[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 27 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1949-S1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DASCHLE:
  S. 1756. A bill to name the education center under construction at 
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after Wendell H. Ford; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.


      The Wendell H. Ford Education Center Designation Act of 1998

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would like to call to the Senate's 
attention an impressive milestone that a member of this body will reach 
this weekend. On Saturday the senior Senator from Kentucky, my friend 
and Democratic Whip, Wendell Ford, will have served the state of 
Kentucky in the Senate for the 8,478th day. He will become the longest-
serving Senator in Kentucky history.

  While I suspect that Senator Ford might be more concerned this 
weekend about how his beloved Kentucky Wildcats will fare in the NCAA 
basketball tournament than about achieving any personal record, I hope 
he will allow me a few minutes to recognize this tremendous 
achievement.
  It gives me great personal satisfaction to see Senator Ford cap his 
distinguished Senate career by reaching this milestone. It is also 
appropriate that Senator Ford does so by surpassing the length of 
service of another great Senator from Kentucky, the former Democratic 
Leader and then Vice President of the United States, Alben Barkley.
  Wendell Ford began his Senate service back in December 1974. In 23-
plus years, he has made his mark in the Senate in an extraordinary 
number of ways: as a tenacious fighter for the people of Kentucky, as a 
skilled parliamentarian and orator, as a leader and faithful soldier of 
his party, and as a genuinely warm, funny, and down-to-earth human 
being.
  Perhaps the Almanac of American Politics best described his political 
tenacity when it said that Senator Ford's ``fierce determination to 
champion Kentuckians' interests seems rooted in a sense that they are 
little guys who are victims or targets of big selfish guys elsewhere--
that they are as humble as Ford's own economic background.'' Indeed, 
anyone who has engaged Senator Ford in the legislative arena knows that 
he is deeply rooted in the Kentucky soil from which he sprang.
  He has been a thoroughly tireless defender of Kentucky's working 
families, from 60,000 tobacco growers on small farms across the state 
to the coal miners in Appalachia's hills and hollows. Wendell Ford 
surely deserves one of the highest compliments one can give a Senator: 
that he has never forgotten where he came from.

[[Page S1950]]

