[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 26534-26535]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       COMMENDING SENATOR GORTON

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, while the Senator from Washington is 
present. I wish to tell him on a very personal basis, how much I have 
appreciated his help. Slade Gorton has called the State of Washington 
his home for the past 47 years, having moved to Seattle from Chicago in 
1953.
  He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1947. He was in the 
United States Air Force on active duty where he reached the rank of 
colonel, from 1953 to 1956, and in the Air Force Reserves from 1956 to 
1981.
  I have worked with Senator Gorton on the Appropriations Committee, 
particularly on interior issues. Because of his knowledge and 
experience on interior matters, working closely with him in his role as 
the Interior Subcommittee chair, we passed the Lake Tahoe Restoration 
Act and other important environmental legislation for Nevada including 
restoration of the Lahonton cutthroat trout and stopping the spread of 
invasive species.
  Those of us who have worked with Slade Gorton have long known his 
dedication to the ideals of this body and his championing of the State 
of Washington. I remember when the Senator took over the Interior 
Subcommittee on Appropriations; he did something unusual. The Senator 
called members to his office, all the members of the subcommittee, 
Democrats and Republicans, to sit down and talk about what we thought 
should be the direction of the subcommittee, which areas should be 
funded, which areas should be cut back a little bit. I appreciated that 
very much. It set a great tone for the subcommittee.
  I was curious and looked around his office and saw many indications 
that Senator Gorton had been to the U.S. Supreme Court presenting 
cases. I have been in courtrooms many times, at over 100 jury trials, 
argued before the ninth circuit of our State supreme court, but never 
had the opportunity to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, even 
though I am a member of that bar.
  The number of times the Senator from Washington has appeared as an 
advocate for the State of Washington and other parties in the U.S. 
Supreme Court is most impressive. It is a rare

[[Page 26535]]

occasion that a person gets to argue once, but to argue as many cases 
before the Supreme Court as the Senator from Washington has is 
extremely impressive.
  I also want to say that the people of Nevada have done well as a 
result of the Senator being the chairman of that subcommittee. The 
State of Nevada is 87-percent owned by the Federal Government. As a 
result we have many problems. The Senator from Washington was always 
very understanding of the very special problems we had in the State of 
Nevada.
  The Senator had a great relationship with the ranking member of that 
subcommittee, Senator Byrd, and to have Senator Byrd say publicly the 
things he has on many occasions about his relationship with Senator 
Gorton speaks volumes. Senator Byrd has been in the Senate 48 years and 
really understands quality when he sees it.
  I want the Senator from Washington to know how much I appreciate his 
good work. I will always remember his friendship and look forward to 
our continued association.
  I thank Slade Gorton, his wife Sally, and their three children and 
seven grandchildren for their years of sacrifice and dedication to our 
nation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
  Mr. GORTON. I thank the Senator from Nevada for his fine comments and 
compliments. I may tell the Senator, that relationship is perhaps a 
result of the marvelous biblical statement about casting your bread 
upon water and having it come back manyfold.
  When I was first a member of the Appropriations Committee, I was in 
the minority. The Senator from Nevada was the chairman of the modest 
subcommittee on the legislative branch, and I was his ranking minority 
member. The Senator from Nevada came to my office to consult with me in 
a way he did not need to about those appropriations. I think it was I 
who persuaded him to put more benches and trash receptacles on the 
Capitol grounds, which was denuded of them at the time, so I can 
believe I actually accomplished something in that modest position.
  It was that lesson when we went into the majority that taught me that 
on the Appropriations Committee and the Senate as a whole, it was best 
to work with everyone when it was at all possible to do so and that you 
were far more likely to be successful not only for the people of your 
own State but the country, if you used the experience and the wisdom of 
all Members of your committees or of the Senate itself.
  So I am particularly grateful for the comments of the Senator from 
Nevada. But whatever courtesies he was rendered by this Senator he 
earned by having taught the same lesson.

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