[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 170 (Sunday, December 19, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10734-S10736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                             Arlen Specter

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to speak today to recognize the 
departure of my good friend, the senior Senator from Pennsylvania. 
Senator Arlen Specter has been present here in the Senate through some 
of its most contentious times. He and I have worked side-by-side--
sometimes in agreement, other times in opposition--for many years. His 
presence will be sorely missed.
  Arlen is the son of immigrant parents. He was born in Wichita, KS, in 
1930 to Lillie Shannin and Harry Specter. Harry served in World War I 
in the U.S. infantry, just a few years after migrating to the U.S. from 
Russia. While in combat in France, Arlen's father was seriously 
wounded. Yet a few years later, the Federal Government, strapped for 
funds, broke its promise to pay World War I veterans a bonus. This, of 
course, led to a veterans march on Washington and a tragic encounter 
between the U.S. Army and the protesting veterans. It also led, 
indirectly, to Senator Specter's career in public service as he has 
been fond of saying that he came to Washington to get his father's 
bonus and that he would run for reelection until he got it.
  Arlen attended college at both the University of Oklahoma and the 
University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the latter in 1951. He 
served in the Air Force during the Korean war as an officer in the 
Office of Special Investigations. In 1953, he married Joan Levy, with 
whom he has raised two sons and four grandchildren. In 1956, he 
graduated from Yale law school and entered into private practice.
  Senator Specter's career in public service began in 1959 when he 
became an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia. In 1963, he was 
appointed to serve as assistant counsel on the Warren Commission, 
investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Two years 
later, he was elected to serve as the district attorney for the city of 
Philadelphia, a position he held for 8 years. After another brief stint 
in the private sector, Arlen was elected to the Senate in 1980 and has 
been the longest serving Senator in Pennsylvania's history.
  Arlen has had his hand in a number of high-profile efforts here in 
the Senate. However, I will always remember him for his role in some of 
the most contentious Supreme Court confirmation fights in our Nation's 
history. He and I both served on the Judiciary Committee during the 
confirmation hearings for Judge Robert Bork, which were, at the time, 
the most contentious in our Nation's history. In the end, Arlen and I 
reached different conclusions as to whether Judge Bork should have been 
confirmed. I still think Arlen was wrong to oppose Judge Bork, but, I 
have never doubted that his decision to do so was sincere.
  Arlen and I once again found ourselves at the center of a Supreme 
Court fight during the nomination hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas. 
During those hearings, Senator Specter had the daunting task of 
questioning Ms. Anita Hill for the Republican side. I was and continue 
to be impressed with the manner in which he handled that 
responsibility. Those were difficult, sensitive issues. None of us 
wanted to disrespect Ms. Hill, but we believed it was important to 
ensure that the truth be examined and brought to light, and I've always 
thought that Arlen handled the matter with the necessary 
professionalism and respect.
  In the years that followed the Thomas hearings, a number of people 
expressed their displeasure for the way I treated Ms. Hill during those 
hearings. I was always quick to remind them that it was Arlen who 
questioned her, not me. I was the one who questioned Justice Thomas. 
But, in the end, I think the historical memory of that time has tied 
the two of us together.
  Senator Specter has a reputation for being a fighter. And, having 
been on both sides of the debate with Arlen, I have to concur with that 
assessment. His was among the sharpest minds we have known here in the 
Senate and I am grateful for the privilege I've had to serve alongside 
him.
  I want to wish Arlen and his family the best of luck.


                             Sam Brownback

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor of my good friend, the 
senior Senator from Kansas. Senator Sam Brownback has been a devoted 
public servant and a friend to all of us here in the Senate. And, at 
the end of this session, he will be moving on to bigger and better 
things. I will miss him dearly.
  Senator Brownback was born in Parker, KS, in 1956. He was raised on a 
farm--a farm on which his parents still live to this day. Sam was 
leader in all aspects of his life before coming to the Senate. In high 
school, he was the State president of the Future Farmers of America. 
While attending college at Kansas State University, he was student body 
president. And, he was president of his class when he attended law 
school at the University of Kansas.
  After law school, Sam went to work as an attorney in Manhattan, KS. 
In 1986, he was the youngest person ever appointed to serve as the 
Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. In 1990, he went to work in the White 
House of President George H.W. Bush as a White House fellow. After 
another stint as Kansas's Secretary of Agriculture, Sam was elected to 
the House of Representatives as part of the 1994 Republican revolution. 
And, in 1996, he was elected to replace the former Senate majority 
leader, and my good friend, Senator Bob Dole. The people of Kansas have 
kept him here ever since.
  Looking over his career in public service, it is clear that Sam 
Brownback is Kansas man in every sense. The voters of Kansas have 
recognized this more than anyone else. That is why they have elected 
him three times to serve in the Senate. And, of course, that is why he 
is currently the State's Governor-elect.
  Throughout his time in the Senate, Sam has been a tireless advocate 
for the rights of those who have no voice, whether it is the rights of 
the unborn, the rights of refugees, or the rights of the victims of 
human trafficking. I believe this is due, in no small part, to Sam's 
religious faith. For as long as I have known him, Sam has never been 
afraid to speak publicly about his religious convictions and his belief 
that those convictions required action on his part. As a religious man 
myself, I have always admired that part of Senator Brownback's 
personality and found his openness refreshing.
  Over the years, Sam and I have typically found ourselves in agreement 
on most issues. We have worked together on numerous occasions. While I 
regret that we won't be working together any more after this session, I 
want to congratulate him once again on his recent victory in the Kansas 
gubernatorial election. I am confident that he will be an effective and 
popular governor for the people of the State he loves so much.