  Though I can think of no one more tenacious in defense of his 
constituents, I can also think of no Senator more loyal to his party, 2 
traits that are sometimes difficult to reconcile.
  Wendell Ford has served his party in a variety of ways: as chairman 
of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; as chairman and 
ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee; as chairman and ranking 
member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation; and, since 1991, 
assistant Senate Democratic Leader and Whip.
  His friendship and counsel to me during my tenure as Senate 
Democratic leader have been invaluable. I could not imagine learning 
the many facets of this job without Senator Ford at my side. Wendell 
Ford represents the best of the Senate's old school. He is someone who 
reveres the traditions and rules that are the foundation of the Senate. 
He is also someone who values the courtesy, humor, and personal bonds 
that give the Senate its life and its sense of common purpose.
  Mr. President, the state of Kentucky has sent a number of talented 
men to this chamber. Men like Albert ``Happy'' Chandler, Earle C. 
Clements, John Sherman Cooper, and certainly the legendary Henry Clay 
come to mind. It is a high honor that Wendell Ford stands next to these 
great Kentuckians in service to their state. But it is perhaps most 
appropriate that Senator Ford surpassed the tenure of former Senator 
Alben Barkley. Like Senator Ford, Alben Barkley had roots in the soil, 
born on a small tobacco farm in Kentucky.
  Like Senator Ford, Alben Barkley served his state and country in a 
range of positions, from county judge, to Congressman, Senator, then 
Vice President of the United States. And like Senator Ford, he was in 
the Senate leadership in both the Majority and Minority, serving as 
Leader in both capacities.
  Tested by the loss of the Senate majority in the mid-l940s, Senator 
Barkley turned adversity to his advantage. In 1948, a poll of 
journalists in Colliers magazine recognized Minority Leader Barkley as 
the most effective member of the Senate. This was remarkable, since 10 
years earlier, a similar poll had left him completely off the list of 
the 10 most effective members even though he was Majority Leader.
  In recognition of his effectiveness, one journalist commented that 
``under conditions that would have caused a less determined man to walk 
out and rest, he continued to work for his country through his party.'' 
Another said that ``by his wisdom, humor, and moderation, plus his 
devotion to the system, he has strengthened the concept of party 
responsibility.'' More appropriate words could not be spoken about 
Senator Ford, either.
  We can only hope that Senator Ford may also look to one other example 
set by Alben Barkley. Senator Barkley became Vice President Barkley in 
1948. He served in that capacity for 1 term. Not content to accept a 
permanent retirement after leaving the Vice Presidency, however, 
Barkley ran again for the Senate in 1954 and won, returning to his 
beloved Senate. Maybe Senator Ford will keep that in the back of his 
mind.
  But taking Senator Ford at his word--that he will be leaving the 
Senate for good at the end of this year--his staff and I have tried to 
settle on a fitting tribute to the longest-serving Senator in Kentucky 
history. A tribute that will symbolize for every Kentuckian the 
enduring commitment to their well being that Wendell Ford has shown.
  Today I am introducing a bill to name the school under construction 
in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the ``Wendell H. Ford Education Center.'' 
The Wendell H. Ford Education Center will assume its name the day 
Senator Ford leaves the Senate. I hope the students who enter its halls 
will fully appreciate the contributions of Wendell H. Ford and the 
remarkable way in which he has led his colleagues, his State, and his 
country in the difficult challenges we have faced in the past 25 years.
  Like many in Kentucky, many in this chamber are familiar with one of 
Senator Ford's trademark greetings, ``How are all you lucky people 
doing?'' This is sometimes abbreviated to simply, ``Hey, Lucky!'' 
Truly, all of us who have served with Senator Ford have been extremely 
lucky. He will be missed by a lot of people around here when he retires 
at the end of this Congress.
  But today, we all should all take a moment to congratulate and thank 
Senator Wendell Ford on his record-breaking service to the people of 
Kentucky, the United States Senate, and the country.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1756

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NAMING OF EDUCATION CENTER AT FORT CAMPBELL, 
                   KENTUCKY.

       (a) Name.--The education center under construction at Fort 
     Campbell, Kentucky, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Wendell H. Ford Education Center''. Any reference to such 
     center in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or 
     other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a 
     reference to the Wendell H. Ford Education Center.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect on 
     January 3, 1999, or the first day on which Wendell H. Ford 
     ceases to be a Senator.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Wendell H. Ford tomorrow will surpass the 
tenure for all Senators from the State of Kentucky as having served the 
longest period of time. Wendell Ford is Kentucky through and through--
born in Daviess County, KY, went to the University of Kentucky, served 
in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. Wendell Ford is someone 
who has contributed to this body second to none. I rise today to join 
with others in recognizing the contributions of one of the Senate's 
finest Members and someone I consider a friend.
  As I have said, Mr. President, on March 14 Senator Wendell Ford will 
become Kentucky's longest-serving Senator, surpassing the tenure of the 
legendary Alben Barkley. Senator Ford will have served 8,478 days in 
the Senate from the State of Kentucky.
  In preparing these remarks, we were looking through the Courier-
Journal, an editorial which said:

       Senator Wendell Ford likes to refer to himself as a dumb 
     country boy with dirt between his toes.

  Don't believe that for a second.
  The newspaper goes on to say that it was a long road from our 
colleague's hometown of Yellow Creek, KY, to Capitol Hill and an even 
longer one from the job of Senator to the Senate's assistant leader to 
the Senate's whip.
  It goes on:

       Only a smart, disciplined person could negotiate such 
     passages without losing touch with who he really is.

  The newspaper concludes by saying:

       Senator Ford has done that.

