[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9073-S9082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR STROM THURMOND
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I apologize. I was not able to be here this
morning when the Senators expressed their words and thoughts about our
wonderful colleague, Strom Thurmond, who is retiring from the Senate
this year. I wanted to join in the particular tribute in saying to him
and the people of South Carolina and the rest of our colleagues
something we all feel, regardless of the disagreements we may have had
on substantive policy matters, Strom Thurmond is truly an American
institution in many ways.
I cannot even begin to imagine the U.S. Senate without this
remarkable individual in our presence. For nearly 50 years--almost a
quarter of the life of this country--through 10 Presidential
administrations, Strom Thurmond has been an institution in the Chamber
of the Senate. Eight Senators serving today were not yet born when
Strom Thurmond was first elected to the Senate in 1954.
It is not the fact that Senator Thurmond has served the Senate longer
than any other Senator in our Nation's history that makes him unique.
It has been, in my view, Strom Thurmond's fascinating journey through
life that makes him unique. His story is truly a unique American story.
In the course of his nearly 100 years, Strom Thurmond has been a
teacher, judge, combat hero, Governor, winner of the Presidential Medal
of Freedom, and, of course, a Senator. In more than 20 years of our
serving together, I have not always agreed with Senator Thurmond, as I
know many of my colleagues have not over the years, but he has always
been a true embodiment of the ``way of the Senate,''--always
thoughtful, always respectful, and always deliberative. In short, he
has been a great Senate colleague.
My father, Senator Thomas Dodd, served with Senator Thurmond for 12
years. I have served with him for 20. That is 32 of his almost 50
years. They, too, had their differences, but they had tremendous
respect for one another and were very good friends. My family will
always think of Strom Thurmond not simply as a friend but as a loyal
friend to the Dodd family.
I believe that no matter what your ideology or political persuasion,
one cannot look upon the life of Strom Thurmond without concluding that
it is in so many ways so remarkable.
What else can you say about a man who, at the age of 42, took a leave
of absence as a Circuit Judge in South Carolina to volunteer to
parachute behind enemy lines with the 82nd Airborne Division during the
Normandy D-Day invasion, for which he was awarded 5 Battle Stars for
Bravery in Combat?
What else can you say about a man who has dedicated his entire life
to public service, to the service of his country?
While never neglecting to be a stalwart in support of the state and
people of his beloved South Carolina, there are literally dozens upon
dozens of schools, buildings, parks, and streets in South Carolina
named after their senior Senator. Senator Strom Thurmond has never
failed to put America first.
He has always treated public service to America as a sacred
responsibility. In this respect, Strom Thurmond is a very, very rare
breed.
Senator Thurmond was born at the dawn of the 20th century, born to a
very different time; to a very different America.
Over the past century, America has grown as a Nation. Over the past
century, America has become a more free, a more fair, and a more
compassionate nation.
And, over the past century, Senator Thurmond has also grown.
Senator Thurmond once said, ``People evolve. They reach a higher
truth in life.''
Strom Thurmond lived through the entire 20th century, a century which
began with two world wars and ended with a triumph of democracy.
It was a century of enormous political and social upheaval, but it
was also a century of enormous progress and enlightenment.
Strom Thurmond was not just witness to the entire 20th century, he
was a full participant.
His journey mirrored America's journey.
And now, at the dawn of a new century, Strom Thurmond is still a
participant in America's journey.
In closing I would just like to tell Strom Thurmond that his lifetime
of service to his country, and his nearly 50 years in the United States
Senate, is greatly appreciated, and will be sorely missed.
Strom, it is an honor and a privilege working with you, and I will
miss you very, very much.
Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, several of our colleagues made some
remarks concerning our esteemed friend and colleague, Senator Strom
Thurmond. I wish to join them in that effort.
Strom Thurmond, by the end of this year, will complete 48 years in
the Senate--eight terms in the Senate. I will be completing four terms,
and it is mind-boggling to think someone would complete eight, 48 years
in the Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 1954 and has served this
body with great distinction and honor during that time.
Prior to that time, he was also Governor of South Carolina. Even
before that, he was one of the heroes, in my opinion, who actually
helped liberate Europe going into Normandy. He actually parachuted into
Normandy behind enemy lines. He earned 18 decorations for his service,
including the Purple Heart.
[[Page S9074]]
He is an outstanding hero, American, Governor, Senator, serving 48
years in the Senate. He has had a wealth of experience.
I remember my first contact with Senator Thurmond is when he called
me to congratulate me upon my election in 1980 and urged me to serve on
the Judiciary Committee, which I respectfully declined, but I found it
was hard to turn down Strom Thurmond. He has been a very close
confidante and friend.
My daughter had the privilege of working for him for a short period
of time, and she considers that a highlight in her career as well.
He served both as chairman of the Armed Services Committee and also
the Judiciary Committee. He served with distinction and honor. He has
brought great pride to the Senate. He is the Senator's Senator, and I
join my colleagues in saying that we have the greatest esteem and
respect for Senator Strom Thurmond.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Senator Strom Thurmond achieved more
before middle age than many of us achieve in a lifetime. Born in 1902,
Senator Thurmond in 1933 was already a State senator in South Carolina.
In 1938, he was a State court judge. From 1942 to 1946, he served in
World War II, landing on the beach in Normandy on D-day with the 82nd
Airborne Division and earning numerous decorations, medals and awards.
In 1947, the year he turned 45, he was the Governor of South Carolina.
In 1954, when he was elected to the Senate, he already had a full
history of serving the public, especially the people of his beloved
home State of South Carolina. In the Senate, Senator Thurmond has
demonstrated a keen political instinct and achieved a legendary
reputation for constituent service. The people of South Carolina know
Senator Thurmond will treat them royally--a standard I try to emulate
for my own constituents. Senator Thurmond's imprint on the Senate is
with this institution forever.
Senator Thurmond is responsible for one of the highlights of my
Senate service. In 1980, soon after I was first elected to the Senate,
Senator Thurmond was becoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He
asked me to join the committee. I explained I wasn't a lawyer, but he
explained I didn't need to be. Senator Thurmond promised to get me good
staff to help me with the technical points of Judiciary Committee work.
He delivered on that promise, and I thoroughly enjoy serving on the
Judiciary Committee. I hope to continue serving on that committee as
long as I'm a member of the Senate, although of course I won't serve as
long as Senator Thurmond. I appreciate Senator Thurmond's support of me
as a freshman Senator, and an unknown quantity, by giving me the
opportunity to join his committee. I hope I haven't disappointed him.
As a farm State Senator, I seek like-minded Senators to support the
survival of family farmers. Senator Thurmond has always supported any
efforts to advance this cause. He comes from a largely agricultural
State, and he understands how family farmers not only feed the world,
but also make up part of the fabric of American life. I'm grateful to
have served with Senator Thurmond over the years, and to continue
serving with him.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak in honor of my good
friend--and legend--the distinguished Senator from South Carolina,
Strom Thurmond.
From the moment Strom Thurmond set foot in this Chamber in 1954, he
has been setting records. He was the only person ever elected to the
Senate on a write-in-vote. He set the record for the longest speech on
the Senate floor, clocked at an astounding 24 hours and 18 minutes. He
is the longest serving Senator in the history of the Senate. As he
approaches his 100th birthday, he is also the oldest serving Senator.
