Sen. Kennedy dies of brain tumor

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., 77, died from a brain tumor on Tuesday night.

The brother of President John F. Kennedy, he was elected to the Senate in 1962.

Kennedy authored more than 2,500 bills throughout his career in the U.S. Senate. Of those bills, several hundred have become law, according to his office.

"The Kennedy family and the Senate family have together lost our patriarch," Sen. Harry Reid said. "My thoughts, and those of the entire United States Senate, are with Vicki, Senator Kennedy's children, his many nieces and nephews, and his entire family. "It was the thrill of my lifetime to work with Ted Kennedy. He was a friend, the model of public service and an American icon."

Nancy Reagan, wife of President Ronald Reagan, said they were close to the Kennedy family.

"I was terribly saddened to hear of the death of Ted Kennedy tonight," she said. "Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised by how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family. But Ronnie and Ted could always find common ground, and they had great respect for one another. In recent years, Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research, and I considered him an ally and a dear friend. I will miss him."