Kennedy, conservatives had joint cause

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By Joseph Curl

"I always knew from our earliest interaction that I could trust his word, that he would dedicate himself with all his energy to any cause that he championed, and that he was willing to work for compromise to get the legislative work done," he said.

To the great dismay of his party, Mr. Kennedy even joined with President George W. Bush to pass two of the Republican's top agenda items a prescription drug plan and the No Child Left Behind Act although Mr. Kennedy would go on to criticize the Republican administration's implementation of aspects of both laws.

Click here to see a timeline of Mr. Kennedy's life.

Mr. Bush and his father were among a vast stream of conservative and Republican figures Wednesday honoring Mr. Kennedy's life and mourning his passing.

"While we didn't see eye to eye on many political issues through the years, I always respected his steadfast public service," said former President George H.W. Bush, noting that his presidential library selected the Massachusetts Democrat for an excellence in public service award in 2003.

Still, Mr. Kennedy had his enemies, and he did not shy away from partisan warfare at times.

In 1987, he led the opposition to President Reagan's nomination of Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court, a confirmation battle that would have a profound effect on future Supreme Court fights. "In Robert Bork's America," Mr. Kennedy said, "there is no room at the inn for blacks and no place in the Constitution for women and, in our America, there should be no seat on the Supreme Court for Robert Bork."

He opposed an early Republican attempt to overhaul welfare, fought Mr. Bush's tax cut plan and voted against the Iraq war.

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The Kennedy Years

Sen. Ted Kennedy dies at 77.

Still, Republicans who have worked with him said he was an honest negotiating partner, but one who would not compromise his values.

"Ted Kennedy was at once the most partisan and the most constructive" senator who "could preach the party line as well as bridge differences better than any Democrat," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican.

Mr. Kennedy also seemed to home in on what was important to a fellow lawmaker. With House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, it was supporting struggling Catholic schools serving inner-city children in the District.

"It wouldn't have been possible without Sen. Kennedy and his genuine desire to give something back to help inner-city students in the city," Mr. Boehner said.

The senator also had a long friendship with Mr. Reagan and his wife.

"Ronnie and Ted could always find common ground, and they had great respect for one another," Nancy Reagan said in a statement from Los Angeles. "In recent years, Ted and I found our common ground in stem-cell research, and I considered him an ally and a dear friend."

In some ways, it was the personal touch Mr. Kennedy delivered that endeared him to Republicans.

"He really was thoughtful," Mr. McCain said. "He would note people's birthdays, events in the personal lives of people, and he was extremely gregarious."