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Strom Thurmond

LATE A SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA

MEMORIAL ADDRESSES AND

OTHER TRIBUTES

IN THE CONGRESS OF

THE UNITED STATES

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


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Strom Thurmond


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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2003

S. DOC. 108–7

Memorial Addresses and

Other Tributes

HELD IN THE SENATE

AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE UNITED STATES

TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE

IN HONOR OF

STROM THURMOND

Late a Senator from South Carolina

One Hundred Eighth Congress

First Session

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Compiled under the direction

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Joint Committee on Printing

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CONTENTS

Page

Biography .................................................................................................. v

Proceedings in the Senate:

Tributes by Senators:

Allard, Wayne, of Colorado ........................................................ 52

Bennett, Robert F., of Utah ....................................................... 33

Biden, Joseph R., Jr., of Delaware ........................................... 16, 52

Brownback, Sam, of Kansas ...................................................... 51

Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky ....................................................... 63

Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia ............................................. 57

Cochran, Thad, of Mississippi ................................................... 47

Craig, Larry E., of Idaho ........................................................... 49

Daschle, Thomas A., of South Dakota ...................................... 3

DeWine, Mike, of Ohio ............................................................... 61

Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut ....................................... 47

Dole, Elizabeth, of North Carolina ........................................... 41

Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico ............................................ 38

Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota .......................................... 16

Frist, Bill, of Tennessee ........................................... 3, 4, 8, 25, 26, 51

Graham, Lindsey O., of South Carolina ............................... 4, 28, 38

Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah ........................................................... 6

Hollings, Ernest F., of South Carolina ..................................... 4, 43

Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas ............................................... 56

Kyl, Jon, of Arizona ................................................................... 60

Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 60

Levin, Carl, of Michigan ............................................................ 45

McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky ................................................. 59

Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama ......................................................... 9, 53

Stabenow, Deborah Ann, of Michigan ...................................... 25

Stevens, Ted, of Alaska ............................................................. 11

Warner, John W., of Virginia .................................................... 13

Proceedings in the House of Representatives:

Tributes by Representatives:

Wilson, Joe, of South Carolina .................................................. 65

Memorial Service ...................................................................................... 67

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BIOGRAPHY

JAMES STROM THURMOND was born December 5, 1902, in

Edgefield, SC. After graduating from Clemson University in

1923, he became a high school teacher and athletic coach.

Soon thereafter he became the county superintendent of education and then State senator. At night he studied law under

his father, and was admitted to the South Carolina bar in

1930. He practiced law until 1938 when he became a circuit

judge.

At the age of 21 he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, becoming a second lieutenant. When World War II was declared,

he was 40 years old. Even though he was beyond draft age,

and, as a judge, held a draft-exempted status, he volunteered

for active duty the day war was declared against Germany.

He served with the Headquarters First Army in American,

European, and Pacific theaters.

On June 6, 1944, STROM THURMOND took part in the D-day

invasion with the 82d Airborne Division and arrived by a

glider on the beaches at Normandy. He was awarded 5 battle

stars and 18 decorations, medals, and awards, including the

Legion of Merit with oakleaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal

for valor, the Purple Heart, the Belgian Order of the Crown,

and the French Croix de Guerre. After the war he became

a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve.

In 1947 he became Governor of South Carolina. In 1948

Governor STROM THURMOND ran for President as a States

rights Democrat, carrying 4 States and winning 39 electoral

votes.

In 1954 STROM THURMOND was elected to the U.S. Senate

as a write-in candidate. This made him not only the first and

only person in U.S. history elected to the Senate in this manner, but the only person ever elected to any major office in

the United States in this manner.

Senator STROM THURMOND set a record for the longest individual speech ever delivered in the Senate—24 hours and

18 minutes, from August 28 to August 29, 1957.

In 1964 Senator THURMOND switched from the Democratic

Party to the Republican Party, a move that marked the beVerDate 19-JUN-2001 15:28 Oct 20, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 D:\DOCS\STROM2\89048.TXT CRS1 PsN: CRS1
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ginning of the ‘‘southern strategy’’ that has reshaped the Republican Party.

In 1981, when Ronald Reagan became President, Senator

THURMOND was chosen as Senate President pro tempore,

placing him third in the line of succession to the Presidency.

He was chosen as President pro tempore two more times and

once as President pro tempore emeritus—a total of four occasions serving in that capacity.

On March 8, 1996, Senator THURMOND, at the age of 93,

became the oldest person ever to serve in the Senate.

On May 25, 1997, he became the longest serving Senator

in the history of the Senate, surpassing the record of 41

years and 10 months held by Carl Hayden.

In 1998, Senator THURMOND became the second Senator

ever to cast 15,000 votes.

During his Senate career, he served as chairman and

ranking member of both the Armed Services Committee and

the Judiciary Committee. He was chairman emeritus of the

Veterans’ Affairs Committee and a member of the Labor and

Human Resources Committee.

Senator THURMOND worked tirelessly for the State of

South Carolina and for the Nation in general. South Carolina showed its gratitude by honoring the Senator in many

ways. The people of Edgefield County, SC, built and erected

a life-sized statue of STROM THURMOND on the Edgefield

town square. The STROM THURMOND Lake, Dam and Highway in Clarks Hill; the STROM THURMOND Mall in Columbia;

and the STROM THURMOND National Guard Armory have all

been named in his honor.

There is a STROM THURMOND High School, Auditorium and

Student Center. There are numerous STROM THURMOND

chairs and scholarships. There’s the STROM THURMOND

Foundation, which assists in educating 80 to 100 needy, worthy students annually.

Some of the numerous awards that Senator THURMOND received are the Disabled American Veterans Outstanding and

Unselfish Service Awards (1964 and 1981); the Medal of the

Knesset, Israel (1982); the Audie Murphy Patriotism Award

(1982); the NY Board of Trade ‘‘Textile Man of the Year’’

(1984); the Presidential Citizens’ Medal from President Ronald Reagan (1989); and the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by President George Bush (1992).

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MEMORIAL ADDRESSES

AND

OTHER TRIBUTES

FOR

STROM THURMOND

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Proceedings in the Senate

THURSDAY, June 26, 2003

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, a few moments ago we were

made aware that at 9:45 tonight a close friend, a confidant,

a colleague to most of us in this body, STROM THURMOND,

passed away.

It was a century ago when Mark Twain was alive and

Teddy Roosevelt was President that JAMES STROM THURMOND was born in South Carolina and at that time began a

life unmatched in public service. Just about all of us in this

body have had the real privilege of serving alongside STROM

THURMOND. A longtime friend of Senator THURMOND,

Hortense Woodson, once said of him: ‘‘Everything he’s done

has been done to the full. There’s no halfway doings about

STROM.’’

Indeed, STROM THURMOND will forever be a symbol of what

one person can accomplish when they live life, as we all

know he did, to the fullest. To his family and his friends, we

offer our sincerest sympathies.

It was unexpected that he would die this evening while we

are in the middle of completing a very historic bill, and it

would be clearly appropriate for us to make recognition of

his passing for a moment now, with plans, either after completion of the bill tonight or tomorrow, for people to make

more extended statements.

Again, we extend to his family our deepest sympathies and

our continued prayers.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I join with the majority

leader in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the family

and to the State of STROM THURMOND. In many respects, he

was a legend. Many of us had the good fortune to serve with

him as a Senator. He was a Governor, a Presidential candidate, a soldier, a father, a citizen. In many respects, he

fought, lived, contributed, and legislated in a way that will

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be written about and commented on for years and decades

to come.

Much more will be said, but I think as we consider his contribution tonight we can say, as we consider the opportunity

that we had to serve with him, Republicans and Democrats,

that it was our privilege to do so.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South

Carolina.

Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, my friend and colleague of

36 years in the Senate is gone. A giant oak in the forest of

public service has fallen.

I started with Senator THURMOND as a young law student

in 1946 when he first ran for Governor and have been more

or less with him over these many, many years. I will have

a real recount of our work together later. That is the way it

was even though we ended up on opposite sides of the aisle.

There was never any doubt about the interests of South

Carolina.

We have all these arguments going on now with respect,

for example, to judges. He and I got together very early. We

agreed when his President was in office from his particular

party that he had the appointment, but he always asked me

about it and, of course, I in turn asked him about it. We

checked with each other. That is the kind of way we worked

together over 36 years.

I can say a living legend of South Carolina now has been

terminated. But I want to give Nancy and the children my

heartfelt condolences. Peatsy and I have known them and

been with them over many, many years. I will have more to

say at a later time. I thank the leadership for their recognition. I hope, perhaps, when we complete our work tonight,

we might adjourn out of respect for our colleague.

Mr. FRIST. Why don’t we take just a moment of silence in

honor of STROM THURMOND.

(Moment of silence.)

STROM THURMOND

Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, I rise to

make a brief statement, like my colleague from South Carolina, Senator Hollings, about the passing of Senator THURMOND. This is something I really don’t know how to put in

words. All of us from South Carolina knew Senator THURMOND in so many ways. But his colleagues in this body, the

vast majority of you, have served with him for many years.

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You have great admiration and fondness for Senator THURMOND but I stand before you as his successor. I often state

back home that we change Senators every 50 years and that

so many people have been waiting to take Senator THURMOND’s place. The jokes just go on and on about what a rich

life he has lived.

Tonight his family is mourning his passing. Whether a

person lives to be 100 or 200, it is difficult to lose your father. If you lose someone you love, it is always difficult. But

when you think about Senator THURMOND, you always have

a smile on your face.

He lived a rich life. He lived at times a controversial life.

But the biggest testament I can give to Senator THURMOND

is that he changed. He changed with the times.

Those of you who embraced him during difficult times your

love was much appreciated. Recently people have tried to

freeze Senator THURMOND in time which is unfair to him or

anyone else. Those who knew him best understood that he

changed with the times. And his legacy in my State across

party lines, across racial lines, and across regional lines was

that he was the go-to guy. If you had a problem with your

family or with your business, the first thought in your mind,

if the government was involved, or if somebody was treating

you unfairly, was get on the phone and call Senator THURMOND. You would get a phone call back, and he would go to

bat for you. Whether you owned the company, or you were

the janitor, whether you were black, white, rich or poor, his

office and he as a person had a reputation of going to bat for

individuals. To me, that is his greatest legacy.

I stand before you as his successor—but not only that, as

his friend. He embraced my campaign in 1995. He came to

campaign for me when he was 93 years of age. And I was

worried to death about whether he could make it through

the day. Three days later I was glad to see him leave because he about killed me.

He had enthusiasm and passion like no one I have ever

met in my life. He did things he didn’t have to do. He was

a sitting judge in South Carolina in his forties. He left the

judgeship to go volunteer for the Army. He landed in a glider

on D-day, he was shot up, the pilot was killed, and he fought

the Germans until they quit, and then he went over to Japan

and fought until they quit.

This man, your friend, my friend, South Carolina’s favorite

son, is gone but he will never be forgotten. His biggest legacy

is in the small things he did—not the large things he did.

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There are so many large things he accomplished. But he

lives on in families. Great relationships were established,

and good constituent service. He won his last election by getting more African American votes than any Republican in

the South.

All I can say about Senator THURMOND is that we pray for

his family, we mourn his loss, but we thank God that He

provided us a great public servant.

Well done, Senator THURMOND.

Thank you, Mr. President.

HONORING SENATOR STROM THURMOND

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I wish to take a minute to say

a few words in honor of STROM THURMOND, our friend and

former colleague, who passed away today.

From the moment STROM THURMOND set foot in this

Chamber in 1954, he has been setting records. He was the

only person ever elected to the U.S. Senate on a write-in

vote. He set the record for the longest speech on the Senate

floor, clocked at an astounding 24 hours and 18 minutes. He

was the longest serving Senator in the history of the U.S.

Senate. He was also the oldest serving Senator. Many of my

colleagues will recall the momentous occasion in September

1998 when he cast his 15,000th vote in the Senate. With

these and so many other accomplishments over the years, he

has appropriately been referred to as ‘‘an institution within

an institution.’’

In 1902, the year STROM THURMOND was born, life expectancy was 51 years—and today it is 77 years. STROM continued to prove that, by any measure, he was anything but average.

He saw so much in his life. To provide some context, let

me point out that during his lifetime, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood, and 11

amendments were added to the Constitution. The technological advancements he witnessed, from the automobile to

the airplane to the Internet, literally spanned a century of

progress. Conveniences we have come to take for granted

today were not always part of STROM THURMOND’s world.

Perhaps this explains why, during Judiciary Committee

hearings, he was often heard asking witnesses who were too

far away from the microphone to ‘‘please speak into the machine.’’

The story of his remarkable political career truly could fill

several volumes. It began with a win in 1928 for the

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Edgefield County superintendent of schools. Eighteen years

later, he was Governor of South Carolina. STROM was even

a Presidential candidate in 1948, running on the ‘‘Dixiecrat’’

ticket against Democrat Harry Truman.

I must admit, he came a long way in his political career,

given that he originally came to the Senate as a Democrat.

I am happy to say that wisdom came within a few short

years when STROM saw the light and joined the Republican

Party.

When I first arrived in the Senate in January 1977, he

was my mentor. As my senior on the Judiciary Committee,

it was STROM THURMOND who helped me find my way and

learn how the committee functioned. He was not only a respected colleague, but a personal friend.

During his tenure as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, STROM THURMOND left an indelible mark on the committee and the laws that came through it. He became known

and respected for many fine qualities and positions—his devotion to the Constitution, his toughness on crime, his sense

of fairness.

He was famous for his incredible grip. Many of us in this

Chamber had the experience of STROM THURMOND holding

our arm tightly as he explained a viewpoint and asked for

our support. I might add that this proved to be a very effective approach.

STROM was also known to have a kind word or greeting for

everyone who came his way, and for being extremely good to

his staff. Despite his power and influence, he never forgot

the importance of small acts of kindness. For example, whenever he ate in the Senate dining room, he grabbed two

fistfuls of candy. When he returned to the floor of the Senate, he handed the candy out to the Senate pages. Unfortunately, it was usually melted into a kaleidoscope of sugar by

then. I have a feeling that the pages preferred it when

STROM took them out for ice cream.

STROM THURMOND was truly a legend—someone to whom

the people of South Carolina owe an enormous debt of gratitude for all his years of service.

Clearly, the people of South Carolina recognize the sacrifices he made and are grateful for all he did for them. In

fact, you cannot mention the name STROM THURMOND in

South Carolina without the audience bursting into spontaneous applause. He truly was an American political icon.

Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘‘The better part of one’s life

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MOND, this sentiment could not be more true. I am a great

admirer of STROM THURMOND, and I am proud to have called

him my friend.

One final note about STROM THURMOND. He was a great

patriot. A decorated veteran of World War II who fought at

Normandy on D-day, STROM THURMOND loved this country.

Let me close by saying that this country loved him, too.

PROGRAM

Mr. FRIST. Tomorrow, the Senate will be in a period for

morning business. Members will be able to pay tribute to our

departed friend and colleague STROM THURMOND. We will

give Members an opportunity to submit statements for the

Record so they can be compiled for a printed tribute to Senator THURMOND. There will be no rollcall votes tomorrow.

