[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TRIBUTE TO SENATOR JOHN C. STENNIS

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it was my honor, a unique honor and 
special pleasure to serve in this body as the State colleague of John 
C. Stennis for 10 years. I deeply appreciated the bond of friendship, 
respect and trust that developed between us as we worked together to 
represent the interests of the State of Mississippi, and its citizens, 
in the U.S. Senate.
  He had already established a reputation for intelligent leadership in 
this body when I arrived here, and I considered it my good fortune to 
be able to learn first hand from him and from his example. We were 
never rivals. We talked almost every day. He was always friendly and 
courteous to me, as he was with every other Senator. Although we were 
members of different political parties, that did not interfere with or 
detract from our relationship.
  Our State has had it share of demagogues, as all other States have, 
and I have deplored their excesses and have been embarrassed by them. 
But in Senator Stennis we saw a man as pure in heart and deed with less 
inclination to inflame the passions of the voters with exaggerated and 
flamboyant rhetoric as any we have ever elected to public office, and I 
admired him for that. He preferred to win a debate or an election on 
the basis of the well argued evidence, rather than to prey upon the 
fears or suspicions or prejudices of the audience.
  He was the kind of Senator I try to be.
  During his more than 41 years of service as a U.S. Senator, he was 
steady, conscientious and extraordinarily successful in every 
assignment and undertaking.
  From his earliest days to his last days he gave the full measure of 
energy and his ability to the service of this body and to his State. He 
saw that as his duty, and he took that as seriously as anyone who has 
ever served here.
  Others have recalled in their speeches the positions of 
responsibility he held and the legislation he authored and caused to be 
adopted. There were many of each, and they are persuasive testimony to 
his effectiveness as a Senator. I will not try to recount all of them.
  What may not be as easily measured is the influence he had in the 
Senate by the force of his character. He was the epitome of rectitude, 
of fairness, of decorum. His selection to be the first chairman of the 
Senate's Select Committee on Standards and Conduct was an illustration 
of the view that others in the body had of him, and the confidence they 
had in him to do what was right and just.
  That is why he was so admired and appreciated in Mississippi. He got 
things done that helped our State, and its people, but he was more than 
an effective Senator. He was totally honest and trustworthy.
  Mississippi will forever honor the memory of John C. Stennis.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. DeWINE). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as 
if morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I thank the presiding officer for his 
patience.


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