come up to boston with me and they suggested several sites for the john f. kennedy museum and library and i'd like you to come along, so i did. i remember it was a winter day, rather cold and overcast and there was snow on the ground. and when we came

he met earlier this morning with vicki kennedy. he walked across from his hotel to greet with her for about ten minutes and, of course, going to deliver the eulogy later this morning. then three other living presidents here as well. of course, president jimmy carter, president george w. bush. and president bill clinton. already we have seen a number of people arrive. we saw senator kery and senator dodd who beautifully eulogized and with a lot of laughs last night at that irish wake. >> norah, stay with us. that's -- we saw going into that church where ted kennedy visited to pray for his daughter. then prayed for behind own health. we have seen chris dodd and many of his closest friends going in there. john kerry, of course, the -- the leaders of washington, the world. will be showing up inside of that church. >> massive showing of support and celebration of his life and legacy going into that church today. also lining the streets yesterday and what we will see throughout the day today will be many of the common man, if i may. but

i know how close you are and to the parents of vicki and vicki who has been an amazing loving spouse. i think she gave him that booster rocket. >> if i could just say this, you and i know where we were when jack kennedy died. we know where we were when bobby kennedy died. that's the power of this family. and i'll never forget the day that ted kennedy pass away either, okay? it's been an incredible gift that this family has given to our country and to me personally and i think to millions of other people out there. they inspired me to go into government. they changed our country for the better. and there's no way of really measuring how much they had an impact on the families of millions of people all across our country. >> yeah. congressman markey, thank you so much. what a great brother ted kennedy was to his brothers. up next, much more in the life of ted kennedy, the senator from massachusetts and his impact on the debate we're having right now. it's very much alive on health care. we'll be right back with "hardball" after this. >> as long as i have a voice in the united states sen

i know ted and vicki and their family as their parish priest.ptures and the pastoral experience of ministering to ted and his family. my vision, like yours, can't encompass the toe take the -- totality of his life. my memories seem to the lends of a catholic parish priest are about how one person, one man, a husband, a father, a public figure, a catholic, and a citizen tried to meet the tests of the kingdom of matthew's gospel. to know him as a pastor was to be introduced to the kennedy family. the senator led the family. he was supported by it through a long and complex career. and he was sustained by your family as his life entered its final chapter. all of us know by instinct the fundamental importance of our families. none of us expect to face the great responsibility of being the most visible figure in a family whose narrative is woven through the history of our nation over the past century. as a priest, i saw him treasure and draw strength from his family. like others here today, i watched as his role of this family's leader required that

especially because the love and the life he found in vicky. after so much loss and so much sorrow, it could not have been easy for ted to risk his heart again and that he did is a testament to how deeply he loved this remarkable woman from louisiana and she didn't just love him back, as ted would often acknowledge, vicky saved him. she gave him strength and purpose, joy and friendship, and stood by him always. especially in those last hardest days. we cannot know for certain how long we have here, we cannot forsee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way. we cannot know what god's plan is for us. what we can do is to live out our lives as best as we can with purpose and with love and with joy. we use each day to show those who are closest to us, how much we care about them and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. we can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. and we can strive at all costs to make a better world. but some day, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our t

the entire family, lined up behind, again, with the senator's wife vicki and sister jean in the lead. and throughout the afternoon, the crowds of people who turned out to see the motorcade continued to grow. ordinary folks who had much to say about the man who was their voice in the senate for more than 46 years and john berman is joining us tonight. john? >> reporter: charlie earlier this afternoon, there were thousands of people right where i'm standing. thousands of people with thousands of stories, deeply personal stories about why they felt they needed to be here to say good-bye to ted kennedy. >> reporter: they cheered. when the memorial procession went by, they were cheering. why the celebration at this moment of mourning? thousands of reasons. from lois, the octogenarian. >> i think he's done more than his share not only for massachusetts, but the world. >> reporter: from jimmy, the union laborer. >> he was my man. he's massachusetts. without him, man, i don't know what we're going to do now. >> reporter: from martin, the irish immigrant. >> i feel a debt of gratitude to him,

