[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 23981-23982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTES TO RETIRING SENATORS


                              Tom Daschle

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, there is an old Chinese curse that says, 
``May you live in interesting times.'' A Senate equivalent of that 
saying could very well be: May you lead the Senate in interesting 
times. If so, the Senate leadership of Senator Tom Daschle would 
certainly qualify. He led the Senate with a very quiet integrity during 
some of the most difficult times in American history.
  In 1994, Senator Daschle became Senate Democratic leader by a single 
vote. No sooner had he become Democratic leader than he was forced to 
deal with the Republican revolution of 1994, including House Speaker 
Newt Gingrich and his short-lived ``Contract With America.'' I never 
read it, never signed it, and was not a disciple of it.
  While he served as the Democratic leader for nearly a decade, there 
was a period of 17 months in which he went from minority leader to 
majority leader and back to minority leader.
  He was the Senate Democratic leader during the first impeachment of 
an American President in 131 years. He was the Senate Democratic leader 
on September 11, 2001, when America experienced the worst terrorist 
attack in the history of this great land. One month later, a 
bioterrorist attack on his Senate office in the Hart Building exposed 
20 of Tom Daschle's staffers to deadly anthrax spores.
  As the Senate Democratic leader, Mr. Daschle has had to deal with 
three different Republican leaders. During these turbulent 
circumstances, he remained reassuring and inspiring. Tom Daschle's 
soothing personality and his mild-mannered demeanor were comforting 
under very trying circumstances.
  Looking back, it seems strange that many people once considered this 
likable, soft-spoken young man to be too likable and too soft spoken to 
be an effective Senate leader. I am pleased and proud to say that we 
were wrong. I say ``we'' because many people will recall that I 
initially opposed his candidacy for Senate Democratic leadership. But 
after Tom Daschle was elected leader, I was impressed as I found him to 
be an engaging man with whom to work, a most interesting man, a leader 
who has a way of putting other people at ease, even in troubled as well 
as in pleasant times.
  He was always working to seek a consensus. He was always listening. 
He was one of the best listeners I have ever met during my 46 years in 
this body.
  Even in the Senate's darkest moments, he retained his sense of 
optimism, always preferring to see the glass as half full rather than 
half empty. And that optimism was infectious. Therefore, 2 years later, 
it was my pleasure to nominate Tom Daschle for reelection as Senate 
Democratic leader. In nominating him, I announced:

       I was totally wrong about this young man. He has steel in 
     his spine, despite his reasonable and modest demeanor.

  As a former Senate leader myself, I can say that a Senate leader who 
can bring together and develop a consensus on tough controversial 
measures must have the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon.
  As a former Senate Democratic leader, I want to express my gratitude 
to Mr. Daschle for the service that he rendered to this Chamber, to our 
Nation, and to our political party.
  During the interesting times in which he led the Senate, Senator 
Daschle was always working for the common good. Because of his 
principled--let me say that again--because of his principled opposition 
to the Bush administration, critics denounced and demonized him as an 
obstructionist. If placing the national good over blind obedience to 
any President makes a Senator an obstructionist, then let me say that 
our democracy--indeed, all democracies--need more Tom Daschle's.
  Senator Daschle stayed above it all, as he refused to engage in the 
gutter politics of his opponents. He always retained and maintained the 
dignity that has characterized him as a man and as a Senator. But then 
this mild-mannered South Dakota Democrat, the only South Dakotan ever 
to be elected to the Senate leadership, has always served the people of 
his State and the people of our Nation proudly and honorably, with 
diligence, sincerity, and distinction.
  His entire career in public service has been based on standing up for 
the common good. He has been a true friend of rural America, especially 
America's farmers. Among the many measures he promoted to benefit 
American farmers, Senator Daschle pushed the development and the 
commercialization of alternative agricultural products.
  He was an aggressive advocate of health issues, having authored 
legislation that expanded health services in rural areas.
  As a veteran himself, having served as an intelligence officer in the 
Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force, Tom Daschle was a powerful 
advocate for American veterans. In 1991, he won his 11-year struggle 
for legislation to assist Vietnam veterans suffering from exposure to 
Agent Orange.
  I am sorry that I must now say goodbye to this decent man and this 
outstanding Senator, especially in such circumstances. And he is a 
decent man. He was always good to me. He was always listening. He 
always listened to whatever I had to suggest to him--always listening 
and always tried to be helpful. So many times he spoke good words 
concerning me. He was always asking about my wife Erma: How is your 
wife? How is your wife Erma?
  But as anyone involved in politics knows, political life has its 
defeats as well as its victories, its sorrows as well as its joys, and 
we must accept them as they come, always looking forward, not backward, 
and knowing that the future will present other opportunities to serve 
our Nation.
  I hope that Senator Daschle will continue a life of public service 
because our Nation will always need men of his background and 
experiences but, most importantly, his wisdom, his integrity, and his 
optimism.
  Let me say on behalf of Erma and myself that we are so grateful to 
Senator Daschle and his lovely wife for their many courtesies extended 
to us, their many kindnesses which we will never forget. I am confident 
that despite the happenings of November 2, Senator Daschle still sees 
the glass as half full rather than half empty.
  And so my wife Erma and I extend our best wishes to Senator Daschle 
and his wife Linda in all of their future endeavors.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Smith). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

[[Page 23982]]


  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to speak in morning business for as much time as I may consume.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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