In D.C., a moment of anguished silence

Lawmakers, fighting tears, express support

Democratic senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry, and Harry Reid choked up as they expressed support for Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Kerry praised his friend's "big heart" and asked his colleagues to help Kennedy as the senator has helped others. (Kevin Lamarque/reuters)

WASHINGTON - The man who has enraged, impressed, frustrated, and inspired his colleagues in both parties for more than 45 years in the Senate drew but one bipartisan reaction yesterday as the news emerged that he is fighting a brain tumor: stunned silence, followed by tears.

Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, one of Senator Edward Kennedy's closest friends, broke down as he discussed Kennedy's illness with reporters. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to be barely holding back tears as she delivered a statement expressing "concern" coupled with great hope that Kennedy - who "has been a fighter all his life" - would weather the medical storm.

And veteran senators on both sides of the aisle, who have worked with and against Kennedy on a range of issues, struggled to keep their composure as they offered prayers for the man who has become as much a fixture of Capitol Hill as the spire atop the Capitol itself.

"He's like a brother to me. I love him. I love the Kennedy family," said conservative Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, wiping away tears as he lauded his close friend. "He's given so much to the country, and he has one of the greatest senses of humor of anyone I've known in my life. You can't help but like him if you get to know him."

Senators in both parties learned of the legendary lawmaker's illness at their weekly caucus lunches, the separate closed-door meetings normally used to plot strategy against the other party.

Senator Sam Brownback, a conservative Kansas Republican often at odds with Kennedy on social issues, quickly stood up and asked the GOP assemblage to join him in prayer for their colleague.

In the Democratic caucus lunch, an event at which Kennedy is legendary for rallying his colleagues on legislation, senators received the news in anguished silence.

"The wind went out of everyone's sails. The blow was stunning," said a shaken-looking Max Baucus, Democrat of North Dakota.

John Kerry, the junior senator from Massachusetts, praised his friend's "big heart," and asked his colleagues to help Kennedy as the senator has helped others.

Claire McCaskill, a freshman senator from Missouri, remarked on how Kennedy invited her and other new lawmakers to his "hideaway" - a small Capitol office filled with Kennedy memorabilia - to welcome them and to give them a place to relax during sessions with late votes.

In Kennedy's office in the Russell Building, staff members worked through their fear and sadness, worried about their boss but only mildly surprised that the relentlessly hardworking senator had demanded they send "memo bags" - heaps of legislative material - to the hospital for him to read.

The King of Jordan sent an orchid. GOP Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sent baked goods for the staff; Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss sent peanuts from his home state of Georgia; and Senator Tim Johnson, who himself was sidelined for months after suffering from a brain aneurysm in 2006, sent over doughnuts.

Calls and notes came in from the Taoiseach of Ireland, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, former vice president Al Gore, and celebrities including Martin Sheen, Glenn Close, and Don Henley. Bush administration officials Margaret Spellings, the education secretary, and Michael Mukasey, the attorney general, also sent their good wishes.

A young staffer quietly fielded hundreds of calls to Kennedy's office. "Senator Kennedy's office. Thank you, thank you very much," the staffer said, only to click on another of the many blinking phone lines to deliver the same response.

By day's end, fear had morphed into hope, as lawmakers and friends reminded one another of Kennedy's strength and fighting spirit. Buoyed by reports that the senator was walking around his intensive care unit and laughing with his family, colleagues said they thought Kennedy could battle the illness with the same determination he has had in fighting for civil rights or housing antidiscrimination laws.

"We know him better than anybody. We know he's a fighter," said Representative Ed Markey, Democrat of Malden.

"He's a tough guy," added Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Newton.

"He's won a lot of fights," Frank said. "This is one more."