[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

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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,

[[Page S9078]]

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

[[Page S9081]]

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.

[[Page S9082]]

  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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