[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 123 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10754-S10757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMENDING SENATOR ROBERT C. BYRD FOR CASTING 14,000 VOTES

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure and respect 
that I announce that Senator Robert C. Byrd has now become the first 
U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 votes.
  [Applause, Senators rising.]
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I know I speak for all Senators in 
congratulating him on this unprecedented accomplishment. I note that 
this is only his latest in a most distinguished career. Senator Byrd's 
remarkable voting 

[[Page S 10755]]
record began on January 8, 1959, when he cast his very first vote in 
the Senate. Fittingly, it was a vote on Senate procedure.
  During his next 13,999 votes, he has served as the secretary of the 
Senate Democratic Conference, the Senate majority whip, the Senate 
majority leader, the Senate minority leader, and President pro tempore. 
This record of Senate service means that Senator Byrd has held more 
leadership positions in the Senate than any other Senator in history.
  He has cast more votes than any other Senator. It was on April 27, 
1990, that he cast his 12,134th Senate vote to surpass Senator William 
Proxmire. Recognizing that monumental vote, the current majority 
leader, Senator Dole, remarked that:

       When another person writes the history of the Senate, they 
     will look back on this era and they will note the 
     significance of this giant in the Senate, Robert C. Byrd.

  Indeed, they will, Mr. President, because this Senate giant from West 
Virginia has been an active participant in so much of our Nation's 
history. He has served in the Senate under nine Presidents, through 
assassinations and resignations. He has been an integral part of the 
high drama and history of the second half of the 20th century, 
including the cold war, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, Watergate, 
Iran-contra, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  Today, we pause to recognize this extraordinary leader for the 
milestones in his legislative career, and they are many.
  They include being one of only three U.S. Senators in American 
history to be elected to seven 6-year terms; being the first sitting 
Member of either House of Congress to begin and complete the study of 
law and obtain a law degree while serving in Congress; being the first 
person to carry every county in the State of West Virginia, 55 of them, 
in a contested Statewide general election; being the only person in the 
history of West Virginia to serve in both chambers of the State 
legislature and both Houses of the U.S. Congress; obtaining the 
greatest number, the greatest percentage, and the greatest margin of 
votes cast in Statewide contested elections in his State; being the 
first U.S. Senator in West Virginia to win a Senate seat without 
opposition in a general election; and serving longer in the Senate than 
anyone else in West Virginia history.
  He wrote his incomparable four-volume history of the Senate, an 
award-winning study that has brought our understanding of the history 
and workings of this subtle and complex institution to new heights.
  This is quite a record for a poor boy from the hills of West 
Virginia, who was raised by foster parents in a coal company house and 
who had to walk 3 miles to catch a bus in order to attend school, who 
rose from collecting scraps for hogs to become a gas station attendant, 
a produce salesman, a meat cutter, a welder, and a grocery store owner.
  Mr. President, Senator Byrd will cast more votes, we hope he will 
write more books, and we know he will help make more history, but to me 
his greatest feat will always be the dignity he has brought to this 
institution every day the Senate is in session and the way he has 
served and the way he shares his reverence for this institution with 
all of his colleagues. I am pleased and very proud to be one of them.
  So today, Mr. President, we congratulate Senator Byrd not only for 
today's historic vote but for his remarkable career of which today's 
feat is symbolic.
  I should also note that in a few months our esteemed colleague on the 
other side of the aisle, Senator Strom Thurmond, who is only a few 
votes behind Senator Byrd, will also reach this particular milestone, 
and I look forward to recognizing his achievement as well.
  Today, however, is Senator Byrd's day and the Senate Democrats and 
Senate Republicans alike join together in honoring and celebrating 
Senator Byrd's historic feat, becoming the first U.S. Senator in 
history to cast 14,000 votes.
  So I send a resolution to the desk on behalf of Senator Dole, Senator 
Rockefeller, and myself and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 157) commending Senator Robert Byrd 
     for casting 14,000 votes:
       Whereas the Honorable Robert C. Byrd has served with 
     distinction and commitment as a U.S. Senator from the State 
     of West Virginia since January 3, 1959;
       Whereas he has dutifully and faithfully served the Senate 
     six years as Senate Majority Leader (1977-80, 1987-88) and 
     six years as the Senate Minority Leader (1981-1986);
       Whereas his dedicated service as a U.S. Senator has 
     contributed to the effectiveness and betterment of this 
     institution;
       Whereas he is one of only three U.S. Senators in American 
     history who has been elected to seven 6-year terms in the 
     Senate;
       Whereas he has held more Senate leadership positions than 
     any other Senator in history: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the U.S. Senate congratulates the Honorable 
     Robert C. Byrd, the senior Senator from West Virginia, for 
     becoming the first U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 
     votes.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Senator Robert C. Byrd.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I will not oppose the resolution.
  I would like to say just a word because I think in addition to 
casting the most votes, 14,000, he remembers each vote. With his 
extraordinary memory, there is no doubt in my mind he can go back and 
tell you what the 30th vote was and the 3,000th vote and probably the 
day it happened and what we were doing at the time.
  As has also been pointed out, during his 36 years in the Senate he 
has held more titles and more leadership positions than any other 
Senator in history. And also he has his role, as Senator Daschle 
alluded, of historian. And no one knows more. In fact, I tell stories 
as I go around that with what Senator Byrd knows about this place and 
all he knows about Roman history, I have tried to get C-SPAN to get me 
college credits if I carefully listened to him on Roman history. But 
that is the truth, and he has written the volumes of books, and he 
understands it.
  His third role is as champion of the interests of the people of West 
Virginia. When there were rumors last year that our former colleague, 
George Mitchell, might become commissioner of baseball, I speculated 
that if Senator Byrd would become commissioner, all the teams would 
have been moved to West Virginia.
  Now, that may or may not have happened, but behind that joke is the 
fact that Senator Byrd works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a 
year helping the people of West Virginia.
  Finally, amidst all of his duties and responsibilities, Senator Byrd 
also fills the role of friend. And I have noticed my colleagues on both 
sides will go up and sit next to Senator Byrd during a vote or after a 
vote and talk to Senator Byrd about parliamentary procedure. Although 
we come from different parties and we have had different views on some 
issues from time to time, Senator Byrd has always remained my friend 
and I think of every Senator on each side of the aisle. I know we all 
feel the same way.
  The final chapter on Senator Byrd will not be written for a long, 
long time. I have no doubt that as a leader, historian, a champion of 
his State and a friend, Senator Byrd has set standards that will always 
be remembered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The junior Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, when I think of my senior colleague 
from West Virginia, there are really two qualities that come to mind. 
One is his constancy of purpose and secondly is his devotion to the 
people of West Virginia.
  I have always felt that if a person in public life follows his moral 
compass, he or she will do what is, in fact, right. Senator Byrd knows 
instinctively what is right for the people of West Virginia as well as 
for the people of our country.
  And for my colleagues who have not had the pleasure of being in West 
Virginia when Senator Byrd is there, either campaigning for office or 
just simply talking with his constituents, it is a truly remarkable 
experience to watch him communicate with them. It is a bond that I have 
never seen before between any person and a group of people. He 
reminisces, he talks about the future. Yes, he talks about Roman 
history. But what he does is he brings people to him and makes them 
important as if they count in a State where every day is a fight for 
survival and makes 

