[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, a few moments ago we were made aware that 
at 9:45 tonight a close friend, a confidant, a colleague to most of us 
in this body, Strom Thurmond, passed away.
  It was a century ago when Mark Twain was alive and Teddy Roosevelt 
was President that James Strom Thurmond was born in South Carolina and 
at that time began a life unmatched in public service. Just about all 
of us in this body have had the real privilege of serving alongside 
Strom Thurmond. A long-time friend of Senator Thurmond, Hortense 
Woodson, once said of him:

       Everything he's done has been done in the full. There's no 
     halfway doings about Strom.

  Indeed, Strom Thurmond will forever be a symbol of what one person 
can accomplish when they live life, as we all know he did, to the 
fullest. To his family and his friends, we offer our sincerest 
sympathies.
  It was unexpected that he would die this evening while we are in the 
middle of completing a very historic bill, and it would be clearly 
appropriate for us to make recognition of his passing for a moment now, 
with plans, either after completion of the bill tonight or tomorrow, 
for people to make more extended statements.
  Again, we extend to his family our deepest sympathies and our 
continued prayers.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I join with the majority leader in 
expressing our heartfelt condolences to the family and to the State of 
Strom Thurmond. In many respects, he was a legend. Many of us had the 
good fortune to serve with him as a Senator. He was a Governor, a 
Presidential candidate, a soldier, a father, a citizen. In many 
respects, he fought, lived, contributed, and legislated in a way that 
will be written about and commented on for years and decades to come.
  Much more will be said, but I think as we consider his contribution 
tonight we can say, as we consider the opportunity that we had to serve 
with him, Republicans and Democrats, that it was our privilege to do 
so.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, my friend and colleague of 36 years in 
the Senate is gone. A giant oak in the forest of public service has 
fallen.
  I started with Senator Thurmond as a young law student in 1946 when 
he first ran for Governor and have been more or less with him over 
these many, many years. I will have a real recount of our work together 
later. That is the way it was even though we ended up on other sides of 
the aisle. There was never any doubt about the interests of South 
Carolina.
  We have all this argument going on now with respect, for example, to 
judges. He and I got together very early. We agreed when his President 
was in office from his particular party that he had the appointment, 
but he always asked me about it and, of course, I in turn asked him 
about it. We checked with each other. That is the kind of way we worked 
together over the some 36 years.
  I can say just a living legend of South Carolina now has been 
terminated. But I want to give Nancy and the children my heartfelt 
condolences. Peatsy and I have known them and been with them over the 
many, many years. I will have more to say at a later time. I thank the 
leadership for their recognition. I hope, perhaps, when we complete our 
work tonight, we might adjourn out of respect for our colleague.
  Mr. FRIST. Why don't we take just a moment of silence in honor of 
Strom Thurmond.
  (Moment of Silence.)
  Mr. FRIST. 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. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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