Again, I thank my colleagues for their hard work over the

past several weeks. We will have more to say about recent

accomplishments of the Senate tomorrow and the events

which culminated in tonight’s passage—or this morning’s

passage—of the historic prescription drug benefits bill.

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10:15 A.M. TOMORROW

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before

the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand

in adjournment as a mark of further respect for the late Senator STROM THURMOND.

There being no objection, the Senate, at 1:15 a.m., adjourned until Friday, June 27, 2003, at 10:15 a.m.

FRIDAY, June 27, 2003

The Senate met at 10:15 a.m. and was called to order by

the President pro tempore (Mr. Stevens).

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Today’s prayer will be offered by our guest Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.

PRAYER

The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:

Before the Congress of the United States leaves to celebrate Independence Day, we pause to pray to You, Lord God,

for the repose of the soul of Senator STROM THURMOND.

Lord, reward this most senior statesman for his many years

of pledged service to this country.

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As the Source of life and justice that will last forever, You

have inspired the Founders of this Nation, individuals such

as Senator THURMOND and citizens across this land, to continually seek what is right: to pursue lasting values for

themselves and for all their brothers and sisters; and to pray

always that they may grow in virtue and so strengthen this

democracy.

Our national celebration this year is an occasion for us to

thank and praise You for this form of government, for its

leaders and for the natural and human resources with which

You continue to endow this great Nation.

May we also take this moment to pray for the new Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Chaplain Barry Black. Guide him by

Your holy inspiration to ably respond to the needs of the

Senators and this community. Gift him with the spirit of

wisdom and prayer. And may he always find joy in serving

You by serving in this august chamber. You, Lord God are

America’s boast now and forever! Amen.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I wish to take a few minutes at this time to express my sympathy to the family of

Senator STROM THURMOND, one of America’s most dynamic

leaders in this past century, a man who lived through extraordinary change in his life, a man whose commitment to

his country was unwavering.

I had the opportunity in 1997 to travel with him to China.

He was 94, I believe, at that time. His vigor and his strength

were extraordinarily impressive to me and all of us who

traveled with him. He wanted to see The Wall. He wanted

to meet the people of China. He would tell them: America

and China are friends. We want to be better friends. He

made very perceptive and appropriate remarks.

Then we met Jiang Zemin at his resort in the month of

their vacation time and STROM made an extraordinary

speech that reflected so well America and had so comprehensive an understanding of the relationships of our countries.

That just struck me particularly.

We went out to a Chinese army base. He trooped the line

of a group of Chinese troops. I remember saying to him afterward that I never thought I would be in Communist China,

seeing STROM THURMOND, the great cold warrior, troop the

line of a group of Chinese troops. But he was extraordinary

in that way.

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I had come up to this Senate in the mid-eighties as a

nominee and it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. I will

never forget and will always appreciate his courtesy and support for me at that time and enjoyed responding a little bit

to that when I was able to come back to this Senate and he

was leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee, chairman of

the Armed Services Committee. It was just a pleasure to

work with him.

He lived through a complete change in the South. He reflected the change that went on in our region of the country.

I think he did it in a positive and especially important way.

His leadership in moving from the days of segregation to a

new era of relations between the races was very important

and positive throughout the South.

He served his country in an almost unprecedented way. He

was 40 years old when World War II began. He was an elected judge in his home State and he was an Army reservist.

He insisted that he be allowed to be on active duty and they

allowed him to do so. I understand at first it wasn’t going

to happen.

He ended up in England when they were planning for the

Normandy invasion. A number of people were called upon to

fly gliders in during that invasion at the time. He volunteered to fly on a glider, one of the most dangerous missions

there could be. The planes would pull up these gliders and

get them going and just let them go and they would have to

find a place to land down behind enemy lines—extraordinarily high risk. Many were killed on landing. Many were

killed in combat, many were separated, many were injured.

That is the kind of man STROM THURMOND was.

I asked him one time, ‘‘STROM, did you stay in until Germany surrendered?’’

He said, ‘‘Oh, yes, we stayed until Germany surrendered

and we were on a train coming back when they declared the

war on Japan was over. We were being sent to the East.’’

He was prepared to go there. As long as this country was

in combat he wanted to be there, committing his life, his

every effort to the defense of this Republic. He did so in the

Senate and he did so in uniform and as a leader in South

Carolina.

He was beloved in his State, respected to an awesome degree. He won his Senate race on a write-in vote with a substantial majority, the only Member, I believe, in the history

of this Senate ever to be elected on a write-in vote. That

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shows the power and the energy and the vigor and the leadership of this man. I have appreciated his friendship.

I know his family is hurting at this time and my sympathies are extended to them. I know the great members of

his staff, Duke Short and the whole team that worked with

him for so many years, are hurting today and our sympathies go out to them as well as to the family.

Mr. President, I know you served with Senator THURMOND

so many years. The two of you together have conducted a remarkable effort to maintain our military strength and leadership in the world. He was certainly committed to that.

There are many other things I could say. I will not at this

time. I just express my sympathy to his family, his friends,

the people of South Carolina, and those around this great

country who will mourn his passing.

I thank the President and yield the floor.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. May the Chair request the

Senator to occupy the Chair so this Senator may speak about

Senator THURMOND?

Mr. SESSIONS. I will be honored to.

Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sessions). The Senator

from Alaska.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, next Tuesday it will be my

honor to be part of the funeral delegation to South Carolina

to attend the funeral of our departed President pro tempore.

When I first came to the Senate, I was in the gallery up

there watching the debate on the Alaska statehood bill. A filibuster was being led against that bill by the Senator from

South Carolina. As a matter of fact, he held up the bill for

a considerable period of time.

Because of his opposition, we developed a strategy of trying to get the bill passed by the Senate without amendment—passed by the Senate as it had come to us from the

House, without amendment. It was, I think, the only statehood bill in history that ever passed both Houses in identical

form without amendment by the Senate. We did that because we knew if the bill went to conference and came back,

STROM THURMOND would have another shot at the bill and

another filibuster.

I remember that today because I remember how, when I

did finally arrive here in 1968 as a Member of the Senate,

STROM came up to me and said, ‘‘I remember you, boy.’’

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And he remembered I had been part of the group from the

Eisenhower delegation that worked on our bill. We formed a

friendship that day that I never expected to have.

STROM was, as I have said, a distinguished member of the

U.S. armed services. He was the oldest officer to land in Normandy. As we all know, he landed in a glider. The pilot was

killed. I talked about that with STROM because I had been

trained to fly gliders. Even though I was a pilot, some of us

were trained to fly gliders in case they needed glider pilots

and I had anticipated I might have gone to Normandy. Instead, I was sent to China. When I returned and was a Member of the Senate here, we often discussed our wartime service. Of course, he was considerably older than I was and his

experience was entirely different. But over the years I grew,

really, to have great fondness for Senator THURMOND, despite our original, really, antagonism. Believe me, as an advocate for statehood for my State, anyone who was going to

filibuster that bill was not exactly a friend at that time. But

as we grew together and grew older together here in the

Senate, STROM became a person who did give me a lot of

guidance. At one time he was chairman of the Armed Services Committee and I was chairman of the Defense Subcommittee for Appropriations, and we did a lot of work together.

But my memory of STROM really goes back to the time

after 1981 when we had a dinner for the new President pro

tempore as we had taken the majority in the Senate. STROM

became President pro tempore. I was the assistant leader.

Senator Baker was the leader. We had a dinner at one of the

local hotels. Senator Baker and his wife Joy and I and my

wife Catherine were at the head table. When it became

STROM’s time to thank the people there for honoring him, he

started talking with the people at the head table, and he

came to me. I had just been remarried. Catherine and I were

married in December 1980. Just before that dinner, she had

informed me we were going to have a child.

STROM stood up and was introducing people. He came to

me and made some kind remarks about me. And he turned

and said, ‘‘Here is his lovely lady who has now joined our

family. She is a beautiful woman, and isn’t it nice that she

is with child?’’

I thought Catherine was going to break my arm and bust

my head. I grabbed STROM and asked him to come over and

tell Catherine I had not told him that. She did listen to him

for a moment or two. And he smiled, and said, ‘‘Child, he

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never told me. He never told me anything about that.’’ He

said, ‘‘I just looked at you. I can tell when a woman is in

flower.’’

Mr. President, being from Alabama, you can understand

the way he pronounced that.

It is something I will never forget.

When our child came, he became Uncle STROM to Lily Stevens. Every day he sat here in that chair, he would ask me

about Lily. Lily, as a matter of fact, last evening had a tear

in her voice as she called to tell me she had heard about

STROM.

STROM was really a member of this Senate family. He got

to know every one of us in a way that I think no one else

did because no one else was near 100 years old. He was like

a 1,000-pound gorilla around here; he did what he wanted to

do, but he did it in a way which really reflected his southern

heritage. He was a southern gentleman to the core.

I have to tell the Senate that there are many things Senator STROM THURMOND did in his life with which I didn’t

agree. There were many votes he cast here on the floor that

I opposed. But I can’t think of a person who more epitomized

being a Senator and what it meant to be a Senator. He lived

up to his principles, and he lived up to the idea of what this

democracy is about. He was, I believe, one of the finest Senators who will ever serve in this body.

I am honored, following him as President pro tempore, to

go back and participate in the services and to once again remind his people who sent him to the Senate that he was a

person who became a very distinguished Senator whom history will always admire.

Thank you very much.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am deeply moved this

morning, as are Senators all over America today—not only

those who are present in the Senate, but so many who have

gone on from the Senate to other careers—about the loss of

our distinguished colleague Senator THURMOND. I think it is

coincidental, and indeed most fitting, that the presiding officer in the Chamber this morning is the son of the distinguished Senator from Rhode Island, Senator John Chafee.

I first met Senator THURMOND when I joined the then-Secretary of the Navy, John Chafee, as his principal deputy and

in later years to succeed him. Really, our first call was to

come to the Senate to meet with Richard Russell, John Stennis, STROM THURMOND, John Tower, and Barry Goldwater. I

remember our calls as the brand-new team of the Secretary

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of the Navy during the height of the war in Vietnam—at

least one of the periods of great intensity—was in 1969. Senator THURMOND greeted us in his office in the same way that

he greeted me throughout my 25 years in the Senate. Each

of those years—except since his retirement in January that

I shared with him, as did John Chafee and others—it was

a learning experience every day you were with him.

I stop to think of the men and women of the Armed Forces

today all across the world, engaged in fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and guarding the outposts of freedom. They

have not lost STROM THURMOND because they have the

wealth of the memories of him. I don’t know of any class of

individual—perhaps other than his immediate family—for

whom Senator THURMOND had a deeper or more abiding love

and devotion than those in uniform.

This record last night covered briefly his distinguished

military career, and I don’t doubt others will address that.

But we always remember that he was a judge in the State

of South Carolina. By virtue of his age at that time—I think

right on the brink of 40, give or take a year—he would not

have been subjected to the draft. He would not, by virtue of

his judicial position, have had to leave that position and go

into the Armed Forces—other than by his own free will. He

resigned his judicial post to go into the ranks of the U.S.

Army, where he served with great distinction, going in on Dday with the airborne assault divisions, landing, helping

those who were wounded—that was his first call—and then

marshaling the forces to mount the offensive against the

German army, and going through those matters until victory

in May 1945.

When we walked into his office, two things always struck

me. One was the portrait that was obviously painted in the

period when he was Governor—straight, tall, and erect, eyes

that were penetrating, eyes that reflected a tremendous

inner confidence and conviction, but eyes that had a soft

side, because he did have a soft side. He loved humor. He

was very often the object of a lot of humor, including respectfully from this humble Senator. But what a tower of

strength. I served with him these many years on the committee as really an aide-de-camp—yes, a fellow Senator, but I

was happy to be ‘‘General’’ STROM THURMOND’s aide-de-camp

on many missions—missions that took me abroad on occasions when he was chairman, and missions from which I

learned so much at the hand of the great master on the subject of national events. He was unwavering in his steadfast

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support of Presidents, be they Democrat or Republican, and

unwavering in his resolve for the care of the men and women

in uniform on active duty, their families, the retirees. And,

oh, Mr. President, did he love the National Guard. There

wasn’t a bill that went through the Armed Services Committee and conference when he wouldn’t tug on my shoulder and

say let’s beef up a little bit for the Guard and Reserve here.

Remember, in times of crisis, they are among the first to respond.

That bit of wisdom has proven ever so true. Going back to

the Balkans campaign, the Guard was actively engaged at

all levels of that campaign. The Air Guard, for example, flew

many of the missions carrying food, medicine, and other supplies to the ravaged civilians and others in Sarajevo. I remember I joined one time in one of those missions. I remember it so well because the plane behind ours was shot down

and lost—just to point up the risks that those Air Guard

took on those missions.

Now, today, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, worldwide efforts

against terrorism, once again the Guard and Reserve are in

the forefront—a Guard and Reserve that have benefited

through the many years of STROM THURMOND being a Senator and receiving a fair allocation of equipment and money,

often in competition with the regular forces.

But STROM THURMOND was there with his watchful eye on

the Armed Services Committee to ensure that degree of fairness for the Guard and Reserve. He rose to the rank of major

general. I mentioned his portrait as you walked in. Then, in

a very discreet way, there was a large frame that contained

all of his many decorations. He rarely talked about them. As

a matter of fact, only after one tried to elicit facts from him

would he share facts about the combat of war and what he

received in World War II, and the other recognitions by our

government and other governments for his contribution to

freedom worldwide.

So I say to my dear friend—really a big brother—I thank

him for all he has done for the world, for the Nation, for this

humble Senator and, I daresay, many others of my

comtemporaries, as we came along in this institution on the

learning curve that was often at the hands of STROM THURMOND.

My final thoughts are with his family, his wife and children, all of whom I have known throughout these years, and

with whom I have had the privilege so often to be photographed, from little sizes all the way up, as we do through

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the years with our colleagues. But I know the presiding officer’s father, were he here today, would join in the most fervent and heartfelt expressions with regard to our comrade,

our colleague, our dear friend, STROM THURMOND.

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, let me add my voice to those

of my colleagues who last evening and this morning have expressed sympathy to the families of Senator STROM THURMOND. I was privileged to serve in this Chamber for many

years while Senator STROM THURMOND was a Senator. He

was quite a remarkable American. He was a hero in many

ways. His life was controversial in some ways.

I talked to STROM THURMOND one day about the Second

World War. Americans should know, when he was in his forties, this man volunteered for service in the Second World

War, volunteered to fly at night in a glider and crash land

behind enemy lines, behind German lines. All of the rest in

that glider were young kids, 18-, 19-, 20-year-old GIs. This

40-plus-year-old lawyer and judge who volunteered for service in the Second World War was in that glider that crash

landed behind enemy lines.

He was quite a remarkable American and had a remarkable political career. In his later years as he suffered health

challenges and difficulties, but he never complained, ever.

He showed up for all of the votes in the Senate even at times

when it appeared to us it was difficult for him to do so.

The American people, I know, will thank Senator STROM

THURMOND for the service he gave to his country. I wanted

to add my voice to the many others in this Chamber who

wish to remember the memory of this remarkable American.

Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I would like to proceed in

morning business to briefly discuss two totally different subjects, if I may.

