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




               TRIBUTE TO ALAN SIMPSON AND MARK HATFIELD

  Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, I would like to remark at what a 
diminished place this will be because of the loss of Senator Simpson 
and Senator Hatfield, both of whom announced over the weekend that they 
would be leaving. There are no Senators in this body, any that I know 
of, who have served here who have been more distinguished than the 
Senator from Wyoming and the Senator from Oregon. I might say that 
there are none for whom I have higher personal esteem and affection 
than both of these Senators.
  It was truly a historic weekend for both of them to announce that 
they were leaving the Senate. I must say, had I not myself announced 
that I was leaving, I would be much sadder than I am. Since I will be 
leaving, I will not miss them here. I despair, though, because of the 
vacuum that will be left in this Nation when these two very great 
public servants will be leaving the Senate.
  I did not come for that specific purpose, Mr. President. I will later 
talk about my two friends. But I could not miss the opportunity when 
the junior Senator from Wyoming brought up the subject to say how much 
I share his sentiments and how great I think the loss is for the 
country.

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