[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S10819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SENATOR WILLIAM B. SPONG, JR.

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, Bill Spong and I go back a long 
way. We were the only Democrats elected to the Senate in 1966. Back 
then, new Senators were expected to be seen and not heard. Bill and I 
were dutiful--we took the last two seats on the back row of the 
Democratic side of the Senate floor and swapped afternoons and evenings 
presiding as Speaker Pro Tempore. In those days they gave Golden Gavels 
to members who presided over the Senate for more than 100 hours; Bill 
and I each received one.
  Bill Spong was one of the quietest and most thoughtful men ever to 
serve in the Senate. He brought his considerable experience in law and 
banking to bear on every issue before the Senate and carefully analyzed 
each piece of legislation on which he voted. He set an example of what 
a Senator in a deliberative democracy should be.
  The Senate was a different place then. Republicans and Democrats 
worked closely together in a collegial atmosphere. Though they differed 
on many issues, a majority of Senators from both parties came together 
to produce legislation for the good of the Nation. Now the Members of 
the two parties meet only to ambush one another. In today's climate of 
partisan warfare, it is hard to find anyone who can match Bill Spong's 
civility.
  Senator Spong made many friends for Virginia in his 6 years of 
service. He was an outstanding and committed representative of the 
people of his state. His election loss in 1972 deprived Virginia and 
the United States of an able and promising Senator. Undoubtedly, 
Senator Spong would have won reelection and served for many more years 
had the public confusion and division caused by Vietnam and his seat on 
the Foreign Relations Committee not placed him in an untenable 
position.
  After leaving the Senate, he served with great distinction as a noted 
mediator and as Dean of the School of Law at William and Mary. In these 
capacities, he continued to serve his community.
  Bill Spong's death yesterday shocked and saddened us all. It deprives 
us of a much-needed model of dedication, service, and leadership. Let 
us all hope that his great qualities will find their incarnation in 
future servants of the public good.

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