[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1441]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       GRAMMY WINNER BARACK OBAMA

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, my colleague in the Senate, Senator Barack 
Obama of Illinois, is carrying on a grand Illinois tradition. In the 
history of the United States of America, only two U.S. Senators have 
ever won a Grammy award. The first was Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen 
from Pekin, IL for his album ``Gallant Men,'' which many of us can 
still recall, his deep baritone voice intoning those great patriotic 
verses that inspired so many.
  Now another Senator from Illinois became the second Senator in 
history to win a Grammy award in the best spoken word category at 
Wednesday's Grammy Awards ceremony. Senator Obama won his Grammy for 
recording his autobiographical book ``Dreams for My Father.'' The book 
was first published in 1995. It is an inspirational book, telling the 
story of not only Barack's life but also of his quest to understand his 
heritage, returning to Kenya to the tribe where his father was raised, 
to meet the people, to learn the stories about his origins and his 
family's roots. It is a wonderful book. It has become a best seller. I 
was given a copy by Barack long before he announced his candidacy to 
the Senate and value it as a great story about a great American with 
whom I am honored to serve.
  There was stiff competition in that category for the spoken word. 
Barack Obama prevailed. But others in the finals included Garrison 
Keillor, Al Franken, Sean Penn, and George Carlin. Who came out on top? 
The junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.
  I understand that Senator Hillary Clinton won a Grammy when she was 
First Lady. Now, of course, she is a distinguished Senator from New 
York. But she won one for recording ``It Takes a Village.'' Her 
husband, former President Bill Clinton, won a Grammy for the reading of 
his autobiography ``My Life.''
  So far it is a clean sweep for Illinois Senators at the Grammies. 
With this distinguished record, many people will want to continue to 
follow the career of my junior colleague, Senator Barack Obama.

                          ____________________