[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 151 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11708-S11710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                      Phil Gramm and Fred Thompson

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the time has come--as it does at the 
conclusion of every Congress--to honor those members who will be 
departing from this body. This is a task not easily done. The Senate is 
one of the highest pinnacles in public service to our nation. Those who 
serve here have often dedicated their lives--and with great success--to 
changing America for better.
  Today I wish to honor two Senators who have indeed changed America 
for the better--Phil Gramm and my fellow Tennessean and partner in the 
Senate for the last eight years, Fred Thompson.
  Senator Gramm began his service in Congress as a House Democrat in 
1978. Five years later he switched parties. But rather than serve out 
his term as a Republican, he resigned his seat and let the people of 
his district choose whether they wanted to be represented by a 
Republican. Well, they did, and Phil Gramm became not only the first 
Republican in history to represent the 6th district of Texas, but the 
only member of Congress in the 20th century to resign and then win re-
election as a member of another party.
  Phil and I share the same commitment to being a citizen legislator . 
. . to bringing professional expertise to public service. In Phil's 
case, he's an economist, a college professor, and a public health 
expert, and his legislative accomplishments reflect that experience. 
He's been a staunch proponent of tax relief, economic growth, and a 
balanced budget. And the Gramm-Rudman Act stands as one of the most 
groundbreaking pieces of budget legislation in the second half of the 
20th century.
  Fred Thompson has been a dear friend for many years and great partner 
with whom to work on behalf of the people of Tennessee in the United 
States Senate. Fred was elected in 1994 to fill 2 years of an unexpired 
term. He was then reelected in 1996. And just as he did in Hollywood, 
he rapidly rose to become a star in the Senate.
  In 1997, Fred was elected chairman of the Governmental Affairs 
Committee, making him one of the most junior Senators in history to 
serve as chairman of a major Senate committee. As chairman, he held 
hearings on issues such as improving the federal regulatory process; 
reforming the IRS; exploring ways to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse 
in government; and a number of national security issues, including the 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies.
  Senator Thompson has also been a member of the Finance Committee--one 
of the most influential committees in the Senate. From that position, 
he has focused on reducing taxes, reforming the tax code to make it 
simpler and fairer, and restoring the Social Security and Medicare 
programs to long-term solvency. Though Fred has served eight years in 
the Senate, the scale and number of his accomplishments would lead one 
think he has spent an entire career in this chamber.
  Phil Gramm and Fred Thompson will be missed by each and every one of 
their Senate colleagues. For me it has been an honor, a privilege and a 
pleasure to work with them both. They have brought to the Senate a rare 
combination of intellect, charisma, political skill and, above all, a 
steadfast commitment to principle. And for that they will also be 
missed by the American people.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise to honor the Members of the 
Senate who will be leaving us at the end of this Congress. They will 
not be here in this Chamber next year, but each will leave an indelible 
imprint on this body, and on the lives of the American people.
  First, I wish to say a few words about my colleague, my compatriot on 
the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and my friend, Fred 
Thompson, who has served the people of Tennessee and the people of 
America ably and nobly for the past 8 years.
  The man the Screen Actors Guild knows as Fred Dalton Thompson acts--
and acts quite well, I should add--but the man we know as Senator Fred 
Thompson has never read off of anyone's script. Again and again, he has 
done what he in his heart believed was right for the nation. I will 
always admire his clarity, integrity, and intellectual curiosity.
  Since his joining the Senate in 1994, I have known Senator Thompson 
as a dogged investigator who is always willing to go wherever the 
evidence may lead, and as an independent-minded legislator who sticks 
to and stands on principle. Senator Thompson was the first Republican 
after John McCain to support campaign finance reform--an act that 
speaks volumes about who he is and for what he stands.
  On the Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Thompson and I worked 
closely together on probing the evidence and then issuing a report on 
the government's highly suspect investigation into the alleged 
wrongdoing of Wen Ho Lee. Senator Thompson brought a singular focus to 
dissecting and fixing the government's computer security problems. And 
he has and spared no energy working to ferret out waste, mismanagement, 
corruption, and abuse in the federal government. Senator Thompson 
understands that the people's Government must do justice to the 
people's values--not just in the pronouncements it makes, but in the 
way it does business every day.
  Every Member of this body respects the quality of Senator Thompson's 
reasoning and the strength of his voice. Whether it's on defense, 
intelligence,

