Senator Kennedy Collapses During Obama Inaugural Lunch

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, was recovering at a Washington hospital on Tuesday after suffering a seizure at an inaugural lunch for President Barack Obama.According to witnesses, Kennedy collapsed during the meal but recovered enough to smile and talk with his fellow lawmakers as his stretcher was wheeled to an ambulance and he was taken to Washington Hospital Center.

Testing suggested the seizure was "brought on by simple fatigue," said Dr. Edward Aulisi, the hospital's chairman of neurosurgery."Senator Kennedy is awake, talking with family and friends, and feeling well," Aulisi said in a statement.Kennedy will be released in the morning, Aulisi said.

The collapse of one of the Senate's most respected Democrats cast a pall over the celebrations, but within an hour Obama was leading a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, and the Senate was confirming several of his Cabinet nominees.Kennedy, 76, was found to have an incurable brain tumor last May that required surgery.

He missed much of the rest of the year in Congress, but returned to the Senate after the Democrat Obama's election in November, determined to help the new president pass sweeping legislation to expand health care.

Meanwhile President Barack Obama enjoyed his first lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies at the historic Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.Approximately 200 guests will attend the luncheon.The menu, created by Design Cuisine out of Arlington, Virginia, is a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, and is being served on replicas of the china from the Lincoln Presidency, which was selected by Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband’s term in office.The china features the American bald eagle standing above the U.S. Coat of Arms, surrounded by a wide border of “solferino,” a purple-red hue popular among the fashionable hosts of the day.

The first course is seafood stew: scallops, shrimp, lobster with a puff pastry top, paired with Duckhorn Vineyards, 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley.The main course is a brace of American birds: Duck breast with sour cherry chutney and Herb roasted pheasant with wild rice stuffing with Molasses whipped sweet potatoes and Winter vegetables, paired with Goldeneye, 2005 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley.The third course is cinnamon apple sponge cake and sweet cream glace, paired with Korbel natural “special inaugural cuvee” California Champagne.