[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6113-S6114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A DAY ALL SENATORS WILL REMEMBER

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, yesterday was a day of ceremony and tribute 
in the Senate. It was a day of testimonials, emotional farewells, and I 
think really a high point for this institution in the years that I have 
been here, because in a very bipartisan way, we all talked about the 
institution of the Senate and what it means to us as individuals, the 
uniqueness of how it operates, and what it means for our country.
  Obviously, the Republican Members were touched by the moment that we 
saw our leader of so many years, Bob Dole, exit the Chamber. But I also 
was struck by the fact that the Democratic leadership--in fact, all of 
our colleagues on that side of the aisle--showed emotion and felt the 
specialness of that moment, as was exhibited by the outstanding remarks 
of the distinguished Democratic leader who sits here today.
  It was a day that all Senators will remember, just as we will always 
remember the leadership of Bob Dole.
  Today, the Senate returns to business, and I am honored and humbled 
to stand here as the Senate majority leader. It is also a pleasure to 
have with me in our leadership team the distinguished Senator from 
Oklahoma, Senator Nickles, who will serve as the assistant majority 
leader, the whip. I know that he will do a great job, and I look 
forward to working with him and us working together as a team with the 
Democratic leadership. We have already met with their entire leadership 
team, and I think we are off to a very positive start.
  Also, I want to, again, refer to my distinguished colleague from 
Mississippi. We have stood together now through 23\1/2\ years in the 
Congress. He is truly a great leader for our State and for our country. 
He sort of blazed the trail in our State for a Republican Party that 
used to meet in a very small room with room left over. He was the first 
Senator who was elected as a Republican from our State of Mississippi. 
So he has set an example for all of us. He is an important part of a 
team for our State that I will always enjoy working with. He will 
continue as the chairman of our conference.
  He will be joined by the secretary of the conference, Connie Mack of 
Florida, and the newly elected chairman of the policy committee, 
Senator Craig of Idaho.
  Just as Senator Dole did yesterday in his final speech from this 
podium, I begin my first remarks as majority leader by thanking those 
to whom I am indebted for the privilege of serving in the Senate.
  Foremost among those, other than my beloved Mississippi constituents, 
are the members of my family. People who know me best know that my 
highest priority on this Earth is my family. I love my work in the 
Senate, but I will always give the highest priority to my family. To my 
parents, who instilled the values which still guide my life, and my 
wife and our two children, Tricia, Chet, and Tyler, they have always 
been patient and understanding as I pursued public service. They have 
been my inspiration. And they are today.

  I thank the people of Mississippi for honoring me with their trust 
each time I have asked for it. And, of course, I thank my Republican 
colleagues for allowing me to serve in a role that has been filled by 
so many giants in the Senate in the past.
  I am the first majority leader in history from my State of 
Mississippi, a poor State but a State that is struggling to pull itself 
up and move forward. It is a State that has gone from the bottom rung 
of every economic indicator to now being identified as one

[[Page S6114]]

of the 10 top growth States in the Nation. We are proud to be a part of 
the Nation's team. Mississippi will always, in the future, do 
everything we can to play our part of contributing to a better America.
  It is no wonder that we are humbled when we reach these positions. I 
am most humbled because I know of the work we have to do. In fact, I 
had a friend this morning ask me, ``Where's the party? Where's the 
celebration?'' I said, ``Well, there'll be no party. There'll be no 
celebration. There'll be a lot of `thank you's,' and then this comment: 
Let's go to work.''
  To friends on the other side of the aisle, let me say that one lesson 
I learned very well from Bob Dole is that this place cannot operate 
effectively for our country if the two leaders do not have a 
relationship of complete trust and respect. Senator Daschle had that 
relationship with Senator Dole. And he will have it from me. We have 
been friends for many years in the House, now in the Senate. I have 
talked to a lot of his colleagues. I believe we can work together. Oh, 
we will disagree. We will have some good debate. But we will always 
remember that the best thing for us to do is to work together for our 
country. We can find a way to do that.
  Mr. President, I do have just some brief comments on today's 
schedule. I am glad to withhold those if the Senator would like to 
comment at this point.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The able Democratic leader is recognized.

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