May 20, 2008 Byrd breaks down during Kennedy tribute Play video

(NECN: Washington, DC) - One of the truly emotional reactions to the news that Sen Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor came from his long-time colleague, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Byrd and Kennedy were rivals for many years, but have grown closer as the two rose to be the elder statesmen of the U.S. Senate.

Senator Byrd described himself as "distraught and terribly shaken" but the news of Kennedy's medical condition. "My thoughts, and my humble prayers are with Senator Kennedy, my dear friend Ted, with his wife Vicki, and with the members of the Kennedy family. I hope and pray that an all-caring, omnipotent God will watch over Ted, and keep Ted here for us and for America," Byrd began.

But he broke down, saying, "Ted, I love you, and I miss you, and Erma, my darling wife (who died in 2006), would want to say, 'Thank God for you, Ted. Thank God for you.' "