[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12132-S12133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR SENATOR LOTT

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, on behalf of all of us here on the floor 
and all colleagues here in the Senate, we know this is a stressful day. 
It should actually be a joyful day for Senator Lott. It is his birthday 
and we wish him a happy birthday.
  [Applause.]
  Mr. LOTT. Thank you all very much. It is a joyful day. I resented 
when Senator Daschle came over and told me he was only about 50, 
reminding me of his youth. Then Senator Strom Thurmond welcomed me into 
his range of age. I don't know quite what that meant. Actually, in 
spite of all the things we have working, it has been a great day. 
Actually, I enjoy every day here and I appreciate the friendship of all 
of you on both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, not to be the skunk at the lawn party, 
but that reminds me of a story I feel like I have to share with you. 
Recently, in the caucus, Senator Daschle announced the birthdays of 
three Senators that would occur in the ensuing week. He named them, and 
John Glenn was one of them, and I forget the other two. Barbara 
Mikulski was one. Everybody applauded, and I turned to Senator 
Torricelli and said, ``Isn't it strange that we applaud birthdays in 
this country?'' He said, ``It is an American anachronism that we 
applaud the march toward death.''
  Mr. LOTT. Was that supposed to be humorous?
  Mr. DODD. Will the leader yield?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I yield to Senator Dodd for a question.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. Leader, I don't want to disrupt your birthday, but I 
have a unanimous-consent request I want to make at an appropriate time, 
which I suspect the majority will object to. I want to be able to do it 
before we move on to the next order of business. I don't know the plan 
here.
  Mr. LOTT. If we could complete comments on this, and then you will 
have an opportunity to do that. You have put me on notice, but let us 
try to do this.
  Mr. BYRD. Will the leader yield to me?
  Mr. LOTT. I am delighted to yield to Senator Byrd.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I was listening to the debate going on on 
the

[[Page S12133]]

floor and I heard that it was someone's birthday. For those in the 
galleries who wish to make note of it, I am 29,544 days old today. It 
is not my birthday, but I am 29,544 days old. I want to congratulate 
our leader on his birthday.
  Mr. LOTT. Thank you, sir.

  Mr. BYRD. I say to the leader:
     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, [leader,]
     Count your age by friends, not years.

  Mr. LOTT. Thank you very much.
  [Applause.]
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, only the distinguished Senator Byrd would be 
able to come to the floor and have poetry that he could quote on the 
spur of the moment. I always enjoy his remarks so much. Thank you, 
Senator Byrd.

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