Many of my colleagues will recall the momentous occasion in September
of 1998 when he cast his 15,000th vote in the Senate. With these and so
many other accomplishments over the years, he has appropriately been
referred to as ``an institution within an institution.''
In 1902, the year Strom Thurmond was born, life expectancy was 51
years--and today it is 77 years. Strom continues to prove that, by any
measure, he is anything but average.
He has seen so much in his life. To provide some context, let me
point out that, since his birth, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska
and Hawaii gained statehood, and 11 amendments were added to the
Constitution. The technological advancements he has witnessed, from the
automobile to the airplane to the Internet, literally span a century of
progress. Conveniences we have come to take for granted today were not
always part of Strom Thurmond's world. Perhaps this explains why,
during Judiciary Committee hearings, he has been heard asking witnesses
who were too far away from the microphone to ``please speak into the
machine.''
The story of his remarkable political career truly could fill several
volumes. It began with a win in 1928 for the Edgefield County
Superintendent of Schools. Eighteen years later, he was Governor of
South Carolina. Strom was even a Presidential candidate in 1948,
running on the ``Dixiecrat'' ticket against Democrat Harry Truman.
I must admit, Mr. President, that he has come a long way in his
political career, given that he originally came to the Senate as a
Democrat. I am happy to say that wisdom came within a few short years
when Strom saw the light and joined the Republican Party.
When I first arrived in the Senate in January of 1977, he was my
mentor. As my senior on the Judiciary Committee, it was Strom Thurmond
who helped me find my way and learn how the committee functioned. He
has not only been a respected colleague, but a personal friend, ever
since.
During his tenure as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Strom
Thurmond left an indelible mark on the committee and the laws that came
through it. He became known and respected for many fine qualities and
positions--his devotion to the Constitution, his toughness on crime,
his sense of fairness.
He is also famous for his incredible grip. Many of us in this Chamber
have experienced Strom Thurmond holding our arm tightly as he explains
a viewpoint and asks for our support. I might add that this can be a
very effective approach.
Strom is also known to have a kind word or greeting for everyone who
comes his way, and for being extremely good to his staff. Despite his
power and influence, he has never forgotten the importance of small
acts of kindness. For example, whenever he eats in the Senate Dining
Room, he grabs two fistfuls of candy. When he returns to the floor of
the Senate, he hands the candy out to the Senate Pages. Unfortunately,
it is usually melted into a kaleidoscope of sugar by then! I have a
feeling that the Pages prefer it when Strom takes them out for ice
cream.
Strom Thurmond is truly a legend--someone to whom the people of South
Carolina owe an enormous debt of gratitude for all his years of
service. Clearly, the people of South Carolina recognize the sacrifices
he has made and are grateful for all he has done for them. In fact, you
cannot mention the name Strom Thurmond in South Carolina without the
audience bursting into spontaneous applause. He truly is an American
political icon.
Abraham Lincoln once said that ``The better part of one's life
consists of friendships.'' With a friend like Strom Thurmond, this
sentiment couldn't be more true. I am a great admirer of Strom
Thurmond, and I am proud to call him my friend.
Mr. President, one final note about Strom Thurmond: He is a great
patriot. I am grateful for his work with me over the years in support
of a constitutional flag amendment. A decorated veteran of World War II
who fought at Normandy on D-day, Strom Thurmond loves this country. Let
me close by saying that this country loves him, too.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate my dear
friend and colleague Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina for his
48 years of service to this country.
Senator Thurmond was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1954, as the
first person in U.S. history to be elected to a major office by a
write-in ballot. As the longest serving Senator in the Senate, Strom
has been a part of a lot of firsts in our Nation's history and he has
contributed to every major policy issue facing this country for the
last half century. He is a true legend.
Strom has been a respected authority on military issues. He served in
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World War II, fighting in 5 battles, including the Normandy Invasion,
and received 18 decorations, medals, and awards, including the Purple
Heart, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Legion of Merit With Oak Leaf
cluster. In 1959, Strom attained the rank of major general. He has been
a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee since 1959. His
expertise in military issues has been a great benefit to our men and
women in uniform.
His love for the state of South Carolina has been a guiding force in
his life. He has been a coach, an educator, an attorney, a State
senator, a judge, a Governor, and, most importantly, an impeccable
leader for the people of South Carolina.
Strom has not only been a remarkable Senator, but an even better
American. I know I speak for all my colleagues here in the Senate when
I say that he will be missed.
Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, it is with great pride and honor that I
rise today amongst my fellow colleagues to honor one of America's
finest citizens, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
When I look at Strom's career and all that he has accomplished
throughout his life, I often find myself wondering how one man could
possibly do so much in just one lifetime. Strom Thurmond truly deserves
the title of Renaissance man. He has been a farmer, a teacher, a
lawyer, a judge, an author, a Governor, a war veteran, a major general
in the U.S. Army Reserves, a State senator, a U.S. Senator, a Democrat,
a Dixiecrat, a Republican, a husband and a father.
Since 1954, when he ran and won a seat in the Senate as a write-in
candidate, Strom Thurmond has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the
people of South Carolina and the citizens of this great Nation, casting
more than 15,000 votes in his time in the Senate.
I now ask that my fellow members of the Senate join me in thanking
and honoring our good friend and colleague for all that he has done
throughout his life and throughout his tenure in the Senate. His
brilliance, leadership and unmatched wit will be sorely missed by this
legislative body and by the entire Nation. But we will always hold on
to the many memories and stories he left behind.
Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the senior
Senator from South Carolina, Mr. Strom Thurmond. Not only is Senator
Thurmond the oldest Member ever to serve in the Senate, and the longest
serving member, his entire life has been dedicated to service to his
country. At the age of 21, in 1924, Senator Thurmond was commissioned a
second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. At the age of 26, he was
serving as the Superintendent of Education in Edgefield County, SC.
From there he went on to serve as a State Senator, and then as Circuit
Judge of South Carolina, a position he left to serve his country during
World War II. For his military service, he earned a total of 18
different medals, decorations, and awards. He served as the Governor of
South Carolina, and while serving, he ran for President as the head of
the third party States Rights Democrats. He received 39 electoral
votes, the third largest ever for an independent party candidate. Then
in 1954, he was elected to the Senate as a write-in candidate, the
first person ever to be elected to the Senate as a write-in candidate.
Senator Thurmond's career as a member of the Senate has been not only
long but distinguished. He served as either chairman or ranking member
of the Senate Judiciary Committee for 12 years and he served as either
chairman or ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee for 6
years. In fact, he has served on the Armed Services Committee for the
last 43 years, where he has been a leader in promoting a strong
national defense.
So while we do well to recognize his extraordinary years of service
to the Senate, it is worth remembering that Senator Thurmond is the
perfect example of a true statesman a man who has dedicated his life to
serving his country in any way possible, in all branches of government,
in times of war and in times of peace. Senator Thurmond has set an
example not only as a great Senator, but as a great citizen of this
country, and it is for that reason that we are here to pay tribute, to
demonstrate our respect, and to offer our thanks.
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I am pleased to take this opportunity to
pay tribute to the remarkable life of Senator Strom Thurmond of South
Carolina.
On December 5, 2002, Senator Thurmond will turn 100 years old,
another amazing milestone for an indefatigable public servant.