vicki was considered his biggest asset.you if november was a referendum on vicki, we could all go home now. together, they became a fixture of the washington establishment. when ted was diagnosed with cancer in may of 2008, he faced the public and the fight of his life with vicki by his side. she remained there till the end. >>> joining from us houston, cbs presidential historian douglas brinkley and from washington d.c., host of "face the nation" bob schieffer. good morning again, gentlemen. doug, i want to start with the notion that some of the risk taking kennedy involved in, chappaquiddick, the night before drinking with his nephews, the night his nephew ended up being charged with rape, going all the way back to the ill-fated plane flight he insisted on talking into western massachusetts that killed his aide and the pilot of that plane, until it seems like, at least, maybe 20 years ago or so, this is a man who made some brutal, horrid missteps. >> well, that's true. nobody's ever accused the kennedys of not having hubr

vicki helped turn his image around.al interests and together they advocated for social issues. she also curbed his drinking. >> she never allowed her husband to be photographed with a drink in his hand. he was well dressed, well coifed, looked official, looked senatorial. she really rehabilitated ted kennedy. >> reporter: for the senator that loved to sail, vicki kennedy was both first mate and soul mate to the end. >> reporter: the kennedys remembering senator kennedy as their irreplaceable senator. >>> also ahead, we remember dominick dunne, who today also lost his battle with cancer. at bank of america we are keeping our finger on the pulse. we actually move with the economic times. we're not just sticking with the same product. so that's why, you know we've adjusted... ...a lot of the different processes we have in place such as rolling out more innovative products to really meet the needs of our customers. because what might have been good six months ago for them, might not be good now. there's a lot going on right

vicki is as well. not here today. she's busy in other places. teddy! teddy! >> it's a very uplifting time for me. >> nice to see you. thanks very much. good to see you. >> how are you? >> did you think so? >> feels good. we're getting a good response. we're going to win it. >> i said when i first ran for the senate, what the senate needed was a young person with new ideas. now i say there's nothing like age and experience. >> i don't think i'm too old to be your united states senator, do you? >> i need your help, i need your vote. i need that help. ♪ >> thank you. >> i may not be the youngest. eventually i'll be the thinnest, but i'll be the fightingest candidate that you ever had. and i won't let you down. i won't let you down. i won't let you down massachusetts. thank you. ♪ >> mother knew this day was coming. but she did not dread it. she accepted and even welcomed it. not as a leaving, but as a returning. she has gone to god and she is home. and at this moment, she is happily presiding at a heavenly table with both of her joes, with jack, ka

you take your choice. >> this is vicki mabry in california. >> cheers to vicki for that. >>> when we come back, the tv host who has been accused of playing a deadly ratings game. did his script for success lead to murder? she wants to make up. we decide to turn in early. we just know. announcer: finding the moment that's right for you both can take some time. that's why cialis gives men with erectile dysfunction options: 36-hour cialis or cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. don't drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vi

>> vicki kennedy, his second wife, transformed his life. with his extended family, he viewed as his own children, he lived the life. he was at soccer games. he was at school. he became a completely transformed human being. she is a great hero in his life. >> andrea, david and kelly, we appreciate your time this morning very much. >>> chris matthews recently sat down with a number of kennedy insiders for a special documentary set to air previous to the news this morning tomorrow on msnbc. called "the kennedy brothers." chris matthews, good morning. looking at this, taking a look at this closely, at this family, where does edward -- ted kennedy fit into the kennedy brothers? >> he was always a brother. when he was 14 years old at a celebration for his brother jack when he was about to be elected to congress, young 14-year-old ted kennedy stood up and said, i'd like to offer a toast to the brother who's not here, joseph kennedy jr. he's the one that remembered the older brother who was killed in world war ii. i think if jack kennedy was asked

vicki mabry has this report in tonight's "realty check". >> well, we are seeing a turn around. the beginning of what might be a turn around. >> the fact that this man robert shiller is cautiously bullish today is quite something. everyone that the housing market was bad news and predictedcocre closely watched case shiller price index. >> we have seen prices go up, now two months in a row. nationally. home prices have been falling for almost three years before that. e.rarka>>>>rbl it may not be enough to say the housing bust is turning into a boom. but for the second month in a row, home prices rose in 18 of the nation's 20 largest cities. what do you think accounts for the fact that they're going up for the first time in three years? >> well, i think it's the general recovery of confidence. the stock markets of the world are going up as well. and we have a president that has a new plan, which was announced in february. so we started to think more positively. >> the two stubborn bleak spots are economicalldepressed detroit and overbuilt las vegas. but on the bright side, seven c

