Senator Edward M. Kennedy made a promise four months ago at the Democratic National Convention: despite battling a malignant brain tumor, he would come back to the Senate in January and dedicate himself to crafting a healthcare plan that would cover all Americans.
Yesterday, Kennedy, 76, fulfilled that pledge, making an emotional return to work, hugging longtime Senate friends, and welcoming the chamber's newest members on the first day of the 111th Congress.
Perched behind his seat in the rear of the chamber - a coveted spot, since it is close to the doors to the Senate cloakroom, where deals are done - a relaxed Kennedy chuckled and chatted with fellow senators and staff. Except for the cane he now uses, he looked much the way he did prior to his May diagnosis.
As is tradition, Kennedy walked Massachusetts colleague Senator John Kerry down the center aisle of the chamber when Kerry was sworn in to a fifth term. With Illinois lacking a second senator yesterday, Kennedy also walked alongside his friend Senator Richard Durbin for Durbin's swearing-in.
"It was wonderful to be escorted down by him," a jubilant Kerry said after the ceremony. "It was so emotional. He really looked good. I'm fighting for him."
Kennedy plans to keep a full schedule in the Senate, but may have to miss some events because he is still receiving treatment for his cancer, a spokeswoman said. Kennedy is devoting his time to developing national healthcare legislation, a goal of his for more than four decades.
Kennedy is slated to chair committee hearings tomorrow to confirm President-elect Barack Obama's choice for health and human services secretary, former senator Tom Daschle. Kennedy and Daschle are expected to work closely on an overhaul of the healthcare system.
Even while attending the swearing-in of his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, the elder Kennedy was already laying the groundwork for moving legislation forward.
As is tradition, Kennedy walked Massachusetts colleague Senator John Kerry down the center aisle of the chamber when Kerry was sworn in to a fifth term. With Illinois lacking a second senator yesterday, Kennedy also walked alongside his friend Senator Richard Durbin for Durbin's swearing-in.
"It was wonderful to be escorted down by him," a jubilant Kerry said after the ceremony. "It was so emotional. He really looked good. I'm fighting for him."
Kennedy plans to keep a full schedule in the Senate, but may have to miss some events because he is still receiving treatment for his cancer, a spokeswoman said. Kennedy is devoting his time to developing national healthcare legislation, a goal of his for more than four decades.
Kennedy is slated to chair committee hearings tomorrow to confirm President-elect Barack Obama's choice for health and human services secretary, former senator Tom Daschle. Kennedy and Daschle are expected to work closely on an overhaul of the healthcare system.
Even while attending the swearing-in of his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, the elder Kennedy was already laying the groundwork for moving legislation forward.
Surprising a delighted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Kennedy and his wife, Vicki, joined her for photos to honor the younger Kennedy's election to his eighth term in Congress - but the senator did not miss the chance to buttonhole the speaker about healthcare and other parts his legislative agenda.
"To see him here was wonderful - personally and officially, in every way," Pelosi said. With Kennedy, "it's about family. It's about the occasion. And it's all about work."
Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, marveled at how "fit" and "robust" Kennedy looked. Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, traded stories with Kennedy about the late Rhode Island senator Claiborne Pell, at whose funeral Kennedy spoke on Monday.
Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri, was one of several lawmakers who gave Kennedy a light hug - a friendly gesture Kennedy was forced to rebuff during his brief Senate visit last summer because of concerns about how cancer treatments had weakened his immunity.
Otherwise, Kennedy kept a low profile yesterday, appearing at private events for Kerry's and his son's reelections. He did not speak on the Senate floor.
"I'm glad to be back for the start of the new Congress, particularly in this time of great hope with a new president coming in," he said in a statement. "I was very pleased to see old friends and new ones. I look forward very much to working on the issues that matter most to the people of Massachusetts and the nation."
But Kennedy was quite chatty with his fellow senators, and his presence on the floor, after a long absence, appeared to cheer his colleagues.
All through the chamber, Kennedy found himself face to face with fellow survivors of illnesses, reminders that even the most dire health conditions have not stopped his colleagues from pursuing their Senate work.
He shook hands heartily with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who has suffered two brain aneurysms. Ailing Democratic Senator Robert Byrd was pushed in a wheelchair as he escorted fellow West Virginian Senator Jay Rockefeller down the aisle to take his renewed oath of office.
His own hand shaking, the 91-year-old Byrd grasped Kennedy's hand and brought it gently up to his own cheek in affection.
There was Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter, who has survived lymphoma, and Arizona Senator John McCain, a skin-cancer survivor. Former Democratic senator Max Cleland of Georgia, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, moved around the chamber floor in his wheelchair, greeting old friends. Senator Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat who collapsed in December 2006 from bleeding in the brain, took his third-term oath of office yesterday from his wheelchair.
Kennedy, in his 46th year in the Senate, is not slowing down, said Mikulski, recounting how Kennedy got right down to business, discussing ways to get more education spending into the economic stimulus package.
"He said, 'Barbara, we've got a lot of work to do.' We're both fired up," Mikulski said.
Otherwise, Kennedy kept a low profile yesterday, appearing at private events for Kerry's and his son's reelections. He did not speak on the Senate floor.
"I'm glad to be back for the start of the new Congress, particularly in this time of great hope with a new president coming in," he said in a statement. "I was very pleased to see old friends and new ones. I look forward very much to working on the issues that matter most to the people of Massachusetts and the nation."
But Kennedy was quite chatty with his fellow senators, and his presence on the floor, after a long absence, appeared to cheer his colleagues.
All through the chamber, Kennedy found himself face to face with fellow survivors of illnesses, reminders that even the most dire health conditions have not stopped his colleagues from pursuing their Senate work.
He shook hands heartily with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who has suffered two brain aneurysms. Ailing Democratic Senator Robert Byrd was pushed in a wheelchair as he escorted fellow West Virginian Senator Jay Rockefeller down the aisle to take his renewed oath of office.
His own hand shaking, the 91-year-old Byrd grasped Kennedy's hand and brought it gently up to his own cheek in affection.
There was Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter, who has survived lymphoma, and Arizona Senator John McCain, a skin-cancer survivor. Former Democratic senator Max Cleland of Georgia, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, moved around the chamber floor in his wheelchair, greeting old friends. Senator Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat who collapsed in December 2006 from bleeding in the brain, took his third-term oath of office yesterday from his wheelchair.
Kennedy, in his 46th year in the Senate, is not slowing down, said Mikulski, recounting how Kennedy got right down to business, discussing ways to get more education spending into the economic stimulus package.
"He said, 'Barbara, we've got a lot of work to do.' We're both fired up," Mikulski said.
Go to:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/01/07/eager_to_work_kennedy_makes_emotional_return/
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