[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20492]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SEN. STROM THURMOND

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to South 
Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, an institution unto himself who has 
served with distinction in the U.S. Senate for almost a half-century. 
Senator Thurmond is the longest-serving member in the history of the 
Senate and the second Senator in history to cast 15,000 votes. During 
his tenure, Senator Thurmond has been a enduring witness to history, 
presiding over the chamber during a tremendous transformation of the 
American landscape. During this time, Senator Thurmond has steadfastly 
remained responsible to the voters of South Carolina, who have returned 
him to the chamber time and time again. Senator Thurmond's enduring 
legacy will continue on well beyond his retirement at the end of the 
107th Congress.
  Senator Thurmond was born in 1902, in Edgefield, SC. His early years 
were spent as an Army reservist, teacher, superintendent and lawyer. 
Senator Thurmond won election to the South Carolina State Senate in 
1933, representing his home district of Edgefield for the next five 
years. Senator Thurmond then became a Circuit Judge of South Carolina, 
just as the clouds of war descended over Europe. Never one to shy away 
from his duty to his country, Senator Thurmond sought and received an 
exemption to return to military duty. On June 6, 1944, he landed in 
Normandy on D-Day with the 82nd Airborne Division at the age of 42. For 
his service in World War II, Senator Thurmond earned eighteen 
decorations, medals and awards, including the Purple Heart, Legion of 
Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and Bronze Star for Valor. He returned to 
South Carolina a war hero, and was elected Governor of the Palmetto 
State in 1946. In 1954, Senator Thurmond was elected to the United 
States Senate, becoming the first, and so far, the only politician 
elected to the Senate as a write-in candidate.
  Senator Thurmond has dedicated his life to preserving, defending and 
participating in our democracy. He attended the Democratic National 
Convention in 1932 and voted for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Sixty four 
years later, he attended the Republican Convention and voted for Bob 
Dole. In fact, Senator Thurmond was a Democrat for thirty two years and 
has been a Republican for the past thirty eight. Through it all, he has 
managed to remain relevant, active and a force on the national scene. 
Just two years ago, he played a critical role in helping to line up 
Republican support for George Bush in the South Carolina primary, 
helping to secure his nomination for President of the United States.
  Senator Thurmond's countless achievements and awards are a testament 
to his distinguished career in public service. He holds thirty four 
honorary degrees, is in the South Carolina Hall of Fame, and is a 
recipient of the Presidential Citizens Award, Presidential Freedom 
Award, as well as other major awards from American Legion, VFW, DAV, 
AMVETS, the National Guard, Army and Navy associations, farm groups, 
business groups, education groups and several foreign countries.
  It is with great admiration for Senator Thurmond's longevity and 
service that I commend him for his distinguished career in Congress. No 
one in the history of the Senate can say that they gave more of their 
life to this body, and while his presence may be gone after the 107th 
Congress, his spirit will forever remain a part of this chamber. I wish 
he and his family all the best in the future.

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