[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10143-S10144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        EULOGY FOR MURRAY ZWEBEN

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the Senate has lost an honored and esteemed 
friend. I rise to pay tribute to Murray Zweben, former Senate 
Parliamentarian, Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus, who passed away on a 
Sunday recently.
  A few years before his own death, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter 
to John Adams:

       It is of some comfort to us both that the term is not very 
     distant at which we are to deposit in the same cerement our 
     sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an 
     ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and 
     whom we shall still love and never lose again.

  As we reflect upon and mourn the passing of Murray Zweben, these 
words remind us that death is but a temporary separation between this 
life and the next life. While we regret the loss of dear friends, and 
especially one who so ably served this body for many years, we can 
contemplate with assurance that there is the promise that we can be 
reunited.
  A Parliamentarian emeritus of the Senate, Murray Zweben served this 
body as Assistant Senate Parliamentarian from 1963 to 1975. He served 
as the Senate Parliamentarian from 1975 until 1981, a position he held 
when I became majority leader. Murray Zweben first came to the 
Parliamentarian's office as Secretary to Parliamentarian Charles L. 
Watkins. He served 3 years as communications officer in the 
Communications Office of the Chief of Naval Operations following his 
graduation from naval officer candidate school in September 1953.
  While serving as Secretary to the Parliamentarian, Murray Zweben 
attended the George Washington University Law School and achieved the 
honor of being on the Law Review there.
  After clerking for Judge Laramore of the U.S. Court of Claims, and 
practicing law, he was called again to the Senate to fill the newly 
created position of Second Assistant Parliamentarian in January 1963. 
He was promoted to Assistant Parliamentarian in December 1964 where he 
served for 10 years under the tutelage of Dr. Floyd Riddick.
  In 1974, Mr. Zweben was appointed Parliamentarian of the Senate, and 
he served in that post with distinction. He served as Parliamentarian 
during some turbulent years in the Senate. In his first year, Nelson 
Rockefeller, then Vice President of the United States and President of 
the Senate, relied heavily upon the advice of the Parliamentarian as he 
presided over the fight to amend the rules of the Senate.
  Also during Mr. Zweben's first year as Parliamentarian, the Senate 
was faced with the unprecedented debate over the rightful claim to a 
Senate seat from New Hampshire, which required great skill to resolve.
  The Senate saw other battles during Murray Zweben's tenure as 
Parliamentarian. Through all of those encounters, Mr. Zweben was fair, 
impartial, and judicious in the conduct of his duties. His unfailing 
good humor, even under stressful circumstances, will be remembered by 
all who knew him. Murray was unflappable in a post where a cool head is 
essential.

[[Page S10144]]

  He was a shining example of public service. Although public service 
in general and public service careers in Washington have in some 
quarters fallen out of favor, I believe Murray Zweben's work represents 
a compelling case against the cynicism about the many fine people who 
serve in the Senate in various capacities. Their names are never in the 
papers, they experience few public kudos, and yet they work as many 
long hours--probably more so--than we Members do. They are dedicated, 
capable, patriotic individuals who represent the best that America 
produces from all over this Nation. Murray Zweben served this 
institution and his country well. His love of the institution, and his 
zest for politics, and for life made him a pleasure to know.

  My thoughts and prayers are with Murray's family. When we lose 
friends and loved ones, we may lose the mortal companion, but this is 
but a temporary--but a temporary--one.

     For as the rolling seasons bring
     The hour of fate to those we love,
     Each pearl that leaves the broken string
     Is set in Friendship's crown above.
     As narrower grows the earthly chain,
     The circle widens in the sky;
     These are our treasures that remain,
     But those are stars that beam on high.

  Those words were penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

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