Throughout his historic years of service in the Senate, he has
distinguished himself through his energy, his spirited patriotism, and
his dedication to excellence. Every Member of this body counts him as a
friend and as an inspiration.
Beginning his public service career in 1923 as a teacher and athletic
coach, he became the superintendent of education in Edgefield County,
SC. He was elected to the State senate at the young age of 31 and later
served as a Circuit Judge of South Carolina.
He left the judicial bench in 1942 to fight in World War II where he
parachuted into Normandy on D-day with the 82nd Airborne Division. He
served in the Civil Affairs section of the First Army headquarters
where he was awarded five Battle Stars, the Legion of Merit with Oak
Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Belgian
Order of the Crown, and the French Croix de Guerre. Upon his return to
South Carolina, he served as Governor before he was elected to the
Senate in 1954.
Strom Thurmond's career as a Senator has been distinguished by love
of his country and all the possibilities he has envisioned for it. His
longevity and strength are a result of his determination to further his
ideals, his commitment to personal fitness, and his devotion to serve
the people of South Carolina.
Senator Thurmond's influence has been felt throughout the Senate, but
it has been particularly noteworthy in his leadership on the Armed
Services, Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. In recent years,
as President Pro Tempore, he set an example for us all with his
thoughtful wit, his constancy, and his obvious love for the Senate and
its institutions.
Senator Thurmond is a statesman whose retirement from this Chamber
will leave the Senate a diminished place. I am pleased to join with my
Senate colleagues in acclaiming his lifetime of service to America.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in congratulating the
senior Senator from South Carolina, our esteemed colleague and a
legendary public servant, as we honor his service to America and his
beloved constituents in South Carolina.
When the 107th Congress adjourns sine die later this year, it will
end another chapter in the life and legendary public service of Senator
Thurmond. For almost 48 years, Strom Thurmond has been an important
person in the life of the Senate. Indeed, December 24, 2002, will mark
the 48th anniversary of Senator Thurmond arrival in the Senate after
his election as a write-in candidate, a feat that itself is historic
and unprecedented. December 5, 2002, also marks another marvelous
milestone, Senator Thurmond's 100th birthday. In considering these
truly remarkable events, it is humbling to recall that Senator
Thurmond's service in the Senate is longer than the period of time that
Hawaii has been a State.
It is even more remarkable to consider Senator Thurmond's
accomplishments outside of the Senate: attorney, state legislator,
judge, decorated World War II hero and participant in the D-day
landing, Governor of South Carolina, husband, and father.
I have had the privilege of serving with Senator Thurmond during the
12 years I have been in the Senate, the last quarter of his remarkable
tenure, and we serve together on the Armed Services and Veterans'
Affairs Committees. As Chairman Emeritus of both Committees, Senator
Thurmond has earned a well-deserved reputation as a determined and
powerful advocate for our Nation's men and women in uniform and our
veterans. His commitment to improve services, benefits, and quality of
life for servicemembers and veterans, and their families, is
unwavering.
On a personal note, our former colleague, Senator Bob Dole, Majority
Leader Daschle, and others have spoken about emulating Senator
Thurmond's diet and exercise regimen as a way of enjoying similar
longevity. I
[[Page S9076]]
would like to share with my colleagues one of Senator Thurmond's
dietary secrets: he has a fondness for Hawaiian macadamia nuts. I can
think of no better testimonial for the health benefits of macadamia
nuts then the gentleman from South Carolina!
I thank our leaders for scheduling this time for the Senate to honor
the remarkable life and times of a great American patriot and a
gentleman of the Senate, Senator Strom Thurmond.
Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor my colleague from
South Carolina and to wish him a happy 100th birthday.
For the better part of the 20th century, Strom Thurmond devoted his
life to public service service to the people of South Carolina, service
to his country in World War II, and service in the Senate.
He began his career as a teacher and coach. He became superintendent
of education in Edgefield County. He landed at Normandy on D-day with
the 82nd Airborne Division, and returned home to become Governor of
South Carolina.
In 1954, Strom Thurmond became the first Member of the Senate to win
election as a write-in candidate. He has spent most of his life giving
back to the people and the places that have given him so much in life.
As a U.S. Senator, no one has had a more distinguished career than
Strom Thurmond. For more than 48 years, he has been a champion for our
veterans. Time and time again, he has fought to strengthen their
education and rehabilitation benefits, and to provide them with the
best health care and housing.
In the last year, he continued to do more for our military. He filed
legislation to ensure that disabled veterans have access to service
dogs so that they can lead a more independent life. He has reached
across the aisle to end the limit on Junior ROTC programs with our
colleague Senator Graham from Florida.
He secured education benefits for our brave men and women serving in
Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom. Each effort has brought more
honor and dignity to the courageous men and women who give so much of
themselves so that we can live in freedom.
Just as he began his career as a teacher in 1923, I know that he was
so very proud to support last year's ``No Child Left Behind Act.'' He
understands that the best place to open a child's mind and heart to the
opportunities that surround him or her is through education.
I want to take this moment to thank Senator Thurmond for supporting
New York during this difficult year. In the wake of massive terrorist
attacks, Senator Thurmond stood by the people of New York and the
people of New York are grateful for his assistance as the city
rebuilds.
Today, it gives me great pleasure to honor Strom Thurmond and to
express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all that he has done
to improve the lives of the people he represents in South Carolina and
every American.
We are honored for his years of service and wish him a very happy
birthday.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am honored to join my colleagues in
this tribute to Senator Thurmond and his extraordinary record of
service to the people of South Carolina and the Nation.
As the longest serving member of the United States Senate in history,
the Senator from South Carolina cast his first vote in January 1955--
when seven of his current colleagues were not even born. His election
in 1954 was an American first. Senator Thurmond was the first person
ever elected to a major office as a write-in candidate.
Senator Thurmond came to this body half a century ago as a man of
humble origins with a teacher's background and a legal education given
to him by his father, and he has never stopped teaching and learning.
In the years since he first came to the Senate, he has cast over
15,000 votes, and he has always stood up for his beliefs with a
passionate conviction. Over the years, many of us have often disagreed
with him on specific issues, but we have always had great respect for
his ability and dedication.
Senator Thurmond has served our country with great dedication in the
armed forces as well, from his early days as a Second Lieutenant in the
Army Reserve in 1924 to his outstanding service in the 82nd Airborne
during World War II. He volunteered for service immediately after the
attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and piloted a glider onto the beaches
at Normandy in 1944, earning five battle stars and numerous over medals
for his courage in combat.
I have had the honor to serve for many years with Senator Thurmond on
both the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee in the
Senate, and we often worked together to meet the important challenges
facing our Nation.
Two decades ago, as members of the Judiciary Committee, we worked
together for a period of several years to reform and improve the
federal sentencing system. Our proposal was eventually enacted as the
Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.
Prior to the 1984 Act, federal sentencing was famously characterized
by Judge Marvin Frankel as a system of ``law without order.'' Judges
had unreviewable discretion to sentence defendants to lengthy periods
of incarcertaion--or no incarceration at all. Gross disparities in
sentencing were common, even within the same federal courthouse. Too
often, those disparities were related to the race or the economic
resources of the defendant.