I rise initially to acknowledge the passing of a good friend

of mine. People may find it strange to hear the Senator from

Delaware say that, because they are used to so much hyperbole from all of us in the Senate, in Congress, and many in

public office. They find it difficult to believe that people with

disparately different views, as STROM THURMOND and I had,

were good friends.

I received a call not too many weeks ago from Nancy,

STROM THURMOND’s wife, telling me she had just spoken to

the Senator. To use Nancy’s phrase, she said that STROM

‘‘was now on God’s time, Joe.’’ I wondered for a moment

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about exactly what she meant. She went on to say that he

doesn’t have much time left, his body is shutting down.

She said he made a request which both flattered me greatly and saddened me significantly. She said he asked her to

ask me whether or not I would deliver a eulogy for him at

his burial, which is going to take place on Tuesday next—

this coming Tuesday.

It might come as a surprise to a lot of people that on Tuesday, somewhere approaching 4 or 5 o’clock, people—including

representatives from STROM’s family—will stand up to speak

of him and that I will be among them. I am a guy who as

a kid was energized, angered, emboldened, and outraged all

at the same time by the treatment of African Americans in

my State—a border State—and throughout the South. When

I was not much older than the young pages who are now sitting down there I literally ran for public office and got involved in public office and politics because I thought I would

have the ability to play a little tiny part in ending the awful

treatment of African Americans. I will stand up to speak

about STROM THURMOND.

In the 1950s I was a child in grade school, and in the late

1950s and into the 1960s I was in high school. As hard as

it is to believe now, that was an era where, when you turned

on your television, you were as likely to see ‘‘Bull’’ Conner

and his German Shepherd dogs attacking black women

marching after church on Sunday to protest their circumstance, or George Wallace standing in a doorway of a

university, or Orville Faubus.

This all started to seep into my consciousness when I was

in grade school, as it did, I suspect, for everyone in my generation. It animated my interest, as I said, and my anger. I

was not merely intellectually repelled by what was going on

in the South particularly at the time, I was, as is probably

a legitimate criticism of me, angry about it and outraged

about it.

The idea that I would come to the Senate at age 29—to be

precise, I got elected at age 29; by the time I got sworn in,

I turned 30—and 2 years later to be serving on a committee

with J. STROM THURMOND, him the most senior Republican

and me the most junior not only Democrat but junior member of the committee. Over the next 28 years he and I would

become friends. He and I would, in some instances, have an

intimate relationship.

The idea that my daughter, who is now a 22-year-old

grown woman, would, to this day, in her bedroom, have one

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picture sitting on her dresser of all the pictures she has since

she was a child. From the moment she was born—her father

was a Senator and her entire life I have been a Senator—

she has had the privilege of being able to meet Senators and

Presidents and kings and queens. She has one picture sitting

on her bureau. It startled me when I realized it the other

night. She does not live at home. She, like all young people,

is on her own. It is a picture of her and STROM THURMOND,

taken when she was 9 years old, sitting on her desk.

If you had told me—first off, if you had told me when I

was 20 years old I was going to have a child, that would

have been hard to believe. But if you told me when I was 29

years old—when I did have two children—that one of my

children, as I approached the Senate roughly 30 years later,

would have a childhood picture of her or him in STROM

THURMOND’s office, standing next to his desk with his arm

around her, and it was kept on her bureau, I would have

said, ‘‘You have insulted me. Don’t do that.’’

The only point I want to make today, as I do not intend

at this moment to attempt to eulogize STROM, is that I think

one of the incredible aspects of our democracy—even more

precisely, our government, our governmental system—that is

lost today on so many is it has built into it the mechanisms

that allow you not only to see the worst in what you abhor

and fight it but see the best in people with whom you have

very profound philosophic disagreement.

There is an old expression: Politics makes strange bedfellows. That is read today by most young people, or anyone

who hears it, as meaning what it maybe initially meant: that

they are strange bedfellows because people need things from

each other, and they compromise. So you end up being

aligned with someone with whom you disagree, out of selfinterest.

But the majesty of this place in which I stand—this Senate, the floor of this place, the floor of the Senate at this moment—is it has another impact on people I do not think

many historians have written very well about, and I think

it is almost hard to understand, even harder to articulate;

and that is, it produces relationships that are a consequence

of you looking at the best in your opponent, the best in the

people with whom you serve, the best about their nature.

I remember, as a young Senator—I guess I was 31—wandering on the floor one day. New Senators will not like what

I am about to say, but when you are a newer Senator, you

have less hectic Senate responsibilities than you do when

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[ 19 ]

you are a more senior Senator. You are no less important.

But being chairman of a committee gives you the honor of

turning your lights on and turning them off, meaning you

are the first and last there. When you are not a senior Member, you are not required to do that as much.

So I was wandering literally onto the floor, like my friend

from Montana just has, and there was a debate going on.

(Mr. BURNS assumed the chair.)

Mr. BIDEN. One of my colleagues, who also became a

friend, was railing against something I felt very strongly

about. And at the time, because of the circumstance in which

I got here, I was meeting regularly, once a week, with one

of the finest men I ever knew, the then-majority leader Senator Mike Mansfield.

When I got here, between the date I got elected and the

date I arrived, my wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident and I was not crazy about being here. Senator Mansfield, being the great man he was, took on the role

of sort of a Dutch uncle. He would tell me what my responsibility was and why I should stay in the Senate.

And then, without my knowing it, really, at the time—

looking back, it is crystal clear—he would ask me to come

and meet with him in his office once a week and talk about

what I was doing. But he acted sort of like he was the principal and I was the young teacher, and I was coming to tell

him how my classes were going. But, really, it was just to

take my pulse and see how I was doing.

Anyway, I walked on the floor one day, and a particular

friend of mine, Jesse Helms—he has become a close friend,

God love him. He is in North Carolina now in retirement—

he was going on about something I had a very serious disagreement with.

I walked into Senator Mansfield’s office—which was out

that door—and I sat down with him. He said, ‘‘How is it

going?’’ And I began to rail about how could this Senator say

such and such a thing? It had to do with the Americans with

Disabilities Act or what was being discussed then. And Senator Mansfield, in his way, just let me go on, and then he

said, ‘‘Joe—I will not bore you with the whole story. This relates to STROM.’’ He said, ‘‘Joe, you should understand one

thing.’’ And he told me the story about Harry Truman.

When Harry Truman first got to the Senate—I will paraphrase this—he wrote back to his wife Bess and said, ‘‘I can’t

believe I am here. I can’t believe how I got here with all

these great men.’’

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Apparently, not long thereafter, he wrote back to Bess and

said he couldn’t understand how all these other guys got

here.

Well, he told me that story. And he said, ‘‘Let me tell you,

every single solitary man and woman with whom you will

serve in the Senate has something very special that their

constituency sees in them. And your job is to look for that.’’

I can’t imagine anybody saying that today, can you? I can’t

imagine, in this raw political environment we are in, somebody having the insight Mike Mansfield had and telling a novitiate, if you will, a new, young Senator, that part of my job

was to look for that thing in my colleague, a colleague with

whom I have a bitter disagreement, to look for that thing in

him that his constituency recognized which was special and

sent him here.

Maybe subconsciously, because of that, I became one of

STROM THURMOND’s close friends and, as his AA will tell you,

one of his protectors, especially as he got older. Mike Mansfield was right. I never called Mike Mansfield ‘‘Mike.’’ I am

standing here as a senior Senator saying Mike Mansfield. I

never called him Mike until the day he died. I called him Mr.

Leader. And STROM THURMOND had a very special piece of

him that his constituents saw that had nothing to do with

the most celebrated aspects of his career.

The most celebrated aspects of his career were the ones I

abhor the most: The filibuster to fight civil rights and to

keep black Americans in the shadow of white Americans or

signing the Southern Manifesto.

It is funny—I say to my friend from Montana—I actually

got tied up with a lot of Southerners.

Senator John Stennis became my friend. I had his office.

I have the table he presented to me in the conference room

that had been Richard Russell’s, upon which—I am told—the

Southern Manifesto was signed. I might note parenthetically,

if you all know John Stennis, he talked at you like this all

the time. He would hold his hand like this. When I was looking through his office, when he was leaving, to see whether

I could take his office because of my seniority, he reminded

me of the first time I came by his office as a young Senator

to pay my respects, which was a tradition then. And I sat

down at that conference table which he used as his office

desk.

He patted the leather chair next to me. After congratulating me he said, ‘‘Sit down. What made you run for the Senate?’’

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And like a darn fool I told him the exact truth. I said,

‘‘civil rights, sir.’’

As soon as I said it, I could feel the beads of sweat pop

out on my head, my underarms get damp. Why am I telling

this old segregationist that the reason was civil rights? That

is not a very auspicious way to start off a relationship.

He looked at me and said, ‘‘Good.’’

That was the end of the conversation.

Over the intervening years, we served 18 years. We shared

a hospital room in Walter Reed for 3 months. He was in

there, and I was. He became supportive of me in my effort

to run for President back in the 1980s. We became good

friends. But 18 years later, when I came back to look at his

office to see whether or not I would take his office because

it was a more commodious space, I walked into the office. It

was during that interregnum period after the Presidential

election. President Bush was about to take office. There had

been this transition.

Anyway, I said to his secretary of many years—I am embarrassed, I can’t remember her first name. I think it may

have been Mildred. He was in the Senate 42 years, maybe

43—‘‘Is the chairman in?’’

She said, ‘‘Senator, you can go right into his office.’’

I walked in. He was sitting in the same spot he was 18

years earlier. Only this time in a wheelchair with an amputated leg was John Stennis. I said, ‘‘Mr. Chairman, I apologize.’’

He said, ‘‘Come in, sit down.’’ He patted the chair. I sat

down. He startled me. He said, ‘‘You all remember the first

time you came to see me, Joe?’’

I had not. And he reminded me. I looked at him and he

recited the story. And I said, ‘‘I was a pretty smart fellow,

wasn’t I, Mr. Chairman?’’

And he said, ‘‘I wanted to tell you something then and I

am going to tell you now.’’ He said, ‘‘You are going to take

my office, aren’t you?’’

I said, ‘‘Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman.’’

He caressed that table—it was a big mahogany table about

half the size of the table in the Cabinet Room—as if it was

an animate object. He said, ‘‘Do you see this table, Joe?’’

I said, ‘‘Yes, Mr. Chairman.’’

He said, ‘‘This table was the flagship of the Confederacy

from 1954 to 1968.’’ He said, ‘‘Senator Russell would have us

every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday—I forget what day—

and we would have lunch here. Everybody had a drawer.’’

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[ 22 ]

And he opened one of the drawers. He said, ‘‘We planned the

demise of the civil rights movement at this table.’’ He said,

‘‘It is time now that this table go from a man against civil

rights to a man for civil rights.’’ I give you my word on that.

I was moved by that. I looked at him, and he said, ‘‘One

more thing, Joe, before you leave.’’ He said, ‘‘The civil rights

movement did more to free the white man than it did the

black man.’’

And I said, ‘‘How is that, Mr. Chairman?’’

None of you here are old enough to remember him, but

again the way he talked, he went like this, he said, ‘‘It freed

my soul.’’

The point I want to make that I am grappling with here

is the men and women who serve here, and STROM THURMOND in particular, actually change. They actually grow.

They actually, because of the diverse views that are here and

the different geography represented, if you are here long

enough, it rubs against you. It sort of polishes you. Not in

the way of polish meaning smooth, but polishes you in the

sense of taking off the edges and understanding the other

man’s perspective.

I believe STROM THURMOND was a captive of his era, his

age, and his geography.

I do not believe STROM THURMOND at his core was racist.

But even if he had been, I believe that he changed, and the

news media says he changed, they think, out of pure opportunism. I believe he changed because the times changed, life

changed. He worked with, he saw, he had relationships with

people who educated him, as well as I have been educated.

Hubert Humphrey wrote a book—and I had the great

honor of serving with him—called ‘‘The Education of a Public

Man.’’ I watched STROM THURMOND as the percentage of his

staff increased in terms of black representation. He and I

were chairmen, or cochairmen, of the Judiciary Committee

for almost two decades—16 years I believe. I watched him.

He would lean over to me in the middle of a hearing because

we had a genuine trust and say, ‘‘Joe, what did they mean

by that?’’

I will never forget we were holding a hearing on a Supreme Court Justice, and at the end the last group of witnesses we had—we had six witnesses—included a young

man representing the Gay and Lesbian Task Force. He was

chairing and I was the only one with him because the hearing was already finished and these were people coming to

register opposition or support. They ranged from all kinds of

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[ 23 ]

groups that were before us—extremely conservative ones and

liberal ones—to give everybody their say. Everybody on the

committee knew it was basically over. Because of being the

ranking Democrat or ranking Republican or the chairman,

you have to be there.

I will never forget sitting next to him and he leaned over

and said, ‘‘What is he saying?’’ This young man was explaining the point of view of why, in fact, to be gay was not to

be in any way maladjusted. But STROM came from an era

and a time that was different, so he looked at the young man

and he said, ‘‘Have you received psychiatric help, son?’’

Now, everybody in that room who was under the age of 40

laughed and thought he was being a wise guy. He was serious.

He leaned over to me and he said, ‘‘Joe, why do they call

it ‘gay’ ’’?

He wasn’t being snide. He literally, at 91 years old, didn’t

understand that. I guess it must not have been Rehnquist.

It must have been someone later. He did not understand. Remember, this man was over 100 years old. He came from the

Deep South. People from the far North don’t understand either. But he came from an environment that was so different. But in this place, over time, he had the ability, without even knowing it, to apply Mike Mansfield’s standard,

which was to look at the other guy or woman and try to figure out what is the good thing about them that caused their

people to send them here, with all their warts, foibles and

faults.

I deem it a privilege to have become his friend. We were

equals in the sense that our vote counted the same. Our influence on some issues was the same. But I am 60 and he

was 100. There was always a 40-year chasm between us. I

could say things to STROM and be irreverent with him. I

could grab him by the arm and say, ‘‘STROM, don’t’’—which

I would not have been able to do if there had been a 10-year

difference. I was like the kid. It is strange—I find it strange

even talking about it—how this relationship that started in

stark adversarial confrontation ended up being as close as it

was, causing STROM THURMOND to ask his wife whether I

would deliver a eulogy for him. I don’t fully understand it,

but I do know it is something about this place, these walls,

this Chamber, and something good about America, something good about our system, and it is something that is

sorely needed—to look in the eyes of your adversary within

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our system and look for the good in him, and not just the

part that you find disagreeable or, in some cases, abhorrent.

I will end on a more humorous note. I had the privilege

of being asked to be one of the four people to speak at his

90th birthday party. The other people were George Mitchell,

then majority leader, a fine man; Bob Dole; and Richard

Milhouse Nixon. It was before a crowd of a thousand or more

people, black tie, here in Washington. It was quite an event.

It kind of shocked everybody that I was asked to be one of

the speakers. It shocked me to be seen with Richard

Milhouse Nixon, even though he was President when I arrived here.

