[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12152-S12153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RETIREMENT OF SENATOR DIRK KEMPTHORNE

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, while each of us is looking forward to 
adjournment so that we may go home and spend time with our constituents 
and being closer to our family and friends, the end of the 105th 
Congress is a somewhat bittersweet occasion as

[[Page S12153]]

many of our colleagues are concluding their careers in the Senate. One 
member who will not be back with us in January is my friend, Senator 
Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho.
  Senator Kempthorne arrived in Washington six-years-ago and very 
quickly established a reputation for not only being dedicated to the 
duties and responsibilities of his office, but for being an individual 
with a keen mind who approached matters before this body in a very 
thoughtful and deliberative manner. His opinion on issues was always 
well regarded and void of partisan rhetoric. Though one will never have 
every member of this Body agree with their position, everyone gave 
considerable weight to the remarks and positions of the Senator from 
Idaho.
  One of Senator Kempthorne's committee assignments was to the Armed 
Services Committee and I quickly spotted his leadership ability, and in 
a relatively short period of time, assigned him the chairmanship of the 
Subcommittee on Personnel. This was a demanding job, especially in this 
era when we are not only trying to determine what the appropriate size 
of the military should be, but also because of a number of highly 
emotional issues related to personnel matters. Regardless of the issue 
that was before his subcommittee, Senator Kempthorne worked hard to 
ensure that he discharged his responsibilities impartially, and with 
the best interests of our men and women in uniform in mind.
  Beyond earning a reputation for being an intelligent student of 
public policy, Senator Kempthorne also earned a well deserved 
reputation for being a decent man. He was unfailingly polite and 
cordial to everyone with whom he dealt. Whether it was a witness before 
the Committee, a debate opponent on the Senate Floor, or one of the 
thousands of support staff that work in the Senate, Dirk Kempthorne was 
pleasant, respectful, and cordial.
  It is truly our loss that Senator Kempthorne has decided to leave the 
Senate and return to Idaho, but the citizens of that state will indeed 
benefit when our friend is elected Governor. The ability he 
demonstrated for leadership and civility will serve both he and his 
constituents well and I am certain that Idaho will be regarded as one 
of the most efficiently run states in the Union before the end of his 
first term. My counsel to the members of this Chamber is that Dirk 
Kempthorne is a man to keep your eye on, and frankly, I would not be 
surprised if he were to return to Washington one day, though to take an 
office that is at the opposite end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Regardless, 
I wish both he and his lovely wife Patricia health, happiness, and 
great success in the years to come, we shall miss them both.

                          ____________________