Some thought the answer to that problem was mandatory sentencing
laws. But Senator Thurmond and I developed the fairer and more
effective approach of sentencing guidelines that is used today.
Senator Thurmond and I came to the issue from different perspectives,
but we agreed on the goal of fair sentencing laws. It took several
years of debates, but Senator Thurmond and I stood together. Our ideas
prevailed, and I am proud to have worked with him on this important
reform of the Nation's criminal justice system.
We have worked together on the Armed Services Committee as well.
Senator Thurmond has never forgotten the responsibility of the 82nd
Airborne to be America's Guard, and to go ``All the Way'' in protecting
the rights of our men and women in uniform and our Nation's veterans.
From the Strom Thurmond Institute at his alma mater, Clemson
University to Strom Thurmond High School to Interstate Highway 20, also
known as Strom Thurmond Highway, the Senator from South Carolina has
been honored by communities in his state and by the American people as
well. I know that all of us in the Senate commend him, as he retires
this year, for his long and distinguished service to the Senate and the
Nation.
Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it has been heartwarming to hear the
eloquent remarks about the accomplishments and career of our
distinguished colleague from South Carolina.
He has been my friend and colleague in the Senate for twenty-four
years. It has been a high privilege and honor to work with him and to
learn from his example of dedicated service to the citizens of his
state.
As this session of the Senate nears an end, it is hard to imagine
that it will be Senator Thurmond's last term as a United States
Senator.
Since 1964, he has worked hard to strengthen and protect our country
and defend the principles on which it was founded. He can be assured
that his has been a successful and remarkable career.
I'm proud to join others today in thanking and commending him for his
truly outstanding record of public service.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, born nearly a century ago, when Mark Twain
was alive and Teddy Roosevelt was still President, Strom Thurmond has
led a life of public service unmatched in the modern history of
America. He has been a friend to all of the more than 400 Senators with
whom he has served. And he will forever be a symbol of what one person
can accomplish when they live life to the fullest.
Strom Thurmond has served in the Senate for all but four of my 50
years of age. Though that is a remarkable accomplishment itself, we
should not forget what Strom accomplished before coming to the Senate.
He was a teacher, an athletic coach, and a Superintendent of
Education. He studied law under his father, Judge J.
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William Thurmond and became a City Attorney, County Attorney, State
Senator, and, eventually, a Circuit Court Judge.
Though exempt from serving in the military, Strom, who had already
been an army reservist and a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant by the age of
21, volunteered for active duty on the day we entered WWII. As a member
of the 82nd Airborne, he parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day and
helped secure the foothold for the Allies to liberate the European
continent.
For his distinguished service, Strom was awarded five Battle Stars
and 18 other decorations, including the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf
Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Belgian Order
of the Crown and the French Cross of War.
After the war, Strom returned home to South Carolina. He was elected
Governor in 1946 and then ran for President of the United States as the
States Rights Democratic candidate. Although Harry Truman prevailed,
Strom won four states and 39 electoral votes. That tally still stands
as the third largest independent electoral vote in U.S. history.
Despite not winning the presidency, Strom was determined to serve in
Washington. He ran for the Senate in 1954 and became the only candidate
elected to Congress by a write-in vote in American history. Strom has
been re-elected eight times since. Clearly the people of South Carolina
value principle, character and courage in their leaders.
Though it has been more difficult in recent years for Strom to make
it home to South Carolina, that has not stopped South Carolina from
coming to him. And it shouldn't. For decades Strom attended every
county fair, handled every constituent request, and sent a
congratulatory note to every high school graduate, many of whom came to
intern in his office.
It has been said that almost 70 percent of South Carolinians have met
Strom Thurmond face-to-face.
Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Strom Thurmond
has been a witness to history. As a young man, he knew people who had
seen Andrew Jackson, and he campaigned for the votes of men who fought
in the Civil War. He and Herbert Hoover won their first elective office
in the same year, 1928.
But Strom has more than seen history; he has written it. Not only is
he the oldest and long-serving Senator, he has served with about one-
fifth of the nearly 2,000 people who have been members of the Senate
since 1789. And he is nearly one half the age of the United States
Constitution itself.
Like the great experiment that is American democracy, Strom Thurmond
has certainly faced his trials, both politically and personally. Yet,
through it all, he has always held tight to his principles, always
upheld his beliefs, and always defended American values at home and
abroad.
Today we say thanks to this giant of a man not only for the history
he has witnessed and written, but for the service his life will inspire
for generations to come. God bless our friend, our colleague, and the
Senate's Icon of Time, the senior Senator from South Carolina, Strom
Thurmond.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues today
in paying tribute to our friend from South Carolina, Senator Strom
Thurmond, who through his 48 years of distinguished service in this
body has given special meaning to the term Senior Senator and left an
indelible mark on the history of this great Nation.
Well before Senator Strom Thurmond celebrated his 100th birthday this
year, he had become an institution within this institution. To many
American, that is primarily because of his much-celebrated durability.
But to those of us who have the privilege to work with him here in the
Capitol, it is as much a measure of his inexhaustible amiability, the
graciousness and decency that have come to define Strom's way, and his
extraordinary dedication to the people and the country he serves.
Senator Thurmond has been such a fixture here in the Senate, it is
easy to forget that he led a remarkable public life long before he came
to Washington. He began his career as a farmer, teacher, and athletic
coach. He was superintendent of education in his home county. He was
town and county attorney. He was State senator in his great State of
South Carolina. He was a judge. He served in the Second World War, and
was part of the Normandy invasion with the 82nd Airborne. He was
Governor of South Carolina. And from that position of leadership he
went on to run for President in 1948, before getting elected to the
Senate for the first time in 1954.
Since then, Senator Thurmond has had the unique distinction of having
been a delegate to six national Democratic Conventions and six national
Republic Conventions. And he has found the time to be reelected to the
Senate an astounding eight times, serving as an esteemed member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee since 1959, and as President pro
tempore of the Senate from 1981-86 and 1995-2001.
I have had the honor of serving with Senator Thurmond on the Armed
Services Committee for more than a dozen of those years, and it is
readily apparent why the people of South Carolina--not to mention his
colleagues on both sides of the aisle--hold him in such high regard.
Quite simply, every day he is happy to be helping and protecting the
security of our country. Here in Washington, he has been a fierce
protector of his State interests. And at home he has been a gentle and
caring friend to his constituents, always ready to listen and willing
to act on their behalf. It is a testament to that friendship and
admiration that at least 20 buildings, centers, rooms, and statues in
South Carolina have been named after him. And that's not counting all
the streets and roads that carry the Thurmond name.
The long list of these accomplishments would take most Americans 300
hundred years to accumulate. Senator Thurmond has gotten them all under
his belt in a mere 100. And through it all, Senator Thurmond has grown
not only as a public servant and leader, but as a human being. After
running for President as a State's rights candidate, he later supported
the renewal of the Voting Rights Act and observance of the Martin
Luther King, Jr. holiday on behalf of his State. And today, in
recognition of all his hard work for all the people of South Carolina,
he is beloved throughout his State by constituents of all colors. That
transformation sends a powerful message that all of us could become
better Americans and better individuals--and that the United States of
America, for all its blessings, can always become a better nation.
