[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8566-S8567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE CAMP
Mr. REED. Madam President, every summer the senior Senator from West
Virginia, Mr. Byrd, hosts a luncheon for the participants of the
National Youth Science Camp.
This is a distinguished collection of high school students from every
State in the Nation who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in the
fields of science and technology. They participate in a two-week
science camp in Green Bank, WV, and, afterwards, spend several days
touring Washington, D.C. Their time in the Nation's capital culminates
in the luncheon hosted by Senator Byrd.
At this year's luncheon, held in the Russell Caucus Room on July 19,
Senator Byrd was introduced by a member of the board of the National
Youth Science Foundation, Mr. Charles McElwee.
When Mr. McElwee introduced Senator Byrd at the luncheon, I was
impressed. He recognized the remarkable accomplishments of the senior
Senator from West Virginia: that Senator Byrd has served in the Senate
for more than 42 years, has been elected to 8 consecutive 6-year Senate
terms, and has held more Senate leadership positions than any other
Senator in history.
Next, he referred to Senator Byrd's knowledge of Senate Rules, the
Constitution, and the Bible, and his prolific writings on the histories
of the U.S. Senate and the Roman Senate.
Mr. McElwee then proceeded to challenge the young, budding scientists
``to make the most of [their] natural minds, as has Senator Byrd.''
I consider this powerful introduction of Senator Byrd a touching
example of how one of Senator Byrd's constituents feels about him. It
highlights the esteem in which he is held by his fellow West
Virginians, and I want to share it with my colleagues. Therefore, I ask
that Mr. McElwee's introduction of Senator Byrd be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Introduction of Hon. Robert C. Byrd, U.S. Senate Luncheon for National
Youth Science Campers
(By Charles McElwee)
How do I introduce a person before whom I stand in awe? How
do I introduce and pay tribute to West Virginia's most
respected and admired elected public official in the State's
history? How do I make the introduction and hold the
attention of youth, our guest science campers, when decades
separate us in age? I resolved to try by relating the mind
and accomplishments of our esteemed speaker to the minds and
aspirations of our youthful listeners.
I commence by way of a reference to a renowned
mathematician, John Forbes Nash, Jr. Nash was born and reared
in Bluefield, West Virginia. He is recognized as a genius in
mathematics, especially in game theory, for which he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994. His recent
biographer has described Nash as having ``A Beautiful Mind''
and has given that title to her biography of him.
While I stand among a hundred, young, beautiful minds, I
introduce a man with a singularly beautiful mind who has
cultivated, developed and used his natural endowment to its
fullest potential. I speak of the Honorable Robert C. Byrd,
the senior United States Senator from your host state, the
State of West Virginia, and your host for this luncheon
today.
Senator Byrd has served in the United States Senate for
more than 42 years and was reelected in 2000 to an
unprecedented eighth consecutive six-year Senate term. He has
held more leadership positions in the Senate than any other
Senator in history, and presently serves as Chairman of the
powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Senator Byrd is a lawyer, having obtained his J.D. degree
cum laude after ten years of study in night classes in law
school, making him the only sitting member of either House of
Congress to begin and complete law degree studies while
serving in Congress.
I have already told you enough to establish that Senator
Byrd is a man with a great mind and substantial achievements.
But I don't want to stop there because I want to use this
brief occasion of introduction to challenge you to make the
most of your natural gifts of beautiful minds, just as
Senator Byrd has done. Let me illustrate what a beautiful
mind can accomplish when it is disciplined and applied.
(Holding up a copy of the United States Constitution.)
Senator Byrd carries with him at all times when discharging
his public duties a copy of the United States Constitution.
His knowledge of this document is, in my opinion, unsurpassed
by any other member of the Senate. He qualifies as a
constitutional lawyer and scholar. In fact, Senator Byrd
shared with another the first ``We the People'' award
presented by the National Constitution Center to a
constitutional scholar, who had demonstrated his love of, and
concern for, the United States Constitution.
(Holding up a copy of the Bible.) Senator Byrd's knowledge
of the Bible, King James version, is stupendous. He can
recite from memory dozens of passages from both the Old and
New Testaments. But more importantly, he and Erma, his
beloved wife of sixty-four years, have shaped their lives to
conform with biblical precepts.
(Holding up a copy of one of Senator Byrd's favorite poems,
``The Bridge Builder.'') Senator Byrd has an immense
knowledge of English and American literature and has
committed to memory a great store of verse. Two of his
favorite poems are ``The Bridge Builder'' and ``Fence or An
Ambulance.'' Both refer to youth like you. In the first, an
old man has
[[Page S8567]]
crossed over a deep and perilous chasm. Although he would
never pass that way again, he stopped to build a bridge to
span the cleft. Upon being asked why, the old man explained:
There followeth after me today,
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm which was but naught to me
To that fair youth may a pitfall be.
The second of the poems has this wise counsel: ``Better
guide well the young than reclaim them when old.'' The
stewardship which Senator Byrd believes that adults have for
the welfare and development of the young is evident in his
most beloved verses.
(Holding up one volume of four volumes written by Senator
Byrd on ``The Senate, 1789-1989.'') These four volumes are a
virtual encyclopedia of Senate History. There is probably no
person alive who knows the history and parliamentary rules of
the United States Senate better than Senator Byrd.
(Holding up a copy of ``The Senate of the Roman
Republic.'') This volume is a compilation of fourteen
addresses delivered on the floor of the Senate by Senator
Byrd over five and a-half months on the History of Roman
Constitutionalism in opposition to the proposal for a line-
item presidential veto. The important point here is that he
delivered each of these fourteen speeches, which were packed
with names, dates, and complex narratives, entirely from
memory and without recourse to notes or consultations with
staff aides.
The author of the Foreword of ``The Senate of the Roman
Republic'' has described the book and the lectures compiled
these as displaying ``vast learning, prodigious memory, and
single-minded determination. . . .'' And so it is that
Senator Byrd has used his beautiful mind to accumulate vast
learning, to develop a prodigious memory, and to challenge
himself at all times with a single-minded determination.
But it has not been his mind, or his learning, or his
memory that has endeared Senator Byrd to the people of West
Virginia. Their affection of him is attributable to his
public service and to his sincere interest in their lives and
concern for their welfare. No member of the United States
Congress or of the Senate of the Roman Republic has served
his other constituency with more distinction than has Senator
Byrd.
We have talked about Senator Byrd's great mind, his
learning, his memory, his discipline, his determination, his
public service, and his interest in people, all superb
attributes of which we stand in awe. Yet there is one trait
which I have not mentioned. Senator Byrd referred to it in a
speech he gave last week on the floor of the Senate.
After cajoling his colleagues that the business of the
Senate requires more than a three-day work week, Senator Byrd
said that he would just as soon be in the Senate ``as to be
at home on Saturday mopping the floor.'' ``Yes,'' Senator
Byrd said, ``I mop the bathroom. I mop the kitchen floor. I
mop the utility room. I vacuum. I dust. I even clean the
commodes around my house.'' Add then Senator Byrd added, ``It
is good for me. It keeps me humble.''
Humility is the eighth, and perhaps the finest,
characteristic of our Senator Byrd. And so I implore, you,
our guest science campers, to use your good minds with
humility. If mopping floors will help you to be humble, then
mop floors.
Senator Byrd has been a long-time supporter of the National
Youth Science Camp in West Virginia and has sponsored this
luncheon for many years. Will you please join with me in
applauding Senator Byrd as a way of expressing our gratitude.
____________________