CBS’s Rodriguez Fondly Remembers ‘Uncle Teddy’

Sounding like a close friend or relative of Senator Ted Kennedy, at the top of Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez proclaimed: "A life that was able to bring friends and enemies together....We’ll hear from one of those foes who became a friend as we broadcast from the John f. Kennedy Presidential Library where the body of Uncle Teddy will arrive today and lie in repose."

Moments later, Rodriguez continued the unusually personal reporting on the death of the Massachusetts Senator: "This place dedicated to a slain American president will today serve as a shrine to his younger brother, a beloved American senator....we were joking here that we think all this wind today is sort of fitting for the Kennedys. The tousled hair, a perfect day for sailing, a wonderful day for the Kennedy family and the public to gather here, at this of all places, to remember Ted Kennedy. Sort of symbolic, Chris, I think, of the older brother looking down, looking after the younger brother."

At the top of the 7:30AM ET half hour, a clip of Caroline Kennedy remembering her uncle, after which Rodriguez observed: "Niece Caroline remembers her Uncle Teddy Kennedy.... we are broadcasting live from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston on a windy day, a day that Ted Kennedy would have loved. We are very fittingly by the water. The Kennedys, of course, love sailing, and everyone that we have spoken to, yesterday in Hyannis Port and some friends who are already gathered here today, say that Teddy would have loved the tribute that is planned for him." Fill-in co-host Chris Wragge went on to add: "He just loved to sail and just loved the water and the Nantucket Sound. It’s just – it’s just great to see those pictures."

Here is a full transcript of the opening segment of the show:

7:00AM TEASE:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: As global tributes pour in for Senator Ted Kennedy, plans for public and private memorials are now in place.

JOHN KERRY: What we’re going to do in the next few days is celebrate his life. It’s a remarkable life.

RODRIGUEZ: A life that was able to bring friends and enemies together.

JOE BIDEN: So many of his – so many of his foes embraced him. Because they know he made them bigger.

RODRIGUEZ: We’ll hear from one of those foes who became a friend as we broadcast from the John f. Kennedy Presidential Library where the body of Uncle Teddy will arrive today and lie in repose.

7:00AM SEGMENT:

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Good morning from Boston. This is the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, where the public today will come to honor the late Senator Edward Kennedy. This place dedicated to a slain American president will today serve as a shrine to his younger brother, a beloved American senator. Welcome to the Early Show, everyone. I’m Maggie Rodriguez here in Boston. Harry and Julie are off today and Chris Wragge is in New York. Chris, we were joking here that we think all this wind today is sort of fitting for the Kennedys. The tousled hair, a perfect day for sailing, a wonderful day for the Kennedy family and the public to gather here, at this of all places, to remember Ted Kennedy. Sort of symbolic, Chris, I think, of the older brother looking down, looking after the younger brother.

CHRIS WRAGGE: Maggie coming up, of course we’re going to have coverage of Senator Edward Kennedy’s memorial plans as well. We’ll also have reaction from some of the Senator’s closest colleagues, including Senator Orrin Hatch. We’ve got all of that coming up. But right now let’s go back to you in Boston.

RODRIGUEZ: Alright, we also will discuss the state of the health care debate now that Senator Ted Kennedy is gone. But we begin in Hyannis Port this morning from where Senator Kennedy will make his final journey to Boston, where the public will be able to come here for a public viewing today. Early Show national correspondent Jeff Glor begins our coverage in Hyannis Port. Good morning, Jeff.

JEFF GLOR: Maggie, good morning to you. The family remains here at the compound this morning after a day spent in private all day yesterday. But this afternoon, they will be leaving, along with their late father, grandfather, and uncle. Senator Kennedy will be transported today by motorcade from the family compound here in Hyannis Port to Boston, where he’ll lie in repose at the Kennedy Presidential Library until tomorrow evening, when a memorial will be held. On Saturday, a private funeral mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Health Basilica in Boston. He’ll then be flown to a final resting place next to his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

JOHN KERRY: What we’re going to do in the next few days is celebrate his life. It’s a remarkable life. An extraordinary journey of an entire family but obviously of Teddy personally.

JEFF GLOR: From Massachusetts to Capitol Hill, remembrances continue. Admirers brought flowers to Kennedy’s office in Washington. Even the sports world is pausing. At last night’s Red Sox game, Kennedy’s favorite baseball team paid tribute.

[TAPS BEING PLAYED AT RED SOX GAME]

UNIDENTIFIED MAN [GAME ANNOUNCER]: Thank you, Senator Kennedy, for your lifelong contributions.

GLOR: And between the service on Friday night and the Mass on Saturday, we’ll be hearing from some of the nation’s biggest political names and some of Senator Kennedy’s friends, including President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Senators John Kerry and John McCain. Maggie, back to you.

RODRIGUEZ: Jeff Glor in Hyannis Port. Thanks, Jeff.