For all this, we honor Senator Thurmond as a man of iron with a heart
of gold, who has lived a love for his country and all that makes it
exceptional, and given not just the best of years of life but just
about every year of life to make his community and his country a better
place. The Senate will just not be the same without him. But today we
can and should celebrate the tremendous difference he has made. So we
thank him for all your service and sacrifice, and wish you a long and
healthy retirement. God knows you have earned it.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to address homeland security.
No Member of this body can deny that homeland security is of the
almost importance at this time. We all agree that protecting Americans
from further deadly terrorist attacks is, without question, our most
urgent national priority. President Bush and the American people have
called on us to act on his priority.
Americans cannot ignore continuing widespread threats made by
terrorist groups throughout the world. Even in Idaho, a State that is
more than 2,000 miles from any of the sites of the terrorist attacks
that occurred on September 11, 2001, people are mindful of these new
dangers that exist. There is a general feeling across the country that
no one can consider themselves isolated or immune.
In securing our Nation and protecting the American people, we need an
approach that is coordinated, comprehensive, and collaborative; a
system that acts at Federal, State, and community levels. We are
capable of creating a Department of Homeland Security that protects the
United States from terrorist threats while preserving American civil
liberties on which our country was founded. It is incumbent upon us to
create a dynamic, synchronized, and flexible entity, so that we can,
indeed, facilitate the need for homeland security on a national level,
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while at the same time meeting the challenges posed by ever-changing
threats made from many different fronts. We do not know where our next
threat will materialize and we should not withhold from the President
the ability to analyze and respond aggressively and dynamically as the
situation commands.
To be successful in our endeavor for national safety, the interests
of the American people must supercede party differences; we must be
united as we were last September if we wish to protect the people of
the United States. I applaud Senator Gramm and Senator Miller for their
tireless efforts working toward a bipartisan substitute that truly
provides the tools and capabilities needed by those entrusted with
defending the people. It is high time that the Senate move forward on
this legislation, following the lead of the other body, and respond to
the call of the American people.
Mr. President, I hope the Senate will support President Bush,
allowing him the same flexibility given other presidents in times of
war. Our quick and aggressive action regarding Homeland Security is
imperative; we must grant the President the power, flexibility, and
necessary resources to guide us through this continuing conflict. For
as long as terrorism continues to be a worldwide scourge, threats to
our national security should be met with the fullest and most
aggressive response. I stand with the President in his concerted effort
to root out this evil and to bring security to our Nation.
Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of the
Lieberman amendment establishing a commission to examine and report
upon the facts and circumstances relating to the most catastrophic
terrorist attack in the history of the United States: the September 11
terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. I was a
cosponsor of the legislation upon which this amendment is based and am
eager for the work of the commission to get underway.
The senseless attacks of September 11, 2001, made it clear to all
Americans that the United States was inadequately prepared for the
threats posed in a post-cold-war world. Now that the Soviet Union has
dissolved and American relations with Russia and China have improved
markedly, disparate religiously motivated non-state actors have
distinguished themselves as a clear and present danger to international
stability and the security of the American homeland. The commission
that would be created by this amendment would go a long way in helping
the United States identify the causes of the September 11 disaster and
inform the U.S. Congress as it embarks upon the difficult process of
reorganizing our government to respond to newly recognized threats.
For many families that I have spoken with, the inability of the
government to provide a full accounting of the events surrounding the
death of their loved ones in the September 11 attacks has added to
their grief. They have requested that the government provide them with
a thorough explanation of the various factors that led to the untimely
deaths of their dear relatives. If the public report released by this
commission provides some small measure of comfort to these families,
then in my view, it is worthwhile.
But this commission is important for pragmatic as well as emotional
reasons. Few people doubt that the terrorist attacks unmasked
unfortunate weaknesses in the United States homeland security posture.
In the weeks and months following the attacks, the Congress moved
swiftly to address some of the most obvious weakenesses. Consequently,
there have already been substantial changes in a variety of areas,
ranging from the formation of the Transportation Security
Administration to necessary adjustments in the way that the Department
of Justice responds to new threats. But our work is far from complete.
It would be an unfortunate mistake to believe that the U.S. Congress
has already uncovered all of the missteps that allowed the horrific
tragedy of September 11, 2001 to take place. A commission, composed of
outside experts and government officials, will provide a nuanced
analysis of the myriad events related to the most catastrophic attack
on the United States in history.
The work of the Intelligence Committee has been entirely professional
and profoundly important, but it is insufficient by design. The
mistakes and miscuss relating to the September 11 attacks are not
limited to intelligence failures alone, but run the gamut from foreign
policy decisions regarding the use of American forces and aid after the
fall of the Soviet Union to shortcomings in American law enforcement
and immigration practices. Ultimately, an effective investigation must
not restrict itself simply to the operations of our intelligence-
gathering agencies. In fact, an effective analysis should not limit
itself to the Federal Government, but must take an incisive look at
both the public and private sector and at the State and national level,
to generate recommendations that will truly address the specific and
often esoteric factors that led to the September 11 attacks.
No committee or commission to date has been given the jurisdiction to
take the long view and provide a holistic evaluation of the factors
relating to and the issues surrounding the most devastating attack in
American history. The commission that would be created by this
amendment would provide a level of scrutiny and self-reflection that is
urgently needed after an event of the magnitude and the scope of the
September 11 disaster.
Just 11 days after Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, the U.S. Congress
passed legislation creating the Roberts Commission, a commission to
determine, in the words of historian Gordon Prange, ``whether
`derelictions of duty' or `errors of judgment' had influenced the
Japanese at Pearl Harbor and, if so, who was responsible.'' The
commission then made a series of recommendations designed to improve
American security.
The September 11 disaster is no less significant and has no fewer
ramifications than the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. The President
has correctly characterized the international fight against terrorism
as a war. As we embarked on World War II, we established a commission
to analyze the Pearl Harbor attack. Similarly, as we embark on the war
on terrorism, we must establish a commission to analyze the September
11 attacks.
It is essential that Congress know what went wrong so the United
States can plan for the future. Weaknesses must be shored up, gaps must
be filled, and oversights must be rectified.
Above all, this amendment would represent an important step in
realizing the ultimate goal of all Americans, both Democrat and
Republican alike: to ensure that an event like September 11 never
happens again.
I urge my colleagues to support Senator Lieberman's amendment.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, at the close of the 107th Congress, the
Senate will lose a legend, a colleague who has served more than 40
years in the U.S. Senate, cast more than 15,000 votes and achieved the
record as the longest-serving Member in this body.
Perhaps most notably, our colleague, on his retirement, will have
completed the lengthiest record of public service on behalf of our
country. Senator Thurmond has served his community as an educator; the
State as State senator, judge, and Governor; and our Nation in World
War II in both the European and Pacific theaters, an Army Reservist for
36 years, as a candidate for President and as U.S. Senator. This record
of service spans a period of more than 80 years.
Remarks by Senator Thurmond at the time of his swearing-in ceremony
for his seventh term in 1997 express succinctly his views and
commitment to public service. At the time he said, ``there is no more
rewarding endeavor than public service, and without question, the more
than 40 years I have spent in the U.S. Senate have been among the
happiest of my life.''
As I review Senator Thurmond's record of service, and reflect on his
service in the Senate and to our country, few Americans have had the
opportunity to witness and shape history as he has. Senator Thurmond's
achievements in the military and on defense matters serve to underscore
this point.
