[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 11 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S416-S418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMENDING SENATOR SAM NUNN FOR CASTING 10,000 VOTES

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be stated.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 213) commending Senator Sam Nunn for 
     casting 10,000 votes.

                              S. Res. 213

       Whereas, the Honorable Sam Nunn has served with distinction 
     and commitment as a 

[[Page S417]]
     U.S. Senator from the State of Georgia since January 1973;
       Whereas, his dedicated service as a U.S. Senator has 
     contributed to the effectiveness and betterment of this 
     institution;
       Whereas, he has dutifully and faithfully served the Senate 
     as chairman of the Armed Services Committee (1987-1994);
       Whereas, his expertise and leadership in defense and 
     military policies has been of tremendous benefit to our 
     Nation and to our men and women in uniform;
       Resolved, That the U.S. Senate congratulates the Honorable 
     Sam Nunn, the senior Senator from Georgia, for becoming the 
     17th U.S. Senator in history to cast 10,000 votes.
       Sec 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of 
     this resolution to Senator Sam Nunn.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader is recognized.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, it was on January 23, 1973, that a young, 
newly elected, freshman Senator from Georgia cast his first vote in 
this chamber--a vote to confirm a nominee to be Assistant Secretary of 
Defense.
  Today, 9,999 votes later, that Senator has become the Senate's 
leading authority on defense policies.
  Mr. President, it is with great pride and pleasure that I announce 
that Senator Sam Nunn has just become the 17th Senator in U.S. history 
to cast 10,000 votes. I am pleased to congratulate him for this 
remarkable achievement and thank him for his service to this 
institution and our country.
  In his leadership role on defense policies, Senator Nunn is following 
in the footsteps of two other great legislators from the State of 
Georgia.
  Representative Carl Vinson, who happened to be Senator Nunn's great 
uncle, chaired the House Armed Services Committee. Senator Richard 
Russell, who held for 38 years the Senate seat that Senator Nunn now 
holds, chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee.
  Senator Nunn served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee from 1987 to 1994, and is currently the ranking Democrat on 
the committee.
  He has introduced or cosponsored the most important legislation 
concerning military and defense issues of the past two decades, 
including defense reorganization, measures to reduce the threat of 
nuclear war, Pentagon procurement reform, base closing, and 
restructuring of military pay and benefits.
  He has earned the respect of both Republican and Democratic Senators 
through his efforts to ensure the integrity and mission of our military 
establishment in the face of massive budget cutting. Thanks to his 
efforts, while we now have a leaner military, it is a more cost-
effective military, rather than a weaker one.
  Senator Nunn's expertise in military and defense policy has been 
recognized and appreciated far beyond Capitol Hill. Every 
administration since the Carter administration has consulted him on 
military matters. And each of those administrations has considered him 
for a top level position in the administration. We in the Senate are 
extremely fortunate that Senator Nunn has chosen to serve here.
  Most importantly, his expertise and leadership has been recognized by 
the people of Georgia. In 1984, they re-elected him with 80 percent of 
the vote--defeating his opponent by a 4 to 1 margin. That was exceeded 
in 1990, when Senator Nunn was unopposed in both the State's primary 
and the general election for U.S. Senator.
  Still, I would like to point out that Senator Nunn's career has not 
been confined to or consumed by military and defense issues. In the 
Senate, he has played monumental roles in laying the groundwork for 
national service legislation, on deficit reduction, and on efforts to 
redirect our national economic and tax policies.
  Put simply, Senator Nunn has been a leading figure in American 
government. The Senate's foremost historian, Senator Robert C. Byrd, 
has appropriately remarked that Senator Nunn is one of those rare and 
extraordinary Senators ``who would have been recognized as [a] great 
senator in any age * * * in any period during the [past] 200 years'' of 
the Republic.
  Indeed, he would, and how pleased and honored I am to have the 
opportunity to recognize and congratulate our Senator, Senator Sam 
Nunn.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the resolution and preamble 
are agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 213) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:
       Whereas, the Honorable Sam Nunn has served with distinction 
     and commitment as a U.S. Senator from the State of Georgia 
     since January 1973;
       Whereas, his dedicated service as a U.S. Senator has 
     contributed to the effectiveness and betterment of this 
     institution;
       Whereas, he has dutifully and faithfully served the Senate 
     as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, (1987-1994);
       Whereas, his expertise and leadership in defense and 
     military policies has been of tremendous benefit to our 
     nation and to our men and women in uniform,
       Resolved, That the U.S. Senate congratulates the Honorable 
     Sam Nunn, the senior Senator from Georgia, for becoming the 
     17th U.S. Senator in history to cast 10,000 votes.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Senator Sam Nunn.
  Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from West 
Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as a Senator who has witnessed the services 
that have been rendered to our country by this very remarkable American 
and extraordinarily remarkable Senator, I wish to add just a few words 
about Samuel Augustus Nunn.
  He is the second individual who has served in the Congress by the 
name of Nunn. The first was David Alexander Nunn, who served from the 
State of Tennessee, elected to the House of Representatives in 1867, 
served for 2 years, and then was not reelected, but in 1873, was 
elected to a second term.
  I was looking over these names last night, and something struck me 
about them in particular. There is David Alexander Nunn. David, as we 
all know, is a Biblical name. Alexander, as we all know, was a great 
military general and ruler. And Nunn is a Biblical name. It is spelled 
N-u-n in the Bible. And often I have asked Sam, facetiously, if he 
named one of his sons Joshua. We are told that Joshua was the son of 
Nun.
  And then I noted Sam's name--Samuel, again a Biblical name, who 
answered God's call. He said, ``Here am I. Send me.''
  And I saw this Senator who said in response to the needs of the 
people of Georgia, ``Here am I. Send me.'' ``Speak, Lord, thy servant 
heareth.''
  And then his middle name is, as I indicated, Augustus. I do not know 
how many of you knew that. But Augustus was the first Roman emperor. He 
defeated Cleopatra and Anthony at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C. on 
September 2, the same birth month as Sam's. Sam was born September 8th, 
not that long ago, but in 1938. But he was born in September, the same 
month that this great battle was fought in 31 B.C.--it has been called 
one of the decisive battles of the world. The Emperor Augustus was one 
of the great administrative geniuses of all time.

