[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO NANCY KASSEBAUM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I guess it is hard to pay tribute to my 
colleague, Senator Kassebaum, because she has done such an outstanding 
job. And there is no question about it. She is the most popular 
politician we have had in our State--the most popular ``politician in 
politics,'' let us put it that way; some do not like the word 
``politician''--for years.
  Over the past several days, I have paid tribute to those colleagues 
who are retiring from the Senate at the conclusion of the 104th 
Congress; this is my final tribute.
  During my years representing Kansas 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--a Senator who was widely respected by Members on 
both sides of the aisle.
  For the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of serving alongside 
another person respected by all Senators for her common sense and 
integrity--Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum.
  Senator Kassebaum is retiring at the end of this session, so she can 
spend more time with her children and grandchildren. The voters of 
Kansas, who have cast their ballots for her in overwhelming numbers, 
understand her desire to come home, but they also understand that this 
Chamber will be losing one of its most thoughtful and effective 
Members.
  Nancy Kassebaum does not speak in a loud voice. She does not clamor 
for media attention. But as all Senators know, while her voice may be 
quiet, her will is strong. For 18 years she has simply represented the 
people of Kansas to the best of her abilities, and she had made a 
positive difference for Kansas and America in the process.
  As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Kassebaum has 
made a habit of staking out policies that provide to be prophetic. She 
was instrumental in the policies that helped to move South Africa away 
from apartheid, and she saw Saddam Hussein as a danger long before many 
others.
  As ranking member and then Chair of the Labor and Human Resources 
Committee, she had fought to return dollars and decisions to the local 
levels, remembering the words of her father, Alf Landon, who once said, 
``There are some smart people in Washington, DC. There are more of them 
in Topeka.''
  Although as of tomorrow, I will no longer be Nancy's colleague, I 
will still be her constituent. And along with all other Kansans, I will 
take great pride in being able to say for 6 more months--as I have for 
18 years--that Nancy Kassebaum is my Senator.

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