[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1670-S1671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY'S BIRTHDAY

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this is the last day of February. I believe 
it was Percy Bysshe Shelley who said, ``O Wind, if Winter comes, can 
Spring be far behind?''
  Spring is just around the corner.
  Mr. President, while the Senate was in recess, the senior Senator 
from Massachusetts became a little bit more senior. On February 22, 
Senator Edward Kennedy celebrated his 69th birthday.
  Oh, to be 69 again.
  In recognition of that occasion, I wish to say today what an 
enjoyable privilege it has been to work in the Senate with Ted Kennedy. 
History will be fair to Senator Kennedy, and I have no doubt that 
history will judge him as one of the most effective Senators on that 
roll of 1,864 Senators as of now.
  He is one of those rare workhorses. In the Senate we have show horses 
and we have workhorses. The show horses, you see them on TV quite often 
for the most part. Of course, we expect our elected leaders to be on TV 
often, but the workhorses, you don't see them on TV quite as often.
  Ted Kennedy is one of those rare workhorse Senators in the truest 
meaning of that word. We will say it is one word, ``workhorse.''
  Nearly every piece of progressive legislation since 1977 bears, if 
not Ted Kennedy's name, at least his imprint. That may be a bit of an 
exaggeration, so let me put it this way. I was first elected majority 
leader in the Senate in 1977. I was majority leader through the years 
of the Carter administration, 1977 through 1980. During that time, I 
was very familiar with the committee work, the legislation that I 
called up, the legislation that was amended, and the legislation that 
was adopted here and went to conference, the legislation that 
eventually became law. Many pieces of progressive legislation, 
beginning at the time of my tenure as majority leader the first time, 
carried Ted Kennedy's imprint.
  He is a Senator who does his homework; he knows his subject. When he 
calls up an amendment, when he manages a bill, when he is the ranking 
member on a bill that has been called up, Ted Kennedy knows what he is 
talking about. We may not always agree with him, but we listen because 
we know he has mastered that subject matter.
  Although blessed with wealth, he has always been a powerful and 
eloquent voice for the poor and oppressed, not just in the United 
States but also around the world. And he has also been a powerful and 
eloquent voice for the Democratic Party, its traditions, its causes.
  We will long remember his soaring voice, his speeches to Democratic 
conventions, as well as his passionate struggle for the rights of the 
working people, for health care reform, for the strengthening of the 
Social Security net for America's less fortunate.
  In the Senate, he has shown that public service is the place where, 
to paraphrase his late brother, John F. Kennedy, Americans can stop 
asking what their country can do for them but what they can do for 
their country.
  Though we were out of session on Ted Kennedy's birthday, I say 
belatedly that I will always remember the support that Senator Kennedy 
gave me during the years it was my privilege to serve as the Senate 
Democratic leader. When times got tough, as they occasionally do for a 
Senate leader, I knew I could always count on Senator Kennedy's 
assistance. It may have been needed for an additional vote; it may have 
been for his assistance in building approval for a legislative 
proposal, but whatever was needed, Senator Kennedy was there, and I was 
thankful.

  Senator Kennedy is a true friend, not only to me but also to the 
people of West Virginia, and when I make this personal reference the 
following two happenings will illustrate what I mean.
  When I reached my 80th birthday--the Psalmist doesn't promise 80 
years; the Psalmist promises only 70, but goes on to say:


[[Page S1671]]


       And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet 
     is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, 
     and we fly away.

  On my 80th birthday, I was in Charleston, WV, and the then-Governor 
of the State, Gov. Cecil Underwood, had invited me over to the 
Governor's mansion. I was enjoying a luncheon there, given by Cecil 
Underwood in my honor. During the luncheon, I was called to the 
telephone. On the telephone was my chief of staff, Barbara Videnieks, 
who said to me, ``Senator, we have a visitor in the office,'' meaning 
here in Washington. She said, ``Senator Ted Kennedy is here, and he has 
with him 80 roses.''
  Ted Kennedy brought the roses to my office himself, 80 roses. I never 
had that to happen to me before, and I am not sure that many Senators 
in this Chamber, if any other than I, can recount such a beautiful 
experience as that was for me. There was Ted Kennedy in my office--I 
was in Charleston, at the Governor's mansion--with 80 roses on my 80th 
birthday. You can bet before he was able to get out of my office and 
down to the subway car I was on the telephone calling him and thanking 
him for being such a real friend.
  You would think we vote together just like that all the time. We 
don't. But we never argue about it; we never have any falling out about 
it, when we have little differences of viewpoints with respect to 
legislation. There is this underlying bond of friendship between 
Senator Kennedy and me.

  Last year, I was at the Greenbriar with my wife of 63 years on our 
anniversary. And, lo and behold, here came to our room at the 
Greenbriar 63 red roses. From whom? Ted Kennedy. I was surprised. That 
is Ted Kennedy. Our friendship will always be strong. He thought of me 
on our wedding anniversary, and he thought of Erma. He is just like 
that. But who else sent me 63 roses on our wedding anniversary? Nobody.
  I think it is remarkable that there has grown up that kind of bond of 
affection and friendship between these two Senators.
  Most people probably remember President John F. Kennedy introducing 
himself to the people of France by saying he was the person who 
accompanied Jaqueline Kennedy to Paris. A year before that, President 
Kennedy, upon a return visit to the Appalachian coal fields in West 
Virginia, introduced himself saying--here is President Kennedy saying--
``I will introduce myself--Teddy Kennedy's brother.''
  During the last election, I saw for myself a tremendous display of 
this continued affection for Senator Kennedy among my people, the 
people of West Virginia. When Senator Kennedy and I appeared at a 
political rally in the heart of the State's southern coal fields where 
I grew up, we were promptly swamped by swarms of people--swarms of West 
Virginians, mountain people--seeking Ted Kennedy's autograph and 
wanting to shake hands with him or simply to see him.
  I will always be pleased to introduce myself as Senator Ted Kennedy's 
friend, and I will always be glad that I have had the opportunity to 
serve with him in the Senate.
  I say belatedly to Ted Kennedy, with his birthday of a few days ago, 
Senator Kennedy, because of you, many people in this country are much 
better off. Because of you, millions of our citizens have a voice that 
is heard in these Halls. So happy birthday, Senator Kennedy, and may 
God bless you.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. 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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