[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16601-16602]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DEPARTING SENATORS


                               Ben Nelson

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to honor our colleague the senior 
Senator from Nebraska, Ben Nelson, upon his retirement from the Senate. 
This will become effective after the first of the year.
  For 12 years, Ben has been a valued member of the Democratic caucus 
and an exemplary Senator for Nebraska and the country. But his life in 
public service dates back to his youth. He spent his college days 
serving his Nebraska community in another way--as a lay minister. But 
eventually he chose law over ministry and went to law school. He 
attended law school at the University of Nebraska, where he got his 
bachelor's and master's degrees.
  He spent many years practicing insurance law. He served as director 
of the Nebraska Department of Insurance and as president of the Central 
National Insurance Group. Then, in 1990, he was elected Governor of 
Nebraska. Four years later, he was reelected--with almost 75 percent of 
the vote--to become the first Nebraska Governor in 20 years to win a 
second term. So it was not a surprise when he ran for the Senate in 
2000. He won, even though President Bush took Nebraska handily.
  It is easy to see Ben Nelson truly possesses the same independent 
spirit as his Nebraska constituents. He served his constituents with 
distinction in the Senate and, of course, when he was Governor and as 
insurance commissioner. He has always provided a strong voice for 
fiscal responsibility, and he has been terrific for the State's energy 
industry, agricultural sector, and even tourism.
  Similar to many of his Nebraska constituents, Ben is an avid hunter, 
fisher, and outdoorsman.
  As a sidelight, one of the things we learn as kids--and as we get 
older it is something we must adhere to--is that one should not be 
envious. Envy isn't something that is very becoming of human beings, 
especially in an adult. But I think if the truth were known, many 
Senators would be very envious, as I am--and I would even think the 
Acting President pro tempore would be--about that hair of Ben Nelson's. 
I mean that is a mop of real hair.
  It is often people call his office and they believe he has a toupee, 
but it is his hair. He will pull it for you anytime just to show you it 
is real. I mean he has hair like a 15-year-old. So I have to 
acknowledge I am a little envious of his hair, and I think, if the 
truth were known, maybe others are as well.
  My wife has said on many occasions--and she tells me this all the 
time--how handsome Pat Leahy is and she is so glad he doesn't do a 
comb-over.
  Anyway, Ben Nelson is an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoorsman. He has 
bagged pheasants and turkey, and one time, to the consternation of all 
of us, he decided he was going to take Senator Schumer from New York 
hunting for pheasants. He did that. Everybody survived it alive, and 
Ben Nelson still boasts about that; that he was able to bring Schumer 
back all in one piece. More important, the people who went hunting with 
them all came back in one piece. The story goes that Senator Schumer 
even shot a bird or two.
  A lot of us have some trouble accepting that, but that is what Ben 
says and I will take him at his word. He has bagged all kinds of game 
birds--dove, quail, pheasants, turkey--but he has also had the 
opportunity to hunt all over the world and has bagged some of the most 
exotic game that is possible for a hunter to hunt. He is the epitome of 
a sportsman.
  Ben isn't just a great hunter, though. He is also an accomplished 
practical joker and a wonderful singer. That may surprise some people. 
In our caucus, I proved to everyone that he could sing, and sing quite 
well. He recorded a few years ago a song called ``Western Town'' to 
raise money for visually impaired children. He was one of a dozen 
Nebraskan celebrities to record songs for this charity. I obtained a 
copy of this and played it at a Democratic caucus a few years ago. It 
was a hit. He was singing--it is his voice--and it was very good. Here 
is how it goes:

       I'm from a western town in Nebraska. Don't know why I left 
     so long ago. All I know is this western town in Nebraska 
     lives in my heart and in my soul.

  He did a great job of that song, as he has done everything since I 
have known him.
  I am sure Ben is looking forward to going home to the western town--
Omaha--where he lives with his wife Diane. She is wonderful. She was a 
great first lady and a wonderful Senator's spouse. I like her for lots 
of reasons, the smile she has, but also she makes some of the best 
chocolate chip cookies I have ever eaten. They have four children and 
five grandchildren. As he departs for Omaha, he will be sorely missed 
here in the Senate.
  He has always been a loyal and dedicated member of this caucus, even 
when he was showing loyalty by questioning the wisdom of the party 
sometimes. He is arguably the most conservative member of the caucus. 
And while there are a few things Ben and I disagree on, we agree on 
most everything. Through the last 12 years he has been a valued member 
of the team. He has made many of our accomplishments possible through 
his dedication to country first and State second. That is how it should 
be.
  Edwin Chapin, a North American preacher and poet, said:

       No more duty can be urged upon those who are entering the 
     great theater of life than simple loyalty to their best 
     convictions.


[[Page 16602]]


  Ben Nelson lives by his convictions, even though it may put him at 
odds with his party or his constituents. His highest duty is to country 
and his conscience.
  We had a retirement party a week ago tomorrow, and when it was over, 
I grabbed Ben and we embraced. I care a great deal about him. He has 
made some extremely difficult votes, but he did it because it was the 
right thing to do. His duty is to country and his conscience, and I 
repeat, I have such high respect for Ben Nelson. I will miss him. I 
have enjoyed working with him.
  I congratulate Ben Nelson on his career in public service, including 
his service in the Senate, and wish him the very best in his 
retirement.

                          ____________________