[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17997-S17998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ALAN SIMPSON

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to come to 
the floor to talk about a friend, to talk about a man whom I respect as 
a friend, whom I respect as a public servant, a man--to quote a phrase 
he uses--``who is a friend to his friends,'' Alan Simpson.
  As you all know, Al Simpson indicated in Cody, WY, last Saturday that 
he would not seek another term in the U.S. Senate and would end his 
career at 18 years. Alan Simpson is a special guy, a unique U.S. 
Senator. There are none other like him. He can be outspoken, very 
candid, very frank, and very kind.
  This Cody boy is an outstanding Senator and my lifelong friend, a 
good and gracious man. I know that so many of you have known him well 
and also call him a friend. We are lucky in that way. Both he and Ann 
have given grace and style in their personal relationships as well as 
in their political life. All of us in Wyoming have been very proud of 
his representation in the Senate and his and Ann's representation as 
Wyomingites in the Nation's Capital.

  I have had the privilege to serve as a part of a team with Al on the 
Wyoming delegation for 5 years, when I was in the House and he and 
Malcolm Wallop were here. This one very special year, Alan Simpson and 
I have had the opportunity to serve together. There will be more 
accolades, tributes, and reactions, of course, to their decision. Many 
are surprised, certainly, and many are saddened by Al Simpson's 
decision not to run. I defend it because I know it was truly their 
decision and they are at peace with it and look forward to life beyond 
these Chambers, as we all know there is. I am sure that life will be 
centered in Cody, WY.
  I know that Al could have done anything he chose to. People in 
Wyoming 

[[Page S 17998]]
adore him, respect him, and he could have won the race easily. I have a 
selfish reaction to this. I wanted him to run again. We in Wyoming have 
a unique relationship in this delegation--all Republicans, and we are 
all friends. I think it is especially unique that Al and I grew up in 
the same little town, Cody, WY--which was about 6,000--across the alley 
from one another. We played sports together, grew up together. I can 
tell a few scandalous stories, but Al has told most of them already.
  Few men in Washington have the gift of skill and the gift of humor 
that Al Simpson has. He has always been that way. I can recall when I 
was just a kid, Milward Simpson was probably the most famous man in our 
little town. I can remember being so astonished that he could stand up 
and extemporaneously speak, and it would just flow.
  So now we are here serving the Wyoming people in the Senate, and here 
Alan Simpson is my political mentor, our senior Senator and, very 
selfishly, I wanted him to run again, to continue his excellent 
representation and clear leadership. Many of you will have your own 
testimony to Al Simpson during the coming year. But I can tell you from 
one who has known the Simpson family, I know Milward and Lorna Simpson 
would have been very proud of Al, both in the way he has served and 
will serve throughout 1996, but also as proud as only a father and a 
mother can be in the way he has come to and announced his decision. He 
announced it with courage, with class, and with a positive view for the 
future--the qualities that define Al and Ann Simpson.
  He has 1 more year to go. No one should make a mistake or forget 
about that. He will do many things in that year. He will achieve much. 
So I will, at the end of that year, miss my good friend and mentor. All 
of us, I think, will miss his good western advice, little bits of 
western wisdom, such as ``don't squat with your spurs on'' and other 
little bits like that.
  So I say to my friend, hats off to a true trail boss, good luck, and 
I hope you do as well as you have done in the past, my friend, Al 
Simpson.

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