  So I think of Sam Nunn as someone who has demonstrated a great genius 
in his work in this body. He has demonstrated that work as chairman of 
the committees. He has been a remarkable chairman. And he has been a 
remarkable Senator.
  He will be leaving us after this year, and I will have more to say 
about that later. But today, I could not constrain myself. I had to say 
something by way of tribute to this fine Senator. I watched him come 
here. I have watched him grow. I served in the House of Representatives 
with his granduncle, Carl Vinson, who lived to be 97. He was in his 
98th year when he died. He was chairman of the Armed Services Committee 
of the House of Representatives when I was in the House.
  So this has been a long line of famous Georgians who have been great 
chairmen, who have rendered great services in the field of national 
defense--Carl Vinson, Senator Richard Russell, and now Senator Sam 
Nunn.
  I close with the words of a poet, if I can remember them, which I 
think are appropriate at this moment.

     It isn't enough to say in our hearts
     That we like a man for his ways;
     It isn't enough that we fill our minds
     With psalms of silent praise;
     Nor is it enough that we honor a man
     As our confidence upward mounts;
     It's going right up to the man himself
     And telling him so that counts.

     If a man does a work that you really admire,
     Don't leave a kind word unsaid.
     In fear to do so might make him vain
     And cause him to lose his head.
     But reach out your hand and tell him, ``Well done.'' 
     
[[Page S418]]

     And see how his gratitude swells.
     It isn't the flowers we strew on the grave,
     It's the word to the living that tells.

  I will break the Senate rules in this instance by addressing another 
Senator in the second person. Congratulations to you, Sam Nunn. We will 
long wait to see someone who can fill your shoes as you have filled the 
shoes of that great patriarch, Richard Brevard Russell. 
Congratulations!
  Mr. THURMOND addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from South 
Carolina.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, Sam Nunn is a man of integrity, ability, 
and dedication. I have been on the Armed Services Committee since 1959, 
and I was so pleased that he joined the committee when he came to the 
Senate. He rendered outstanding service as a member of the committee 
and as chairman of the committee. He is known as an expert on defense 
matters. Not only in defense; he has done a fine job in every endeavor 
since he has been in the Senate. This country would be better off today 
if we had more people like Sam Nunn in the Senate and the House as well 
as the judicial and executive branches. I am proud of his friendship, 
proud to have worked with him. He has been a great citizen of America 
and he has rendered outstanding service of which we can all be proud.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. EXON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from 
Nebraska.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, many of my most distinguished colleagues, 
including the minority leader, including the great, distinguished 
member and the former chairman of the Appropriations Committee and now 
the ranking Democrat, Senator Byrd, my very able colleague from South 
Carolina, the chairman of the committee, and others will follow to give 
their accolades to our dear friend, Sam Nunn.
  I rise as a man who has worked closely with him under his tutelage 
for the last 18 years on many matters in the Senate and primarily with 
regard to the national security interests of the United States of 
America.
  I simply wish to add my name to the accolades of others who have 
spoken so eloquently on this true favorite son of the State of Georgia.
  Sam Nunn, you have set an example for all of us to follow while you 
have been here, and you are setting an example as others have set in 
other work for other people who are most concerned about the United 
States of America. Regardless of political affiliation, you have set a 
record for others to follow.
  Thank you, Sam, for all the help you have been. You have been great 
for the United States of America.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from 
Mississippi.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority--and, of course, 
our distinguished President pro tempore has already spoken--I would 
like to join our colleagues in congratulating the outstanding Senator 
from Georgia for this monumental accomplishment of 10,000 votes.
  We came to Congress together in 1973. I am going to have to go back 
and check to see how many votes I have cast, both in the House, of 
course, and the Senate. But it truly is a remarkable achievement. I had 
no idea actually how few had achieved this mark in history. But I also 
concur in the statements that have been made about the tremendous 
contributions the Senator from Georgia has made over the years. He has 
really continued the tradition of leaders from Georgia, particularly in 
this body, the Senate, who have left an indelible mark on the history 
of our country.

