[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      TRIBUTE TO SENATOR MITCHELL

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, I join in the comments made by my 
distinguished colleague from Rhode Island.
  I had the pleasure of also not just observing the outstanding 
performance of Senator Mitchell here as a majority leader, but I have 
seen him in his own home State. That had come about in my endeavors in 
the Presidential campaign back in 1982, 1983 and 1984 when we traveled 
the vast State of Maine, which is certainly right in the league with 
Alaska and Texas with respect to travel and getting around, from 
Macwahoc all the way down to Portland and Blacktop, as he called it, 
even to east Millinocket.
  We used to say the first prize was a weekend in east Millinocket, the 
second prize was two weekends in east Millinocket.
  I traveled to the beautiful coastline around Camden, Bar Harbor, and 
the other beautiful tourist spots there, and then into some of the 
inner cities such as Waterville, the home of our distinguished majority 
leader. I got to know his family, his brothers and others.
  There is no one held in higher regard than Senator George Mitchell in 
his own home State. You do not have to take a poll for me because that 
was one thing that you could see uniformly traveling with the 
distinguished Senator, visiting at different meetings with him, and 
watching Republicans, Democrats and Independents as they responded to 
his presence, his dedication, his sensitivity, his just superior 
performance as a public servant.
  The role itself as majority leader has changed measurably, Madam 
President. I cite our current experience with S.4. In earlier days 
under other leaders, one would not think of a nongermane matter coming 
up on a particular bill. Now, all Senators do that. It just would not 
be thought of. And that is one of the ways measures were expedited, 
because you knew what the order of business was, you knew your 
interest, you knew your position. You immediately checked with your 
staff, and the debate itself was limited, and the vote was had, and we 
moved along in expedited legislation.
  You can just think mentally, if you were the majority leader, how you 
would possibly handle the current situation in the Senate, with all 
kinds of matters extraneous to the technology bill before the Senate, 
S. 4 being brought up as amendments. And handling that very toilsome 
task requires the best of humor and the best of attitude and the best 
of understanding of just the facts of life as is apparent now on both 
sides of the aisle. It is not just a partisan thing. It is a matter 
that occurs with Senators from both parties. You have to have a sense 
of indulgence and an understanding.
  No one has a finer sensitivity in this regard than the distinguished 
majority leader, George Mitchell.
  I joined yesterday with the Senator from Montana. I wanted to join in 
his laudatory comments of Senator Mitchell. I, perhaps, did not 
elaborate enough when he mentioned being up there in Maine and the 
tremendous respect and admiration for Senator Mitchell there as a 
public servant.

  Otherwise, here, having experienced leadership from both sides of the 
aisle, I know of no one who has operated under the trying circumstances 
that we have been engaged in here in the last several years. No one 
could have handled it nearly as well as Senator George Mitchell of 
Maine.
  So it is in that light that we all think seriously about a succession 
to him, not just the handling of matters here on the floor, with 100 of 
us prima donnas, as we are called, not just handling the opposition, 
the loyal opposition in their particular interests, but handling, of 
course, the program of the executive branch, the President's 
legislative program, handling all of that, and then the personal 
requirements that come about and demands upon the majority leader.
  I think the majority leader now, in light of the changing rules of 
the game, is an extraordinarily demanding job. We need someone who is 
up to that job, and who can also perform creditably on the various 
interview shows, especially on Sunday morning. I think we have been 
blessed with the appearances of George Mitchell, who is so cogent, who 
is so analytical, judicial, if you please--a talent that he learned as 
a presiding Federal district judge--judicial, if you please, in his 
analysis of the problems.
  He sees clearly to the trial of the case and knows exactly what those 
on the jury, namely, the people, generally would be interested in, and 
what they would not be interested in, and what should be emphasized, 
and how to encapsulate in the 20-second bites afforded you on these 
interview shows.
  Senator Mitchell has done that in an outstanding way and we are 
looking now for someone to try to replace that talent. In truth, this 
uniquely talented man cannot be fully replaced. I know of no other 
Senator who combines so exquisitly the qualities demanded of an 
effective majority leader.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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