[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11170-S11171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SENATOR CHAFEE

  Mr. BYRD. On another matter, I'm informed that on yesterday the 
distinguished, the very distinguished, Senator from Rhode Island 
reached his 75th birthday. Oh, to be 75 again! I experienced that happy 
occasion 5 years ago. Today is the 23rd of October. In 27 more days I 
will reach my 80th birthday. Hopefully the Senate will be out of 
session because I don't want anything said about it.
  But I must congratulate this crusty New Englander, whom I admire 
hugely, on his having reached his 75th birthday. He is a great 
American. He is truly a fine Senator. As a man he is a real man. He is 
honest, and he is one who deals fairly with his colleagues right up on 
the board, straight across the board, nothing under the board, and he 
says what he thinks. If he agrees with one, he will agree; if he 
doesn't, he will say so, but he won't go out of this Chamber in any fit 
of distemper. It is a matter to be stated, and that is it.
  So I admire John Chafee. The people of his State are fortunate in 
having a man like John Chafee here. I think we are all fortunate in 
having a Senator like John Chafee. I greatly admire him.
  Let me just recall a few lines to a little poem titled the 
``Multiplication Table of Happiness.'' I hope I can repeat it, having 
focused my thoughts on the line-item veto, the highway bill, and on the 
various other matters today.

     Count your garden by the flowers,
     Never by the leaves that fall;
     Count your days by the sunny hours,
     Not remembering clouds at all.
     Count your nights by stars, not shadows;
     Count your life by smiles, not tears;
     And on this beautiful October afternoon,
     Count your age by friends, not years.

  Now, after the distinguished Senator makes a response, if he feels 
that he has to--he doesn't--but if he wants to say anything--I saw him 
start to rise--

[[Page S11171]]

then I have a question back on the highway bill I wish to ask him.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I want to say that when one receives 
complimentary remarks, the merit and the weight of those remarks depend 
a great deal who they come from. When I receive such generous comments 
as I have just received from the distinguished Senator from West 
Virginia, whom he knows I long have had not only great admiration for 
but great affection for, and we have been in harness here together on 
many issues on the same side--on some issues we have been on the other 
side.
  To the Senator from West Virginia, I just want to say thank you very 
much for those very, very kind remarks. As he knows, one of the great 
pleasures I have had in this Chamber in serving in the U.S. Senate is 
the relationship I have had with Robert Byrd. I count myself very, very 
lucky. So I will treasure the kind comments he made.
  I further will say I think I'll believe them all, and if my children 
have any doubts about their father, I will tell them, ``Here is what 
Robert Byrd said about him.'' I will make sure they all get copies of 
it.
  I want to thank him very, very much.
  Mr. BYRD. I can guarantee the Senator, I will never be in his State 
advocating that his people not vote for him, and if I'm up in his 
State, I will be glad to say what I have just said today about him.

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