[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4401-S4402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DESIGNATING THE HENRY CLAY DESK

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 89, submitted 
earlier by Senator McConnell.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 89) designating the Henry Clay Desk 
     in the Senate Chamber for assignment to the senior Senator 
     from Kentucky.

  There being no objection, the Senator proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is my distinct honor to support this 
resolution submitted today by Senator McConnell assigning the Henry 
Clay Desk in the Senate Chamber to the senior Senator from Kentucky. 
This resolution will ensure that the Henry Clay Desk will forever stay 
within the family of Kentucky Senators.
  The Senate has a proud tradition of passing this type of resolution. 
During the 94th Congress, for example, the Senate adopted a resolution 
assigning the Daniel Webster Desk to the senior Senator from New 
Hampshire. And, during the 104th Congress, the Senate agreed to a 
resolution ensuring that the Jefferson Davis Desk would forever reside 
with the senior Senator from Mississippi.
  Let me take a brief moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Henry 
Clay. Henry Clay began his political career in the Kentucky House of 
Representatives in 1803, at age 27, and remained in public service 
until his death in 1852. During Clay's long and distinguished career, 
he served his state and his nation in a wide range of capacities 
including speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Speaker of 
the United States House of Representatives, and, of course, as a U.S. 
Senator for fifteen years. Clay also served President John Quincy Adams 
as Secretary of State for four years, and received his party's 
nomination for President in 1824, 1832, and 1844.
  Henry Clay's ability to facilitate compromise was quickly recognized 
in Washington, and he became well-known as a highly-skilled negotiator. 
This skill, coupled with his knack for convincing and persuasive 
speech, made Clay the ideal appointment in 1814 to help negotiate the 
Treaty of Ghent that concluded the war with Great Britain. And, during 
Clay's quest to save the Union in 1820, he earned his reputation as 
``The Great Compromiser'' by helping broker the Missouri Compromise. 
His leadership, however, did not end there. He also went on to play a 
significant role in crafting the Compromise of 1850.
  Henry Clay's lifetime of public service is indeed worthy of 
recognition. He will always be a role model for public servants because 
of his dedication to the people of Kentucky and to our great Nation, 
and lives on his history as one of the greatest Senators of all time. 
In fact, Henry Clay's portrait is displayed just off the Senate floor 
to honor his designation in 1957, as one of history's ``Five 
Outstanding Senators.'' Clay certainly deserves today's honor of 
committing his former desk to Senator McConnell and to the senior 
Senators from Kentucky who will follow.
  Mr. President, let me say today that I think Senator McConnell is 
following in the footsteps of Henry Clay. He has done a tremendous job 
representing the good people of Kentucky for the past 15 years. And, on 
a personal level, I would like to say that I have developed a genuine 
appreciation for Senator McConnell's courage, his political insight, 
and his keen and candid advice on a wide range of subjects. I value him 
as a friend, a confidant, and an advisor, and look forward to many more 
years of service with him here in this chamber.
  Mr. President, I am proud today to support this resolution submitted 
by Senator McConnell. It is his strong desire to maintain the heirloom 
of the

[[Page S4402]]

Clay desk in the family of Kentucky Senators for the years to come. I 
urge the Senate to adopt this resolution and ask that it be included in 
the collection of the Standing Orders of the Senate.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 89) was agreed to, as follows.

                               S. Res. 89

       Resolved, That during the One Hundred Sixth Congress and 
     each Congress thereafter, the desk located within the Senate 
     Chamber and used by Senator Henry Clay shall, at the request 
     of the senior Senator from the State of Kentucky, be assigned 
     to that Senator for use in carrying out his or her senatorial 
     duties during that Senator's term of office.

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