  We have all grown to respect and admire Senator Nunn, from Georgia, 
his integrity, his intelligence, his leadership in armed services and 
budget matters. It is one that we truly appreciate. I had not had an 
opportunity to express my admiration to the Senator and say how much I 
enjoyed working with him. I am glad we have at least 11 more months to 
work together. And I know that even though he will be leaving this 
body, the leadership he has provided will live on in many, many ways 
and we will be working together on other issues. So I congratulate the 
Senator on this fine achievement.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  Mr. NUNN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, that vote was easier cast than to respond to 
the aftermath. I would have to say that I was surprised. I knew that I 
was nearing the 10,000 mark, but I did not know I would reach it today.
  I must say that to be honored in this fashion is, indeed, touching 
and is a reminder of how much serving in this body has meant to me. I 
thank my friend from Mississippi, and my friend from South Carolina, 
and my friend from Nebraska. I thank the majority leader, and I thank 
the man that is really the person we all look to to carry on the 
traditions and ideals of the Senate, Senator Robert Byrd of West 
Virginia.
  Mr. President, I am also delighted that my friend and colleague from 
Georgia, Senator Coverdell, is presiding at this special moment in my 
life. I think this has been a historic week not because I have cast my 
10,000th vote but because we have placed in the Russell Building, named 
after my predecessor from Georgia, Senator Dick Russell, a statue of 
Senator Russell, and as the Vice President said, Dick Russell, one of 
the greatest Senators who ever served in this body, is now where he 
belongs. He is standing tall in the Russell Building.
  So this is the culmination of a very historic week, and I cannot help 
but recall the words that Senator Byrd offered in the dedication of 
that statue this week when he said that he had never--in spite of the 
fact of serving with Senator Russell all those years, had such 
reverence for him; he knew him well--called him anything but ``Senator 
Russell.''
  That is a tribute that cannot be exceeded. I have used the word 
``Robert'' time and time again because we are such good friends, but in 
that tradition I would like to address you for the rest of my days here 
as ``Senator Byrd,'' in the great respect that I have for you because 
in the heat of battle, when we have so many substantive differences, I 
think too many times all of us forget what a tremendous honor it is to 
serve in this Senate, which is in my mind, without a doubt, the 
greatest legislative body not only in the world today but in history.
  We have all of our frustrations with delays and schedules, and we 
always have a hard time knowing what we are going to do from day to 
day, but when you think about the things that make the schedule so 
uncertain here and the things that make us so many times so frustrated 
are also the things that make this body unique, the right of any 
Senator to take the floor and continue uninterrupted as long as they 
choose until there is an appropriate implementation of cloture, and 
even then someone has to get the floor, it is a rare body. It has its 
distinctions from any other body in the world and I think we should 
always remember that.
  I cannot say, I say to my friend from West Virginia, and my 
colleagues, that I have enjoyed every vote I have cast here. Some of 
them have been agonizing, as we all know. And I cannot say I have 
enjoyed every hour I have served here. But I can say I have enjoyed 
every day I have served here, and I will always cherish as long as I 
live my service in the Senate and my friendship with each of you. So I 
thank the Chair and I thank my colleagues, and I look forward to a lot 
more votes before my day is done.
  [Applause, Senators rising.]
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from New 
York.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. I thank the Chair.

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