Obamas Celebrate Ted Kennedy's Birthday (PHOTOS)

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President Obama, along with the First Lady, led a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" to Sen. Ted Kennedy, at a star-studded 77th-birthday tribute to the political legend at Kennedy Center on Sunday night.

Among the stars who performed at the celebration were comedian Bill Cosby, actresses Lauren Bacall and Bernadette Peters, singer James Taylor and conductor John Williams.

Kennedy has been getting treatment for brain cancer in Florida - he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after suffering a seizure last May.

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• • • • • Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate Ted Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center on Sunday night.

The AP reports:

Toward the end of the gala, Cosby introduced Obama to loud applause from the performers and the audience. The president strode to the center of the stage and then conducted the performers in the birthday tune. Kennedy stood and delivered a thumbs-up from his balcony, where he was accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama.

The president later met Kennedy in his box as the performers sang "The Best Is Yet to Come."

Kennedy's niece, Caroline, also honored her uncle, making light of her short-lived attempt to take former Senator Hillary Clinton's New York Senate seat:

"I never thought I'd be in a room with so many senators."

Comments

[newbeliever]

06:59 PM on 03/10/2009

Happy Birthday, Senator Kennedy....I pray that you will have many more!! We don't always have to agree politically, but you're a very giving, concerned man and I appreciate your honest giving of self for others less fortunate than you are. Maybe Rush Limbaugh can take lessons.......he is the most selfish, self-serving man (term used loosely) who profits off of others fears that he feeds with his own divisive spirit and reckless tongue. While he professes to know how much longer you will live, sir....someone needs to tell Rush that sometimes when we dig ditches for others, we fall into them ourselves! He who exalts himself, shall be abased.....it's on the way, Rush Limbaugh.

[DebofMD]

05:15 PM on 03/10/2009

Happy Birthday Senator Kennedy!!!! :0)

[finwiz]

03:37 PM on 03/10/2009

Thank goodness Teddy didn't offer to drive Obie back to the White House.

[Ibis Norena]

10:25 AM on 03/10/2009

Many more to come Senator Kennedy My God Bess u Always

[FreedomTruth]

11:12 PM on 03/09/2009

Ted is "Mr. Chin".

[obamagal]

11:05 AM on 03/10/2009

And you are? Oh, never mind.

[hearmeloudandclear]

11:00 PM on 03/09/2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a wonderful, dedicated Senator (Kennedy). . You - sometimes it appeared, single-handedly - fought for those at the bottom of the scale. I watched you many, many times and have admired the fact that you would unselfishly dedicate your life to public service. You were sincere, hard-working and a God-send.

I hope the joy of this 77th birthday was like the beautiful sea that you enjoy - an indelible memory as you continue on in the days ahead.

President & Mrs Obama's presence represent the many, many Americans who love and wish you well.

[ObserverinVancouver]

11:20 PM on 03/09/2009

Very nice comment. Thanks. Some Canadians are very fond of Sen. Kennedy too.

[8isEnoughPeriod]

06:05 AM on 03/10/2009

Could not have put it any nicer! Thanks.
Happy Birthday and many more Sen. Kennedy.

[obamagal]

11:06 AM on 03/10/2009

How truly lovely.

[mistlesuede]

07:10 PM on 03/09/2009

Happy Birthday Senator Kennedy. And many more!!!!

[maggiebeer]

06:53 PM on 03/09/2009

I'm simply delighted to share my birthday with our friend Ted.

[shaqfan]

03:41 PM on 03/09/2009

i love how donald lawrence was there to sing that song The Best is Yet to Come. i luv that song and i luv seeing The First Fam out there having a nice time.

[Jonni Rae]

03:40 PM on 03/09/2009

I, too, would like to see the video. Huff post, get it. I think it was great for him to come and lead Happy Birthday. You can see by Teddy's face how happy he is. God Bless you, Ted, and Happy Birthday and may there be many more!!!!!

[jazabelz]

02:47 PM on 03/09/2009

It's great to see the President and First Lady getting out and celebrating life in America, rather than hiding in the White House. Ted looked great and I loved Caroline's humor -- she got a raw deal.

[sarasotajeff]

10:51 AM on 03/10/2009

comment was great until "she got a raw deal"... er, no she didn't, but the people of new york nearly did. Taking nothing away from the Kennedy clan, Caroline was not a suitable senate candidate and should never have been considered.

[anonimost]

01:45 PM on 03/09/2009

I'm so happy Michelle covered up her "offensive" arms. Ha!

[madatnewsmedia]

08:51 PM on 03/09/2009

You rock!!

[vball]

09:06 PM on 03/09/2009

My first thought, lol.
She should have gone sleeveless again- just to tick everybody off!

[Arbor]

01:43 PM on 03/09/2009

Does anyone know if/when it will be on tv? I would love to see this.

[scully05]

12:56 PM on 03/09/2009

Happy Birthday, Senator Kennedy. I pray you have many more.
I should recommend to you my neurorogist who removed my brain tumor. I suffered a mengianoma, but it was not cancerous. I had a great doctor. That was a year ago March 3.

[s miller08]

07:46 PM on 03/09/2009

Congratulations!

[Dandywalker]

12:13 PM on 03/09/2009

Happy Birthday, Senator Kennedy. God bless you