vicky would plan dinner parties and people would come over and sing songs together. of course, we were not there, but it's something if you close your eyes, you can visualize what might have happened on those nice nights in that beautiful home with these amazing people. >> more coverage of this historic day from boston, for the country, the kennedy motorcade, of course, on its way to the jfk presidential library. >> still ahead, a special look at the final resting place at arlington national cemetery, the final resting place for so many that gave their lives for this great country. he'll be buried near his two brothers. david gregory will moderate a special edeition of "meet the press." check your local listings for the times. ♪ change it up a bit... and you're sure to get a reaction. [ motorcycle engine growl ] ♪ don't let erectile dysfunction slow things down. ♪ viva viagra! viagra, america's most prescribed ed treatment, can help you enjoy a more satisfying sexual experience. to learn more, cruise on over to viagra.com. ask your doctor if your heart is healthy eno

vicki and i deeply grateful to you for reaching out to us at this time. you truly lifted our spirits. all the best, ted. we'll be back with ted kennedys friends from the congress after this. re offering a solution for a customer that maybe has to choose between paying their credit card or putting food on the table. our main objective is to reach out to the customers that are falling behind on their payments. a lot of customers are proud and happy that bank of america actually has a solution to help them out. i listen. that's the first thing i do is i listen. you know what, what happened? what put you in this situation? we always want to make sure that we're doing i'll go through some of his monthly expenses, if he has a mortgage payment, if he pays rent. and then i'll use all that information to try and see what kind of a payment he financially can handle. i want to help you. bank of america wants to help you through this difficult time. when they come to you and they say thank you aj, for helping me with this problem, that's where we get our joy from. ne

first to arrive was the late senator's wife, vickie. here holding hands with one of her daughters. her daughter, caroline. her son as well is expected to be here. they arrived, as you see there, a short time ago. caroline kennedy schlossberg, last tonight's private irish wake, spoke as well. what will happen inside when they gather, one more chance for the members of the senate and congressional delegate to pay respects. a short private service before they head across town to our lady of perpetual help basilica. i had a chance yesterday to visit with some of the family members. i spoke to patrick kennedy. he is the youngest son of the late senator. he said, you know, when you saw the lines, 50,000 people, you remember we are out here just wred. he said this is breathtaking. hay said to me, he thought only his father could bringing together -- only individual in america that could bring together so many people for a tribute like this. that the people of the state of massachusetts have given him. it was a remarkable scene. finally, we got

i know it's been reassuring and comforting to vicky.the route, the neighbors there in hyannis port and the crowds in boston, it's going to be quite a challenge. comforting and very emotional. it reminds me of robert kennedy's funeral train. >> absolutely. that was -- took something like 7 our 8 hours from new york to washington, d.c., which is usually about a 2 1/2 hour trip. the reason is there were so many cub scouts and kids and parents and old people all along the route that wanted to see that train and they went very slowly so everyone could be greeted and a have a look. on that train and you might hear it said today arthur schlesinger jr. said ken o'donnell, what great crowds and o'donnell was always a realist, said, yeah, but what are they good for now? bobby isn't running. >> bobby, not the last of the kennedys, but senator ted kennedy, one of the last, the last of his generation to hold public office. and now jane oates, talk a bit about senator kennedy and how he fought against public opinion. we see caroline and others in the

the dynasty is done. >> you went in the house and talked to vicki. respects. the flag draped casket is in the sun room of the home, the room closest to hyannis port harbor. if you're in that room, you can look out and you can see teddy's boat, the mya, bob ibing and weaving. there are three pictures on the mantle above the casket, one a picture of teddy and his beloved wife, vicki. by the way not enough has been said about her role in ted kennedy's life over the past 15, 16, 17 years. she transformed him, in part. he finally found love in his life for a woman who he was married to and dedicated to. she has done so much for him and his health over the past 15 months since he was diagnosed with brain cancer. there's that picture a picture of ted kennedy and brothers and extended family. the middle picture is a picture of teddy opening day in fenway park with jim rice and red sox manager teddy francona being led out to throw out the first pitch for the red sox opener. >> chris matthews, ted kennedy's life, those that followed him did see it transformed

