[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR CLAIBORNE PELL
Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I know that a number of our colleagues
this morning and this afternoon called attention to the retirement of
our colleague, the senior Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Pell. I
want to commend Senator Helms and the others for their comments and
identify with the remarks made earlier today by the distinguished
senior Senator from West Virginia, Senator Byrd.
There are few people who can claim the record, the respect, or the
admiration of all of their colleagues as can Senator Pell. Senator
Pell, as most people know, came to the Senate in 1960. Someone entering
the Senate today, in order to have the same record in terms of numbers
of years served, would retire in the year 2033. Thirty-six years from
now, our country--and perhaps this body--will be much different, and I
daresay 36 years from now, there will still be those who will recall
the contribution and, again, the remarkable record of this very gentle
man.
Senator Pell came during turbulent times. He became a U.S. Senator
under then President Kennedy, served under President Johnson, President
Nixon, President Ford, President Carter, President Reagan, President
Bush, and now President Clinton. He has seen leadership of all kinds,
Democratic and Republican, liberal and conservative, good and bad.
Through all of this, his gentle nature, his remarkable ability to find
common ground, his willingness to reach out to all sides in an effort
to govern is something we can all be thankful for. He has a deep-seated
belief in good Government, in democracy, and knows what it takes in
this democracy to govern well. I don't recall how many times, but I can
recall many occasions when Senator Pell would lecture us in our caucus
about how ill-advised people are to pursue negative campaigns in Senate
elections. He would remind us of that time and again. In spite of all
the advice he got to be a negative campaigner, he adamantly refused. In
spite of all that advice, and perhaps because of his determination to
override that advice, he won every election by more than 60 percent of
the vote. I think, in large measure, that is because the people of
Rhode Island know him the best. We know him, but they know him better.
They know his decency, they know his commitment to them and to all of
us, and they know of his record. They are proud in so many ways for all
that he has done for them and for our country in the time that he
served.
So it is with regret that we note his departure in this Congress. It
is with a great deal of gratitude that many of us have been able to
call him our friend. It is with admiration that we look at his record
and aspire to the heights and to the accomplishments that it
represents. We thank him for his friendship. We wish him and Nuala well
in their life ahead.
In my view, there are still opportunities for Senator Pell to serve
his country. I hope that that might happen. But regardless of what the
future holds, no one can take away the 36 years of accomplishment, the
36 years of contribution to democracy, to the strength of this country,
to the breadth and depth of the affection and love he has for it. Madam
President, he will be missed. We don't wish him farewell. We only wish
him Godspeed as he continues in his role--whatever it may be.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I may
proceed as if in morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank the Chair.
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