[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S17508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO SENATOR NANCY LANDON KASSEBAUM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, during my years in the U.S. Senate, it has 
been my privilege to serve alongside two remarkable colleagues from 
Kansas.
  The first was Jim Pearson, who was a Senator of great common sense 
and great integrity who was widely respected by Members on both sides 
of the aisle.
  When Senator Pearson retired in 1978, Kansans replaced him with 
another person of common sense and integrity--Senator Nancy Landon 
Kassebaum. Kansans reelected Senator Kassebaum in 1984 and 1990 by 
overwhelming margins.
  And there is no doubt that she would have received another landslide 
next November.
  This morning in Topeka, however, Senator Kassebaum announced that she 
would retire from the Senate at the end of next year.
  Yes, this announcement was not unexpected, but still it comes as a 
blow to Kansans, and to all of us here in the Senate who have grown to 
count on Senator Kassebaum's leadership, wisdom, and friendship.
  I will have more to say about Senator Kassebaum in the coming weeks 
and months, but I did want to take just a minute today to pay tribute 
to our colleague and friend.
  The Senate has debated many historic and important issues in the past 
17 years, and Senator Kassebaum has played a key role in many of them.
  As a member of the Labor and Human Resources Committee--a committee 
she now chairs--Senator Kassebaum has tirelessly worked for legislation 
to assist America's working men and woman.
  Kansans have a tradition for helping neighbors in need, and Senator 
Kassebaum continued that tradition here in the Senate, as she devoted 
time and energy to improving programs that help the less fortunate.
  Senator Kassebaum also emerged over the years as a strong force in 
shaping America's foreign policy. One example of her leadership in the 
arena was her instrumental role in shaping the policy that helped move 
South Africa to a new era of equality.
  Senator Kassebaum's father, the great Alf Landon, once said, ``there 
are some smart people in Washington. There are more of 'em in Kansas.''
  Senator Kassebaum has succeeded because she has always kept those 
words in mind, and she has always understood that Kansans and Americans 
did not need the Federal Government to run their lives and make 
decisions for them.
  Mr. President, Nancy Kassebaum's record of intelligence, integrity, 
and independence has ensured that she will always be remembered as one 
of the true giants of Kansas political history.
  And I know I speak for all Members of the Senate in saying that we 
are very proud to call her our colleague and our friend.

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