[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9823-S9824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment this evening 
to pay tribute to our dear friend and former colleague, Strom Thurmond, 
a man who gave of himself personally to his constituents and to his 
colleagues here in the Senate.
  All of us will always remember Strom. We will remember him seated 
right in front of the Presiding Officer at his desk. We will remember 
him for his smile. We will remember him for his greeting. Frankly, I 
don't think any of us will ever walk into this Chamber again without 
almost seeing him down there at his desk.
  He was a man who gave so much of himself to his constituents. We will 
remember him for the way he treated each one of us, the way he treated 
his constituents, and the individual attention he gave to us and his 
constituents.
  I saw the way he personally dealt with his constituents. I also saw 
the personal attention he paid to me and the personal interest he took 
in my family. In particular, I am grateful to him for the hospitality 
and attention he showed to my son Brian, who just recently graduated 
from his beloved Clemson University.
  A few years ago, when I told Strom that my son Brian was going to 
Clemson, I remember the big smile on his face. Of course, I knew he was 
a graduate of Clemson. I could tell how delighted and eager he was to 
share stories about his experience at Clemson. And I remember a lot of 
those stories.
  Of course, the first thing he told me was: ``You know, I went to 
Clemson''--which, of course, I did know. And I then asked him: ``Strom, 
what year did you graduate from Clemson?'' He said: ``1923.'' I said: 
``Strom, that was the year my dad was born''--which it was.

  During the 4 years that Brian was at Clemson, almost every time I saw 
Strom on the floor, Strom would say: ``How's your boy? How is that boy 
of yours doing down at Clemson? Does he like it?'' Of course, I told 
him he did, which Brian certainly did.
  After Brian graduated, Strom invited Brian and myself up to his 
office. Strom showed him all the pictures on the wall. Strom invited 
him over and

[[Page S9824]]

had his picture taken with Brian, a picture that Brian now has, and a 
copy of another picture that I have of Brian and myself and Strom that 
is in a prominent place in my office today in the Russell Building.
  Strom Thurmond paid this same level of attention, which he paid to 
his colleague in the Senate and to his colleague's son, to all his 
constituents. And we know that. We have all heard the stories. It did 
not matter whether you were a U.S. Senator or whether you worked in a 
filling station or who you were in his home State of South Carolina; it 
did not matter. That was Strom Thurmond. It did not matter who you 
were, Strom paid attention to you.
  We have all heard the stories about the birthdays and the 
anniversaries, constituent problems. It did not matter, Strom was 
there.
  Strom Thurmond has left a mark on his State and our country through 
his kindness and his personal attention to others--a mark that surely 
will not be forgotten or held in anything less than the highest regard.
  We thank Strom for his service to our country, to South Carolina, and 
to the people who will miss his kindness and his friendship. We thank 
Strom for his extra efforts to help those in need, those he loved, and 
those he came to the Senate to represent.
  We will remember this man, our friend, fondly. He was a man of 
courage, a man of integrity, a man of passion, a man who loved this 
country dearly.
  We thank you, Strom. We miss you. We respect you.

                          ____________________