[[Page S11709]]

free trade, or a wide range of other issues, Senator Thompson's words 
are cogent and clear, and his deeds are consistent with those words.
  In addition to his career as a Senator, he has practiced law, written 
a book, acted in 18 motion pictures and a television show, posted his 
mother's recipe for fresh coconut cake on his website, and--in the 
midst of it all--managed to find a lovely women to marry. I am in awe 
of his energy and vitality.
  We know each other as colleagues, as partners, and often as 
intellectual opponents. But we also know each other as human beings. 
And at every point and in every context, Senator Thompson has brought 
wisdom, decency, and a great sense of humor to this Congress. When he 
served as chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, he treated me 
with great consideration and respect, and I hope in my time as Chairman 
I have afforded him the same courtesies.
  I am disappointed to see him go, but look forward to watching him on 
television on Wednesday nights.
  Mr. President, I also wish to honor Senator Strom Thurmond.
  We all know that the 20th century was the American Century. It was 
also the century in which, primarily in his service in the U.S. Senate, 
Strom Thurmond left his indelible mark on the history of this nation.
  There are not many Members of this body today who bring the breadth 
of his experience to the floor. Senator Thurmond 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. Then, in 1954, he was 
elected to the United States Senate.
  The long list of these accomplishments would take most Americans 300 
years to accumulate. Senator Thurmond has gotten them all under his 
belt in a mere 100. And he has raised a family, to boot.

  Through it all, Senator Thurmond has grown not only as a legislator 
but as a human being. When we honor him, we pay tribute to human 
beings' capacity for growth. After running for President, as I 
mentioned, 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. That transformation sent 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.
  I also wish to honor another Member the Senate will miss, my good 
friend from Texas, Senator Phil Gramm. Senator Gramm has only served 
since 1984, not since 1954 like Senator Thurmond, but his achievements 
have been remarkable indeed.
  Senator Gramm, who came to the Senate with a Ph.D. in economics and a 
distinguished career in teaching, has become one of this Chamber's 
foremost experts on fiscal policy, one of its clearest voices on 
defense and foreign policy, and one of the most stalwart defenders of 
individual liberties.
  He has a wonderful intuitive understanding of the value of basic 
research and other technological innovation, and I have been proud to 
work with him to increase both the Government's total funding 
commitment to science and the effectiveness of the money we spend.
  Senator Gramm is an ideologue--and I mean that in the best sense of 
the word. He fervently defends his beliefs against all challenges. 
Senator Gramm relishes debate. Here on the floor, you can see it in his 
eyes and hear it in his voice. And let me add--and I say this 
reluctantly, having been at the receiving end of more than a few of his 
missives--that he is quite good at it. In that way, he has continued 
and advanced one of the great traditions of this body. Yes, compromise 
is what makes governments great and marriages happy; we all know that. 
But without firm principles and intellectual passion to guide us, 
without ideals we are not willing to sacrifice, we would never know 
what is worth compromising. And Senator Gramm has never forgotten why 
he is here or what he is fighting for.
  I wish him luck in the private sector, where he will continue to 
serve the nation and will, much to his liking, make much more money in 
the process.
  The Senate is losing many giants at the end of this term. Let me now 
say a few words about Jesse Helms of North Carolina--a Navy veteran in 
the Second World War, a respected journalist, a businessman, a city 
councilman, and since 1973, a legendary legislator in the Senate.
  As a Member of this body, Senator Helms has done too much to mention 
here today. But he is most respected for his leadership of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee.
  There, he has proven to be a tireless defender of the interests of 
America--and an advocate of the inalienable rights of people all over 
the world to the basic freedoms and opportunities we enjoy. I have 
always admired his steadfastness and his strength. And I have always 
known that the goals we seek--a strong America that advances democracy 
and increases prosperity around the world--are the same.
  And we have at least one other thing in common. Senator Helms' name 
was placed in nomination for Vice President of the United States--this 
was at the GOP convention in Kansas City in 1976. Although he asked the 
convention to withdraw his name, he nevertheless received 99 delegate 
votes. A few years later, I could have used those votes.
  Another Senator retiring after a distinguished career--in his case 
because he is trading the U.S. Capitol for the Governor's mansion in 
his great home state of Alaska--is Senator Frank Murkowski. Hopefully 
his new challenge will afford him more opportunities to enjoy life with 
his lovely wife Nancy, his six children and his 11 grandchildren.
  For four terms of office, Senator Murkowski has served the people of 
his state with vigorous energy and rigorous attention to detail since 
being elected to the Senate in 1980. He delivers for the people of 
Alaska--and they appreciate it. I am confident he will continue to lead 
with distinction as governor.
  My friend and colleague Senator Max Cleland gave elegant departing 
remarks yesterday on this floor. Those remarks reminded me how much the 
Senate will miss his buoyant personality, his eloquent words, his 
principled service to the people of Georgia, and his transcendent 
faith.
  I was privileged to serve alongside Senator Cleland on the Senate 
Governmental Affairs Committee, where he was always courageous, 
independent, and tenacious. I also had the good fortune of working with 
him on the Armed Services Committee and the Small Business Committee. I 
could not have wished for a kinder or more decent man to call my 
colleague.
  Senator Cleland also was an early supporter of and essential 
contributor to the bill establishing a Department of Homeland Security 
that we reported out of committee in May. Therefore, the historic bill 
we passed yesterday, and the Department it will create to protect the 
American people from terrorism here at home, is due in no small measure 
to his efforts.
  But Senator Cleland will be remembered for the spirit he brought to 
this Senate as much as for the many things he accomplished here. His 
grit, His wit. His honesty. His willingness to take risks. His never-
failing sense of humor. I wish Max the best of luck.
  Mr. President, let me also take a moment to honor my friend and 
colleague Senator Jean Carnahan who has added to a long and storied 
career by serving the people of Missouri with care, skill, and devotion 
over the last 2 years.
  Senator Carnahan was not only the proud occupant of Harry Truman's 
seat, but was an able custodian of Harry Truman's legacy. She 
legislated with an independent mind and a pragmatic personal 
philosophy, always putting the well-being of Missouri's working 
families first.
  I have been fortunate enough to serve alongside Senator Carnahan not 
only on the Governmental Affairs Committee, where she quickly proved to 
be an invaluable asset, but on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 
Senator Carnahan doesn't only talk about bipartisanship. She practices 
it. I'm proud to call her a fellow New Democrat, and even more proud to 
call her a friend.

