[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY FOR SENATOR DOLE

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I call attention to an historic moment that 
the Senate experienced today. Twenty-five years ago today--on April 14, 
1969--our friend and colleague, the Senate Republican leader, Senator 
Robert Dole, delivered his maiden speech to the United States Senate.
  We are living in times, now, when Senators who come to the Senate, 
the first day they are sworn in, speak. They do not wait. They speak at 
the drop of a hat. If the hat drops the first day, they go to it.
  I can remember when Senators who came to the Senate waited for weeks 
before they made what we referred to as their maiden speech. And the 
word would go out to the offices that Senator So-and-So was going to 
make a speech tomorrow, or on a certain day next week. And Senators 
would come over and listen to that freshman Senator make his speech. 
They gathered to hear him. It was an event.
  Those days are gone. But our friend and colleague, Senator Robert 
Dole, delivered his maiden speech to the United States Senate on April 
14, 25 years ago.
  Not too many of us are still present who were Senators on that day a 
quarter century ago.
  And not many Senators throughout the history of the Congress have 
played as momentous a role in the affairs of the United States Senate--
indeed, in the affairs of the United States itself--as has our esteemed 
friend and colleague from Kansas. So I congratulate Senator Dole on 
this informal commemoration of an important milestone in his life.
  Further, I commend Senator Dole for the personal contributions, as 
well as the professional contributions, that he has made to his 
country.
  Most of us are familiar with Senator Dole's war record and with the 
long, painful, and poignant struggle that was his to recapture his 
strength and to embark on the inspiring saga that has been his career 
in public life.
  Mr. President, I have no doubt that I speak for all of our colleagues 
in saluting Senator Dole on the occasion of an important anniversary in 
his very distinguished career, and I take advantage of this opportunity 
once again to express to him my personal appreciation for our 
association and friendship over the more than a quarter of a century 
that we have been yoked in service to this Senate and to this Nation.
  Erma and I join in our congratulations to my friend today. I hope I 
am around when Senator Dole speaks again to us on the half-century 
mark, 25 years from now. I expect to be here. I am sure Strom Thurmond 
will be here. I have a strong feeling that Senator Biden will be here, 
as will Senator Hatch and Senator Graham.
  Mr. President, I thank Senators for their patience and I yield the 
floor.

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