I did some research about STROM to find out about his

background before I did this tribute on his 90th birthday—

a combination tribute and roast. You know what I found? I

found a lead editorial—I don’t have it now—from the year

1947 or 1948 from the New York Times, and the title, if

memory serves me correct, is something like ‘‘The Hope of

the South.’’ It was about STROM THURMOND. The New York

Times, the liberal New York Times, in the late forties—it

must have been 1947—wrote about this guy, STROM THURMOND, a public official in South Carolina, who got himself in

trouble and lost a primary because he was too empathetic to

African Americans. When he was a presiding judge, he started an effort statewide in South Carolina to get better textbooks and materials into black schools, and he tutored young

blacks and set up an organization to tutor and teach young

blacks how to read. I think it was in 1946 or 1947. The essence of the editorial was that this is ‘‘the hope of the

South.’’ In the meantime, he got beat by a sitting Senator for

being ‘‘weak on race.’’

I think STROM THURMOND learned the wrong political lesson from that and decided no one would ever get to the right

of him on this issue again. But I also was sitting next to him

when he voted for the extension of the Voting Rights Act.

The only point I want to make is, people change, people

grow, and people react to crises in different ways. I choose

to remember STROM THURMOND in his last 15 years as Senator rather than choose to remember him when he started

his career.

I do not choose that just as a matter of convenience. I

choose that because I believe men and women can grow. I

believe John Stennis meant it when he said the civil rights

movement saved his soul. I believe STROM THURMOND meant

it when he hired so many African Americans, signed on to

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[ 25 ]

the extension of the Voting Rights Act, and voted for the

Martin Luther King holiday.

I choose to believe that he meant it because I find it hard

to believe that in the so many decent, generous, and personal

acts that he did for me that it did not come from a man who

is basically a decent, good man, and the latter part of his career reflects that.

I choose it not just because I am an optimist. I choose it

not just because I want to believe it. I choose it not just because I believe there is a chemistry that happens in this

body. I choose it because I believe basically in the goodness

of human nature and it will win out, and I think it did in

STROM.

I will have more to say—or less to say but hopefully more

succinctly and in a more articulate way—at his funeral.

I close by saying to Nancy, Strom, Jr., and all of his children, how much I cared about their father, how much, in a

strange way, he taught me, and how much I hope he learned

from those of us who disagreed so much with his policy on

race. The human side of this can never be lost. They lost the

blood of their blood, bone of their bone. It was a tough time.

But I am flattered that he asked me, and I just hope that

I and others are worthy of his memory when we speak of

him on Tuesday.

SENATOR STROM THURMOND

Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I take a moment to send

my thoughts and prayers to the family of Senator STROM

THURMOND of South Carolina, a man of a remarkable career

who made his mark in the permanent history books of the

Senate and the country. I know he will be remembered at

the funeral next week that many colleagues will be attending. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family at what

I am sure is a difficult time as they face this loss.

THE HONORABLE J. STROM THURMOND, FORMER U.S. SENATOR

AND PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE EMERITUS FROM THE STATE OF

SOUTH CAROLINA

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent

that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S.

Res. 191, which is at the desk, and I ask that the resolution

be read.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution.

The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

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A resolution (S. Res. 191) relative to the death of the Honorable J. STROM

THURMOND, former United States Senator and President Pro Tempore

Emeritus from the State of South Carolina.

S. RES. 191

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND conducted his life in an exemplary manner, an example to all of his fellow citizens;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND was a devoted husband, father, and most recently, grandfather;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND gave a great measure of his

life to public service;

Whereas, having abandoned the safety of high position, the Honorable J.

STROM THURMOND served his country during World War II, fighting the

greatest threat the world had thus far seen;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND served South Carolina in

the United States Senate with devotion and distinction;

Whereas his service on behalf of South Carolina and all Americans earned

him the esteem and high regard of his colleagues; and

Whereas his death has deprived his State and Nation of a most outstanding Senator: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND,

former Senator and President Pro Tempore Emeritus from the State of

South Carolina.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions

to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the

family of the deceased.

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a

further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider

the resolution.

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, this resolution has been

submitted by myself and on behalf of Senator Daschle, Senator Graham, and Senator Hollings in honor of the Honorable and great J. STROM THURMOND.

Last night shortly after 9:45, we were notified of the death

of STROM THURMOND. At that time, I pointed out that it was

a century ago—a long time ago—when Mark Twain was

alive and Teddy Roosevelt was still President, J. STROM

THURMOND was born in Edgefield, SC, and thus began a life

of public service unmatched in the modern history of America.

STROM THURMOND served as U.S. Senator from December

1954, 2 years after I was born, until January of this year,

nearly a half century of service in this body—this body we

have the honor of participating in on a daily basis.

Though his period of service is a remarkable accomplishment in and of itself, STROM led a remarkable life even beVerDate 19-JUN-2001 15:28 Oct 20, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 D:\DOCS\STROM2\89048.TXT CRS1 PsN: CRS1
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fore coming to the Senate. Late last night and over the

course of the morning, if one turned on a television set, they

would hear anecdotes, stories about this great man, and

those pre-Senate years when he was a teacher, an athletic

coach, and a superintendent of education.

He studied law under his father, Judge J. William Thurmond, and became a city attorney, county attorney, State

senator, and eventually circuit court judge. He resigned his

position as a circuit court judge to volunteer to fight in

World War II. This he did at the age of 39, 18 years after

serving as an Army reservist and having earned a commission as a second lieutenant.

Indeed, as we all know, age never was an obstacle for

STROM THURMOND. As a member of the 82d Airborne, STROM

landed in a glider at Normandy on D-day and helped secure

the foothold for the Allies to liberate the European continent.

For his distinguished service, STROM was awarded 5 battle

stars and 18 other decorations, including the Legion of Merit

with oakleaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star for

valor, the Belgian Order of the Crown, and the French Cross

of War. No wonder when a speechwriter once used the word

‘‘afraid,’’ STROM THURMOND handed the text back with the

retort: I’ve never been afraid of anything.

After the war, STROM returned home to South Carolina.

He was elected Governor in 1946 and then ran for President

of the United States as the States rights Democratic candidate. STROM won 4 States and 39 electoral votes, and that

tally stands as the third largest independent electoral vote

in U.S. history.

Though he did not win the Presidency, STROM was determined to serve in Washington. He ran for the Senate in 1954

and became the only candidate elected to Congress by a

write-in vote in American history, and he was re-elected

eight more times.

In the most recent years, it became increasingly difficult

for STROM to go back and forth to South Carolina, but that

did not stop the people of South Carolina from coming to

him, and it should not have. For decades, STROM attended

every county fair, handled every constituent request, and

sent a congratulatory note to every high school graduate,

many of whom came to intern in his office. It has been said

that almost 70 percent of South Carolinians have met STROM

THURMOND face to face.

Over the course of his long and distinguished career,

STROM THURMOND was a witness to history. As a young man,

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[ 28 ]

he knew people who stood in the presence of Andrew Jackson. He campaigned for the votes of men who fought in the

Civil War. He and Herbert Hoover won their first elective office in the same year, 1928.

STROM more than saw history, he wrote it. He was the

first major southern Democrat to switch to the Republican

Party. He served for more than 17 years as President pro

tempore of the Senate. As chairman of the Armed Services

Committee, he ensured that our men and women of the

Armed Forces had the best training, the best equipment, and

the best leadership in the world.

As we all know, STROM did set the record for the oldest

and longest serving Senator. He served with about one-fifth

of the nearly 2,000 men and women who have been Members

of the Senate since 1789. He was nearly half the age of the

U.S. Constitution. STROM certainly faced his trials. As the

Dixiecrat candidate for President in 1948, he campaigned on

a platform of States rights, but in doing so he also opposed

civil rights, as he did for many years as a Senator.

History will reflect that part of STROM’s life. We will let

history also reflect that when STROM saw that America had

changed, and changed for the better, he changed, too.

A longtime friend of Senator THURMOND, Hortense Woodson, once said of him: ‘‘Everything he’s done has been done

to the full. There’s no halfway doings about STROM.’’

Indeed, STROM THURMOND will forever be a symbol of what

one person can accomplish when they live life to the fullest.

God bless our friend and our colleague from South Carolina,

Senator STROM THURMOND.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South

Carolina.

Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Madam President, I compliment our majority leader for his statement. It was very eloquent and it means a lot to Senator THURMOND’s family.

I know personally that Senator THURMOND had a great

fondness for Senator Frist. He told me he is a very smart

man and he is a good doctor, too. If you ever need him, look

him up.

I rise today in support of this resolution on behalf of myself and Senator Hollings. I appreciate the majority leader

and Senator Daschle allowing this to occur. It is offered in

the spirit of STROM THURMOND’s life. Something can be said

about STROM THURMOND in the Senate very easily. He loved

the Senate and the Senate loved him. His colleagues who

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[ 29 ]

have served with him so long all have personal stories of fun,

good times, tough fights. He was a valuable ally and a worthy opponent, and the Senate has lost its longest serving

Member. Many of us have lost a very dear friend. That goes

for the Senate family, the people who help us with the doors,

the clerks, and the reporters of debates. Everyone enjoyed

and appreciated Senator THURMOND.

It is important to comment on Senator THURMOND, the

man. His children have lost their father. Whether one is 100

or 200, it is always difficult, no matter how long one lives,

to give up their father and mother.

I have talked to two of his three children today, and I have

expressed my condolences. They are doing very well but they

are sad because they have lost their daddy. I have talked

with his wife. We reminisced about their life together, the

raising of their children, and the experiences they have had.

So my prayers, along with the prayers of everyone in the

Senate, go to the family. He was a good family man. If a

script was written in Hollywood about his life, it would not

have ended any better in this regard.

He became a first-time grandfather at the age of 100 last

week. He has three children under 30. He had his first child

when he was 68. He was just a phenomenal person. He has

done things that most of us could not dream of doing in

many ways.

I am convinced that two things drove him in his final

years: That he wanted to finish out his term because he is

not a quitter, and when he was elected to serve his last 6-

year term he meant to serve it out. He helped me to become

his successor, and I will be forever grateful. He also wanted

to see his grandchild born, and God allowed him to do that.

He was presented his grandson last week. They tell me it

was a very magic and touching moment. A week later, he

passed on.

He has suffered personal tragedy, lost a daughter in an accident. He has experienced much good and bad in his life. He

has touched so many people. It is a loss to the Senate. It is

a loss to his family. It is a loss to his staff.

Duke Short, who served with Senator THURMOND in Washington for so many years, was a very loyal and capable staff

director. I know that Duke and his family feel the loss.

Dr. Abernathy in South Carolina has been with STROM

THURMOND since the 1940s when he worked with him as

Governor. Dr. Abernathy is a legend in his own right.

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There are so many people who have worked for Senator

THURMOND throughout the years, and I know they feel this

loss. Senator THURMOND has had enough interns to probably

fill up a football stadium. His first group of interns is now

on Social Security.

He was elected in 1954. I was born in 1955. All I have

known in my life is Senator THURMOND, and for 36 years

Senator THURMOND and Senator Hollings served together.

Both of them are distinctive gentlemen, bigger than life. A

lot of us who have associated with Senator THURMOND feel

his loss.

South Carolina has lost her favorite son. Much has been

said and will be said of Senator THURMOND’s legacy. The majority leader, Senator Frist, went over his life very well, and

it is just an amazing story to tell: Being a superintendent of

education in the 1920s; getting elected for the first time in

1928; being a judge in South Carolina at the start of World

War II; deciding to give up that job which would have exempted him from service, being in his early forties; joined

the 82d Airborne, landing in a glider. The pilot of the glider

was killed when it landed. His men were wounded. He led

them out and secured the objective.

When the war in Europe was over, he volunteered to go to

Japan and he fought until they quit. He was just an unbelievable person who embraced life.

People ask me, ‘‘How did he make it so long?’’ He just had

a passion. He had a passion for everything he did—his family, his constituents. His legacy in South Carolina is quite

simple for every South Carolinian—black, white, rich, poor,

no matter whether you are from upstate, downstate or middle of the State—I am sure every State has different regions

and different dialects but the one thing we had in common:

If we had a problem, we knew whom to call. We knew to pick

up the phone and call Senator THURMOND because if he

could help you, he would.

The average, everyday South Carolinian, from the company owner to the janitor, believed that Senator THURMOND

was on their side. And when they called, they received a call

back. When they wrote a letter, they received a letter back.

The reason I know that is people tell me everywhere I go.

One guy told me Senator THURMOND used to cut his grass.

These stories abound. Some of them have been embellished,

I am sure, but the only way that he could have lasted this

long in politics, doing as many things as he has done, taking

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[ 31 ]

on the issues that he has taken on, is that at the end of the

day people saw that he had a servant’s heart.

Part of his legacy is the 1948 campaign, and it needs to

be mentioned. Senator Frist mentioned it. That was a tough

time in our country. He ran as a States rights candidate

with a lot of passion for the limited role of the Federal Government. He won on the platform that divided the races.

That was a dark time in South Carolina. That was a dark

time in our Nation.

Senator THURMOND made a choice later in life. He could

have done almost anything he wanted. But as the 1950s

came to a close and the 1960s came about and people started

insisting their Government treat them better, Senator THURMOND made a choice. Instead of hanging on to the rhetoric

of the past and the politics of the past, he embraced the future.

Here is what he does not get much credit for. Instead of

going with the flow, which some people want to ascribe to

him, he in a subtle way led a change. He could have been

a barrier to change, but he made it easy for people in South

Carolina, politicians on the Democratic and Republican

sides, to embrace change because when STROM came out for

something, it made it easier for you to come out for something because it gave you cover. When STROM THURMOND appointed the first African American judge in the history of

South Carolina to the Federal bench, it made it easier for

the people in the statehouse to give appointments to African

Americans. That is what we do not need to lose.

When he embraced traditional black colleges and started

giving them the same recognition and funding as every other

university in South Carolina, it made it easier for the legislature to improve the quality of life for everybody. At the end

of his life, in 2001, he was awarded lifetime recognition from

the Urban League in South Carolina, that is designed to

build racial harmony, for his lifetime of service to traditionally African American colleges.

That needs to be mentioned as much as the 1948 campaign. He will be held accountable in history for that part of

his life. History should know that in many subtle ways, in

many bold ways, he allowed my State to move forward, and

everybody in my State is better off for it.

From a personal point, when I was in the House, I was the

first Republican to be elected from my Third Congressional

District in 120 years. One reason I was able to win when everybody behind me was beaten for 120 years was Senator

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[ 32 ]

THURMOND, for the first time in his political career, embraced a campaign very directly—because he had been smart

enough not to get involved in political races and try to represent everybody. He took to me, and I am the beneficiary

of that. He said, ‘‘I will come and campaign for you,

Lindsey.’’ I said, ‘‘Great.’’ And I turned to my staff and said,

‘‘What do you do with a 92-year-old man?’’ I was worried we

would wear him out and we could not utilize his services. I

was worried about him at age 92. Three days he campaigned

for me. When he left, I said, ‘‘Thank God he is gone.’’ He

wore me out.

He had a passion I had never seen. I picked him up at the

airport on day 1, in an airplane flown by his personal pilot

who was 75 years old, a single engine plane. We went to a

parade in September. It is hot in South Carolina in September. We went from one end of town to the other shaking

hands. We went to the funeral home because he remembered

the guy who owned the funeral home always gave him apples. He walked in unannounced because the Senator wanted

apples, and he got the apples. He campaigned all day. We

had a fundraiser that night. We went to a football game that

night. He made a speech at half time. We went to a rodeo

that started at 9 o’clock at night, and he got up in the middle

of the ring on a barrel and gave a speech. He wanted to see

the third shift change at the textile plant. I said, ‘‘I am too

tired,’’ and I went home. That went on for 3 days.

