[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 148 (Tuesday, December 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S11559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING WILLIAM V. ROTH, JR.

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor our respected 
colleague, my friend, and a true gentleman of the United States 
Senate--Bill Roth.
  I have had the honor to serve side-by-side with the senior senator 
from Delaware for nearly 28 years. Never once have any of you nor 
anyone in our home State of Delaware--ever heard me say an ill, unkind 
or negative word about him. And I might add --nor he of me. In my case, 
there is a good reason for this. He has never given me cause to say 
anything negative.
  I, personally, and my state collectively--genuinely respect and like 
Bill Roth. He is a true gentleman--with all the politeness, honesty and 
integrity that word connotes.
  Personally, I will greatly miss his companionship and friendship. We 
have racked up more miles on Amtrak between Wilmington and Washington 
than probably anyone in history! On our train rides, we would often 
talk about how we could best work together on a project for Delaware. 
And we would discuss pressing legislative business. But we'd also talk 
about family and children and grandchildren.
  Bill Roth has served Delawareans with great distinction for 34 years. 
Since 1970, he has served in the Senate, and before that, four years in 
the U.S. House of Representatives. Bill Roth is a living legend in 
Delaware. In a sentence--he is the longest-serving elected official in 
the history of Delaware.
  And he has made his name known across this country, and throughout 
the world.
  Think about the men and women who have served in the United States 
Senate--the true giants. Only a handful have programs or laws named 
after them and for which they will forever be known. Bill Roth is one 
of those giants. He has not one, but two historic laws that bear his 
name--the Roth-Kemp tax cut of the 1980s, and of course, the Roth 
I.R.A.
  On foreign affairs, Senator Roth is an internationalist. He has met 
with and is respected by more world leaders than most U.S. Presidents. 
There is no doubt in my mind that without Bill Roth, we would not have 
NATO enlargement or Normal Permanent Trade Relations with China. He is 
the former President of the North Atlantic Assembly--which is a 
parliamentary arm of NATO--and served as co-chair with me of the Senate 
NATO Observer Group. As a staunch believer in strong security alliances 
in not only Europe, but also Asia, he helped lead the effort for NATO 
enlargement and currently serves on the boards for the Center for 
Strategic and International Studies and the Board of the Pan-Pacific 
Association. He also is active in the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
  Beside the international and financial arenas, Senator Roth has made 
his mark on environmental issues as well. He is a recipient of the 
Wilderness Society's prestigious ``Ansel Adams'' Award for his work to 
protect pristine lands, such as the coastal plain of Alaska--fighting 
many in his own party who want to open up that national treasure to oil 
exploration.
  The breadth of Bill Roth's contributions to this nation seem to be 
without limits. He understands how government works and when it doesn't 
serve the public the way it should, he's stepped forward to fix things. 
Whether it's general government restructuring, overhauling the IRS to 
end taxpayer abuses, or reforming the welfare system, he has left his 
mark. And when Amtrak needed critical support to advance to high speed 
rail, he championed the act to commit more than $2 billion for capital 
improvements.
  With all his distinguished awards and landmark legislation, Bill Roth 
also is part of the so-called ``Greatest Generation,'' serving our 
country in World War II. He rose to the rank of captain and earned the 
Bronze Star for his service in the Pacific.
  Like his war service, there is much Senator Roth does in Delaware for 
which he never seeks headlines nor credit. Every year, for the past 30 
years, he has hosted and organized a Youth Conference for high school 
students throughout the State. This is an enormous undertaking to 
coordinate--involving high school principals, teachers, students and 
well-known keynote speakers. He has done it all solely for the kids. I 
am certain many of those students over the years are now serving as 
leaders in our businesses, non-profit organizations, and some even hold 
public office now themselves.
  I realize it's rare, and somewhat awkward, for one member of this 
body to stand up and so publicly honor his fellow, distinguished 
Senator. But Bill Roth deserves that and much more. Senator Roth has 
been a friend, partner and confidant to me over the years.
  Delawareans also will miss the pleasant, extremely competent and 
caring service of Senator Roth's staff. From veterans to members of the 
business community--from seniors to school students--from the fire 
service to the armed forces--from the City of Wilmington to the beach 
communities--Senator Roth and his staff were highly regarded for their 
friendly, responsive and highly-professional constituent services.
  And I know that beyond all his legislative accomplishments, Senator 
Roth is most proud of his wife of 35 years--The Honorable Jane Richards 
Roth--his son Bud who is an attorney in Delaware--his daughter, Katy 
who is a physician--and his two grandsons, Bobby and Charlie.
  This body is losing more than a powerful Committee chairman, who used 
that power wisely, judicially and compassionately. The United States 
Senate is losing a genuine gentleman. He has served the citizens of 
Delaware with honor and integrity for nearly 34 years. Our State, our 
country and the United States Senate are so much better for his 
service.
  The British statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke, said in a speech 
at Bristol:

       The worthy gentleman who has been snatched from us at the 
     moment of the election, and in the middle of the contest, 
     whilst his desires were as warm and his hopes as eager as 
     ours, has feelingly told us what shadows we are, and what 
     shadows we pursue.

  Senator Roth's shadow will stay with this body for years to come as 
we pursue the principles he stood for.

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