[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11951-S11952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SENATOR BYRD'S 80TH BIRTHDAY

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, on January 8, 1997, the Senate noted the 
beginning of Senator Robert C. Byrd's 51st year of public service to 
the people of West Virginia. On that occasion, I spoke of Senator 
Byrd's public record, of his service in both houses of the West 
Virginia State legislature, his service in both houses of the U.S. 
Congress, of the leadership positions he has held in the Senate, and of 
the remarkable seven consecutive terms to which he has been elected to 
represent the people of West Virginia as a U.S. Senator. I spoke of the 
public man, of the fascinating orator seen edifying Senators and C-SPAN 
audiences alike with his grasp of history and his love of the 
Constitution and of this body.
  On November 20, Senator Byrd will mark another, more personal, 
anniversary. On November 20, Senator Byrd will celebrate the completion 
of his 80th year of life. To celebrate this event, along with his 
current and many of his former staff members, I want to share with this 
body and the world some of our reflections on the personal man, the 
side of Senator Byrd we see, respect, and honor every day.
  If the heart of West Virginia is made of coal--that rich, compressed 
carbon of long-ago life that breathes fire to warm our homes and light 
our dark nights--then Senator Byrd is a diamond honed over time to be 
its purest, clearest core. Years of experience and study have cut many 
facets in his character, each adding a distinctive sparkle.
  Robert C. Byrd never forgets the people of West Virginia. He cares, 
deeply, about living up to the trust and confidence that has been 
placed in him and about setting the best possible example for others 
that he can in his own life and behavior. He is a tireless worker. Many 
of his staff members can tell stories about leaving him in his office 
late at night, still working, and dragging themselves wearily in the 
next morning, only to be greeted by his chipper, ``Good morning.'' His 
energy and drive have not lessened over the years. When added to his 
own natural bent for self-improvement, this tendency can make him a 
challenging man to work for, but trying to live up to this challenge 
has made every member of his staff a better and more committed 
employee.
  Senator Byrd speaks often about the old values--about the importance 
of hard work, the love of family, respect for authority, loyalty to 
community and country, and about reverence for the Creator. He does not 
say these things because he believes they are popular or engaging--he 
talks about them because he believes in them and because he lives by 
these values. He keeps a King James Bible on his desk and often refers 
to its passages, seeking ancient wisdom to guide him through the mire 
of convoluted political issues and diverse viewpoints.
  Senator Byrd does not take anything or anyone for granted. Being a 
Senator and working in the Capitol building has lost none of its 
importance and none of its magic for Senator Byrd. Often, when the Sun 
is setting behind the Washington Monument, he will invite his staff to 
look out the window and down the Mall, so that moment--that special 
vantage point and that sunset--would not be taken for granted.
  To travel with Senator Byrd in West Virginia is to see up-close the 
tremendous respect and esteem in which he is held. Yet, his stature as 
a national statesman has not created a chasm between him and those he 
serves. On the

[[Page S11952]]

