[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 27 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1922-S1923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATIONS, SENATOR FORD

  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, earlier today Senator Daschle, our minority 
leader, made some remarks in tribute to the longest-serving Senator 
from Kentucky to serve in the U.S. Senate, and that is Wendell Ford, 
our minority whip.
  I wanted to add my words of congratulations, in recognition of this 
person that I believe to be one of our most outstanding U.S. Senators. 
He is a very dedicated public servant. He is also a good personal 
friend. He is the senior Senator from Kentucky, Wendell Ford. I don't 
think it is any accident that the people of Kentucky have returned 
Wendell time after time, one election after another, to where he now 
has served here almost a quarter of a century.
  Wendell, of course, is a very personable person. He likes people. I 
think that was evidenced early in his career when I believe he was 
national president of the Jaycees. Later on, the people of Kentucky, 
after having elected him Governor for a term, then elected him to the 
U.S. Senate. He has served them well here over the last nearly

[[Page S1923]]

quarter of a century. I had the honor and privilege to serve alongside 
him for all that time since he came to the Senate. He and I were sworn 
in at about the same time, and for the first few years we were here, by 
the luck of the draw, we sat side by side in the Senate Chamber. That 
was back in the time period when we had many all-night sessions, and 
you got to know a person pretty well when you sat and shared views with 
them during some of those extended debates and lengthy all-night 
sessions.
  Wendell is certainly known for his wit and humor. I remember once we 
were sitting here about 3:30 or 4 o'clock in the morning and a debate 
was going on. Wendell nudged me and said, ``You know, John, the people 
back home think we are the ones that won.'' I got a kick out of that. 
We were going through some very troubled times in the U.S. Senate at 
that time.
  The Senate class of 1974 was one that I think was remarkable not only 
because I happened to be one of those people but because it came in on 
the tail-end of Watergate. Watergate played an issue in that year's 
election. But the people we elected that year included a number of 
outstanding public officials who would continue illustrious public 
careers, including John Culver, Robert Morgan, Paul Laxalt, James Jake 
Garn, Gary Hart, and four Senators still serving--myself and Senators 
Ford, Bumpers, and Leahy. With the announced retirements that we have 
already, Senator Leahy will be the only representative out of that 
class of 1974 still remaining at the end of this year.
  The distinguished Senator from Kentucky, Senator Ford, has served on 
the Senate Rules Committee for many years, been chairman and ranking 
member. He became an expert on disputed elections quite early on in his 
service, because one of the first issues that that class of 1974 faced 
in the Senate was the disputed election in New Hampshire between John 
Durkin and Louis Wyman. In that case, the Senate determined that a new 
election was necessary. So Wendell got tossed into that maelstrom of 
disputed elections very early on. I say that hasn't ended through all 
these years either, because even during this last year he worked toward 
a successful solution in the Louisiana election dispute.
  I can say without any contradiction that Senator Ford is truly a 
Senator's Senator. He is rarely on the floor making long speeches and 
posturing before the camera. That is rare. In fact, he never does that. 
But his voice is heard. His influence is heard on almost all issues, 
because the Senate, his fellow Senators on the Democratic side, sought 
at this time to elect him as our whip, our No. 2 person in the 
hierarchy of leadership in the Senate.
  I think Senator Ford would appreciate the fact, coming from 
Kentucky--and I have heard him make comments about the horses, and all 
of his attention to the horses in Kentucky, and the big business that 
is in Kentucky, and his attention to things like the Kentucky Derby and 
so on. But he would appreciate it that we know him as a ``workhorse,'' 
not just as a show horse, here in the U.S. Senate. He is always working 
behind the scenes for whatever the interests are of the party or his 
interests for Kentucky. And he has provided strong leadership in his 
ability as a negotiator and his talents for finding compromise that 
have served both parties and the Nation extraordinarily well.
  He has been in the forefront of many issues during his career in the 
Senate, including such more recent things in just the last few years as 
motor-voter legislation, trying to make sure that every person in this 
country has a maximum opportunity to exercise the right to vote. 
Lobbying reform and campaign finance reform have been of particular 
interest in recent years.
  Of course, Kentucky is first. I just wish I could say that I have 
been as tireless an advocate for Ohio as he has been for Kentucky, 
because even when we have disagreed on things, we find a way to work 
them out. Wendell represents Kentucky and the interests of the people 
of Kentucky first. That comes out all the time. He and I have worked 
together on matters of mutual interest, including the regional airport 
in Cincinnati and Department of Energy facilities that are both in 
Kentucky and in Ohio.
  As I mentioned earlier today, Senator Ford's service in the Senate 
will surpass the length of surface of Alben Barkley, who had previously 
been the longest-serving Senator from Kentucky. Senator Ford will have 
served longer than any other Kentuckian in the Senate, including such 
statesmen as Henry Clay, John Breckenridge, Happy Chandler, and John 
Sherman Cooper.
  I think Wendell Ford adds an illustrious career that matches any of 
those other people the great State of Kentucky has sent to the Senate 
through the years. With Wendell, you always know where you stand, but 
he also knows how to disagree without being disagreeable at the same 
time.
  He is known for his wit, humor, and intense discussions. He knows how 
to break the tension with a little humor, a joke, or something that 
applies.
  I would be remiss if I didn't mention one other thing, and that is 
his dedication to his family--Jean, his wife, and his children and 
grandchildren. I remember last August, when other Senators were talking 
about what trips they were planning, and I asked Wendell if he was 
planning to travel, he said, ``Yep; I'm going to travel to Kentucky to 
go fishing with the grandchildren.'' That is exactly what he did, and 
I'm sure the grandchildren were the better off for it.
  So I'm pleased to join my colleagues in recognition of the long 
service of Senator Wendell Ford. He has been a very valued colleague 
and a personal friend to me in the Senate. His company will truly be 
one of the things I will miss next year, and I think, most of all, the 
people of Kentucky are going to miss the kind of leadership he has 
provided. We are here today not to talk about that, but to recognize 
that today marks the day when he becomes the longest-serving Senator to 
ever serve from the State of Kentucky. I want to recognize him for 
that.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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