When he left, I asked him to sign a fundraising letter for

me. We were all worn out. He looked at the letter and he

said, ‘‘You misspelled your own name and you are in the

Third District, not the Second District.’’

At 92 years of age, he had a passion and he helped me.

I stand appreciative. When I ran for the Senate, he endorsed

me in a primary. I can tell you, I would not be his successor

if he had not come out and said, ‘‘Lindsey Graham is the

right guy to follow me.’’ That will stick with me forever.

What have I learned from Senator THURMOND? If you are

willing to change, you can serve your State and Nation well.

If you care about people, they will take care of you. Let it

be said that God gave to this Nation, my State, South Carolina, a public servant, a man of great character and heart,

and that we miss him, but we thank God that he gave us

J. STROM THURMOND.

I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.

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Mr. BENNETT. Madam President, I enjoyed hearing my

colleague from South Carolina tell his stories about STROM

THURMOND. I rise to join the tribute to the memory of STROM

THURMOND that is, very appropriately, the day after his

death.

Most of the time when someone dies, we gather in great

sorrow and we mourn his passing and we think about what

might have been. In STROM’s case, there is no reason to

think about what might have been. He did it all. There was

nothing left undone. There was nothing left to accomplish.

This should not be a time of mourning or sorrow but a

time of celebration. So I rise to celebrate the life of STROM

THURMOND. The best way to do that, I think, is to tell STROM

THURMOND stories. All of us are full of STROM THURMOND

stories.

I remember D-day, when the big celebration occurred on

the anniversary of D-day and STROM THURMOND was not

there. Arlen Specter, who was there, greeted him in the Senate and said, ‘‘STROM, it was a marvelous, marvelous celebration, and you should have been there.’’ And his response was,

‘‘I was there when it counted.’’ It put us in our place.

My father had the experience of working with STROM

THURMOND. My father was elected in 1950, and, as has been

noted, STROM THURMOND was elected in 1954. They became

instant friends, not just political friends. There were occasions when they disagreed politically, but they became personal friends.

When STROM married, my mother—old enough to be

STROM’s wife’s mother—kind of took Nancy under her wing

and they became friends. The THURMONDs and the Bennetts

remained close for a long, long time, to the point when my

children started getting married, my parents said, ‘‘You have

to send STROM THURMOND an announcement.’’ And we did

and thought we had taken care of our social obligation. Then

we get a phone call from STROM THURMOND’s office, ‘‘We got

this announcement, and we don’t mean to be prying, but who

are you?’’ ‘‘Well, we are the children of Wallace Bennett.’’

There was a pause. Then the person on the end of the line

asked, ‘‘And who’s Wallace Bennett?’’

But STROM knew who Wallace Bennett was, and when I

came to the Senate, STROM greeted me very warmly and

called me Wallace. It took a little while for him to figure out

that I was not my father. And that was a compliment to me

because I was very proud of my father and the service he

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[ 34 ]

performed in the Senate, and I took the opportunity to touch

base with STROM.

From that, I thought: This man in his nineties is not all

that sharp. He confuses me. He does not have all of this as

straight as he might. Then I had a couple of experiences that

set me straight. We had an issue with the State of Utah that

was all wrapped up in the Armed Services Committee. It

was quite a complicated issue. Someone said to me, ‘‘Explain

that to John Warner because John Warner is second ranking

to STROM and is handling all of the detailed kind of things.

You go talk to John Warner.’’ He said, ‘‘You will be talking

to somebody who I know can handle the problem.’’

So I went to Senator Warner and I started outlining the

details of this situation to him. He cut me off. He said, ‘‘You

are going to have to talk to the chairman.’’

I, having had this image of this old man, thought, I don’t

really want to have to talk to the chairman. And, as delicately as I could, I said to John, ‘‘Can’t we work this through

and kind of handle it?’’ He said, ‘‘No.’’ He said, ‘‘That is a serious enough issue, I don’t dare handle that. You are going

to have to talk to the chairman.’’

Just then, Senator THURMOND walked through the doors.

So, gathering up my courage as a freshman Senator, I

walked over to him and said, ‘‘Senator THURMOND, I would

like to visit with you about—’’ and I no sooner got the title

of the issue out of my mouth, than he said, ‘‘It’s all taken

care of.’’ And he kept walking. I followed him along, sure

that he had not understood what I was talking about. This

was a complicated kind of issue, and he had oversimplified

it and assumed that it had been taken care of.

So I started to intrude again with some of the details. He

was very respectful and wasn’t patronizing. But he said, ‘‘I

know; I understand; all taken care of.’’

Well, thus dismissed, I went back to my staff and said, ‘‘I

think we have a problem here. Senator Warner won’t handle

it, and he insists that Senator THURMOND has to handle it,

and Senator THURMOND just said it has all been taken care

of.’’

We contacted the Armed Services Committee staff, and

they said, ‘‘Oh, yes, that has all been dealt with. Senator

THURMOND stepped in, he understood the issue, he made his

decisions, he took care of it, and it is all taken care of.’’

So I decided, well, I had better not underestimate this man

in spite of his age.

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Then I had the experience while I was on the campaign

plane with Senator Dole in the 1996 election when we were

flying around the eastern States on the day of the South

Carolina primaries. The word came in that Senator Dole was

winning the South Carolina primary. We had some exit polls

that looked pretty good. We decided to change our itinerary

and fly to South Carolina so that Senator Dole could be there

to receive the plaudits and applause and the excitement of

winning the South Carolina primary. So we did. Of course,

this had been a long day. We didn’t leave South Carolina to

come back to Washington on the campaign plane until after

the returns were in and all of the celebrations had been held.

Senator Dole, very appropriately, went up into the front

part of the plane to take a nap as we were flying back. Senator THURMOND had hitched a ride back to Washington on

the campaign plane. That left Senator THURMOND and me

and one or two others sitting around the table just behind

the front part of the plane chatting.

It was now midnight, way past my bedtime, and here we

were having political discussions on a campaign plane in the

middle of the Presidential campaign—the kind of thing that

political junkies like me love to do. It was a great discussion.

But the interesting thing about it was that STROM THURMOND not only understood the discussion and participated in

the discussion, but he led the discussion. He was instructing

us about political lore. He was telling tales out of his past,

which is what old people often do. But he was also analyzing

things for the future and had a firm hand on everything. I

thought I was talking to a man at least 20 and maybe 30

years younger than his chronological age. I understood: OK,

this man still has all of his faculties, mental as well as physical.

We landed at Dulles Airport well after 1 o’clock in the

morning. Everybody was dragging except STROM, who strode

off to his car in fine style. I remember what he said on that

occasion about how you live a long time. He said you eat

right, you exercise regularly, and you keep a positive outlook. He did all of those things, although I am not quite sure

about the eating right part because there were times when

I caught STROM eating some things that I am not sure a dietician would recommend.

The time came for him to run for re-election. I couldn’t believe at 94 he was going to run for re-election. Ninety-four

is the time you retire. Being a skeptic, I had a hard time believing the people of South Carolina would vote for a 94-

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year-old man. So I sidled up to one of his top staffers as we

were getting ready for that campaign. I said, ‘‘Can STROM

THURMOND really win one more time in South Carolina? Is

this going to be close?’’ He said, ‘‘No, it is not going to be

close at all. STROM is going to win going away.’’

By the way, I remembered when the Republicans had

taken control of the Senate in 1994 and we were having our

discussions about platforms. One of the issues that was

raised by one of the freshman Senators newly elected was

term limits and how we needed to be for term limits. We

were debating back and forth. STROM was sitting there not

talking. Suddenly, he spoke up, and he said, ‘‘I am for term

limits.’’ We all kind of giggled a little. He said, ‘‘But if they

are not enacted, I am going to run again.’’

Here he was running again—94 years old. And I was being

told by his staff that STROM would win overwhelmingly. I

said, ‘‘Look, we all love him. We all love the history. But 94

years old?’’ He said, ‘‘Let me tell you a story.’’

This is my favorite STROM THURMOND story.

He said,

STROM’s AA got a phone call from a woman in South Carolina who said,

‘‘I need the Senator’s help. Here is the situation. My fiance and I got married just before he shipped out in the Navy for a 6-month cruise in the Mediterranean. We knew we would not like the separation, but we decided, for

a variety of reasons, that we should get married now rather than wait until

after he got back. He has just called me and said he has been given leave.

He has 2 weeks of leave right now in the middle of this 6-month tour, except

that he cannot leave the theater in case something should arise that would

require him to be back on the ship within 24 hours. He has to stay in or

around the Mediterranean area where his ship is. So he said, ‘catch an airplane, come over here, we can have a 2-week honeymoon in the Mediterranean and I can still be available for the military situation, if it should

arise.’ ’’

She said, ‘‘I went down to get my passport and I was told it takes 2 weeks

to get a passport. By the time I get a passport to fly over to be with my

husband, his leave will be up and he will have to get back on the ship. Can

the Senator help me get a passport any faster than 2 weeks?’’

‘‘Well,’’ said the staffer, ‘‘I will find out.’’ He called the woman in South

Carolina who was handling passports and introduced himself and said, ‘‘I

am calling on behalf of Senator THURMOND to see what we can do about getting this woman’s passport a little faster.’’ The passport lady said, ‘‘It takes

2 weeks.’’ ‘‘Well, Senator THURMOND would really be grateful.’’ She said, ‘‘I

don’t care what Senator THURMOND wants. It takes 2 weeks. I don’t care

who you are, and I don’t care who he is. Passports take 2 weeks.’’

‘‘Well,’’ he said, ‘‘I have to tell you that under these circumstances, I am

now going to have to call Senator THURMOND. When there is a situation I

can’t handle myself, I have to involve him. Those are my instructions.’’ She

said, ‘‘Call him. Tell him anything you want. He can call me. I don’t care.

Passports take 2 weeks.’’

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So he said, ‘‘Well, I am not threatening you. I am just telling you. I have

to call Senator THURMOND.’’

So he hung up talking to the passport lady, and picked up the phone and

called Senator THURMOND. Now, it seems Senator THURMOND was in Germany, and it was in the middle of the night in Germany, but his instructions were that he was to call Senator THURMOND in any such situation. So

he woke Senator THURMOND up, in the middle of the night in Germany, and

started to explain this situation.

He did not get half way through the explanation I have given here when

Senator THURMOND asked, ‘‘What is her name?’’

He said, ‘‘Well, her name is—’’ and he started to describe the wife of the

marine who was sent out with the Navy.

Senator THURMOND said, ‘‘No, no, not her name, the passport lady’s

name.’’

So he gave Senator THURMOND the passport lady’s name.

Senator THURMOND said, ‘‘Thank you very much’’ and hung up.

Ten minutes later the staffer got a phone call from the passport lady. She

exploded over the phone and said, ‘‘He called George Shultz. The Secretary

of State now knows my name.’’

Senator THURMOND called George Shultz and he said, ‘‘George, you’ve

been a marine. This is their honeymoon. Can’t you get this lady to give the

woman a passport?’’

She got her passport. She got to the Mediterranean. She had her honeymoon.

The staffer said to me, ‘‘Senator, South Carolina is full of stories like that.

South Carolina is full of people like that. STROM THURMOND will win, big

time. No matter how old he is, no matter what his situation, that is the kind

of service STROM THURMOND has rendered as a Senator.’’

One of our colleagues was in the Senate doctor’s office, as

we go in there from time to time, and he noticed STROM coming out of the doctor’s office with a very worried look on his

face. We were all very concerned about STROM and his health

in his later years. So the colleague said to the doctor,

‘‘What’s the matter with STROM?’’

The doctor said, appropriately, ‘‘I cannot discuss the medical condition of one patient with another patient, so I can’t

say anything to you.’’ He continued, ‘‘However, I don’t think

it would be violating medical ethics to tell you that STROM

is a little worried about the fact that he can no longer do

one-arm pushups.’’

This was a man of legend. Eat right, exercise, keep a positive attitude, always be available for your constituents, even

when it is the middle of the night in Germany, and never

worry about who you may call or upset as long as you are

working on behalf of a constituent. This was STROM THURMOND.

We have all kinds of stories. These are my favorite ones.

I offer them as part of the celebration of an extraordinary

life, a life fully lived, of someone about whom we need not

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say: Well, we worry about what might have been. In his

case, there was nothing left over that might have been because he did it all.

I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cornyn). The Senator

from South Carolina.

Mr. GRAHAM of South Carolina. Mr. President, I thank

Senator Bennett from Utah for that remembrance. It was

just exactly what needed to be said. I say to the Senator, I

know he loved you and your father dearly. On behalf of the

people of South Carolina, I thank you very much for what

you just said.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion

to reconsider be laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The resolution (S. Res. 191) was agreed to.

The preamble was agreed to.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to speak about my

friend, Senator STROM THURMOND. I do not have any prepared remarks but I want to speak for a few moments about

Senator STROM THURMOND.

Senator STROM THURMOND spent many, many years sitting

in the seat, for those observing the Senate Chamber, right

next to the seat where the distinguished majority leader is

sitting right now.

I have eight children. Senator THURMOND, as everyone

knows, lived a very long life with his first wife without children. I don’t know if that had anything to do with his huge

interest in asking people such as me how my children were,

and I am not one who is very loathe to tell people about my

children’s successes.

So he used to say to me, and to anyone around, he would

point at me, and say, ‘‘There is the Senator with all the

smart kids.’’ Of course, I was embarrassed, and I would bend

down and say, ‘‘Senator, there are lots of Senators with

smart children.’’

Then he would say, ‘‘Well, you told me about one’’ . . . and

he would explain what I told him. He would ask, ‘‘how is

that one doing?’’

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Well, obviously, those days are gone now. I was privileged,

with my wife Nancy, to go to the wedding of his daughter

here in this town not too many years ago. It was a beautiful

wedding, a big wedding. It was a beautiful daughter and a

beaming father, STROM THURMOND.

He was already past 90, for certain, and how thrilled he

was to walk down the aisle and to be part of the normal

wedding activities.

I note that with all the blessings he has received in his

life, and all the legacy that he leaves, he got one blessing

that he deserved; that is, that wedding and that marriage

yielded his first grandchild. And I just wonder because he

had already left the Senate; he was no longer here; he was

in a hospital, but I just wonder, how happy that day must

have been for him. He had a grandchild at that very old age.

There are Senators, such as from his home State, who

have known him through campaigns and actions and activities that I hear of. I have read of these activities, but I did

not participate in them, so they will do better than I in talking about them. But I am 71. I am very lucky, I feel, in that

I have spent 31 years in the Senate. The only thing I did

prior to that is, 61⁄2 years before I came here, I accepted a

dare from a group of friends to run for an office. I ran and

got elected. And that office was for city council, which put

me in a mayorship of sorts in our biggest city.

So you know, if you write down, at 71, what I have done:

I ran for a nonpartisan office, got elected, served 4 years,

waited 2 years, got elected to the Senate, and came here. But

we all know, if we are going to put down what STROM THURMOND has done as a public servant, all of which clearly is

one’s legacy, it would take me quite a while to discuss it all.