contrary, all West Virginians feel as if they know him. And, not only 
do people feel they know him, many have a personal story to tell about 
him. They often comment on ``the night he spent with our family,'' or 
when ``he had dinner at our house,'' or when ``he spoke at my 
commencement,'' or when ``he helped my mother to get her widow's 
benefits after my dad died.''
  As he values each and every citizen of West Virginia, so does Senator 
Byrd value everyone who works for him--for themselves and for the job 
that they do for him and the people of West Virginia. He sets high 
standards, but he never asks more of anyone than he asks of himself. 
And, his drive is tempered by thoughtfulness.
  He goes out of his way to smile, greet, and speak gently with 
everyone in his office. When personal or family tragedies strike, he is 
also there, offering support and encouragement, and living up to his 
belief that family must come first. Senator Byrd has seen members of 
his staff through cancer, the birth and death of children, the loss of 
parents, and all of life's best and worst experiences with 
characteristic kindness and understanding. In return, he has a loyal 
group of employees, who belie the common perception that staff turnover 
on Capitol Hill is frequent. His current staff combine for a total of 
over 4 centuries of experience in his service and in service to the 
Nation and the people of West Virginia, and his former staff remain 
close to him.
  Working with Senator Byrd is an honor because he is a legendary 
figure even in his own time. He is larger than life, not only for the 
positions he has held and his accomplishments, but for his principles. 
On many occasions he has quoted Mark Twain: ``Fame is vapor, popularity 
an accident, riches take wings only one thing endures: character.'' He 
is a man of principle who is willing to stick to those principles, his 
experience, and his reason, with his eye always on the unforgiving pen 
of history and not on polls or interest group calls. He has taken some 
lonely stands, speaking candidly and thoughtfully about controversial 
nominations and treaties, and even calling for Senators to step down 
when their actions were detrimental to the institution of the Senate.
  Senator Byrd's legacy to West Virginia is not one that will be 
measured solely in years of service, or in the number of offices held, 
or, even, as some might cynically suggest, in dollar signs. More than 
anyone or anything in memory, Robert C. Byrd has provided West 
Virginians with hope---hope of a better economy, hope that dreams of 
well-paying jobs and nice homes do not have to be hooked on the back of 
a bumper on a winding road leading out of State, hope that the way of 
life cherished among West Virginia's hills will survive and even 
flourish, to be passed on to future generations. He has made them feel 
proud--proud of their way of life, proud of their State and proud of 
him. There is a difference in West Virginia today that can be 
attributed to a renewed feeling of hope and a sense of belief in the 
State that Senator Byrd has so unselfishly worked to fulfill.
  As his 51st year of public service draws to a close, and the 
beginning of his 81st year dawns, we all offer our heartiest 
congratulations and best wishes to the man we have been honored to work 
with, and to learn from. To follow in his example, let us close with a 
quote, this one from Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in a letter to Mr. 
Addison, that captures Senator Byrd's essence:

       Statesman, yet friend of truth! Of soul sincere,
       In action faithful, and in honour clear;
       Who broke no promise, served no private end,
       Who gained no title, and who lost no friend.
  Working for Senator Byrd is an honor and a privilege of which every 
member of his staff is mindful each day, and it is a blessing for which 
each one will always be grateful. The sign of a truly great man is how, 
by the example of his own daily living, in and out of the public's 
view, he touches and changes everyone around him for the better. 
Through him, his staff becomes part of a great and living institution, 
dedicated like Senator Byrd to the service of the Nation and of the 
great State of West Virginia.
  Today, I join Senator Byrd's staff in wishing him a happy 80th 
birthday and happy 51st year of public service.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a list of Senator Byrd's 
staff, many of whom contributed greatly to this birthday wish, be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:
     Ann Adler
     James Allen
     Neyla Arnas
     Alisa Bailey
     Suzanne Bailey
     Mary Bainbridge
     Anne Barth
     Sue Bayliss
     Betsy Benitez
     Elizabeth Blevins
     Pat Braun
     C. Richard D'Amato
     Dionne Davies
     Mary Dewald
     Carol Dunn
     Joan Drummond
     Mary Edwards
     Glenn Elliott
     James English
     Tina Evans
     Elias Gabriel
     Carolyn Giolito
     Patrick Griffin
     Scott Gudes
     Kimberly Hatch
     Marilyn Hill
     Paulette Hodges
     Cynthia Huber
     Susan Huber
     James Huggins
     Gail John
     Helen Kelly
     Peter Kiefhaber
     Charles Kinney
     Carol Kiser
     Kevin Kiser
     Catherine Lark-Preston
     Angela Lee
     Kathleen Luelsdorff
     Rebecca Roberts-Malamis
     Sue Masica
     Martin McBroom
     Lane McIntosh
     Martha Anne McIntosh
     Nora Martin
     Joseph Meadows
     Carol Mitchell
     Jennifer O'Keefe
     Nancy Peoples
     Richard Peters
     David Pratt
     Barbara Redd
     Peter Rogoff
     Terrance Sauvain
     Melissa Wolford Shelk
     Mary Jane Small
     Elysa Smith
     Terri Smith
     Leslie Staples
     Joe Stewart
     Lesley Strauss
     Brenda Teutsch
     Lisa Videnieks
     Jacquie Watkins
     Julie Watkins
     Paul Weinberger
     B.G. Wright
     Gail Stanley
     Scott Bunton
     Lula Davis
     Melvin Dubee
     Tom Fliter
  Mr. DASCHLE. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the quorum call is 
rescinded.

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