[[Page S 10756]]
them feel that in him they have a champion who will never let them 
down.
  On that I will close, because he never will let them down. There is 
nothing that he will not do to help the people of West Virginia while 
staying constant to his responsibilities to the people of the United 
States of America. I am extremely proud to be his junior colleague.
  It is interesting that he noted this one time, I think not to me but 
to a newspaper, that I have never referred to Senator Byrd as ``Bob'' 
or ``Robert.'' I have only referred to him in the 10 years we have 
served together, and before that when I was Governor, as ``Senator 
Byrd,'' or ``Senator.'' And quite often, ``sir.'' And I have found that 
that has served me well. But more importantly, I have found that that 
came very naturally. It is simply an intuitive feeling of respect on my 
part for what, as Senator Dole said, a poor boy from West Virginia can 
do to help so many.
  Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I know that my staff has been keeping up 
with my votes because I was surprised today when Senator Daschle and 
Senator Boxer and others came up and congratulated me. I wondered what 
for. For 11 years now I have not missed a vote. My voting record is 
98.7 percent for the 36\1/2\ years I have been in the Senate. That does 
not count the votes I cast when I was in the House.
  Senator Dole made reference to my recollection of votes. I recall two 
votes that I would change if I could vote them over. One was the vote 
on the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I voted against that act. I felt at the 
time that it was unconstitutional. I stood in the Senate following my 
receipt of a law degree, cum laude, at American University, and based 
my opposition on the Constitution. And there were such men in the 
Senate as Sam Ervin, and Richard Russell, Lister Hill, Allen Ellender, 
John McClellan, Norris Cotton, George Aiken, Everett Dirksen. These 
were, in my judgment, giants. And they were constitutional scholars. 
But I since have regretted that vote.
  I also have since regretted my vote to deregulate the airlines 
because of what has happened subsequently by way of airline service to 
West Virginia. It deteriorated. And it is very costly to travel back 
and forth to West Virginia by airline. I cannot now remember any other 
votes that I regret. But we all cast votes that we may regret sooner or 
later.
  I am very grateful, Mr. President, for the comments that have been 
made here by our majority leader, by our minority leader, and by my 
colleague from West Virginia with whom I am proud to serve. He serves 
with grace. He always treats me with great courtesy and deference. I 
never called Richard Russell ``Richard.'' I never called him ``Dick.'' 
I always spoke to him--he was the only Senator I always spoke to him as 
``Senator.''
  I am not decrying the fact that most Senators call me ``Robert'' or 
``Bob.'' But my West Virginia colleague's reference in regard to the 
way he addresses me recalls my feeling that way about Senator Russell. 
Senator Russell was a great Senator. He had only married once, and that 
was to the Senate. And he was a scholarly man. He had good judgment. At 
least I always thought so. He understood the rules and the precedents. 
And I admired him for that. And I learned in watching Senator Russell 
that if one knows the rules and the precedents, there are times when he 
can hold the Senate in his hand--in his hand.
  Few Senators bother to study them. I will not speak further on that. 
But we ought to all know more about the rules and we ought all to 
defend the rules as we should defend the Constitution. I shall not 
belabor these remarks.
  I am grateful to serve in the U.S. Senate. I think of Majorian, that 
prince who was made emperor of the west in 457 A.D. who said upon being 
made emperor, ``I still glory in the name of Senator.'' To me, the 
office of U.S. Senator is the highest office that the American people 
can give. Senators may convict a President or any officer or a Supreme 
Court Justice, if impeached by the House. The President cannot take 
away the seat of any Senator. Presidents come and go. We have had great 
ones and we have had some that were not so great. And the same can be 
said of Senators. But Senators stay if they give their best.
  I have thought about Senator Russell's reference to Robert E. Lee 
when he quoted Lee as saying, ``Duty is the sublimest word in the 
English language.'' That has been my credo. I have never sought to be 
loved by my colleagues. I have only sought to do my duty and to do it 
as I see it. I know I am often wrong. I realize at times that I 
misspeak. I say things in reference to other Senators that I afterwards 