                                Kit Bond

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor of my good friend 
Senator Kit

[[Page S10735]]

Bond. Senator Bond has represented the people of Missouri in the U.S. 
Senate for the last 24 years, and, at the end of this session, he will 
depart for greener pastures. I think I speak for all of my colleagues 
when I say that his presence will be missed.
  Kit was born in St. Louis, MO, in 1939. He is a sixth generation 
Missourian and, after knowing Senator Bond for many years, I know that 
the people of Missouri have never been far from his thoughts. As a 
young man, he left Missouri for a short time to attend college at 
Princeton University and law school at the University of Virginia, 
where he graduated first in his class. After law school, he served as a 
law clerk for the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals before going to 
Washington, DC, to practice law with the renowned law firm Covington & 
Burling.
  Senator Bond returned home to Missouri in 1967 to begin a long career 
in public service. After losing a brutally close congressional election 
in 1968, Kit went to work for the Missouri attorney general's office, 
serving under the great former Senator John Danforth. In 1970, Kit was 
elected Missouri State Auditor at the age of 31. Then, 2 years later, 
when he was only 33 years old, he was elected Governor of Missouri. Kit 
was the first Republican Governor that State had seen in nearly three 
decades.
  For me--and this may be a little selfish--the most important 
accomplishment of Kit's first term was rescinding Executive Order No. 
44, which had been issued by Missouri Governor Liburn Boggs in 1838 and 
ordered the expulsion or extermination of all Mormons from the State of 
Missouri. On June 25, 1976, then-Governor Bond rescinded that order and 
issued an apology to the Mormons on behalf of all Missourians. I 
remember that day clearly. And, while I was not yet acquainted with 
Kit, he earned my gratitude and respect.
  As Governor, Senator Bond's star rose dramatically. He was even 
considered as a potential running mate for President Gerald Ford in 
1976. Yet, in a surprising upset, Kit lost his reelection bid for 
governor that year. But, Missourians soon came to regret this mistake 
and reelected him to the Governor's office in 1980.
  After finishing his second term as Governor--a successful term by 
almost all accounts--Kit was elected to the Senate in 1986. And, thanks 
to his good judgment, his commitment to his home State, and to his 
character, he was relected in 1992, 1998, and 2004.
  For several years, I have had the pleasure of serving with Kit on the 
Senate Intelligence Committee, where he currently serves as vice 
chairman. From that position, I have been able to see his wisdom and 
good judgment firsthand. It can be difficult serving on that committee, 
working on important issues that, if everything goes right, will never 
see the light of day. But, I can say this--Senator Bond's commitment to 
our Nation's security is second to none.
  Mr. President, it has been an honor and privilege to serve next to 
Senator Bond for these many years. I want to wish him, his wife Linda, 
and their family the best of luck in any future endeavors.