Senator Thurmond is a veteran who served in World War II during some
of the most difficult combat of the war. He parachuted into Normandy on
D-Day with the 82nd Airborne Division, earning 5 battle stars and 18
decorations including the Purple Heart, the
[[Page S9079]]
Legion of Merit, Belgian Order of the Crown and French Croix de Guerre
during his service. Following WW II, Senator Thurmond continued his
military career by serving in the Army Reserves for many years. During
this period, he attained the rank of major general.
Knowing the face of battle, Thurmond never forgot the importance
maintaining a strong defense and especially of taking care of our
military personnel. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
since 1959, and chairman of the committee for a number of years during
the 1990s, Senator Thurmond made certain that the needs of our military
were met. He had a special concern for junior enlisted personnel and
non-commissioned officers along with the welfare of their families.
This concern was clearly demonstrated by his efforts during Senate
consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 1999. In
this Act, a number of provisions were incorporated that significantly
improve benefits for military personnel. Were it not for Senator
Thurmond's leadership on military personnel issues, our Armed Forces
would unquestionably not be receiving the benefits that they should and
are entitled to receive. I am pleased that the National Defense
Authorization Act for FY 1999 bears his name. It is a fitting tribute
to an individual who cared so much for our military personnel.
There is so much that can be said about Senator Thurmond and his many
contributions to our country. He was an 82nd Airborne paratrooper with
a remarkable service record in World War II, a disabled veteran, an
educator, and a distinguished public servant at all levels of
government. Unquestionably, Senator Thurmond deserves our respect. It
is my hope that younger Americans will have opportunities to learn
about Senator Thurmond's career and accomplishments. I have been
privileged to serve with Senator Thurmond and thank him for his
service.
Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise to honor South Carolina's senior
Senator Strom Thurmond. Senator Thurmond will turn 100 on December 5.
Only 126 years before Senator Thurmond's birth, the United States of
America gained its independence; 37 years before Senator Thurmond was
born, the Civil War ended; and when he was a year old, Wright brothers
engineered the first flight from Kitty Hawk. Senator Thurmond made a
commitment at an early age to serve the interests and needs of our
Nation. His life is full of our country's history, and he has made our
country his life.
Since his days as a school teacher and athletic coach in the early
1920's Senator Thurmond has continued to be a leader and serve the
interests of our country well above his own. Senator Thurmond served on
active duty with the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a judge at that
time, so he was exempt from military service. But Senator Thurmond
volunteered, and as a 41-year-old Lt. Colonel, dropped behind enemy
lines on D-Day in Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division. During his
36 years of distinguished military service in the Active and Reserve
Army, he was awarded five Battle Stars and 15 decorations, medals and
other awards.
Senator Thurmond carried his military experience to the Senate and
quickly became a respected leader advocating a strong national defense
for America. As a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve and a WWII
combat vet, his contributions to the Armed Service Committee since 1959
have provided a strong voice on the needs of our service men and women
and a first-hand perspective on the realities of war. Senator Thurmond
has also used his experience in law and in the military through his
long-standing leadership on the Veterans Affairs and Judiciary
Committees.
Senator Thurmond will be missed in the Senate as a friend, a leader,
a colleague and for his tremendous contributions to our Nation. He is
history in motion. Senator Thurmond was born during the Presidency of
another fearless leader, Theodore Roosevelt. President Theodore
Roosevelt once said, ``We have got but one life here. It pays, no
matter what comes after it, to try and do things, to accomplish things
in this life and not merely to have a soft and pleasant time.'' Senator
Thurmond's life is an accomplishment of great leadership and
selflessness. We are all grateful for his service to our country and I
am proud to have served with him.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleagues in
paying tribute to Senator Strom Thurmond and honoring him for his
unparalleled record of public service to this Nation.
No Senator serving today can appreciate what this body will be like
when Strom Thurmond leaves at the end of this year because Senator
Thurmond has served longer in this body than any other Senator in
history. His 48 years in the United States Senate have spanned the
terms of 10 Presidents of the United States, and he keeps pictures of
all 10 of those Presidents on the wall in his office.
Senator Thurmond's extraordinary private and public lives span the
twentieth century. He began his political career in 1929 as the
Superintendent of Education in Edgefield, SC. In 1933, he became a
State Senator. In 1946, he was elected Governor of South Carolina. In
1948, while he was still Governor, he ran for President as a State's
Right Democrat and received 39 electoral votes, the third best showing
by an independent candidate in U.S. history.
Senator Thurmond was elected to the Senate in 1954 as a write-in
candidate, the first person ever elected to major office by this
method. But true to a campaign pledge he made, he resigned in 1956 to
eschew the advantages of incumbency before running successfully for re-
election. In 1964, he left the Democratic Party and became a Goldwater
Republican, presaging, or perhaps, ushering in, GOP gains in the South.
He has served as a delegate to 6 Democratic and nine Republican
National Conventions, a distinction I doubt anyone else shares.
When I joined the Army Services Committee in 1979, Senator Thurmond
had already served on the Committee for 20 years. His love for and
dedication to the United States military goes back even further,
though, to his commission as an Army Reserve second lieutenant of
infantry in 1924 at the age of 21. He served with distinction in both
the European and Pacific Theaters in the Second World War, receiving
numerous decorations that include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star
medal with ``V'' device, the Army Commendation Medal, the Belgian Order
of the Crown, and the French Croix de Guerre. He landed in a glider on
Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division on D-Day, and went on to win 5
battle stars. In 1959, the year that he joined the Senate Armed Service
Committee, Senator Thurmond was promoted to major general in the United
States Army Reserve.
During Senator Thurmond's tenure on the Armed Services Committee, our
Armed Forces have faced challenge after challenge in Western Europe,
Vietnam, the Middle East, the Caribbean basin, the Persian Gulf, the
Balkans, and Afghanistan. Through it all, Senator Thurmond has
persevered in his unwavering support for our men and women in uniform.
He steadfast commitment to our national defense has been a rock upon
which we could all rely and has helped ensure that our military has
always been ready to answer the call whenever and wherever needed.
Senator Thurmond served as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee in the 104th and 105th Congresses. I had the honor and
pleasure to serve as his Ranking Member in 1997 and 1998. I know from
personal experience how seriously Senator Thurmond treated his duties
as Chairman and how hard he worked to be fair and even-handed with
every Member of the Committee. I am sure that I speak for all of our
colleagues in saying just how much we appreciate not only the
commitment that Senator Thurmond brought to his duties as Chairman, but
also his lifelong dedication to the defense of our Nation and to the
welfare of the men and women in uniform.
As the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee in 1997 and
1998, it was a great personal pleasure for me to work with Senator
Thurmond in producing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 1998 and the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1999. When Senator Thurmond leaves our Committee and the
Senate at the end of this Congress, we will miss his warmth, his sense
of humor, and his
[[Page S9080]]
tremendous dedication to our national security.
In my 24 years of service with Strom Thurmond, I have never known him
to be anything other than unfailingly optimistic, always courteous, and
ever-thoughtful of his Senate colleagues and their families. It is a
pleasure to join all of my colleagues today in honoring and thanking
this remarkable man, my friend, for his lifetime of service to his
country.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to join my esteemed
colleagues in honoring Senator Strom Thurmond and his lifetime of
service to South Carolina and our Nation.