[[Page S11710]]

  We are losing many women and men of principle from this body; I hope 
an equal number replace them. I will fondly remember Senator Bob Smith 
for his unwavering adherence to the values of his faith and his family. 
And I admired Senator Smith's hard work on the Environmental and Public 
Works Committee in defense of New Hampshire's environment and this 
nation's. Bob is a man of honor and I was proud to serve with him.
  Many of us strive for eloquence here on the floor. But few of us are 
as consistently passionate and persuasive as another departing 
colleagues, Robert Torricelli, who served seven terms in the House of 
Representatives and then here in the Senate since 1996. As a fellow 
northeastern and fellow member of the Senate Governmental Affairs 
Committee, I will miss his wisdom and great sense of purpose. He is 
extremely gifted and gave great service for New Jersey and America.
  Finally, Mr. President, a special word for our dear departed 
colleague Senator Paul Wellstone--who I want to describe in the best 
way I know how, as a mensch--a man, a very good man. He radiated 
decency and kindness and commitment to make the world a better place. 
That was so not just in what he said and did on camera, but in what he 
said and did in quiet moments, small moments, private moments.
  Much has been made of the fact that Paul was a teacher. And it is 
fitting. I think about all the lessons that Paul Wellstone the 
political scientist taught to his students, and how every one must have 
come alive when he ran for office--and won--in 1990. That inspiration 
will last for generations.
  Paul Wellstone taught his students, by example, that Americans who 
want change can do much more than carp or complain. They can and should 
enter and shape the system. They can and should be a part of the 
government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
  Senator Wellstone uplifted the Senate and uplifted our democracy, and 
he did it with the clarity of his conscience and the power of his 
principles and passions.
  It's no wonder Paul titled his book The Conscience of a Liberal, 
after Barry Goldwater's book The Conscience of a Conservative. Paul had 
read Senator Goldwater's book as a boy, and though he found himself at 
the opposite end of the political spectrum, Paul admired Goldwater's 
decency, his honesty, and his conviction.
  The name ``Paul'' comes from the Roman family name ``Paulus,'' which 
meant ``small'' or ``humble'' in Latin. And Paul was physically small. 
He was spiritually humble. But the scope of his ideals and of his 
service was monumental.
  In The Ethics of the Fathers, a tome of Jewish law, it is written: 
``It is not your obligation to complete the task [of perfecting the 
world], but neither are you free to desist [from doing all you can].''
  Paula Wellstone, as a Senator, a father, a husband, and a man, lived 
these words and lived them well. May he rest alongside his wife and 
daughter in peace.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

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