Oregon Public Broadcasting

Senator Ted Kennedy’s death Tuesday continues to resonate across the country.

Ethan Lindsey reports on reactions from Oregon.

Kennedy’s colleagues were universal in their praise of the so-called "Lion" of the U.S. Senate.

Oregon’s Democrats, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both issued statements. Wyden called Kennedy a friend.

Merkley recounted how impressed he was as a Senate intern in 1976, when he first saw Senator Kennedy speak.

Former Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith says after his son died, Kennedy reached out to him.

Gordon Smith: “He experienced so much heartache in his own life that when he saw it in others, he reached out. And I had the experience of sailing with him, of passing historic legislation with him, and even of spending time in the Senate gym with him trying to get his pounds down.”

During his unsuccessful re-election campaign last year, Smith ran a TV ad highlighting his work with Kennedy. He says liberals pressured Kennedy to refute that claim – but the Massachusetts Democrat would not.

Many say that principled partisanship is why Republicans, as well as Democrats, are praising Kennedy.