A career like that of the senior Senator from South Carolina will
almost certainly never be duplicated. Although I am the ``senior
Senator'' from Maryland, my colleague Senator Thurmond was a practicing
attorney in Edgefield, SC when I was born in 1933. And by that time,
Senator Thurmond already had begun his distinctive career in the public
interest.
Born in 1902, Senator Thurmond received his bachelor's degree from
Clemson University in 1923 and was a teacher and athletic coach for 6
years while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. In 1929, he became the
Superintendent of Education in Edgefield County, SC and soon thereafter
was admitted to the State Bar, studying law under his father, Judge J.
William Thurmond. While practicing law, Strom began his political
career as a South Carolina State Senator and Circuit Judge. Senator
Thurmond took a four-year leave of absence from his judicial duties
from 1942 to 1946 in order to serve with the 82nd Airborne Division in
World War II. During the War, Senator Thurmond served in the American,
European and Pacific Theaters; landed in Normandy on D-Day; and earned
eighteen decorations, medals and awards including, the Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Belgian
Order of the Crown, and French Croix de Guerre, during his military
service.
If Strom's service to our Nation ended in 1946 with his military
career, it would have been a remarkable record of achievement. But his
contributions to education, the legal profession, and the military make
up just the beginning of Senator Thurmond's legacy. From 1947 to 1951,
Strom was known as Governor Thurmond, as he led his beloved State of
South Carolina. After his 1948 bid for the presidency, Strom returned
to the practice of law and, in 1954, launched a successful write-in
candidacy for election to the U.S. Senate. Pursuant to a promise made
during his write-in campaign, Strom resigned from the Senate in April
1956 to run in the Democratic primary election. Strom was reelected to
the Senate in November 1956 and resumed his duties and has been elected
to the Senate seven more times by the people of South Carolina.
Reaching the age of 100, as Senator Thurmond will do this December 5,
is, alone, a remarkable achievement. The 2000 Census counted just
50,500 Americans 100 or older. And Strom is a clear example for those
older Americans, and citizens of all ages, of the remarkable impact one
person can have on our Nation. For most of the past 48 years, Senator
Thurmond has been a fixture and a legend in the United States Senate.
He has held positions of power, including President Pro Tempore, and
Committee chairmanships. In the Senate, he has worked with ten
Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan,
George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. He is the longest
serving Member of the Senate, and cast his 15,000th vote in September
1998.
It goes without saying that throughout his time in this distinguished
body, and over the course of his lifetime, Strom has seen our Nation
change in remarkable ways. His service in this great deliberative body
has given the Senate a perspective and continuity unparalleled in our
history. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to serve with him
over these many years, and to join my colleagues today in paying
tribute to a true public servant, Senator Strom Thurmond.
Mr. KYL. Mr. President, our colleague Strom Thurmond is retiring
soon, and I just wanted to say a few words, on this special day of
appreciation, about the gentleman from South Carolina. For that is what
he is: the consummate gentleman. There is the public Strom that
everyone knows--the legend--then there is the private Strom, a
colleague and collaborator I have always found to be eager to help a
fellow Senator and accommodate his concerns. I have felt honored to
work with him on issues of national defense, foreign policy, and many
other matters important to the people of the United States. The people
of South Carolina, in particular, can be very proud of this war hero,
who landed in Normandy as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division in
1942, who was Governor of South Carolina, and who, in the Senate,
distinguished himself as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the
Armed Services Committee.
There are great Strom Thurmond stories--many told by Strom himself,
of course. For my part, I like to tell the one about his 90th birthday
celebration, held here in Washington. One reporter asked if he could
expect to see Strom on his 100th birthday. And Senator Thurmond looked
him up and down and said: ``Well, you look fit enough to me. If you eat
right and drink right, you ought to be around to see me then.''
He is an inspiration. As everyone knows, he represents continuity in
the United States Senate, being, since 1996, its oldest serving member,
and, since 1997, its longest serving member. Those are for the record
books. But on a personal level, I can say that the Senate will not be
the same without his buoyant spirit. I thank him for helping me in so
many ways, and for his invaluable service to our country.
Ms. SNOWE. I rise to join with my colleagues today in honoring a man
the ``Almanac of American Politics'' rightly calls ``the most enduring
figure in American politics today'', the Senior Senator from South
Carolina, the senior member of the Senate, and the longest serving
senator in United States history, our colleague Senator Strom Thurmond.
I think that any of us who have had the honor of serving in this body
have to be in awe of Senator Thurmond's remarkable 48-year tenure. The
responsibilities of this job, the demands on one's time and energy, are
incredible. That Senator Thurmond has continued to engender the trust,
respect, and support of the people of South Carolina through nearly
five decades in the Senate and nearly seventy years in elective office
is a testament not only to his storied dedication to his constituents,
but to his seemingly-inexhaustible passion for service.
Senator Thurmond is quite literally an institution within an
institution. If this were baseball, he would be Babe Ruth larger than
life, shattering records, and giving 100 percent effort at every at-
bat.
Even today, I continue to marvel that I am serving along-side this
legislative legend. This is a man who was on the floor of this chamber
when I was seven years old, a man who was nominated for President when
I was one year old, a man who was elected Governor of South Carolina
before I was born. Alive even before the Wright Brothers took flight,
he has seen firsthand the greatest single period of societal and
technological change in the history of the world. He would have even
been old enough at age 15 to read first-hand news accounts of the last
time the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Now that is truly
amazing!
When you think about it, Senator Strom Thurmond's political life
spanned the great majority of the 20th century, while he has
witnessed--during his more than 36,400 days on earth--nearly half of
the history of the United States. It is possible he received votes from
Confederate war veterans in his bid for the South Carolina legislature
in 1933. This is an extraordinary figure on the landscape of our land--
a living history class and inseparable from any discussion or
dissection of the United States Senate.
Indeed, Senator Thurmond's tenure has charted many changes in our
country, the world, and American society. In an inspiration to all of
us, Senator Thurmond has never stopped learning, never stopped drawing
lessons from experience and from others. He bears the mark that defines
great men and women--the integrity and honesty of an open mind.
And there should be no mistake--as if the time Senator Thurmond has
devoted to public office is not enough for
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several lifetimes, he has also served his country in the crucible of
war, gaining an exemption from being ``over age'' so he could don a
uniform and ultimately participate in the invasion at Normandy on D-
day.
Fittingly, years later, Senator Thurmond would call upon his ``trial
by fire'' experience as Chairman of the Armed Services Committee--and I
was proud to call him ``Chairman'' for much of my time on the
Committee. He has always been a champion not only of a strong national
defense, but also for the men and women who provide that defense, and
we owe him a debt of gratitude that simple words fail to repay.
In short, some people live long, but not fully. Senator Thurmond's
life, however, is remarkable not only for its apparent disregard for
such trivialities as ``time'', but also--and more importantly--for its
richness.
The great American writer Henry David Thoreau aspired to, in his
plain-spoken but powerful words, ``live deep and suck all the marrow
out of life . . .'' Well, Senator Strom Thurmond personifies that
dream--making Thoreau's declaration his personal credo, and leaving the
rest of us to watch in admiration and wonder.
