[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 186 (Thursday, December 11, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10901-S10902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO SENATORS


                              John Warner

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam President, I wish to take this 
opportunity to pay tribute to a true patriot and a dear friend, Senator 
John Warner of Virginia.
  It has been an extraordinary experience for me to serve with Senator 
Warner on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee.
  In the capacity of his service on the Armed Services Committee, which 
has been upwards of three decades, serving as its chairman, the insight 
and guidance he has provided has been invaluable. Over and over, you 
will hear the

[[Page S10902]]

members of that committee speak as I, as if with one voice, how we 
appreciate his public service. He has great knowledge. He has great 
wisdom. It is tempered with a wonderful personality that is most 
studious and deliberative. Few have done as much to champion the cause 
of our men and women in the Armed Forces of the United States as John 
Warner.
  This Senator admires him for his sense of fairness, for his mutual 
respect of all the Members of the Senate. We know there has to be 
civility in the Senate for it to function. There has to be mutual 
respect. There has to be respect for the truth. There has to be respect 
for the dignity of individuals and those Senators' families. All of 
that is certainly apropos of the senior Senator from Virginia. Over and 
over, I have been in situations with him that could have been 
adversarial. Yet his calm judgment and reason have brought people 
together. Of course, that is the admonition of the Good Book: ``Come 
let us reason together.''
  Over and over, as I have sought his counsel on matters of some of the 
Nation's highest secrets, John Warner has provided the leadership and 
the clarity, as we have made those decisions, sometimes making those 
decisions together.
  So it is with a great reluctance on my part that I see our colleague, 
Senator Warner, retire after a very distinguished and long career. It 
has been a privilege to serve with John. I will miss him as a 
colleague. I will miss his leadership, his fairness, and his great 
capacity as a gentleman of the Senate.
  Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 
up to 15 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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