Just his military career would be a rather good speech on

the Senate floor.

The other thing that, to me, is of such rare, rare importance is that when you consider 100 years, and that 80 or

79 of those years he was an adult, you just think of all the

things that have changed during his adulthood. Governance,

governmental changes, cultural changes, philosophical

leanings and tendencies of our great country changing. You

have to conclude that this man, who represented a State that

also changed and had become a great industrial State, and

a great educational State, with fantastic educational institutions, that this great man also learned how to change. He

changed with time, not changing in the sense of giving up

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but rather of gaining more for himself and becoming more

rather than becoming less.

Now, I have known a lot of great Senators, more than

most, because there are only five or six Senators who have

been here longer than I, as of today, maybe five. So I have

known a lot of them. I think it is only fair to say, for his

family, for Nancy, for his children, there really have never

been any Senators like him that I have been privileged to

know.

He was indeed unique. He was so different that you cannot

forget him. First, he was so personal to everyone. He never

forgot. He was always considerate. He spent more time and

effort at little things.

I know nothing about his constituent work. Let those who

know speak. I speak of little things here in the Senate. The

Chair and I both watched during a week at the end of a

day’s work, we watched STROM THURMOND while he was still

around and healthy and walking. We watched what he did.

He went with his staff from one event to another, perhaps

three, four, five events an evening, because he had been invited and because it was somebody who said, ‘‘Would you

come to my party?’’ ‘‘Would you come to my fundraiser?’’

‘‘Would you come to my birthday?’’ ‘‘Would you come and join

me; we have visitors from my State.’’ What it was that made

him that kind of person, who knows? I don’t know. You don’t

know. The Senate doesn’t know. I am not sure his family

knows. But the truth is, we know he did that.

All of these would appear, what I have said so far, to be

things that one might say are not very important. Well, I

stated them because I think they are very important. They

are of utmost importance. I think they are the essence of

who he is and what he is and what he was.

But don’t let anyone think he didn’t do his work. When

you look at the committees he chaired, the events that happened during those years he served as chair, be it on the Judiciary, on Armed Services, or whatever, you have to know

he had a great capacity for work and he did his work and

got it done.

Can you just imagine not having a chance to know him

when he was a judge? What a great judge he would have

been. Can you imagine, not having a chance to know him,

what a good school superintendent he must have been? Can

you imagine not getting to know him, what a good commissioner he must have been at the local level where he governed? For I believe he is what he was. And it is probable

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that he took care to do everything right and he took care to

be concerned and worried about people, as he did his job,

and that he never forgot the people who were good to him

and meant something to his success.

I, for one, am very sorry we will be going to a funeral. But,

I guess it is really only fair to say that he has been very

blessed. After all, we won’t, any of us, ever go to a funeral

for a fellow Senator who has lived 100 years—none of us.

This will be the only one. Because he has been very, very

blessed. The Lord has been kind and decent to him. Those

around him should be very proud. Obviously, his kinfolk are

sad.

I remember at that wedding, while we were celebrating

youth, his daughter was a young lady. I remember meeting

his sister, two sisters I believe. They were alive and there.

I don’t mean to cast any aspersions about the fact they were

alive. They were lively, I assure you. They knew a lot. They

were talking. They were carrying on conversations. STROM

THURMOND was talking with them about us and my wife

Nancy.

They were quick to ask us to sit down, and you could hardly believe that a man almost 100 was there with sisters at

a wedding for a very young daughter of his, who has just

since then had his first grandchild. What a beautiful, beautiful tribute all of this is to STROM THURMOND’s family, to

their heritage, and to those around them and those who love

them.

My wife Nancy and I extend our heartfelt condolences to

Nancy and all of the other kinfolk, to his relatives, and clearly to his daughter and son-in-law who have that young

grandchild of whom he must have been so proud.

I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North

Carolina.

Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, last evening we received the

news of the passing of a dear friend and leader in this

Chamber, STROM THURMOND.

STROM retired this year at the age of 100 after more than

half a century serving the people of South Carolina and our

Nation as a U.S. Senator, as Governor of South Carolina,

and as a State legislator.

Remarkably, his career in the Senate spanned the administrations of 10 Presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to

George W. Bush. His passing last night certainly will be felt

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by so many Members of this Chamber who had grown accustomed to the courtly gentleman from South Carolina. But his

life leaves a lesson for us all—in compassion, respect, civility,

dedication, and hard work.

Before he was elected to the Senate in 1954, as the only

write-in candidate in history to win a seat in Congress,

STROM THURMOND was elected county school superintendent,

State senator, and circuit judge. He resigned his judgeship to

enlist in the Army in World War II. He landed in Normandy

as part of the 82d Airborne assault on D-day and, the story

goes, arrived in France on a glider, crash landing in an apple

orchard. He went on to help liberate Paris, and he received

a Purple Heart, five battle stars, and numerous other awards

for his World War II service.

My husband Bob and I were honored to have known

STROM THURMOND for so many years and to count him

among our very special friends. He and Bob shared a great

deal of common history, dating from their World War II

days. And his southern gallantry always had a way of making this North Carolinian feel right at home.

I first worked with STROM THURMOND when I served as

Deputy Special Assistant to the President at the White

House. STROM was an impressive Senator even then. President Reagan praised his expert handling of nominees to the

U.S. Supreme Court when he was chairman of the Senate

Judiciary Committee.

In fact, it was STROM THURMOND’s skill as chairman that

helped to shepherd through the nomination of Sandra Day

O’Connor as the Nation’s first female on the U.S. Supreme

Court. I had always admired STROM THURMOND for his constant dedication to the people of South Carolina and to the

industries of that State.

Bob Dole has joked that someone once asked if STROM had

been around since the Ten Commandments. Bob said that

couldn’t have been true; if STROM THURMOND had been

around, the 11th commandment would have been ‘‘Thou

shalt support the textile industry.’’

And that industry still needs a lot of help. In fact, when

President Reagan called STROM to wish him a happy 79th

birthday back in 1981, STROM THURMOND, with his constant

attention to South Carolina interests, used the opportunity

to talk to the President about the textile industry.

Indeed, South Carolina is full of stories of how the senior

Senator from South Carolina managed to cut through redtape to make sure that his residents got the things they

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needed. And whenever South Carolinians called, or anyone

else for that matter, STROM THURMOND could always be

counted on to show up—at a Fourth of July parade, a county

festival, or a State fair, armed with his trademark STROM

THURMOND key chains.

North Carolinians developed a fondness for STROM THURMOND. He often flew in to Charlotte before driving to his

Edgeville, SC, home. He became so familiar in the airport

that many of the workers there knew him, and he knew

them, often stopping to share a kind word or a funny story.

I was so honored that just before STROM went home for

good to South Carolina, he came in his wheelchair, with

Nancy’s help, to my little basement office to welcome me to

the Senate.

Bob and I send our heartfelt condolences to STROM’s family: our dear friend, Nancy; and the children, including

daughter Julie, who worked with me at the American Red

Cross; and, of course, the people of South Carolina, for whom

he worked tirelessly throughout his career in public service

and to whom he chose to return when his work was done in

the Senate. He was a loving husband, a proud father, and a

new grandfather.

Today, as I remember him, his life, and his legacy, I think

of the Bible in the 25th chapter of Matthew, when the Lord

said, ‘‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou

into the joy of thy Lord.’’

May God bless him and his family.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, last night with the

passing of our revered colleague, Senator STROM THURMOND,

I indicated I would have a longer recount of his work. The

Nation has lost one of its most distinguished and longest

serving public servants, my State has lost its greatest living

legend, and I would like to add to my comments.

By any measure, Senator THURMOND ranks as a giant of

modern American politics. Few people in recent memory

have had greater influence on the shape and substance of

American politics, and few elected officials have shown themselves more devoted to serving the people of their State and

Nation. There was no more hard-working politician in America than Senator THURMOND. Right up to the day he retired

from the Senate, he remained devoted to his constituents.

Of course, any discussion of Senator THURMOND’s political

and legislative legacy ultimately turns to a discussion of SenVerDate 19-JUN-2001 15:28 Oct 20, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 D:\DOCS\STROM2\89048.TXT CRS1 PsN: CRS1
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ator THURMOND the man. He was one of the most amazing

men anyone in this Chamber has ever met. He was what we

attorneys call ‘‘sui generis.’’ When God made STROM, He

broke the mold for sure. Merely listing all of Senator THURMOND’s ‘‘firsts’’ conveys the prodigious energies and talents of

the man.

In 1929, he began his political career by becoming the

youngest person ever elected superintendent of education in

Edgefield County, SC. He entered statewide politics in 1933,

when he was elected to the State senate. As a South Carolina senator, he was known for his devotion to improving

public education and promoting opportunities for the people

of my State. His concern for the common man motivated

many of his legislative efforts, such as writing the act that

raised workers’ compensation benefits and sponsoring South

Carolina’s first Rural Electrification Act. Although these efforts may seem far removed from our concerns today, they

were crucial to my State at the time.

He left the Senate in 1938 to become Judge THURMOND.

Continuing his lifelong love affair with politics and public

service, he served as a South Carolina circuit judge until the

United States entered the Second World War in 1941. Then

Judge THURMOND took off his robe and volunteered for active

duty. He enlisted despite the fact that, as a 39-year-old circuit judge, he was exempt from military service.

He fought in five battles in 4 years, and on D-day, he rode

a glider into Normandy with the 82d Airborne. For his wartime service, Senator THURMOND was awarded 18 decorations, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal for

valor, and Legion of Merit with oakleaf cluster. He remained

in the Army Reserve after the war and was made major general in 1959.

After the war, he came home and ran for Governor. He

was elected in 1947, and his administration was known for

its progressive policies on education and infrastructure. During his tenure, 60,000 new jobs were created in the private

sector, teacher pay was boosted to unprecedented levels, and

the State Farmers’ Market was begun. These initiatives

helped start South Carolina on the road to a dynamic, modern economy.

In 1948, Governor THURMOND ran for President on the

States rights ticket. In 1954, he became the first person ever

elected to the Senate as a write-in candidate. That election

established him as a force in national politics and a giant in

South Carolina.

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He was re-elected to the Senate eight times, more than

any Senator. When he left in January, he was the oldest and

longest serving Senator in U.S. history. He served as chairman of two powerful committees: Judiciary and Armed Services. In those capacities, he played an important role in keeping our national defense strong and ensuring the quality of

our Federal judiciary.

He took controversial stands on civil rights and other divisive issues, but over time he changed and ended up garnering the support of many of those whom he opposed. He will

go down in history for his devotion to his constituents.

Senator THURMOND also changed the course of politics in

the South. His conversion to the Republican Party in 1964

heralded a new age in party affiliation in the South and led

the way for the region’s transformation from a one-party,

Democratic stronghold.

Senator THURMOND is gone, but his legacy will live on for

many lifetimes. The people of South Carolina loved him as

they have loved no other politician. Today his loss is

mourned across my State, by Democrats and Republicans

alike. Those of us who have the privilege of serving in the

Senate lament the loss of an admired colleague whose influence on this institution will stand for generations.

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, this is a sad day for the

family of our late and beloved colleague, STROM THURMOND.

I want to begin my remarks by extending my and Barbara’s

heartfelt condolences to all of them for their great loss. It is

also, though, a day for all Americans, and most especially

those of us in the Senate community, to remember a man

who spent a lifetime—in fact more than the average lifetime—in dedicated public service to this Nation.

When I joined the Armed Services Committee in 1979,

Senator THURMOND had already served on the committee for

20 years. I knew of him as a passionate and effective advocate for a strong national defense even before I joined the

committee. In the 24 years that we served on the committee

together, I came to appreciate even more his commitment to

the welfare of the men and women who serve and who have

served in our Nation’s military, as well as their families.

One of the reasons Senator THURMOND was such an effective leader on national security issues is that he spoke from

his heart and from personal experience. He served his country in uniform for 36 years. He was commissioned in the

Army Reserve even before he began his remarkable career in

politics. He retired as a major general in the Army Reserve.

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In June 1944, Lt. Col. STROM THURMOND landed behind

German lines in a glider with the rest of the 82d Airborne

Division as part of the D-day invasion. He truly was a member of what Tom Brokaw called ‘‘the greatest generation.’’

During Senator THURMOND’s long tenure on the Armed

Services Committee, our Armed Forces faced challenge after

challenge in Western Europe, Vietnam, the Middle East, the

Persian Gulf, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. Through it all,

Senator THURMOND was unwavering in his support for our

men and women in uniform. His steadfast commitment to

our national defense was a rock upon which they and we

could all depend. He never stopped working to ensure that

our military is always ready to answer the call whenever and

wherever needed.

Senator THURMOND served as chairman of the Senate

Armed Services Committee in the 104th and 105th Congresses. I had the honor and pleasure to serve as his ranking

member in 1997 and 1998. I know from personal experience

how seriously Senator THURMOND treated his duties as

chairman and how hard he worked to be fair and evenhanded with every member of the committee. Our former colleague and chairman, Senator Sam Nunn, was right when he

said that there was not a single national security issue facing this country that has been or could be solved by one political party. That legacy of bipartisanship on the Armed

Services Committee was continued under the chairmanship

of STROM THURMOND. I am sure that I speak for all of our

colleagues in saying just how much we appreciate not only

the commitment that Senator THURMOND brought to his duties as chairman, but also his lifelong dedication to the defense of our Nation and to the welfare of those who defend

us.

In my 24 years of service with STROM THURMOND, I never

knew him to be anything other than unfailingly optimistic,

always courteous, and ever-thoughtful of his Senate colleagues and their families. I cannot say how many times he

gave me and all my colleagues advice on exercise, on diet,

and on taking care of ourselves and our families in general.

I wish I had followed his advice more often because it was

always given out of his true concern as a friend. STROM himself was a marvelous specimen of physical fitness. One need

only receive a handshake or a shoulder slap from STROM

THURMOND to fully appreciate his strength and stamina.

Sadly STROM THURMOND has left this Earth and we will

always miss him. I hope his family takes comfort in knowing,

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[ 47 ]

though, that he leaves an example of dedicated public service

that will stand as a inspiration for generations to come.

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, we are deeply saddened by the death of our former colleague, STROM THURMOND. He was a beloved friend, always gracious and affectionate.

His service in the Senate was distinctive not only because

he served so many years but because of his love for his job

and his dedication to serving the interests of the people of

South Carolina.

He was determined to make his influence felt in the committees and on the floor. He took an active part in the debates even on the most controversial issues.

His 24-hour speech on the Civil Rights Act was a recordsetting event. He also was a fervent and effective supporter

of our military forces and the veterans who had risked their

lives in military service to our Nation.

I will always count it as one of my richest blessings that

I got to know STROM THURMOND and the members of his

family. My hope is that Nancy and their children will be

comforted by the warmth and sincerity of the esteem and affection in which the Thurmond family will always be held by

their many close friends in the Senate family.

Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to my colleague and dear friend, Senator STROM THURMOND, who

passed away last night at the age of 100.

A few months ago, as he was about to retire from the U.S.