                              Jim Bunning

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor of my good friend, 
Senator Jim Bunning. Senator Bunning will be departing from the Senate 
at the end of this session. I wanted to take a few moments to offer 
some remarks.
  Now, Jim is a distinguished two-term Senator whose career in public 
service has spanned more than three decades. Yet when the history books 
are written, it is likely that he will be more well known for his first 
love, the game of baseball.
  Jim was born in Southgate, KY, in 1931. He graduated from Xavier 
University in Cincinnati, OH, with a degree in economics.
  Most know that Senator Bunning was a Major League pitcher for 17 
years, mostly with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He 
was, not to put too fine a point on it, one of the greatest pitchers to 
ever put on a glove. Jim retired with the second-highest strikeout 
total in baseball history. He was only the second pitcher in history to 
record 1,000 strikeouts and 100 victories in both the American and 
National Leagues. Before Jim, only the legendary Cy Young had 
accomplished that feat. And, of course, on June 21, 1964, Jim pitched a 
perfect game against the New York Mets, achieving one of the rarest and 
most sought-after feats in all of sports. Senator Bunning was inducted 
into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996, 2 years before he came to the 
Senate.
  After retiring from baseball, Jim chose a life of public service. In 
1977, he was elected to the city council of Fort Thomas, KY. Two years 
later, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate, where he became the 
Republican Leader. And, in 1986, he was elected to the first of his six 
terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. And, in 1998, Senator 
Bunning was elected to the Senate and has served here ever since.
  Throughout his time in Washington, Senator Bunning has been an 
advocate for a number of causes, including the preservation of Social 
Security for seniors, fiscal and financial reform, and ending America's 
dependence on foreign energy sources. He's played a key role on some of 
this chamber's most influential committees, including the Banking, 
Energy, Budget, and Finance Committees.
  For the last several years, I have had the opportunity to work with 
Senator Bunning on the Finance Committee. I have always admired his 
commitment to his principles and his willingness to speak plainly when 
it became necessary to do so. His presence on the committee and in this 
Chamber will certainly be missed.
  I want to wish Jim and his family the best of luck going forward.


                               Judd Gregg

  Mr. President, I rise to speak today to recognize the departure of my 
good friend Senator Judd Gregg. Senator Gregg has been a tireless 
advocate for the people of his State and devoted public servant. He 
will most certainly be missed.
  Senator Gregg is a New Hampshire man through and through. He was born 
in Nashua, NH, in 1947. His father, Hugh Gregg, served as Governor of 
New Hampshire when Judd was just 6 years old. Judd graduated from 
Phillips Exeter in 1965 before going on to earn his baccalaureate from 
Columbia University and his law degree from Boston University School of 
Law.
  After finishing law school 1972, Judd returned to Nashua to commence 
his law practice, though it wouldn't be long before he would answer the 
call into public service. From 1978 to 1980, Judd served on the New 
Hampshire Governor's Executive Council. Then, in 1980, he was elected 
to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for four 
terms. In 1988, he followed in his father's footsteps and was elected 
Governor of New Hampshire and was reelected in 1990.
  In 1992, after two successful terms as Governor, in which he was able 
to balance the budget and leave the State with a surplus, Judd was 
elected to represent New Hampshire here in the U.S. Senate. And, after 
serving for three terms, he is stepping down at the end of this 
session.
  If one were to describe Judd's political philosophy, I think they 
would have to say that he was for fiscal discipline even when fiscal 
discipline wasn't cool. As chairman and ranking member of the Senate 
Budget Committee and senior member of the Banking Committee, his has 
always been a voice of warning and restraint, even when restraint 
wasn't the status quo around Washington. His knowledge and expertise on 
these issues made him one of the most respected voices in our debates 
over health care, economic and fiscal policy, and financial regulatory 
reform.
  While Judd has always been a conservative, he's never let go of his 
independence, refusing to put party before his principles. Everyone in 
Washington claims that they are that way, but Senator Gregg is one of 
the few that has walked the walk. That, more than anything, is why he 
has won the respect and admiration of his colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle.
  The State of New Hampshire has been well-represented here in the 
Senate and I know the people of his State are grateful for Judd's 
service. It has been both an honor and a privilege to have served 
alongside Senator Gregg. While I am certain that Judd will be 
successful in whatever endeavor he chooses next, I am even more certain 
that the Senate will be a lesser place without him here.
  I want to wish Judd and his wife Kathleen and their family the very 
best.

[[Page S10736]]

                             George LeMieux

  Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the junior Senator from 
Florida. Though Senator George LeMieux has only been here a short time, 
he has been an effective advocate for the good people of Florida. I 
want to wish him the best of luck.
  Senator LeMieux was born in Homestead, FL. He is the son of a 
building contractor. He grew up in Coral Springs, FL, and attended 
college at Emory University, earning a degree in political science. 
George then went on to obtain his law degree from Georgetown 
University.
  Senator LeMieux's career in public service began in 2003 when he went 
to work in the Florida attorney general's office. He would eventually 
be named deputy attorney general, a position he held for 2 years. He 
would later serve as the Florida Governor's chief of staff, overseeing 
numerous state agencies.
  After his time in the Governor's office, George returned to the 
private sector and was headed down what had to be a lucrative career 
path in the private sector at one of Florida's most prestigious law 
firms. But, he answered the call to public service once again in 2009 
when Senator Mel Martinez announced his retirement and Florida was in 
need of a Senator.
  Since being appointed to the Senate, George has served on the Armed 
Services Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Special Committee 
on Aging. He has had a reputation for being pro-growth, pro-business, 
and a deficit hawk. In fact, he has been one of the few people in the 
Senate who put their money where their mouth is and actually proposed a 
plan to address our fiscal problems. Frankly, I think we could use more 
people like that here in the Senate.
  It is just a difficult fact that, here in the Senate, some are here 
only for short periods of time. But, every State deserves to be 
represented in this Chamber. Senator LeMieux answered the call to serve 
during what has been an extremely difficult time in the Senate. He has 
done so with dignity and an unwavering commitment to the people of 
Florida.
  Once again, I want to offer my best wishes for George and his family 
in all their future endeavors.


