[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, shortly before Senator Thurmond retired 
from the Senate, I included a tribute in the Congressional Record on 
his long career. As the Senate notes his passing so soon after his 
retirement, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record my 
earlier remarks from September 24, 2002.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a colleague 
     who has a career of public service that may never be matched 
     again in the history of our country.
       Strom Thurmond sits on the other side of the aisle in the 
     Senate chamber but I consider him a friend with whom I have 
     worked closely. I will miss him.
       We often worked together in the field of antitrust laws. We 
     worked together on the National Cooperative Production 
     Amendments of 1993, the very first high technology bill 
     signed by President Clinton, and to improve the protections 
     against anticompetitive conduct in the Digital Performance 
     Rights in Sound Recordings Act.
       Senator Thurmond has been a legislator. I must admit that 
     when Senator Thurmond and I have worked together, it has 
     raised some eyebrows. Whenever we introduced legislation 
     together, he and I fondly remarked that the bill was either a 
     brilliant piece of drafting or one of us had not read it.
       Needless to say, there have been many occasions when Strom 
     and I sat on opposite sides of an issue. Even though there 
     were issues about which we felt deeply, Senator Thurmond 
     always conducted himself with the utmost integrity. Strom has 
     always told the Senate how he felt and did so with the people 
     of South Carolina first and foremost in his mind.
       Senator Thurmond has always been a gentleman. His warmth 
     and kindness one afternoon in the Senate Dining Room framed 
     what has to be one of the strangest meetings of all times in 
     that venue. In 1994, I invited Jerry Garcia and the Grateful 
     Dead to join me for lunch in the dining room. As we sat down 
     for lunch, Senator Thurmond entered the room and came over to 
     say hello. I took the opportunity to introduce him to Jerry. 
     It was quite a meeting of cultures.
       Besides our devotion to the Senate, I share with Senator 
     Thurmond the distinction of being from a State that has 
     provided the Senate Judiciary Committee with three Chairmen 
     over the history of the Committee. South Carolina and Vermont 
     each have had three Senators who have chaired the Committee.
       I have learned much from the senior Senator from South 
     Carolina. Let me share with you one additional aspect of 
     Senator Thurmond's legacy to the Senate as he completes this 
     term and retires from office. In addition to all his 
     longevity records and legislative achievements and buildings 
     named for him, there is something else about him I will 
     always remember.
       When we hold hearings for Federal judges--and we have held 
     a number this year--I am always careful to carry on a 
     tradition that Senator Thurmond started. Senator Thurmond 
     always reminded nominees for high office that it is essential 
     to treat others with courtesy and respect. He always reminded 
     nominees that the people and lawyers who appeared before 
     them, whatever their position in the case, whether rich or 
     poor, white or black, man or woman, whatever their religious 
     or political affiliation, they are each and every one 
     deserving of respect and fairness.
       Senator Thurmond was right to remind judges--and even 
     Senators--of that simple rule. It is another contribution he 
     has made to all of us that will continue to serve us well.
       Mr. President, as I said earlier, I will miss Strom 
     Thurmond. He has been named President-Pro-Tempore Emeritus 
     for good reason.

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