[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FAREWELL TO OUR COLLEAGUE FROM NEBRASKA

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, may I add my remarks to those by many 
Senators in the Chamber as we bid a fond farewell to our colleague from 
Nebraska. Senator Exon and I came to the Senate together and, from our 
first day, served together on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 
Senator Exon attended his last hearing of that committee earlier this 
afternoon and, once again, propounded the tough questions as he has 
done year after year, coming directly to the point of the issue, but 
bringing to bear a background in which he draws upon the distinguished 
period of his life from World War II, when he was proud to wear the 
uniform of this country in the cause of freedom.
  He is another who has worn the uniform who is leaving the Senate. The 
Senate gradually, primarily because of change of times and 
demographics, has fewer and fewer in its membership who served in 
uniform. Having had that privilege, he brought with him that knowledge 
that could be applied, that is unique and particularly useful when our 
Armed Services Committee had to make decisions relative to the safety, 
welfare, training, and the active duty pay of the men and women of the 
Armed Forces.
  So, not only does the Senate today salute him at the end of this 
chapter of his career in public service, but so do generations of the 
men and women of the Armed Forces.
  Mr. EXON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I thank my dear friend and colleague from 
Virginia for his most kind remarks. Indeed, we came here together. But, 
indeed, we knew each other even before that.
  I remember very well my friend, the Senator from Virginia, when he 
served as Secretary of the Navy with great distinction. When I was 
Governor of Nebraska, he was the head of the centennial commission and 
came out to Nebraska. That is the first time I really got well 
acquainted with John Warner. At that time I had no idea we would 
eventually serve in the U.S. Senate.
  As students of history understand, and I think most people would 
believe, probably more great individual contributors to government at 
all levels have come from the State of Virginia than from any other. 
Certainly, I just want to say from my perspective, none has done more, 
none has dedicated himself more fervently to what he thought was right 
for Virginia and for the United States of America than my good and dear 
friend, John Warner.
  I wish you nothing but the best, my friend. I assure you that we will 
be keeping in touch.
  Thank you very much.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank my distinguished colleague. I wish to carefully 
note in the Record that that was a statement of courage, looking to the 
future, and not marking any imminent retirement by myself from the U.S. 
Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

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