                              Byron Dorgan

  Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the departure of junior 
Senator from North Dakota. Senator Byron Dorgan, a devoted public 
servant who has spent most of his life serving of the good people of 
North Dakota, will be leaving the Senate at the close of this session. 
He will certainly be missed.
  Senator Dorgan was born in Dickinson, ND, in 1942 and was raised in 
Regent, ND. His family worked in the petroleum and farm equipment 
business and they also raised horses and cattle. Byron attended college 
at the University of North Dakota and graduate school at the University 
of Denver. He began his career in public service at the young age of 
26, when he was appointed to be the North Dakota State Tax 
Commissioner. He was youngest constitutional officer in the history of 
North Dakota.
  Senator Dorgan came to Washington, DC, in 1980 when he was elected to 
serve in the House of Representatives. He served six terms in the House 
before coming to the Senate in 1992. And, for three full terms, he has 
ably and energetically represented his native State. During his time 
here, he has been a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, 
chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, and, of course, chairman of 
the Democratic Policy Committee. The people of North Dakota have 
benefitted from his efforts on those committees and, I think he would 
be the first to tell you, that his home State has never been far from 
his thoughts here in the Senate.
  While Senator Dorgan and I have, more often than not, disagreed on 
the issues, he has always been sincere in his belief that what he was 
doing was in the best interest of our country. Such commitment to 
principle has to be admired, even if, in the end, you disagree with the 
conclusion that is reached. And, I should note that there have been 
times, actually in some high-profile moments, in which Byron has voted 
differently than the majority of his party. In the Senate, which, of 
late, has been highly polarized and extremely partisan, going against 
the grain takes courage and independence, qualities I have admired in 
Senator Dorgan.
  Senator Dorgan is a good man. I want to wish him, his wife Kim, and 
their family the very best of luck.


                            Blanche Lincoln

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor of my good friend, the 
senior Senator from Arkansas. Senator Blanche Lincoln will depart from 
Senate at the end of this session. She will certainly be missed.
  Senator Lincoln is seventh-generation Arkansan. She was born in 
Helena, AR, in 1960 to family of wheat, soybean, and cotton farmers. 
Her first elected office was president of the student council at Helena 
Central High School. She got a bachelor's degree from Randolph Macon 
Women's College in Lynchburg, VA, and then went to work on the 
congressional staff for Representative Bill Alexander.
  She left the Congressman's office after 2 years to pursue private 
sector work in Washington, DC, but would return home to Arkansas to run 
against her former boss in 1992. Her campaign for Congress was 
successful and Blanche became the first woman ever to represent the 
Arkansas First District in the House of Representatives.
  All told, Senator Lincoln served two terms in the House before 
running for Senate in 1998. That year, at the age of 38, Senator 
Lincoln became the youngest woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate and 
only the second female Senator in the history of Arkansas.
  Blanche's career in the Congress has been defined by her willingness 
to reach across the aisle and work with Senators from both parties. She 
is a proud Democrat but has never been an ideologue. Her devotion has 
never been to a party line or platform, but to her own convictions and 
to the people of Arkansas.
  I have had the privilege of working close with Senator Lincoln on a 
number of occasions. Much of the time, we found ourselves on different 
sides of the issues. But, there were also a number of times where we 
were in agreement. In fact, I can think of several occasions where she 
defied her own party's leadership and was, at the end of the day, a 
difference-maker on a number of important efforts.
  Here in the Senate, things have a tendency to get contentious in a 
hurry. Far too often, partisanship gets in the way of good 
policymaking. We should commend those who are willing to see past the 
politics of the day and focus on the long-term impact of the things we 
do here in the Senate. Senator Blanche Lincoln is one of those people.
  I want to wish Senator Lincoln and her family the very best of luck 
going forward.

                          ____________________