wish I had said differently.
  I said something to Senator Dole a while back I wish I had said a bit 
differently. But once the word is spoken, it cannot be retrieved.
  Let me close by stating that I wish we had a greater demonstration of 
civility in the Senate. It has lost its old civility. I am sorry that 
it has become more politically partisan. We are all politically 
partisan. I am, but we have become too politically partisan in this 
Senate, and it grieves me to see this. It grieves me to see the growing 
disorder in this Senate, and I often say to other Senators, ``It wasn't 
that way when I came here.''
  We ought to be a little more civil and remember that each has his own 
viewpoint and that there is something--actually there are many things--
that are above political party. Political party is important to me. It 
has been now for 50 years next year, but it is not the most important 
thing. There are many things more important than political party, and 
Washington warned us against factions and parties. I do not ask anyone 
to pattern after me, but there are a good many things I place above 
party, and the United States Senate is one of them.
  I close by thanking all of my colleagues and for asking them to 
overlook my idiosyncrasies and my sharp words at times when I use them. 
I often ask God to make me more considerate of others. There are times 
when I regret that I speak too hastily, but we are all human.
  So let me just close by thanking my colleagues for their service 
every day to their people, for all Americans. We love our country. I 
love the Senate. I shall remember, in closing, what William Ewart 
Gladstone, who was Prime Minister of Great Britain four times, said 
about the United States Senate. He referred to the Senate as ``that 
remarkable body, the most remarkable of all the inventions of modern 
politics.''
  I hope and pray that these few words today will cause me to look at 
myself a little closer and will cause every one of us to look at the 
Senate with greater pride. There have only been 1,826 Senators, and you 
are one of them, and you are one of them, and you are one of them, and 
you are one of them. What a chosen group! The American people, over 
these years since 1789, have chosen 1,826 men and women, or they have 
been appointed, and each of you is one of those 1,826. That ought to be 
a source of pride.
  I am not running for justice of the peace. I am not running for 
sheriff. I am not running for Governor. I am not running for President. 
All of these are important offices. But as Majorian said, ``I still 
glory in the name of Senator.''
  [Applause.]
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wish to join other colleagues in the 
historic, well-deserved recognition of Senator Byrd of West Virginia. 
The leadership covered in precise detail his extraordinary record of 
achievements as a leader of the body.
  I can add only one view which is widely shared. That is, Mr. Byrd is 
truly recognized as a gentleman in the finest Senate tradition.
  Further, I shall always view him as a family man, everlastingly 
grateful to the support given through all these years by his wife, 
Irma. His career was a family partnership.
  I look forward to many more years of service together.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
  So the resolution (S. Res. 157) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:
                              S. Res. 157

       Whereas the Honorable Robert C. Byrd has served with 
     distinction and commitment as a 

[[Page S 10757]]
     U.S. Senator from the State of West Virginia since January 3, 1959;
       Whereas he has dutifully and faithfully served the Senate 
     six years as Senate Majority Leader (1977-80, 1987-88) and 
     six years as the Senate Minority Leader (1981-1986);
       Whereas his dedicated service as a U.S. Senator has 
     contributed to the effectiveness and betterment of this 
     institution;
       Whereas he is one of only three U.S. Senators in American 
     history who has been elected to seven 6-year terms in the 
     Senate;
       Whereas he has held more Senate leadership positions than 
     any other Senator in history: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the U.S. Senate congratulates the Honorable 
     Robert C. Byrd, the senior Senator from West Virginia, for 
     becoming the first U.S. Senator in history to cast 14,000 
     votes.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Senator Robert C. Byrd.

  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Senators are welcome to cosponsor the resolution 
throughout the day.

                          ____________________