The Lion in Winter.

“So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat. But we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. And I pledge to you — I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test.” You made it, Teddy. Here’s hoping the news concerning Senator Kennedy coming out of the Capitol right now isn’t as dire as it sounds.

Update: CNN is reporting that Senator Byrd, who also left the event for medical reasons, is ok.

Update 2: He’s ok. “‘After testing, we believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue,’ Dr. Edward Aulisi, chairman of neurosurgery at Washington Hospital Center said in a statement released by the senator’s office. ‘He will remain … overnight for observation, and will be released in the morning.’