[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN REMEMBERANCE OF STROM THURMOND

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, it is with great pride and honor I rise 
amongst my fellow colleagues to honor one of America's finest citizens, 
Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
  When I look at Strom's unbelievable life and career and all that he 
has accomplished, I often find myself wondering how one man could 
possibly do so many different and amazing things in just one lifetime. 
Strom Thurmond truly deserves the title of renaissance man.
  He has been a farmer, teacher, coach, lawyer, judge, author, 
Governor, war veteran, major general in the U.S. Army Reserves, State 
Senator, United States Senator, Democrat, Dixiecrat, Republican, 
husband and father, and most importantly to all of us--a friend. He was 
born when Theodore Roosevelt was president and lived through 18 
different Presidencies. To put the longevity of his political career in 
perspective, Strom Thurmond won an election 18 years before President 
George W. Bush was even born. This is also a man who enlisted during 
World War II and jumped on D-Day with the 82nd Airborne when he was in 
his forties.
  From 1954 when he ran and won a seat in the United States Senate as a 
write-in candidate, until his death on June 26, 2003, Strom Thurmond 
worked tirelessly and selflessly for the people of South Carolina and 
the citizens of this great Nation, casting more than 15,000 votes in 
his senatorial tenure. Whether or not people ever agreed with Strom 
politically, they certainly admired his zest and his passion.
  In his earlier days in Congress, Strom argued for segregationist 
policies. In many ways, people have used this to try and discredit this 
American icon. But most people forget he later championed civil rights 
laws and Black institutions. As Winston Churchill said, ``To improve is 
to change, to be perfect is to change often.'' Strom Thurmond was an 
honest and principled man, but he also was a man constantly striving to 
make this a better nation.
  I now ask my fellow members of the Senate to join me in honoring our 
good friend and colleague for all he did throughout his life and 
throughout his tenure in the Senate. His brilliance, leadership and 
unmatched wit will be sorely missed by this legislative body and by the 
entire Nation. On June 26, 2003, one of this Nation's brightest stars 
faded away. Even though the light may be out, I believe we all will 
find our own way to hold on to the many memories and stories Strom 
Thurmond left behind with us.

                          ____________________