[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 151 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11698-S11699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WORKING WITH SENATORS DON NICKLES AND MITCH McCONNELL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, when I first was elected to the House of 
Representatives, I knew a man by the name of Cliff Young who had also 
served in the House of Representatives for two or three terms, ran for 
the Senate, was defeated, and then served for many years in the Nevada 
State Senate, and then served in the supreme court, where he became the 
chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court--that is also an elective 
job. At the end of this year, he will retire. He is a wonderful man, a 
Republican, who rendered great service to the State of Nevada and to 
the country. The reason I mention his name, however, is that he said: 
Harry, you are going to Washington to serve in the House. Make sure you 
do a couple of things. One is use the gym. You need to get some 
exercise. Also, make sure you do nothing to change the seniority 
system. The seniority system is the only thing that gives that body, 
the House of Representatives, stability.
  He certainly spoke volumes when he said that because it is absolutely 
true. The seniority system in the House has some faults, but at least 
it gives that body stability. One of the things the Gingrich-led 
Congress did to hurt the House was change the seniority system.
  I mention that because there is going to be a change in the Senate. 
Mitch McConnell is going to take over for Don Nickles as the assistant 
Republican leader, their whip. That is being brought about as a result 
of the fact that they do not follow the seniority system there and have 
term limits on their jobs, except for the leader of the Republicans. 
That is a rule they have, and even though I think it is wrong and I 
think they are making a mistake doing it, that is the way it is.
  Having said that, I want to acknowledge publicly how I have enjoyed 
serving with Don Nickles as my counterpart on the minority side. Don 
Nickles and I have worked together since I came to the Senate. We were 
on the Appropriations Committee together. We served as chairman and 
ranking member on the Legislative Branch. We

[[Page S11699]]

did a lot of work together on the Interior Appropriations Committee. I 
always found him to be easy to work with, someone who is very set in 
his views but would tell you how he felt. That has not changed in all 
of the years I have known him.
  The reason I admire and respect Don Nickles is I do not agree with a 
number of things he wants to do politically and tries to do 
politically, but he believes in those things. These are ideological 
feelings he has, and I have great respect for people who do things 
based on ideology. So I am going to miss Don Nickles in this capacity, 
and I want him to know that I have great admiration and respect for 
him, and I consider the friendship we have developed over the years as 
something that is very important to me.
  I say to Mitch McConnell, who is going to take his place, that I 
welcome him. He will be assistant to the Republican leader, Senator 
Lott, and will do a good job for him, but also for the Republicans 
generally. I have told him this personally and I say publicly, anything 
I can do to help the transition to make it more smooth, I will be happy 
to do that.
  Mitch McConnell is someone whom I have gotten to know. Mitch 
McConnell has held different leadership positions on the other side, 
including having been the campaign chairman, where he did an excellent 
job. He served in other capacities with the Republicans. A lot of times 
I disagree with what Mitch McConnell does politically, but he never 
hides his feelings from anybody. Campaign finance reform: There was a 
train moving down the track, and he was the only one brave enough to 
stand in front of it, and he never left. I have admiration for his 
stand on that issue, even though I disagree with what he wanted to try 
to do.

  So I will miss Don Nickles. I welcome Senator McConnell. I have great 
respect for his abilities and look forward to working with him.

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