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




                   RETIREMENT OF SENATOR WENDELL FORD

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join others to comment 
on the service provided to America and to Kentucky by Wendell Ford. 
While we were members of different political parties, I often had the 
opportunity to hear him speak on this floor and to observe him 
represent his party as a Democratic leader. He is strong, experienced, 
filled with good humor and a tough advocate for his state and for his 
beliefs. I was honored to be the presiding officer for the Senate on 
the day in which Wendell Ford eclipsed the service record of a host of 
outstanding Kentucky senators and became the longest serving Senator 
from that great state.
  While he loves government, politics and the debate that goes with 
this office, he is a family man at heart. He has the sense of a 
southerner. He remembers his friends and he loves his state.
  He is also independent. I recall one late night that we were debating 
whether to limit the high attorneys' fees in the tobacco cases. Senator 
Ford came on the floor and I noticed him looking my way during the 
debate. As we concluded, he asked if I would yield for a question. I 
answered his inquiry as best I could and he firmly nodded. Even though 
his party was strongly against my amendment, and no one could doubt 
that Wendell Ford is a good Democrat, he voted for the amendment and it 
passed by one vote.
  Those are the things that you remember and are a good example for all 
of us. While we want to be loyal, we are also independent.
  Mr. President, we are losing one of our more notable members. We will 
miss the richness of his experience, the sharp debate, and the good 
humor. While our association has been a short one, I have enjoyed and 
benefitted from it, and expect that it will continue.

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