[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12597-S12598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR DAN COATS

  Mr. SESSION. Mr. President, many have spoken more eloquently than I 
of the contributions made to this body and to this nation by Dan Coats. 
I will not try to describe his distinguished career or to list his 
legislative achievements, but I will, once again, attempt to review the 
qualities that have made Dan Coats special to me and to so many others.
  First, he is a man of faith who lives that faith and allows it, 
shockingly to some, to actually affect how he votes and how he does his 
job. He is fully apprized of all the technical data and the Senate 
procedures required for effective service in the Senate on the Armed 
Services Committee and the Labor and Human Resources Committee. But, 
the strength of his service goes beyond technical skills--Dan brings 
honesty, strong principle and faith to every issue he faces. He does 
not approach these issues in a shallow or parochial fashion, but 
instead brings perspective to these matters that only comes from faith. 
Faith shapes what he does. It inspires others. It has inspired me, an 
event for which I am most grateful. Dan Coats is generous, kind, loving 
and courteous. He is also courageous. He cares about our nation and he 
wants it to achieve its highest and best goals. He knows that 
coarseness, selfishness, dishonesty, and meanness must not be our norm. 
So, while Dan tended to the daily duties of the Senate, he always kept 
his eye on the permanent things. Whether he was working quietly behind 
the scenes, or passionately on the floor, Dan has sought to ensure that 
our nation's policies result not only in making us stronger and richer, 
but also better. Dan knows, to the depth of his being, that God desires 
goodness, humility, honesty and justice more than power, fame and 
wealth. Indeed, Dan has steadfastly and in a winsome manner, worked, 
perhaps more than any other Senator, to cause the members of this body 
to think on these things. He has encouraged us, as the prophet Habakkuk 
says, ``to walk on my high places''. He has shown that one person can 
improve the lives of others by articulating and living a message of 
faith. That Dan is national president of the Big Brothers organization 
is not surprising. He knows that profound change comes one life at a 
time, not through the expenditure of a few more governmental dollars. 
And, though he has served in the most exemplary fashion as a United 
States Senator, still, to paraphrase, nothing has so become him as his 
manner of leaving. He, with grace and diginity, has just walked away. 
Dan knows, he really knows, that this great Senate, this earthy pit, 
too often leads us to believe, by our own pride and self deception, 
that we control our own destinies,

[[Page S12598]]

the destinies of others, and the destiny of the world. And, most 
importantly, he knows that such price is false. Dan knows that another 
power controls this world, a power far beyond our imaginings. While we 
have governmental duties to fulfill, we must also listen to that still, 
small voice. It is not only important to listen, but to obey. Dan does 
both. He has just walked away from this Senate and the wise think this 
decision is foolish. But, as he leaves this body, and begins a new 
period in his life of obedience, none can know precisely what the 
future will hold anymore than Abraham did when he was called. But, when 
he was called, he went. As Dan Coats leaves this Senate, we are all 
saddened because we love him, admire him, and because we will miss his 
guidance. Certainly, he has loved us first and uplifted this senator 
and others with his example. With grace and strength he has dropped the 
trappings of power to serve in another way. His example, Mr. President, 
is bright and pure. We watch with love and awe. Godspeed Dan Coats.

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