[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7216-S7218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING SENATOR PAUL COVERDELL
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to join some of my fellow
Senators in remembering the extraordinary life and service of our
friend and colleague, Paul Coverdell.
It is a somber day in the Senate Chamber, as we deal with this loss.
Paul Coverdell served the people of Georgia with distinction for over
30 years. His passing leaves a significant mark on the many lives he
has touched over his lifetime. On behalf of myself and my wife Annette,
I offer my condolences to Paul's wife Nancy and his family.
Anyone who dealt with Paul Coverdell over the years came to respect
him. He was honest, loyal, and dedicated to public service. It was
these characteristics that Paul brought to the table every day in his
life. Paul's vision as a legislator and commitment to the principles
and values for which he truly believed were demonstrated time after
time in this Chamber. His commitment to improving education in the U.S.
sets a high standard for all public officials. His hard work in the
Republican leadership and his vision of a prosperous future for all
Americans deserves tremendous praise.
Personally, it was truly my privilege to know and work with Paul over
the years. We sat next to each other recently in the Senate, as can be
seen.
He will be remembered as a dedicated American who gave much of his
life in service to his Nation. I offer my thoughts and prayers to those
close to Paul in this difficult time, especially to his family.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5
minutes as in morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I rise today to deliver some remarks
upon the death of our beloved colleague, Paul Coverdell.
It is no exaggeration to say that the whole Senate is in a state of
shock that we no longer have Paul with us. Just last week, Senator
Coverdell was among us on the Senate floor debating legislation,
visiting with us in the Cloakroom, speaking up in our weekly Republican
conference. And now, only a short period later, he is no longer with
us. To my knowledge, Paul never seemed to have had any health problems.
He certainly seemed fine last week.
My last remembrance of him is just how happy he was when we adjourned
on Friday afternoon after we passed that landmark legislation repealing
the death tax. I guess the fact that Paul is no longer with us reminds
us all that we need to keep life in perspective.
I first met Senator Coverdell when I was first campaigning for the
Senate 2 or 3 years ago. From that first time I met him, I came away
with a very powerful impression that he was a most sincere and decent
and friendly person. In all my dealings with him in my year and a half
in the Senate, that impression never changed. Paul was always in a
good, cheerful mood. He was always positive and upbeat. I never once
saw him raise his voice or get angry at anybody. He was unfailingly
polite and courteous at all times and to everyone. He was the
quintessential southern gentleman and a delight to know.
In the Senate, we debate issues of great moment to our country: war
and peace, the economy, education policy. I guess it is sometimes the
little, personal, seemingly inconsequential gestures of friendship that
one remembers. I used to sit next to Senator Coverdell every week in
our Wednesday Republican luncheons. I got to know Paul that way, not
only as a colleague but as a person. Every week Paul would gently rib
me for eating my main course before I ate my salad. Week after week he
would comment on that. I think finally he just concluded that that was
a peculiar habit of midwesterners.
I will always remember the smile and the twinkle in Paul Coverdell's
eyes, and I won't easily forget him or my friendship with him.
Paul, I am proud to have served with you. I am going to miss you. We
are all going to miss you. You enriched this Senate, the State of
Georgia, and the whole country by your service. Our thoughts and
prayers are with you and your wonderful wife Nancy and your family. May
God bless you and keep you.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to
5 minutes as in morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I join my colleague from Illinois in
paying tribute to our fallen colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell.
I have been in the Senate for 4 years and have worked with many
colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I agree completely with Senator
Fitzgerald: Senator Coverdell brought to this floor a certain dignity
and demeanor to which we all aspire. He was a person of good humor. I
think it may be difficult for many people who follow the debates in the
Senate to believe that a Democrat who believes very strongly in his
party and a Republican who believes very strongly can be engaged in a
hot debate on the floor of the Senate and then, as soon as the debate
is over, meet each other in the corridor or the well or at another time
and be friends. That was the case with Paul Coverdell.
[[Page S7217]]
We disagreed on many issues, but I never found him to be lacking a
smile and always looking for some common ground where we might come
together. The last conversation I had with him several weeks ago, he
walked all the way across the floor to the Democratic side of the aisle
and came right up to me. I was wondering what this could be.
He said: I need your help.
I said: What is it, Paul?
He said: I want to try to secure a gold medal for Ronald and Nancy
Reagan; will you help me?
I know he was from Illinois. I said: Of course, I will.