Senate, I said on this floor that I could not even begin to

imagine the Senate without Senator THURMOND. And since

he left this Chamber, I can’t tell you how many times, during

a vote, when the clerk would reach the lower half of the alphabet, I’ve looked up from wherever I was on the floor—expecting to see the man who was, for so long, South Carolina’s

senior Senator.

He was truly an institution within this Chamber—a ranking member, a committee chairman, a President pro tempore, and the first ever President pro tempore emeritus. He

cast over 15,000 votes. His service spanned the terms of 10

U.S. Presidents. And he was directly involved in the confirmation hearings of all nine current Supreme Court Justices.

STROM THURMOND’s life was one devoted to public service.

He was a teacher, a school superintendent, a State senator,

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a judge, a war hero, Governor, and, of course, a Senator for

nearly 50 years.

At each step in his life, STROM THURMOND was searching

for ways to serve his country. As a circuit judge in South

Carolina, he took a leave of absence to volunteer to parachute behind enemy lines during the D-day invasion at Normandy. For his valor in World War II, he received the Purple

Heart, five battle stars for bravery and numerous other decorations. And shortly after the war ended, he was elected

Governor of South Carolina, an office he held for 4 years.

But there is no doubt that when his constituents remember STROM THURMOND, their thoughts will immediately turn

to his years as their Senator. He served them in this body

for over one-fifth of our Nation’s history. For many South

Carolinians, when he retired earlier this year, he was the

only senior Senator they had ever known.

STROM THURMOND did not merely serve in the Senate; he

did so, even during his final years, with unparalleled vigor.

His commitment to the people of South Carolina was legendary—whether it was helping an elderly constituent get a Social Security check, or ensuring that the widow of a law enforcement officer could keep her husband’s badge, STROM

THURMOND never forgot the people who sent him to Washington.

And the dozens of schools, buildings, parks, and streets in

South Carolina that bear his name today show that they

never forgot him either.

I served with STROM THURMOND for 22 years in the Senate, and my father served with him for 12—that’s 34 years

in which a Dodd served in this body with Senator THURMOND. Both of us certainly had our share of disagreements

with him. But those disagreements always came in the spirit

of respect, thoughtfulness, and collegiality that are hallmarks of the Senate. And STROM THURMOND truly embodied

those qualities.

To the Dodd family, though, STROM THURMOND was more

than just a colleague—he was a true and loyal friend. We

will never forget the loyalty and friendship he showed us

even during some trying and difficult times.

It is impossible to look back at the years of STROM THURMOND’s life without being amazed. He lived through the invention of the Model T Ford and the creation of the Internet.

As a child, he read newspaper accounts of battles that were

fought with bayonets in the trenches of Europe. And in his

later years, he watched satellite television reports of conflicts

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won with smart bombs and laser technology. He experienced

the Great Depression of the 1930s and the technology bubble

of the 1990s.

And as America matured and changed during his lifetime,

STROM THURMOND grew, as well.

Senator THURMOND didn’t just live through a century of

history. He was intimately involved in it. In each step that

America took, STROM THURMOND was there. In that respect,

and in so many others, STROM THURMOND was a truly

unique and rare individual.

I offer my condolences to the entire family of STROM THURMOND. We will miss him very much.

Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, a constant of the universe

has changed. STROM THURMOND is no longer with us. We

mourn because this world is poorer for his passing, but we

also know he smiles down upon us from a better, happier

place.

True to the creed taught him by his father, STROM always

gave of himself, to his family, his beloved State of South

Carolina, and to his country. He understood that the essence

of leading is serving.

STROM changed his times and changed with his times.

Born during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, he retired a thoroughly modern Senator.

He wanted to be history’s first 100-year-old Senator.

Through faith and force of will, he made it. Even more happily, he wanted to see the birth of his first grandchild, and

he did, just recently.

Like many great persons, STROM combined changeless values with an amazing ability to adapt in a changing world.

In turns, he was a liberal and a conservative; a Democrat,

Independent, and Republican; a famous bachelor, widower,

husband, father, and now grandfather. He came to the Senate from what they call the ‘‘Old South,’’ but when I came

to Congress, I saw in STROM a Senator committed to equal

opportunity and inclusiveness. He was young at heart, had

a sense of fun and adventure, and was always open to new

ideas. This is the way STROM should be remembered, as an

example of how the human spirit can grow and mature

gracefully.

Yet, for all the changes, STROM’s constituents were reassured by a sense of his being changeless. What never

changed was a foundation of timeless values. He was devoted

to faith, family, patriotism, integrity, public service, hard

work, and compassion for everyday people.

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Only in recent years did STROM and I discover from a genealogy Web site that we were distant cousins. After that, we

enjoyed greeting each other with, ‘‘Hi, Cousin!’’

Today, I say, ‘‘Farewell for now, Cousin. Your life has honored and inspired your family, friends, and Nation.’’

SUBMITTED RESOLUTION

SENATE RESOLUTION 191—RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE J. STROM THURMOND, FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR AND PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE EMERITUS FROM THE

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Graham of South

Carolina, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Byrd, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Reid, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Allard, Mr.

Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr.

Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr.

Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burns, Mr. Campbell, Ms.

Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad,

Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Dayton,

Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr.

Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Graham of

Florida, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin,

Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr.

Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin,

Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr.

McCain, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs.

Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr.

Nickles, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller,

Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions,

Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms.

Stabenow, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Talent, Mr. Thomas, Mr.

Voinovich, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. RES. 191

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND conducted his life in an exemplary manner, an example to all of his fellow citizens;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND was a devoted husband, father, and most recently, grandfather;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND gave a great measure of his

life to public service;

Whereas, having abandoned the safety of high position, the Honorable J.

STROM THURMOND served his country during World War II, fighting the

greatest threat the world had thus far seen;

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Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND served South Carolina in

the United States Senate with devotion and distinction;

Whereas his service on behalf of South Carolina and all Americans earned

him the esteem and high regard of his colleagues; and

Whereas his death has deprived his State and Nation of a most outstanding Senator: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND,

former Senator and President Pro Tempore Emeritus from the State of

South Carolina.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions

to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the

family of the deceased.

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a

further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND.

SCHEDULE

Mr. FRIST. On Monday, July 7, the Senate will be in a period of morning business. This will provide an opportunity

for Members who have not yet had the opportunity, to deliver statements honoring our friend and colleague, STROM

THURMOND. As I mentioned last night, we will have the tributes to Senator THURMOND printed as a Senate document for

distribution.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate,

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 231; further, that

the Senate adjourn as an additional mark of respect for Senator STROM THURMOND.

There being no objection, the Senate, at 4:14 p.m., adjourned until Monday, July 7, 2003, at 2 p.m.

TUESDAY, July 8, 2003

PRINTING OF THURMOND TRIBUTES

Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that tributes to Senator STROM THURMOND be printed

as a Senate document.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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WEDNESDAY, July 9, 2003

EULOGY

Mr. BROWNBACK. I thank Senator Biden for the tremendous eulogy he gave about STROM THURMOND at the funeral

in South Carolina last week. The Senator really did us very

proud with his representation of this body and his relationship with STROM THURMOND. It was a touching event. His

eulogy of STROM THURMOND was beautiful. I heard a number

of people comment about it. It was very nice of him to do

that. It was very nicely done.

Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague. It was

a great honor for me to participate.

FRIDAY, July 11, 2003

STROM THURMOND: POLITICIAN AND PATRIOT

Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to our

colleague and a friend, STROM THURMOND. We were all deeply moved by the recent passing of this gracious gentleman,

and I would like to take a few minutes to reflect on his rich

life and to honor his memory.

STROM THURMOND had a long and distinguished career.

Over recent weeks we have heard many descriptions of the

achievements of this remarkable man. But Senator THURMOND was distinguished for much more than the length of

his Senate service or the number of ‘‘firsts’’ he achieved during his life. Rather, Senator THURMOND is distinguished by

his love for America. For although STROM THURMOND was

perhaps best known as a politician, he was first and foremost a patriot. His military service, his time as a Governor,

and his tenure in the U.S. Senate were all fueled by his deep

and abiding love for America.

Just as deep as his love for America was his love for South

Carolina and its residents. Senator THURMOND and his staff

were well known for their accessibility and outstanding constituent service. He believed in hard work and service, and

never shied away from his convictions.

That same accessibility and attitude of service carried over

to his interaction with fellow Members as well. I was honored to serve with Senator THURMOND on the Armed Services Committee, and I still remember the helpful guidance he

gave me as a new member on the committee. His passion for

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our military members and his concern for their well-being

was evident, and I hope that I can emulate that same care.

I also remember how generous Senator THURMOND was

with his personal time. Obviously as a senior Member of the

Senate and the Senate President pro tempore he had a number of responsibilities. However, he still made time to serve

this Member. Several years ago I was honored when he graciously agreed to speak at the Capitol Conference I hold for

Colorado constituents each year. To this day I am deeply appreciative of the time that he spent making remarks, fielding

questions, and taking photos with my constituents. Many of

the participants later remarked on his wit and vitality, remarkable for any Member, but especially for one of his years.

Even in their short time with him they were able to see the

courtesy and conviction that we witnessed each day.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know

STROM THURMOND as the person behind the military hero

and political legend. To see the small ways in which he expressed his interest in and appreciation for those around

him, such as taking the Senate pages for ice cream. He also

expressed personal concern about the health and well being

of his staff and Members, which was perhaps necessitated in

some part by the candy he was always handing out. I only

hope that we can all learn from and retain some part of his

charm, confidence, depth of conviction, and commitment.

Although STROM THURMOND may no longer be here with

us physically, his legacy will live on. The U.S. Senate and

America are better for his strength, service, and self-sacrifice.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my

sincere condolences to Senator THURMOND’s family and

friends. He was a proud father, and recently, grandfather.

His love for his family was well known, and our thoughts

and prayers are with them. My wife Joan and I hope that

they are able to find comfort and peace during these difficult

days.

I am proud to have called STROM THURMOND my colleague

and friend, and today I join the rest of America in honoring

this great service and mourning his passing.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise today as we remember the Honorable Senator from South Carolina, STROM

THURMOND. The accomplishments of this man in his 100

years of life were truly amazing. All that he did for his State

and our Nation make all Americans proud. He was a vigorVerDate 19-JUN-2001 15:28 Oct 20, 2003 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 D:\DOCS\STROM2\89048.TXT CRS1 PsN: CRS1
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ous, positive person who unrelentingly worked for a better

America.

Senator THURMOND was born on December 5, 1902, in

Edgefield, SC. He received his undergraduate degree from

then Clemson College, now Clemson University, in 1923. He

studied law under his father, Judge William Thurmond and,

in 1930, was admitted to the South Carolina Bar. For 8

years, from 1930 to 1938, he served as the Edgefield town

and county attorney, and during that time, from 1933 to

1938, he served as South Carolina State senator, representing Edgefield County.

A true patriot, Senator THURMOND joined the U.S. Army

Reserve as a second lieutenant in 1924. He landed in Normandy on D-day with the 82d Airborne Division during

World War II. For his military service, he earned 18 decorations, medals, and awards, including the Legion of Merit

with oakleaf cluster, Bronze Star for valor, and the Purple

Heart, among others.

His political ambitions flourished when, in 1947, Senator

THURMOND was elected Governor of South Carolina. In 1948,

he decided to run for President of the United States as the

States rights Democratic candidate. He carried 4 States and

received 39 electoral votes, the third largest independent

electoral vote in U.S. history. However, the most memorable

moment for Senator THURMOND came in 1954, when he was

elected to the U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate! To be

elected to any position as a write-in candidate, much less to

the U.S. Senate, is a true testament to one’s political prowess. He was the first person to ever be elected to a major office in the United States by this method.

Senator THURMOND served on many committees during his

service to America in the Senate. The duty and patriotism he

displayed is a fine indication of all that he devoted to our

Nation’s military. It is quite fitting that Senator THURMOND

served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and used

his role to help enhance our military in every way possible.

He served as chairman of this committee from January 1995

to January 1999 and was bestowed the great honor of being

named chairman emeritus in 1999. The time I spent with

Senator THURMOND on this committee was a wonderful

learning experience for me and the Senate Armed Services

Committee will miss Senator THURMOND. His military service provided him with an excellent background to understand

the intricacies of our military and, without question, helped

in his decisionmaking ability for the betterment of America.

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Additionally, I had the pleasure of serving with Senator

THURMOND on the Judiciary Committee, where he was a

member from 1967 until his retirement. He served as chairman of this committee from 1981 to 1987 and served as

chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution,

Federalism and Property Rights from January to June of

2001. With a background as a judge and lawyer, Senator

THURMOND cherished his role on this committee and always

sought to ensure fairness on many issues, including that of

appointing qualified judges to our Federal benches. I particularly remember his strong support for me when I was an unsuccessful judicial nominee in 1986. Senator THURMOND was

a supporter, friend, and advisor.

To list the numerous honors and awards Senator THURMOND received would take hours. However, I would like to

point out some of the accolades I find truly incredible. In addition to his undergraduate degree from Clemson College, he

also holds 34 honorary degrees. In 1994, he was inducted

into the U.S. Army Rangers Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was

awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished

Public Service. In 1998, he was awarded the Spirit of Hope

award, named after Bob Hope, by the United Service Organizations. Last year, he was awarded the Washington Times

Foundation American Century Award.

His life covered a time of monumental change in the

South. His movement from a champion of racial segregation

to one who promoted equal rights reflected the change that

occurred throughout the region. His personal actions helped

lead others to reject the impermissible policies of the past.

One of the great memories I have of spending time with

Senator THURMOND is the time he asked me to accompany

him on a trip to China in 1997, as I began my term as Senator. On this trip, we had some time to climb the Great Wall

of China. As is custom, an assistant is typically assigned to

older individuals as they make their journey along the wall.

Senator THURMOND declined any help and, at the time, was

the oldest person to ever climb the wall unassisted. The Senator’s ability to put things in perspective is illustrated by the

fact that when, upon reaching the top of the wall, he stated,

‘‘This is a big wall. Let’s go.’’

As the leader of our delegation and President pro tempore

of the Senate at age 97, he handled every occasion superbly.

He was particularly elegant when we met with Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin. I remember he concluded his remarks

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with the words ‘‘China and the United States are friends. We

want to be better friends.’’

It is almost impossible to travel anywhere in South Carolina and not find Senator STROM THURMOND’s name on a

street, building, lake, highway, or monument. All that he did

for South Carolina and for our Nation is a true testament to

the caliber of man that he was. The lives he touched and the

people he has positively affected are numerous. I know that

his service to our Nation is sorely missed. You simply cannot

put a value on the role he played as a true public servant.

Senator THURMOND will be missed by many, many individuals in Congress, in South Carolina, and in America. A true

southerner, a true American, and a true patriot, Senator

STROM THURMOND will forever be remembered as a man

whose beliefs, ideals, and character remained unparalleled

for an entire century.

MONDAY, July 14, 2003

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, it is a privilege today

to pay tribute to the memory of the late STROM THURMOND.

Often outspoken, sometimes controversial, but always passionate, STROM was an unparalleled servant of the people.

He always put his Nation first, whether in combat on the

beaches of Normandy or here in the halls of the Senate.

He made a career of giving back to his country. But he

was also a wonderful human being.

