[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23338]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SENATOR KENNEDY'S 15,000TH VOTE

  Mr. REID. I also want to say a few words about another one of the 
Senate's most distinguished and legendary Senators, and that is Ted 
Kennedy. The last day of our session was extremely frantic. We were 
trying to do certain things. Well, we had a lot we were trying to get 
finished, not the least of which was the domestic spying measure, which 
was so intense. So we had a lot of votes during that week, and that day 
we had votes, but in the rush to close the session a milestone occurred 
that went unremarked and it should not have. But that is the way things 
are here in the Senate sometimes. Senator Kennedy cast his 15,000th 
vote--15,000 votes. He cast his 15,000th rollcall vote the day we 
adjourned for summer vacation.
  There is very little I can say to fully honor Senator Kennedy for his 
45 years of Senate service. He has been someone whom I have followed so 
very long. And to think that I have the opportunity to serve with one 
of the Kennedys is very important to me. My office, right across the 
hall here, has a letter I received in 1961. Senator Kennedy had not 
been inaugurated as yet, but he had been elected and he was working 
from where we have our Tuesday luncheons, the LBJ Room. That was his 
office before he became President. He sent me a letter. I was at Utah 
State University and I formed the first Young Democrats Club in the 
history of the State. It might not sound like much, but to me it was 
important at the time and President Kennedy recognized that by writing 
me a letter.
  I am so grateful for the service of the Kennedys and what they have 
done for our country. We have had two of Senator Kennedy's brothers who 
have been assassinated. He had a brother who was killed during World 
War II. So Senator Kennedy deserves more attention than I have given 
him here today, but I have so much admiration and respect for him for 
what he has done for me.
  He has this great public persona, but for those of us who work with 
him, he is a man with a lot of humility. He is always willing to step 
back into the shadows and let others get the attention. His record of 
speaking for civil rights, education, working people, senior citizens, 
and people with disabilities is unparalleled. And as to his ability to 
work together, no one can testify to that more than the current 
President Bush in the White House. The legislation President Bush has 
been fortunate enough to pass has been landmark legislation with which 
Senator Kennedy has helped him. So I value Senator Kennedy's wisdom and 
leadership and, most of all, his friendship, and certainly recognize 
and congratulate him on his 15,000th rollcall vote.

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