[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12052-S12053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FAREWELL TO SENATOR KASSEBAUM

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, for much of her life and political 
career, Nancy Kassebaum has been in the company of political giants. 
There was her father, Alf Landon, who had served as Governor of Kansas 
and was the Republican nominee for President in 1936. And there is that 
other Senator from Kansas, Bob Dole, who happens to be this year's 
Republican nominee for President.
  Entering the U.S. Senate is intimidating enough--but to be following 
a path forged by two such powerful figures must have been truly 
overwhelming.
  Nancy Landon Kassebaum was more than equal to the challenge. She 
quickly emerged as a thoughtful, powerful, and highly respected force 
in this Chamber.
  In fact, she was elected to the Senate by defeating her opponent by a 
larger margin than had Senator Dole when he squared off against the 
same person.
  In office, she established herself as a moderate, centrist force in 
her party and in the Senate, which she is. But Senator Kassebaum's 
moderation was never mistaken for lack of fortitude. No one can be more 
determined or more tenacious in pursuit of a cause or a principle.
  Again, her service as chair of the Senate Labor and Human Resources 
Committee has been characterized by fairness, tolerance, and 
moderation. It has been characterized by her efforts to make America a 
better place to live and work, as witnessed by her recent cooperation 
with Senator Kennedy in securing passage of the Kennedy-Kassebaum 
legislation to improve access to decent health care for millions of 
Americans.
  Indeed, Senator Kassebaum has worked to make life better for all 
people in all lands. As chair and ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
African Affairs of the Foreign Relations Committee, she has worked to 
improve the lives of the young and the impoverished on that continent.
  There is an infectious optimism about her, as she has always found 
the glass half-full, and she has that wonderful ability to make others 
feel the same way. There is a basic decency about her as she always 
seeks the high road.
  In announcing her retirement from the Senate, she did not disparage 
politics or politicians. There were no cheap

[[Page S12053]]

jokes or cheap shots. Instead, she announced her retirement by 
encouraging young Americans to choose politics as a future endeavor.
  ``Politics is the lifeblood of democracy,'' she explained. ``We have 
become a great nation because so many Americans before us chose to be 
involved in shaping our public life, focusing our national priorities, 
and forging consensus to move forward.''
  Now, as Nancy Kassebaum moves forward to the next phase in her life--
as she says, ``to pursue other challenges, including the challenge of 
being a grandmother''--I, and every Member of this Chamber, wish her 
the best.

                          ____________________