BOSTON, May 19, 2008

Bush Among Ted Kennedy Well Wishers

President Tells Kennedy's Wife To "Take Care Of My Friend" As Senator Recovers From Seizure

    • President Bush with Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy in a 2002 file photo.

      President Bush with Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy in a 2002 file photo.  (AP)

    • Senator Edward Kennedy fell ill Saturday morning and was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

      Senator Edward Kennedy fell ill Saturday morning and was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  (Getty Images/Patrick Chatelain)

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  • Video Kennedy's Health Analyzed

    Sen. Ted Kennedy is reportedly awake and alert but, as Dr. Emily Senay reports, he is not out of the woods yet. Senay explains how seizures differ from strokes.

  • Video Kennedy Friend On Ted

    In the wake of his hospitalization, Sen. Ted Kennedy is being lauded by many who knew him. Harry Smith speaks to Kennedy friend Robert Shrum.

  • Interactive Kennedy Dynasty

    Learn more about the powerful family's political successes and personal misfortunes.

(AP)  President Bush was among those calling Sen. Edward Kennedy on Monday as the Massachusetts Democrat underwent tests to determine the cause of a seizure that left him hospitalized.

"Take care of my friend," the Republican leader told Kennedy's wife, Vicki, who answered the call at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a family spokeswoman.

While Kennedy remains a conservative target, Mr. Bush has hosted him socially at the White House and worked with him to pass a signature administration achievement, the No Child Left Behind education law.

"The senator and Mrs. Kennedy were very appreciative of the call," spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said. Over the weekend, Kennedy fielded similar calls from Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Charles Schumer of New York, while receiving visits from Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, other dignitaries and a stream of family members.

The liberal icon was admitted to Massachusetts General on Saturday after becoming ill after walking his dogs at his oceanfront home on Cape Cod. Despite suffering what appeared to be stroke-like symptoms, the senator's primary care physician later said a stroke had been ruled out and Kennedy appeared to have been the victim of a seizure.

Dr. Larry Ronan and other physicians were conducting a battery of tests, the results of which may not be available until late Monday or Tuesday.

Kennedy, 76, underwent surgery last October on the left carotid artery in his neck after doctors discovered a near-complete blockage that left him with an elevated risk of a stroke. The senator has since resumed a hectic schedule, including campaigning for Obama and bouncing between appointments on Capitol Hill and in Massachusetts.

Cutter said the senator had a restful night at the hospital after spending Sunday watching sports and movies and visiting with family.

Bush had been notified of Kennedy's hospitalization just before he went to a Saturday night dinner meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a tour of the Middle East. The president called the Kennedys from the White House, where he returned Sunday.




© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by willena2 May 20, 2008 9:24 PM EDT
i feel bad that sen.Kennedy has a tumor. people who do not like him should not write such ignorant things. The kennedy family has been through a whole lot of bad misfortune, and for your info he was not the kennedy who was involved with that girls death. check your info .My thoughts and prayers go out to the KENNEDY FAMILY. If you cannot say nothing nice about anyone keep your big mouth shut.
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by sjc_1 May 20, 2008 5:25 PM EDT
It means that you can not believe that he actually means what he says. He was suppose to be the Compassionate Conservative, but most Americans would not say that he is compassionate...it was a campaign slogan that he stole from his father.

blondbeotch at 01:35 PM..another looney fascist.
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by blondbeotch May 20, 2008 4:37 PM EDT
dragonwagon5 1:34---maybe not on your side!!! If I had of been Bush, I would not have even called him, after all the nasty things Kennedy''s said about him-
Reply to this comment
by blondbeotch May 20, 2008 4:35 PM EDT
sjc1 12:48----DUH?? what has that got to do with anything?? another looney lib!! LOL
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by sjc_1 May 20, 2008 3:48 PM EDT
Bush has done so much lying over the years that you can never believe what he says or whether he really believes it himself.
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by obamasgranny May 19, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
If God gave Kennedy a seizure for endorsing Obama,..I can''t wait to see what he has in store for Richardson!!!!
Reply to this comment
by questionnews May 19, 2008 5:53 PM EDT
He may be awhile, he going to fight to keep that high ball IV drip in as long as he can.
Reply to this comment
by papabc May 19, 2008 5:38 PM EDT
I do not like Ted Kennedy so I really do not give a sh!!t about him.
Reply to this comment
by libh8er May 19, 2008 5:22 PM EDT
That''s right, Ted. Hurry up and get back in the senate so you can try and pass that bill for funding swimming lessons for young women! LOL
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by sgtrds-e4 May 19, 2008 4:50 PM EDT
All the best Ted. Hurry up and recover. We need you in the Senate again!
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by libh8er May 19, 2008 4:26 PM EDT
I heard he sent him a bottle of scotch as a get well gift! :)
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