I signed onto it. That is the kind of person he was. As different as
we might be politically, he was always trying to reach out and find
some common ground. I think when we get caught up so much in the
political debate and the furor here, we forget many times how
important it is to have a person such as Paul Coverdell here to remind
us time and again that after the debates are finished, we are all
basically human beings trying to do our very best in the Senate.
I agree with my colleague from Illinois: It is hard to imagine that
only a few days ago he was standing in the well and smiling and walking
around as he always did as a member of the Republican leadership team
and then stricken on Sunday, operated on on Monday and passed away. It
is a sad day for the Senate.
I have noted, interestingly enough, today, as many of my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle have come to the microphone, some have known
Paul Coverdell for a long time. Some have known him in many different
roles in life, some for a very short time. Everyone from both sides has
a very positive take on what Paul Coverdell meant to each of us and
meant to this institution.
It is a great loss, not only for the Senate but for the State of
Georgia and for the Nation which he served in so many different ways so
well.
I extend my sympathies to his wife Nancy and all his family and
friends in this moment of grief. The Senate has lost a fine Senator. I
am honored to have called him a friend.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President I ask unanimous consent to speak as in
morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I join with my colleagues to pay tribute
to Paul Coverdell. I have listened to a lot of tributes today. There
have been so many themes, including cheerfulness, optimism, a welcome
hand, no rancor, no bitterness. We all know that to be Paul Coverdell.
I want that to mention one incident which, for me, encapsulates it all.
It is going to be the incident that is defining for me. Whenever I
think of Paul, I will always think of this incident, and I always will.
This outfit--the Senate--tends to be a little partisan. Over the
years, it has become too partisan, almost as two armed camps, one over
there and one over here. It is regrettable, but that is something that
has occurred and evolved up here in the Senate.
Not too many years ago, I was in Atlanta, GA, speaking at an event. I
neglected, as is a common courtesy, to tell Senator Coverdell I was
there. Sam Nunn was a Senator at the time. I didn't tell Paul I was
having an event in Georgia, his home State. I felt kind of bad about
it. But like a lot of us, I kind of pushed it to the side and
rationalized that it was not that important.
Lo and behold, at that same hotel, Paul was speaking about three or
four rooms away, and I heard about it. I said to myself: Oh, my gosh,
Max, how stupid you are; why didn't you tell him? How guilty I felt.
Oh, my gosh, here I am in Paul's home State and he doesn't even know I
am here. I am in his State and he is just down the hall. I thought: You
blew it, Max.
When I finished, I was walking out in the hall and Paul happened to
be coming up. He bounced up to me and said, ``Hey, Max, how are you?
Welcome to Georgia. I hope you're having a good time.''
That was Paul--positive, upbeat, cheerful, with a smile and a good
attitude and a gleam in his eye. That made me feel even smaller and
more guilty, but it made me feel even better about Paul. That is the
Paul Coverdell I will always remember.
Mr. President, Wanda and I send our deepest sympathies to Nancy and
the family. Life is fickle, unpredictable. There but for the grace of
God go any of us. People with the personal qualities of Paul Coverdell
are the ones we will treasure here. I know the people of Georgia will
treasure the same qualities in Paul Coverdell. He was a great man.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan is recognized.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed
to proceed as in morning business for 4 minutes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I join with all of my colleagues today in
praising the life and celebrating the life and grieving the loss of
Paul Coverdell. He was a friend and someone whom I trusted. I think we
all trust each other here because we are family. But I had a special
fondness and a special trust for Paul Coverdell. He was a man of
tremendous integrity, directness, and modesty.
There are many instances over our time period together that come to
mind. But one in particular is perhaps the most recent one. I had a
matter that was of great personal concern to me. It was an issue where
he and I differed philosophically but where I needed his help in order
to get my position heard. He agreed it should be heard, even though he
disagreed with it. I went to him and asked him whether or not he might
assist me in that process, and he said, ``Carl, I don't agree with you
on this issue, but this is a matter of great import for this country
and your views clearly should be considered by the decisionmaker here.
I am going to do everything I can to make sure that in fact those views
are considered.''
That said a lot about this man and about this place. Although we
disagreed on an issue, he believed that the principle of having both
sides heard was more important than the specifics of the issue. His
integrity was indisputable and undoubted. We came to rely on him in so
many ways. His background made him particularly able to make a special
contribution to this Senate. He had great skills as a legislative
craftsman and tactician. He, of course, had a wonderful background in
the Peace Corps, and there were so many other ways he was able to
contribute as a very special force in the deliberations on this floor.
