[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 26343-26344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  TRIBUTE TO ELEVEN DEPARTING SENATORS

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise this morning to reflect on the 
service of our 11 colleagues who will be completing their Senate 
service in the next few days. Hugh Sidey, one of the great journalists 
and political observers of our time, who covered eight Presidents and 
became well acquainted with those Presidents, once said that 
``politics, after all is said and done, is the business of belief and 
enthusiasm. Hope energizes, doubt destroys. Hopelessness is not our 
heritage.'' So said Mr. Sidey. Aside from the fact that he has Nebraska 
roots, which I suspect reflects some element of his good judgment, he 
is right.
  As we reflect on the service of these 11 individuals who will be 
leaving this institution, the one common denominator that anchored the 
11 was commitment to something bigger than themselves: service to this 
country. The 11 individuals reflect our society, as does this body, 
from the States they represented, to their backgrounds, to their 
commitments. That, too, represented what may be this country's greatest 
strength and that is its diversity.
  As Tom Daschle mentioned last night at the Supreme Court dinner, in 
the history of this institution, only 1,853 men and women have ever 
served here. Now, we will increase that number on January 3. But the 11 
colleagues and friends who leave this institution are among those 1,853 
individuals who have served and are now serving.
  I think it is worthy to bring some note to these 11 individuals. They 
have been honored and recognized throughout this year, and very 
appropriately so, individually by many Members of this body, but I 
wish, in the few minutes I have, to maybe tie some more general themes 
together about why these 11 men have been so important together to this 
body.
  We begin by asking the question: Who are these 11 bold, different, 
distinguished citizens?
  Well, first, they are from all parts of the country. They are of 
different religions. They are fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, and 
grandfathers. Scattered among these 11, of course, are Republicans and 
Democrats, maybe liberals, maybe some conservatives, and maybe some 
moderates.
  As we look further, we find the veterans--World War II veterans, 
Vietnam war veterans. One among them is my friend and colleague from 
Nebraska, Senator Bob Kerrey, who holds the Congressional Medal of 
Honor.
  We have war heroes and veterans among these 11. We have former 
Governors, former attorneys general, ambassadors, businessmen, 
journalists, lawyers, and bankers--all representing the fiber of this 
country, all representing the different universes of this country that 
tie us together as a nation. Surely among the 11 is one of the 
preeminent public servants of our time, Senator Moynihan from New York.
  At a time when the world peers in the large window of the front room 
of

[[Page 26344]]

American politics--in some cases they may be bewildered by what they 
are seeing in this country, that we can't seem to elect a President--it 
is even more important that we spend some time reflecting on these 11 
individuals because, as we know, this country will produce a President. 
That President will govern. That President will be effective. And the 
institution of the U.S. Senate will be very much a part of assisting 
that President in governing this country, which has immense 
consequences for the world.
  If there is a question about unsteadiness in this country or our 
institutions, again we need only reference the 11 Senators who will be 
leaving this body because there was nothing unsteady about these 11 
individuals. They were anchored to a Constitution that has been the 
roadmap for this great country for over 200 years, and that has ensured 
the liberties, the privileges, and the rights that these 11 individuals 
fought for, debated over, and made stronger.
  These 11 Senators brought unique experience and perspectives. They 
applied those in their own ways and in their own individual styles, 
which again has added to the richness of the culture of this 
institution and reflects the richness and the culture of this country. 
Every new Senator we bring on and every Senator who leaves has had a 
part in stitching the fabric--and continues to stitch the fabric--of 
this country.
  At a time when we question the institutional structures, the 
procedures and the processes, we must not forget that it is the 
individual that has made this country what it is. De Tocqueville wrote 
about it in the mid-19th century. When he observed America and wrote at 
that point the most authoritative document on America, he said the most 
amazing thing about America was the magic of America. He said it was 
the individual. It was individual commitment. It was freedom. That was 
the magic of America.
  Arnold Toynbee, who probably wrote the most definitive book on the 
civilization of mankind as he documented the 21 civilizations of the 
world, wrote that each civilization begins with a challenge and a 
response.
  Surely, as we reflect on these 11 Senators, each of their lives is a 
remarkable story. Each has been, as Toynbee wrote in his study of 
history, a challenge and response. That is what representative 
government is about. But it cannot function without the individual 
commitment of people such as these 11 distinguished Americans who leave 
this body.
  Yes, they helped chart a course for this country. And, yes, they 
helped fulfill the destiny of this country. Yes, they understood 
exactly what Hugh Sidey said--that hopelessness is not our heritage. 
They understood that as well as any 11 people in the history of this 
country.
  But they did something equally remarkable in that they inspired 
others.
  I suspect, as you go across those 11 States represented by these 11 
Senators, and go into schools and talk to teachers and young men and 
women who watched Pat Moynihan, Bob Kerrey, Frank Lautenberg, and 
Connie Mack, they would have a story. They would have some dynamic to 
their personal lives that somehow would be tied back to leadership and 
the inspiration of one of these 11 Senators. In the end, that is our 
highest obligation in public service. In the end, that is the most 
important thing we can do.
  Not just for the Record but because it is important that we hear the 
list of these names, I would like to read the list of these 11 
Senators:
  Senator Spence Abraham from Michigan;
  Senator John Ashcroft from Missouri;
  Senator Richard Bryan from Nevada;
  Senator Slade Gorton from Washington;
  Senator Rod Grams from Minnesota;
  Senator Bob Kerrey from Nebraska;
  Senator Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey;
  Senator Connie Mack from Florida;
  Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from New York;
  Senator Chuck Robb from Virginia;
  And Senator Bill Roth from Delaware.
  They have accomplished, each in their own way but, more importantly, 
together as part of this institution, a remarkable number of things in 
their careers. Many will go on and do other things. All will stay 
active. All will stay committed to this country.
  What they have done, for which we all are grateful and for which 
America is grateful, deserves immense recognition; that is, they leave 
this great institution stronger and better because of their service. 
Therefore, they leave America stronger and better because of their 
service.
  Mr. President, thank you for allowing me some time to talk about our 
colleagues whom all of us will miss.
  I reserve the remainder of my time.
  I 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. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________