[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 96 (Thursday, June 26, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8685-S8686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             STROM THURMOND

  Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, I rise to make a brief 
statement, like my colleague from South Carolina, Senator Hollings, 
about the passing of Senator Thurmond. This is something I really don't 
know how to put in words. All of us from South Carolina knew Senator 
Thurmond in so many ways. But his colleagues in this body, the vast 
majority of you, have served with him for many years. You have great 
admiration and fondness for Senator Thurmond but I stand before you as 
his successor. I often state back home that we change Senators every 50 
years and that so many people have been waiting to take Senator 
Thurmond's place. The jokes just go on and on about what a rich life he 
has lived.
  Tonight his family is mourning his passing. Whether a person lives to 
be 100 or 200, it is difficult to lose your father. If you lose someone 
you love, it is always difficult. But when you think about Senator 
Thurmond, you always have a smile on your face.
  He lived a rich life. He lived at times a controversial life. But the 
biggest testament I can give to Senator Thurmond is that he changed. He 
changed with the times.
  Those of you who embraced him during difficult times your love was 
much appreciated. Recently people have tried to freeze Senator Thurmond 
in time which is unfair to him or anyone else. Those who knew him best 
understood that he changed with the times. And his legacy in my State 
across party lines, across racial lines, and across regional lines was 
that he was the go-to guy. If you had a problem with your family or 
with your business, the first thought in your mind, if the Government 
was involved, or if somebody was treating you unfairly, was get on the 
phone and call Senator Thurmond. You would get a phone call back, and 
he would go to bat for you. Whether you owned the company, or you were 
the janitor, whether you were black, white, rich or poor, his office 
and he as a person had a reputation of going to bat for individuals. To 
me, that is his greatest legacy.
  I stand before you as his successor--but not only that, as his 
friend. He embraced my campaign in 1995. He came to campaign for me 
when he was 93 years of age. And I was worried to death about if he 
could make it through the day. Three days later I was glad to see him 
leave because he about killed me.
  He had enthusiasm and passion like no one I have ever met in my life. 
He did things he didn't have to do. He was a sitting judge in South 
Carolina in his 40s. He left the judgeship to go volunteer for the 
Army. He landed in a glider on D-Day, he was shot up, the pilot was 
killed, and he fought the Germans until they quit, and then he went 
over to Japan and fought until they quit.
  This man, your friend, my friend, South Carolina's favorite son, is 
gone but he will never be forgotten. His biggest legacy is in the small 
things he did--not the large things he did. There are so many large 
things he accomplished. But he lives on in families.

[[Page S8686]]

Great relationships were established, and good constituent service. He 
won his last election by getting more African-American votes than any 
Republican in the South.
  All I can say about Senator Thurmond is that we pray for his family, 
we mourn his loss, but we thank God that He provided us a great public 
servant.
  Well done, Senator Thurmond.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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