Paul Coverdell rose to leadership in a very short period of time,
which reflected the deep respect and regard that he had among his
Republican colleagues. That special affection and regard was matched on
this side of the aisle. The death of this very fine and gentle man is a
terrible loss to the people of Georgia. I consider it to be a great
loss to the people of Michigan and all of America, and a great personal
loss to me as well.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma is recognized.
Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I appreciate the comments by my friend
and colleague from Michigan regarding the death of our friend and
colleague, Paul Coverdell.
Yesterday was a very, very sad day for the Senate. I was at this desk
when the majority leader announced that Paul Coverdell passed away at
6:10 yesterday. Majority Leader Trent Lott was a very close friend of
Paul, as was I and many other Senators. This is a tough, trying time
because we lost a very good friend and an outstanding Senator. It is
sad to see the vacant chair right behind me that Paul Coverdell sat in.
It demonstrates an enormous void his death leaves behind here in our
body.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Paul Coverdell for the last 8
years. He did an outstanding job. Paul Coverdell was the type of
Senator who would do any work assigned, and often times, work not
assigned. He was the type of Senator who could enlighten the room, the
type who could work with all Members and make things happen. He was the
type of person who would be willing to take on tough tasks and always
say yes, and
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take them across the finish line. He was the kind of person you would
want to have on your team at all times.
Paul was the kind of person who really added a lot to this
institution. It makes me proud to say he was my colleague. He
contributed so much in so many ways. His death is an almost unspeakable
loss for us, for the State of Georgia, and for the country.
He showed great leadership on a lot of issues, with a hallmark brand
of analysis and execution that identified a challenge for our
conference, pulled out all the views among our colleagues, and built
consensus and success to the betterment of not just our party, but our
country. For example, take primary and secondary education--something
overlooked for many years. He focused on that in the last few years,
and headed up a task force that cut across committee lines, seniority
lines, and philosophical lines, to bring us together. He wanted us to
do positive things to improve education across the nation. He
successfully blended our different viewpoints together, and together we
painted a vision on education that not only do many Americans support,
but holds out real hope for change and improvement when it comes to
educating our kids for the challenges of the 21st century. Further,
many elements of his efforts brought along our colleagues across the
aisle.
Or, take our war on drugs. Senator Coverdell has worked hard with
colleagues to address this challenge, here in the United States, and
with the House and the administration to carry the fight overseas. In
waging those battles, we came to realize that he was intense, he was
serious, dedicated, and sincere. He was also successful, and many
families today and in the future should be gratified in his success.
And these are just a few examples of the many areas where Paul placed
his tremendous energies. He was so involved in so many different
issues, I even teased him last year. I said, ``We are enacting all
Coverdell legislation, all the time'' because he had his name and
fingerprints all over so many things were doing, because he was so
proactive in trying to come up with positive solutions to challenging
problems in education, or fighting the war on drugs here and overseas,
or spending the country's money wisely, or returning the tax surplus to
the people.
Paul also didn't hesitate to join us in standing up on behalf of the
Constitution, our system of checks and balances, of keeping the order
we stand to defend. From the beginning to the end of his time in the
Senate, rarely a day went by when he did not cast a thoughtful eye on
the activism and activities of the executive, cognizant of the vision
of our Founders who believed in a limited central government.
When you got to know him, you would discover that he had a real
intensity, a keen curiosity to learn, understand, grapple with issues
great and small. And he had such a great, congenial working spirit that
made all of us better, that built us all up. His personality was
infectious, his energy was admirable, his thoughtfulness was
considerable, and his friendship was valuable.
We want to let Paul's wife Nancy know that she is very much in our
thoughts and prayers. We are comforted by the fact and have great
confidence in the fact that Paul Coverdell now resides in a wonderful
mansion, eternally. Our sympathies and prayers go with Nancy, and to
the Coverdell family.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for
his comments. We celebrate the wonderful life of Paul Coverdell. I have
a heavy heart, and I miss him. He was a great Senator. He contributed
to this Nation in extraordinary ways.
He was a good friend to me, and a good friend to many others.
Yes, he was modest, self-effacing, encouraging, positive, and
unifying--all of those things. But he was a courageous and positive
leader for values that this Nation holds dear. He advocated them with
such a winsome and effective way. We will miss him. I will miss him.
I say to the family and to Nancy particularly how sorry we are, and I
express my sympathy. Maybe next week I will be better able to express
my admiration and feelings for Paul Coverdell. I feel his loss deeply.
So many of us do. I wanted to share those thoughts at this time.
I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________