Interview of the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts by Bob Schieffer, CBS News Face the Nation, CBS News Washington, Washington, D.C.

by Anatoly O. 03/20/2006

Q: Let's start right in about Iraq because that's right at the top of the list this morning. Iraq is in the midst of a civil war. Do you agree with that?

Edward Moore Kennedy: Iraq plunges into civil war. U.S. troops are deeply involved. Our military is caught in the middle of a civil war. It is far from clear that the Administration has an effective plan. The American people deserve to know in much more detail how the administration plans to deal with such a disaster.

Q: Many people say that you're just worn out. And we all know, people who work at the United States Senate work very long hours. They work very, very hard. Is it possible that maybe you're just suffering a little fatigue here? I must say candidly you have become a lightning rod. Have you ever thought to resign?

Edward Moore Kennedy: No.

Q: I must ask you about what you have called the worst day of your life -- on July 18, 1969 you drove with Mary Jo Kopechne as a passenger over Dike Bridge. The car plunged into tide-swept Poucha Pond (at that location a channel) and landed upside down under the water. Kopechne died, but as no autopsy was performed, precise cause of death is unknown. You didn't make it public for almost a day. Now, you said the other day that you still thought that was the right way to go about it. But I just want to ask you, now that you've had some time to reflect on it, could that have been better handled?

Edward Moore Kennedy: No.