Edward Kennedy pens political ‘will’ in letter

US Senator Edward Kennedy has written a poignant letter being described as his political 'will'. The youngest brother of assassinated US president John F Kennedy, the Democrat senator is the last politically-active Kennedy of his generation, and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in May 2008.

His letter, written in early July but not sent at that time, calls leaders in his home state, Massachusetts, to change the law so that a political vacuum created by his death or incapacity can be quickly filled. Speculation over the ageing lawmaker's health was provoked last week when he did not attend the funeral of his sister, Eunice Shriver Kennedy.

Kennedy is an ardent supporter of president Barack Obama's controversial healthcare reforms, and he is thought to want to accelerate the process of choosing a replacement because the outcome of the healthcare bill could hang on a single vote. If Kennedy is not able to vote himself, and there is no replacement, the bill could fail.

In the letter, Kennedy suggests that the governor of Massachusetts be allowed to appoint an interim replacement immediately. At present, state law calls for a special election within five months. Kennedy writes: "It is vital for [Massachusetts] to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election."

Adding to the sense of the letter as his political will, Kennedy speaks of his 47 years as a senator, saying that it "has been – and still is – the greatest honour of my public life".

  ·