[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 457-458]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     WELCOMING SENATOR ROGER WICKER

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, with a new year we welcome the newest 
Senator, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, to the 110th Congress. With the 
resignation of our friend, Trent Lott, the former Republican whip, 
Governor Haley Barbour has appointed Senator Wicker to fill the 
remainder of his term. He could not have made a finer choice.
  Senator Wicker may be new to this Chamber, but he is no stranger to 
serving the people of Mississippi and the Nation. The son of a 
Mississippi State senator and circuit judge, public service has long 
been his life's calling.
  It all began with his service as a House page in 1967 to 
Representative Jamie Whitten, the man he would one day succeed in the 
House of Representatives. Senator Wicker is one of the few people in 
history to have served as a House page for the Congressman he 
eventually replaced.
  His first stint of public service left him wanting more. He served 
his country in the Air Force and retired from the Air Force Reserves in 
2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
  He returned to the Hill in 1980 as a staffer to then-Representative 
Trent Lott, a man he would come to know very well. In fact, Senator 
Wicker has known and worked with both Senators Cochran and Lott for 
many years.
  In fact, he and Senator Cochran were both born in the Mississippi 
town of----
  Mr. COCHRAN. Pontotoc.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Pontotoc. I wanted to make sure I got that right. I am 
sure Senator Wicker's friendship with both of these men will only 
benefit him as he takes up his new office.
  In 1987, at age 36, Senator Wicker was the first Republican ever 
elected to the Mississippi State senate from northern Mississippi since 
Reconstruction. In 1994, he was elected to the U.S. House to succeed 
Jamie Whitten, ending over 53 years of Democratic possession of that 
seat. Senator Wicker quickly became one of the stars of the House 
freshman class of 1994. He was elected the president of that class. He 
won a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, and he served on 
the leadership team as a deputy whip.
  Around this time, Senator Wicker also gained a keen understanding of 
how to handle the press attention that goes with being a Member of 
Congress. Allow me to share with my colleagues a brief story to 
illustrate.
  It was 3 days after the historic election of 1994 which gave the 
Republicans control of the House of Representatives for the first time 
in 40 years. Naturally, the 73 Members of the 1994 freshman class--one 
of the largest ever--were getting a lot of media attention.
  So early that morning, Roger Wicker, the newly elected Congressman, 
was shaving. Suddenly his daughter burst in and breathlessly yelled, 
``Dad, it's Time magazine on the phone.''
  This was an important moment. So Congressman Wicker calmly wiped the 
shaving cream off his face and gathered his thoughts. Then he strode 
purposefully into the den and picked up the phone.
  ``Hello, this is Roger Wicker,'' he said, in his most congressional 
voice. The voice at the other end of the line responded, ``Mr. Wicker, 
this is Time magazine calling. For only a $19.95 annual subscription . 
. .''
  Senator Wicker will surely have some Members of the press who want to 
talk to him today, and I doubt they

[[Page 458]]

will try to sell him magazine subscriptions. Today, Senator Wicker is 
the story.
  Senator Wicker, welcome to the U.S. Senate. With a seat in this 
Chamber, you not only have a unique view of history but a unique 
opportunity to shape that history for the betterment of the people of 
Mississippi and of your country.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________