  That is, he has negotiated these difficult passages and he has not 
lost touch with the people of the State of Kentucky.
  Those of us who know Wendell Ford can attest to his honor and to his 
sincerity. His rise from the Kentucky State Senate to Lieutenant 
Governor to the 49th Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to now a 
U.S. Senator and the assistant leader of the Senate has never 
distracted the person Wendell Ford from the man he is--his own man, 
someone who has never forgotten his roots.
  In our Senate Democratic leadership meetings, Senator Ford is one who 
can always bring the discussion back to where we should be. His 
commonsense approach to legislation and politics is refreshing to me 
and should be reassuring not only to the people of Kentucky but to this 
country.
  Wendell Ford can be compassionate because, Mr. President, he is a 
compassionate man. He can be very tough because, Mr. President, he is a 
tough man. He can be very sincere because he is, Mr. President, a 
sincere man. Wendell Ford has in his quiver many arrows. Yes, 
compassion, toughness, and sincerity, but I think the arrow that he 
carries around that we all rely on is the wisdom that has developed in 
the person of Wendell Ford.
  Wendell Ford is truly one of the Senate's great talents, but one of 
his great talents is in the finest traditions of the Senate Chamber: 
his mastery of the negotiation of compromise. He is able to do this 
because he is respected, he is trusted, and, as I already indicated, he 
is honorable.

[[Page S1951]]

  This Senate will be lesser when Wendell Ford returns to his native 
Kentucky, but his quarter century of service to his State and to the 
Nation will stand as a legacy to be remembered and honored.
  Mr. President, I am grateful to have served with Wendell Ford. My 
wife Landra and I appreciate Jean, his lovely wife, and their--
Wendell's and Jean's--love of their family and their love of the Senate 
family. I personally honor his wisdom, his humor, and his compassion. 
In an age of cynicism, I really appreciate Wendell Ford's down-home 
sincerity. It has inspired me. And it should inspire us all.
  Mr. COVERDELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I have enjoyed the remarks by those on 
the other side of the aisle on behalf of Senator Ford of Kentucky. And 
indeed, he has been a very large figure here in the U.S. Senate for 
many, many years. It is very appropriate that he has been honored by 
his side of the aisle.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to pay tribute today to 
our outstanding colleague from Kentucky, Wendell Ford, as he reaches an 
historic milestone and becomes the longest serving Senator in the 
history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
  Our colleague's service to Kentucky, to the Senate, and to the nation 
has been outstanding through all these years, and it continues to be 
outstanding today. As our Whip since 1990, he is an essential part of 
the Senate's leadership team and deserves a great deal of the credit 
for the legislative achievements of our Party and of the Senate as a 
whole.
  As a legislator, our colleague has consistently earned high marks for 
his brilliant service to Kentucky and the country. He has earned the 
respect of all of us on both sides of the aisle for his skill and warm 
sense of humor in debate, and for his leadership on a wide range of 
issues, especially in areas such as aviation, education, 
telecommunications, the environment, election reform, and the many 
issues of vital importance to Kentucky and to all of rural America.
  I recall that a Ford Fellow Scholarship Fund was established last 
year in Kentucky in his honor, and I am sure that in the years ahead, 
the Ford Fellows will carry on the high standards that our colleague 
has so consistently set for excellence in education.
  All of us regret that our highly regarded colleague has chosen not to 
seek re-election to the Senate this fall. It is no accident that he is 
the longest-serving Senator in the history of his state. The 
stratospheric victory margins he has compiled in his many election 
successes during his brilliant career show that his seat in the Senate 
is secure against any challenge, and are the highest possible tribute 
to the respect and affection in which he is held in his state.
  That long-standing success is no easy achievement. I'm reminded of 
the famous lines by Kentucky's Irish poet, James Mulligan:
     The moonlight falls the softest in Kentucky;
     The bluegrass waves the bluest;
     The songbirds are the sweetest;
     The thoroughbreds are the finest;
     The landscape is the grandest--
     And politics the damnedest in Kentucky.
  I know that the people of Kentucky will miss Senator Ford in the 
Senate, and so will all of us in this body. We're proud of his 
leadership and honored by his statesmanship, but most of all, we're 
grateful for his friendship.
                                 ______