[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 26 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 SENATOR ROBERT BYRD'S 35TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, I just came from a luncheon honoring 
our colleague, the President pro tempore, Robert Byrd, on his 35th 
anniversary. As usual, Senator Byrd put things in perspective, as only 
he can do. He said that what is really important to all of us men and 
women is, first, God, and then understanding that, whatever that God is 
to each and every one of us; second, family, and what that means to 
each of us and to society; third was the Senate.
  When he got into the Senate, he talked about the history as he has so 
eloquently talked about before many times, and about the party and the 
politics which, though it is integrated so much in our system here, is 
really a secondary or a third or fourth consideration on how we operate 
our lives and what we do here.
  I had not thought about it in those terms, I guess, but it is a 
partisan body. We know that. Each side has that obligation and 
responsibility. Senator Byrd, as usual, got to the core of it. Then he 
talked about the history of our Founding Fathers, as only Senator Byrd 
can do. I left that luncheon, once again, in deep admiration and just 
felt an uncontrollable urge to come and say so, because he is not only 
a friend of mine, but somebody who will not be matched in history, I do 
not think, that has served in this body for so long.

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