So today, as we celebrate Senator Thurmond's century of
contributions, let us also celebrate the remarkable story of America's
journey, for in many ways they are one-in-the-same. Strom, your
colleagues wish you all the best--and we thank you for exemplifying
what it means to serve in the greatest Democracy the world has ever
known.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay respects to a man who
has served his country for the past 78 years. In the year 1924, at the
age of 21, Strom Thurmond was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S.
Army Reserve. Twenty years later, Strom fought valiantly during World
War II and amazingly, at the age of 43, he was part of the first wave
of American soldiers who landed in Normandy during D-day, parachuting
behind enemy lines with the 82nd Airborne Division.
For his bravery and outstanding service in combat, Strom Thurmond was
awarded 18 service decorations, awards and medals. In addition to his
Bronze Star for Valor, he received the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf
Cluster, the Purple Heart. For his merit and heroism during the D-day
invasion and subsequent freeing of Belgium and France, he was awarded
both the Belgian Order of the Crown and the French Croix de Guerre from
the Belgian and French Governments, respectively.
After returning from the war, Strom Thurmond began an unprecedented
career in the Senate which has been marked by a dedication to upholding
the honor and dignity of the United States Military and America's
heroic veterans helping to ensure that every veteran has a voice in the
Halls of Congress and the opportunity and protection commensurate with
the dignity and honor with which they served.
In 1959, 36 years after he had been commissioned, Strom Thurmond
retired from the United States Army Reserves a major general of the
U.S. Reserves, ending an amazing career that spanned two wars and
countless acts of personal bravery and leadership. In the Senate he has
brought his many years of experience to many debates and, for the last
30 years, to the Veterans Affairs Committee where his personal
commitment to veterans issues has been heralded by all.
As a veteran, I have great respect for Senator Thurmond's active role
on the Veterans Affairs Committee and his contributions to make certain
in words and deeds that our veterans and their families receive the
best possible care and that the U.S. Government honors the promise it
makes to each soldier who wears the uniform of our country.
When Strom Thurmond retires after this year, the Senate will lose a
man who has seen the arc of the 20th century with his very eyes. From
fighting in some of the greatest battles in world history to bearing
witness to the Great Depression and the Great Society, Strom Thurmond
has seen decades pass in which America has fought in war and prospered
in peace--decades in which America emerged from isolation to lead the
world to greater freedom and liberty for all--decades in which American
made certain the promises of our forebears and their quest for a more
equal society.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, like all my colleagues, I rise today to
honor the Senior Senator from South Carolina, Mr. Thurmond, who is also
America's Senior Senator.
Some of my earliest memories of working in the Senate with Senator
Thurmond were our efforts on balancing the budget and on the balanced
budget amendment to the Constitution. He was the real father of this
Amendment, dating back to his early years in the Senate. And he fought
so hard on this issue because he cared so deeply about us leaving our
children a legacy of opportunity and economic security.
Senator Thurmond told me he liked being around young people because
they challenged him with new ideas and kept him young.
As the ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, every day I grow
to appreciate a little more what Senator Thurmond has spent a lifetime
teaching us: the importance of being young at heart.
That positive attitude was evident when, a few years ago, Senator
Thurmond told Reuters he was ready to be a back-up space shuttle crew
member for Senator John Glenn, saying: ``I always believed that if NASA
really wanted to study the effects of space travel on an older
American, they should have called me.''
Senator Thurmond has spent almost a century, not only as a witness to
history, but as a shaper of history.
Today may be Strom Thurmond Day, but if the 20th century was the
American Century, then it was also the Strom Thurmond Century.
Senator Thurmond was 41 years young, when he climbed into glider
number 34 of the 82nd Airborne Division in June 1944 and took part in
the Normandy invasion on D-day. Fifty years later, Senator Thurmond
showed perspective, when he did not return to Normandy for 50th
anniversary commemorations because it was more important to attend his
son's graduation.
A few years later he ran for President, against Harry Truman and Tom
Dewey, as the nominee of the States' Rights Democratic Party, and won
39 electoral votes.
A few years after that, he became the only Senator in American
history to be elected by a write-in vote, demonstrating the devotion of
South Carolina voters to Strom Thurmond that has never wavered, as his
dedication to them has never wavered.
Lyndon Johnson said the Senate has show horses and work horses.
Senator Thurmond has always been a work horse.
The experts tell us that one of the keys to a long, healthy life is
being adaptable and being able to renew oneself.
Over the years, Senator Thurmond also has displayed a firm foundation
of principles, in his devotion to family, faith, and freedom.
Like all the great persons of history who have had staying power,
Senator Thurmond has shown that great balance of having a firm moral
foundation and being able to renew himself.
In fact, he is the only Member of this body to have served in the
majority as a Democrat, in the minority as a Democrat, in the minority
as a Republican, and in the majority as a Republican. That is
adaptability.
I would also add, he has always shown unfailing graciousness to
colleagues, to constituents, and to all the Senate staff.
I remember our former Senate Republican Leader, Bob Dole, being asked
what his health care plan was. He replied: ``I'm in favor of the
Thurmond plan. I want to do what he does. I used to follow him around
and if he ate a banana, I ate a banana.''
All of us could not do much better than to follow the example of
Strom Thurmond.
In Jack Bass and Marilyn Thompson's biography of Senator Thurmond,
they quoted a woman who knew him since boyhood, who said: ``He hasn't
changed. Everything he's done has been done to the full. There's no
halfway doings about Strom.''
Today we honor our colleague, friend, and mentor, for a full career
of accomplishment, for his full dedication to America and South
Carolina, and for a full life, in every respect.
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Mr. REID. Mr. President, I join my colleagues today in recognizing
the distinguished Senator from South Carolina and his years of service
in the U.S. Senate.
Strom Thurmond has lived almost one century--his 100th birthday will
be December 5th--and he has been a Senator for almost half of that
time. He is now finishing his eighth full term, making him the longest
serving Senator and the oldest Member of Congress. But Senator Thurmond
is known--and will long be remembered--for much more than his
longevity.
He has had a remarkable life and career of service to South Carolina
and the United States, having served as a school superintendent, State
Senator, judge, and as the Palmetto State's Governor.
He entered the Nation's military when he was 21 years old and almost
20 years later volunteered to serve in World War II. He was among the
brave American troops who landed in Normandy on D-day with the 82nd
Airborne Division, and he received numerous awards for his military
service including the Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart.
Senator Thurmond has fought no less fiercely in the political arena.
He has used his gifts, experience, the power and respect he has earned
and knowledge of Senate rules and procedures to advocate on behalf of
his causes.
Although he has switched political parties during his career, serving
first as a Democrat, running for President as a ``States Rights''
third-party candidate in 1948, and becoming a Republican in 1964, he
has consistently adhered to his political ideology.
I am glad that we have an opportunity to acknowledge his
contributions and to reflect on the considerable impact he has had on
this body, his party, and the Nation.
Senator Thurmond is a living monument but just to make sure his
service is recognized, the people of South Carolina, whom he has
represented for so long, have honored him by erecting a monument for
him and naming dozens of facilities for him.
Senator Thurmond will certainly be missed around here. I bid him
farewell and extend my best wishes to him and his family.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the hour of 12:30
having arrived and passed, the Senate will now stand in recess until
the hour of 2 p.m.
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