[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 33 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              WENDELL FORD

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay a special tribute to one 
of the U.S. Senate's most revered and remarkable Members. I speak of 
our senior Senator and our friend from Kentucky, Wendell Ford.
  Mr. President, I should note on a personal level I was a law student 
in Kentucky when Wendell Ford was Governor of the State of Kentucky, 
and I developed a fondness and affection for him from afar as a student 
in that State at the University of Louisville many years ago. I had an 
opportunity to watch this man preside over State government in the 
State of Kentucky. He did a remarkable job. In those days I never 
thought, as I was sitting there as a student, that one day I would be 
serving in the U.S. Senate with him and calling him my colleague and my 
friend. It is with bittersweet emotions and sensations here that I rise 
to recognize, as others already have, that Wendell Ford, as we all 
know, has announced he will not seek reelection in 1998 and will be 
retiring from the U.S. Senate.
  I say bittersweet because on the one hand I am confident that our 
friend Wendell Ford and his lovely wife Jean will enjoy some years of 
retirement, away from the hectic life of public service. So I am glad 
for him and glad for his wife and for his family. Obviously, on another 
level, I think all of us would agree, regardless of political 
persuasion or ideology, that we have come to develop a deep and sincere 
affection for Wendell Ford. He will be truly missed in this body.
  Just this past Monday, as of course we all know, Senator Ford 
announced his intention to retire from the U.S. Senate at the end of 
this term, concluding what I think has been one of the most remarkable 
and distinguished careers in the history of Kentucky. Wendell Ford 
served his fellow Kentuckians for the past 30 years, first in the State 
senate of that State, then in the Governors Mansion, as I have already 
mentioned, and finally here in the U.S. Senate, where he has been a 
Member for the past 22 years. By the time he completes his term in 
1999, Wendell Ford will be the longest serving U.S. Senator in the 
history of the State of Kentucky.
  Throughout my tenure as U.S. Senator, it has been my great honor to 
serve alongside this remarkable man. He has brought integrity and 
honesty and a wonderful sense of humor to a body that is far too often 
devoid of such characteristics. Although narrow and snappy sound bites 
and polished television appearances seem to garner the most attention 
in Washington, Wendell Ford stands in sharp contrast. As long as I have 
known him, Wendell Ford never saw a television camera he didn't want to 
simply walk past. As always, he is more interested in working behind 
the scenes, crafting legislation, seeking coalitions, seeking 
compromises. This is the essence of making the Senate function as a 
body that requires that we get along and work together to seek 
solutions that Americans look for.
  Certainly Wendell Ford is capable of being outspoken and passionate 
and as resolute as any Member of this body, but he has also understood 
there is a time for politics and a time for legislating and the two 
shall rarely intertwine, in his view. Throughout his career, he 
remained true to the people and places of his beloved Kentucky. Few 
Senators fought harder for their States than Wendell has. As a Member 
of the subcommittee on aviation issues, he helped bring two 
international airports to Louisville and northern Kentucky. During the 
debate in the last Congress on the telecommunications bill, Senator 
Ford sought to ensure that the interests of rural communities all 
across America, such as those in his home State, would receive the 
attention that they deserve. On a national level as well, he has been a 
leader in aviation, energy, campaign finance issues, and his efforts 
have been instrumental in expanding airport improvement programs and 
other critical civil and Federal aviation issues.
  As chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing, Senator Ford has 
helped cut millions of dollars in Government printing costs. What is 
more, he has spearheaded greater use of recycled paper by the Federal 
Government. These issues don't always get as much attention as they 
should, but certainly, as all of us appreciate as we try to reduce the 
cost of Federal Government to make it more efficient, things like 
bringing down the costs of printing, which is voluminous at Federal 
Government level, and to also see that recycled paper is used, are no 
small efforts indeed.

  I know the major issue for many Americans, of course, was Wendell 
Ford's effort to spearhead motor voter registration, which has made it 
possible for millions of Americans to become enfranchised. He certainly 
will be remembered for years to come for those efforts as well.
  I know that bill had a special significance for Wendell Ford because 
it gave him a chance to appear on MTV's Rock The Vote. Wendell Ford is 
certainly an MTV kind of Senator. As most of us would appreciate, I say 
that with a sense of humor, to all who know and love him.
  Most of all, I think Wendell Ford has brought a sense of quiet 
dignity and forthrightness to this Chamber. Always, he kept his word, 
never betrayed a confidence, and I doubt there is a Member of this 
Chamber who will not miss his presence.
  It is worth noting, the other day an editorial in the Lexington 
Herald-Leader, I think, summed up the feelings all of us would have 
with the announcement that Wendell Ford will not be with us at the end 
of this Congress. Let me quote that editorial. It said:

       We have known people who have disagreed with Wendell Ford. 
     We have seen people get mad at Wendell Ford. We have even 
     heard of people who wish Wendell Ford would finally lose an 
     election. We have never heard of anyone, however, who doesn't 
     like the senior Senator from Kentucky.

  Certainly if that is true in the State of Kentucky, it is true in the 
U.S. Senate as well. We will miss him and we wish him and his wife, 
Jean, the very best in the years to come.

                          ____________________