MILWAUKEE - "I'm deeply saddened as I assume hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Wisconsinites are," said Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on 620WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News" about the passing of his colleague, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

"Ted Kennedy was a great senator, and a great man."

Feingold described how he had observed and admired his eventual Senate colleague for nearly all of his life.

"I can't believe that I'm 56 years old and my memories of the man go back 50 years," explained Feingold.

That included one incident where he tried to teach Feingold how to grind Congressional action to a halt with verbosity, a tactic used on both sides of the aisle.

"I remember one time, I was called down to the Senate when I first got in there, and was asked by Senator Kennedy to meet him down there and give a speech," Feingold reminisced.

"I ran down there, and Senator Kennedy said, 'OK, Russ, I want you to talk down there. I got up and I talked for five minutes, and he got and looked at me and he said, 'keep talking.' I said, 'I don't have anything more to say. He said, 'This is a filibuster. It doesn't matter what you say. Just keep talking.' So, I learned from the old pro that sometimes you just have to talk to slow things down."

Feingold said Kennedy had the ability to reach beyond the circles of the powerful and be genuine to whomever came across his path.

"The guy had this ability to show that he really cared about you, your family," said Feingold.

"He enjoyed people. My daughters had the chance to intern at his office. They were treated like people that mattered, even though they were young kids. The guy had this ability to inspire people because he made you feel like you mattered. He always had time for the little guy, for people that weren't important as well as those who were important."

Could Kennedy Death Spawn Health Care Action?

According to Feingold, the death of Massachusetts' senior senator might spur Democrats to push for new action and get the President Obama health care plan passed.

"Maybe the loss of Senator Kennedy will remind people that this is huge unfinished business in this country. We can't continue with the health care system as it is. Senator Kennedy spent countless time, most of his life, trying to make this point. Maybe we can turn this into just a little bit of inspiration. The job isn't done."

"I don't believe that will do it by itself, but maybe it will remind us of why we're in public service. Our job here is to respond to the needs of the people in this country. The businesses in the country are hurting because of this health care system. The answers aren't easy, but everybody admits there needs to be reform.

"Perhaps this will help us get into more of a positive frame of mind to solve this problem."