[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 44 (Friday, March 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2996-S2997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO SENATOR BYRD

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I want to say a word of gratitude and 
thanks to the distinguished senior Senator from West Virginia for 
several observations.

[[Page S2997]]

  First of all, as the war clouds gather in the Balkans, hopefully this 
Nation and NATO will not be drawn into war. If we are drawn into war, I 
hope we will, as a country, keep in mind the axiom by Baron von 
Clausewitz that one must know the last step one takes in terms of war 
before one takes the first step. That should be fully debated here on 
the floor of the Senate.
  The distinguished senior Senator from West Virginia had some 
wonderful observations about life itself and about spring.
  I could not help but identify with his wonderful comments about his 
great granddaughter and his love for tomatoes and the things that grow 
in the spring. My father has a similar love for vegetable gardens and 
particularly for Better Boy and Big Boy tomatoes. I was very touched by 
Senator Byrd's comments about me, and I appreciate his thoughts 
immensely.
  The last week or two has been fascinating in my life where I learned 
some things about my own experience in war that have, in effect, 
triggered a lot of the emotions of war and, hopefully, will lead to a 
deeper healing of the wounds I incurred there.
  The story is in the Hill newspaper, and Senator Byrd was kind enough 
to enter that into the Congressional Record. I thank him personally for 
that, and it is an honor to be serving with him. He has been one of my 
personal heroes for many, many years.
  I wanted to say those words, Mr. President, because we have an 
incredible human being with us in the Chamber, Senator Byrd, whose 
light and life continues to guide us all.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks recognition?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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