his marriage to vickie was, i think, a pivotal moment in his life. many people believed at the time that was precipitated because of a lot of bad stories out there remember the story -- the "gq" story michael kelly wrote about that was absolutely devastating. painted a portrait of a senator out of control and there were many saying at the time when he married vickie that that was damage control, he was going to have a hard time being re-elected and somehow it was ted kennedy just trying to protect himself politically but, of course, over the years we have found that that was, in fact, the transformative moment for ted kennedy. >> oh, there is no doubt about that, joe. there is no doubt about that. it was a transformative moment for him as a human being and as a politician. it was a calming moment. it gave him security, the ludicrous metaphor of finally a safe harbor after years of pain. >> a lot of personal turmoil. >> a lot of personal turmoil. there had been an episode with his nephew, william kennedy smith, and then vickie reggie, daughter of a po

he was in a motor scooter with his wife, vicki, who's a louisiananative. said thank you for standing up for us in louisiana. he gave her a hug. i'm sure she'll want that picture. and he went on to talk about the enormous day we were about to take in to witness the inauguration of the first black president. and he reminded me that bobby kennedy, his brother, had once foretold the story that america would indeed elect a first black president. so i will remember ted kennedy for his tenacity, his strength, and as someone who just fought for poor people, the right to organize, disabled, for gays and lesbians. he was an american hero. >> thanks for being with us early. early for you in seattle -- either that or late. one or the other. it's interesting when the picture is painted of those who knew him. the unapologetic embrace of liberalism that made him a big political target. also they say even though he held those beliefs and made no attempt to hide them in any ways, he found ways to collaborate with people on the surface he couldn't be more different from --

vicki and i are deeply grateful to you for reaching out to us at this time.'ve truly lifted our spirits. all the best, ted." we'll be back with ted kennedy's friends from the congress after this. some people buy a car based on the deal they get. others by the car of their dreams. during the lexus golden opportunity sales event, you can do both. special lease offers now available on the 2009 is 250. caused by a completely blocked artery, another heart attack could be lurking waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix taken with other heart medicines, goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone, to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. if you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding you should not use plavix. taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding

vicki kennedy has ruled herself out. joe kennedy, the oldest son of bobby kennedy, still has $1.7 million in his campaign account. hasn't completely ruled out going for this seat. if he were to run, he'd likely clear the field. but an awful lot of democrats in massachusetts, who would like to succeed ted kennedy. there hasn't been an open seat in 25 years in massachusetts. so, a lot of pentup ambition there. >> a moment of waiting. but then again. >> the question is what happens with this law. the succession law that teddy kennedy wanted is crucial. vicki kennedy actually called the state senate president, to lobby for this law. and it does appear that the opposition in the house and the senate to this bill is receding, just a bit. both the speaker of the house and the senate president, have pledged to took at it. >> might be a decision sooner than we think. what about health care? we've been hearing in the last 24 hours, win one for the gipper. we've heard talk of naming a health care reform bill after senator kennedy.

i was talking with vicki this morning and she said she was ready to go, joe.ere not ready to let him go. he's left a great void in our public life and a hole in the hearts of millions of americans and hundreds of us who were affected by his personal touch throughout our lives. people like me who came to rely on him. he was kind of like an anchor. and unlike many important people in my 38 years i had the privilege of knowing, the unique thing about teddy was it was never about him. it was always about you. with the people i admire, great women and men it comes down to being about them. with teddy, it was never about him. well, today we lost a truly remarkable man. to paraphrase shakespeare i don't think we shall ever see his like again, but i think the legacy he left was not just in the landmark legislation he passed, but how he helped people look at themselves and look at one another. i apologize for, for us not being able to go into more details about the energy bill, but i just think for me, at least t was inappropriate today and i'm sure there will be much

was able to speak to the senator's widow, vicki, around 2:25. he'll be speaking this morning at 8:30 eastern time, speaking to the country, about his friend, his colleague. the man, in many ways, helped get him to the white house, ted kennedy. >> i'm remembering se of the e-mails that vicki -- victoria reggie kennedy sent out to everyone after the diagnosis. and also, the notes that she was writing. she would always say, if you made him laugh, that was the gold star. we laughed and laughed at what you said. and that smile, that trademark smile, through his entire 1515onthate e wi b brara cancer. >> youlways kw when ted kennedy was coming down the hallways of the senate. he always proceeded himself. >> you could hear the sound of that voice from -- well, corridors away anyway. >>> let's go to our senior congressional correspondent, john karl, on capitol hill. jon? >> reporter: diane this, is a colossal blow to the cause of ted kennedy's life. that's to get this health care bill passed. he had been involved in this, right up to his last weeks, cal

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 kennedysraying 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 w