STROM often reminded me that Colonel William Barret

Travis, who was in command at the Alamo, was from his

home county in South Carolina. While STROM himself missed

the Alamo by a few years, he demonstrated that he too embodies the spirit of the Alamo and the sense of duty and

commitment to his country that we Texans associate with

Colonel Travis.

STROM’s journey into the history books began back in the

1920s when he graduated from his beloved Clemson.

He went on to become a teacher and athletic coach, county

superintendent of education, town and county attorney, Eleventh Circuit Court Judge, South Carolina Governor, soldier,

president of the Reserve Officers Association and finally, a

U.S. Senator—a position he held for a remarkable 48 years.

For many, that would be five lifetimes of careers. But not

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STROM. It was just enough to keep him busy for the century

he was on this Earth.

STROM lived every day of his life to the fullest.

I’m still amazed that he volunteered to return to active

duty military service, though he was way past the age of

being drafted. At the age of 41 he landed on the beaches of

Normandy in a glider—staring death in the face, and smiling.

He served in the Pacific and European theaters, earning

18 decorations, medals and awards including the Legion of

Merit, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star for valor. He

rose to the rank of major general in the U.S. Army Reserve.

In the Senate STROM focused particular attention on taking care of our men and women in the military.

I served with STROM while he chaired the Armed Services

Committee and saw the reflection of his time in the service

in everything he did. He worked for one purpose—to ensure

our country’s national defense remained strong. From military health care to quality of life for service members and

their families, he knew that to recruit and retain our Nation’s finest, we had to treat them well.

The Capitol has not been the same since STROM left last

year. The wit and wisdom he collected over a century of living made him one of the most entertaining and enlightening

figures in modern politics. There will always be an empty

place in the heart of the Senate created by his absence.

The eulogies that came from both sides of the aisle at his

memorial service last week were testament to the evolution

STROM undertook during his time in the Senate. A career

once marked by division ended in unity and with dignity.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues

and his country. He began his career in public service as a

coach—eight decades later he was a coach and teacher to us

all to the very end.

TUESDAY, July 22, 2003

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to

have printed in the Record my remarks of December 9, 2002,

before the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be

printed in the Record, as follows:

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‘‘Who well lives, long lives; for this age of ours should not be numbered

by years, days and hours.’’

We are gathered here today to salute a friend and colleague who has lived

long and spent his days well.

STROM THURMOND has been a teacher, an athletic coach, an educational

administrator, a lawyer, a State legislator, a circuit court judge, a county

superintendent, a soldier, a Presidential nominee, and a Governor—and all

of that was packed into just his first 52 years.

In 1954, STROM won his first election to the Senate as a write-in candidate—beginning his Senate sojourn with the singular achievement of

being the only person in history to be elected to the Senate in that fashion.

As he began his Senate service with a ‘‘first’’ he also leaves it by setting

two more records—that of being the longest serving Senator in U.S. history

and also being the oldest person to serve in the U.S. Senate. May I note

here that he is also the only person in the Senate who is old enough to be

my big brother. But, STROM, like Casey Stengel, I’ll never make the mistake

of being 70 again. STROM THURMOND’s life is not just about length and

achievement, it is about personal service and commitment.

Now, I am not speaking here about STROM’s well-known appreciation for

the gentler sex. I am speaking about his love of his country and his commitment to serve it.

Consider the fact that STROM THURMOND volunteered for service in World

War II. He did that when he could have stayed safely at home. STROM was

beyond draft age in 1942.

Additionally, as a judge, he held draft-exempted status. Yet he went. And

in 1944, STROM THURMOND was part of D-day—the invasion of the beaches

of Normandy that signaled the defeat of worldwide fascism. He risked his

life to serve the Nation he loved.

After the war, STROM THURMOND served the State that he loved by becoming its Governor.

In 1948, Governor STROM THURMOND tried again to serve the country that

he loved by running for President as a States rights Democrat. He carried

4 States and won 39 electoral votes. Undaunted, in 1954 STROM found another way to serve his beloved State and country by being elected to the

U.S. Senate. It is in this role, that of U.S. Senator, that we have come to

understand the extraordinary service of this man from South Carolina.

STROM THURMOND is a man who, because of the quantity of his years, has

seen enormous change—the rise and fall of Nazi Germany; the Russian Revolution; the rise and fall of the Soviet empire; two world wars; space exploration; civil rights upheaval; and incredible advances in technology and

medicine. Indeed, the world is very different from the one that STROM THURMOND knew as a young man. He has been witness to the ‘‘vicissitudes of fortune, which spares neither man nor the proudest of his works, which buries

empires and cities in a common grave.’’

And yet STROM has never lost his desire to serve, to make his contribution, to add his voice and his views to the rich conglomeration of beliefs and

viewpoints which, when mixed together, yield an idea called America.

STROM is never one to become discouraged, disheartened or disenchanted.

He loves his country, and he has been a faithful and devoted defender of

the Nation’s need for a strong defense. No summer soldier, no sunshine patriot, he.

Youth is not a time of life—it is a state of mind. It is not a matter of red

cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a temper of the will; a quality of

the imagination. Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage

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over timidity, of the appetite for an adventure over a life of ease. This often

exists in a man of 50, more than in a boy of 20. Nobody grows old by merely

living a number of years; people grow old by deserting their dreams.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Whether 70 or 16, there is in every being’s heart a love of wonder; the

sweet amazement at the stars and starlike things and thoughts.

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your

self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your

despair.

In the central place of your heart, there is a wireless station. So long as

it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, grandeur, courage, and power

from the Earth, from men and from the Infinite—so long are you young.

When the wires are all down and the central places of your heart are covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then are you

grown old, indeed!

In the words of Pericles: ‘‘It is only the love of honor that never grows

old.’’

Today, it is not the length but the quality of STROM THURMOND’s life

which we celebrate. For that marvelous life of character and courage I salute him. It is a privilege to know him, an honor to serve with him, and

an education to ponder his remarkable life.

MULTIPLICATION TABLE OF HAPPINESS

Count your garden by the flowers

Never by the leaves that fall;

Count your days by the sunny hours,

Not remembering clouds at all;

Count your nights by stars, not shadows,

Count your life by smiles, not tears,

And on this beautiful December afternoon,

Count your age by friends, not years.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an American political icon, patriot, war hero, and lifelong South Carolinian, Senator STROM THURMOND. While

many will recall Senator THURMOND’s half-century career on

the political stage, I shall fondly remember the many

kindnesses he extended to my family and me. He was a

warmhearted, gentle man, and I will count it as one of my

life’s honors to have served with him in the U.S. Senate.

I join my colleagues in extending my heartfelt condolences

to his family who have lost a beloved husband, father, and

grandfather. STROM was a legend in the Senate and touched

many of us during his long career. In fact, I will always remember Senator THURMOND’s 90th birthday party when he

turned to the audience and said, ‘‘If you all eat right, exercise, and don’t drink whiskey, you’ll be here for the 100th

birthday party.’’ STROM THURMOND was a remarkable American; I don’t think we’ll see another one like him for a long

time, if ever.

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Mr. KYL. Mr. President, we mourn the loss of STROM

THURMOND, the legendary Senator who held his first public

office in the late 1920s and who died on June 27 in his

hometown of Edgefield, SC. The State of South Carolina lost

a beloved native son and the Senate lost a cheerful, robust,

honorable, and dedicated colleague. He was someone who

was always eager to help me and to accommodate my concerns. It was an honor to work with him on issues of national defense, foreign policy, and many other matters important to the people of the United States.

South Carolinians’ outpouring of respect when he died was

massive. Senator THURMOND had been a judge, a soldier who

landed in Normandy as a member of the 82d Airborne Division in 1942, a Governor of South Carolina, and chairman of

the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees in this body.

He was also someone who changed his mind on an issue of

great import—race in America—and he was a fine example

to his fellow citizens on that score.

STROM THURMOND was an indomitable spirit. He represented continuity in the U.S. Senate, becoming, in 1996, its

oldest serving Member and, in 1997, its longest serving

Member. Those are for the record books. But on a personal

level, I can say I admired tremendously his buoyant spirit.

I appreciated him for assisting me in so many ways, and for

his stalwart service to our country.

WEDNESDAY, July 23, 2003

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, shortly before Senator THURMOND retired from the Senate, I included a tribute in the

Congressional Record on his long career. As the Senate notes

his passing so soon after his retirement, I ask unanimous

consent to have printed in the Record my earlier remarks

from October 2, 2002.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be

printed in the Record, as follows:

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a colleague who has a career

of public service that may never be matched again in the history of our

country.

STROM THURMOND sits on the other side of the aisle in the Senate Chamber, but I consider him a friend with whom I have worked closely. I will

miss him.

We often worked together in the field of antitrust laws. We worked together on the National Cooperative Production Amendments of 1993, the

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very first high technology bill signed by President Clinton, and to improve

the protections against anticompetitive conduct in the Digital Performance

Rights in Sound Recordings Act.

Senator THURMOND has been a legislator. I must admit that when Senator

THURMOND and I have worked together, it has raised some eyebrows. Whenever we introduced legislation together, he and I fondly remarked that the

bill was either a brilliant piece of drafting or one of us had not read it.

Needless to say, there have been many occasions when STROM and I sat

on opposite sides of an issue. Even though there were issues about which

we felt deeply, Senator THURMOND always conducted himself with the utmost integrity. STROM has always told the Senate how he felt and did so

with the people of South Carolina first and foremost in his mind.

Senator THURMOND has always been a gentleman. His warmth and kindness one afternoon in the Senate dining room framed what has to be one

of the strangest meetings of all times in that venue. In 1994, I invited Jerry

Garcia and the Grateful Dead to join me for lunch in the dining room. As

we sat down for lunch, Senator THURMOND entered the room and came over

to say hello. I took the opportunity to introduce him to Jerry.

It was quite a meeting of cultures. Besides our devotion to the Senate, I

share with Senator THURMOND the distinction of being from a State that has

provided the Senate Judiciary Committee with three chairmen over the history of the committee. South Carolina and Vermont each have had three

Senators who have chaired the committee. I have learned much from the

senior Senator from South Carolina. Let me share with you one additional

aspect of Senator THURMOND’s legacy to the Senate as he completes this

term and retires from office. In addition to all his longevity records and legislative achievements and buildings named for him, there is something else

about him I will always remember.

When we hold hearings for Federal judges—and we have held a number

this year—I am always careful to carry on a tradition that Senator THURMOND started. Senator THURMOND always reminded nominees for high office

that it is essential to treat others with courtesy and respect. He always reminded nominees that the people and lawyers who appeared before them,

whatever their position in the case, whether rich or poor, white or black,

man or woman, whatever their religious or political affiliation, they are each

and every one deserving of respect and fairness.

Senator THURMOND was right to remind judges—and even Senators—of

that simple rule. It is another contribution he has made to all of us that

will continue to serve us well.

Mr. President, as I said earlier, I will miss STROM THURMOND. He has

been named President pro tempore emeritus for good reason.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment this evening to pay tribute to our dear friend and

former colleague, STROM THURMOND, a man who gave of

himself personally to his constituents and to his colleagues

here in the Senate.

All of us will always remember STROM. We will remember

him seated right in front of the presiding officer at his desk.

We will remember him for his smile. We will remember him

for his greeting. Frankly, I don’t think any of us will ever

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walk into this Chamber again without almost seeing him

down there at his desk.

He was a man who gave so much of himself to his constituents. We will remember him for the way he treated each

one of us, the way he treated his constituents, and the individual attention he gave to us and his constituents.

I saw the way he personally dealt with his constituents. I

also saw the personal attention he paid to me and the personal interest he took in my family. In particular, I am

grateful to him for the hospitality and attention he showed

to my son Brian, who just recently graduated from his beloved Clemson University.

A few years ago, when I told STROM that my son Brian

was going to Clemson, I remember the big smile on his face.

Of course, I knew he was a graduate of Clemson. I could tell

how delighted and eager he was to share stories about his

experience at Clemson. And I remember a lot of those stories.

Of course, the first thing he told me was, ‘‘You know, I

went to Clemson’’—which, of course, I did know. And I then

asked him, ‘‘STROM, what year did you graduate from

Clemson?’’ He said, ‘‘1923.’’ I said, ‘‘STROM, that was the year

my dad was born’’—which it was.

During the 4 years that Brian was at Clemson, almost

every time I saw STROM on the floor, STROM would say,

‘‘How’s your boy? How is that boy of yours doing down at

Clemson? Does he like it?’’ Of course, I told him he did,

which Brian certainly did.

After Brian graduated, STROM invited Brian and myself up

to his office. STROM showed him all the pictures on the wall.

STROM invited him over and had his picture taken with

Brian, a picture that Brian now has, and a copy of another

picture that I have of Brian and myself and STROM that is

in a prominent place in my office today in the Russell Building.

STROM THURMOND paid this same level of attention, which

he paid to his colleague in the Senate and to his colleague’s

son, to all his constituents. And we know that. We have all

heard the stories. It did not matter whether you were a U.S.

Senator or whether you worked in a filling station or who

you were in his home State of South Carolina; it did not

matter. That was STROM THURMOND. It did not matter who

you were, STROM paid attention to you.

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We have all heard the stories about the birthdays and the

anniversaries, constituent problems. It did not matter,

STROM was there.

STROM THURMOND has left a mark on his State and our

country through his kindness and his personal attention to

others—a mark that surely will not be forgotten or held in

anything less than the highest regard.

We thank STROM for his service to our country, to South

Carolina, and to the people who will miss his kindness and

his friendship. We thank STROM for his extra efforts to help

those in need, those he loved, and those he came to the Senate to represent.

We will remember this man, our friend, fondly. He was a

man of courage, a man of integrity, a man of passion, a man

who loved this country dearly.

We thank you, STROM. We miss you. We respect you.

THURSDAY, July 24, 2003

IN REMEMBRANCE OF STROM THURMOND

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, it is with great pride and

honor that I rise today amongst my fellow colleagues to

honor one of America’s finest citizens, Senator STROM THURMOND of South Carolina.

When I look at STROM’s career and all that he has accomplished throughout his life, I often find myself wondering

how one man could possibly do so much in just one lifetime.

STROM THURMOND truly deserves the title of Renaissance

man. He has been a farmer, a teacher, a lawyer, a judge, an

author, a Governor, a war veteran, a major general in the

U.S. Army Reserve, a State senator, a U.S. Senator, a Democrat, a Dixiecrat, a Republican, a husband and a father. And

most important to all of us—a friend. He was born when

Theodore Roosevelt was President and lived through 18 different Presidencies. To put the longevity of his political career in perspective, STROM THURMOND won an election 18

years before President George W. Bush was even born. This

is also a man who enlisted during World War II and jumped

on D-day with the 82d Airborne when he was in his forties.

From 1954 when he ran and won a seat in the U.S. Senate

as a write-in candidate, until his death on June 26, 2003,

STROM THURMOND worked tirelessly and selflessly for the

people of South Carolina and the citizens of this great Nation, casting more than 15,000 votes in his senatorial tenure.

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Whether or not people ever agreed with STROM politically,

they certainly admired his zest and his passion.

In his earlier days in Congress, STROM argued for segregationist policies. In many ways, people have used this to

try and discredit this American icon. But most people forget

he later championed civil rights laws and black institutions.

As Winston Churchill said, ‘‘To improve is to change, to be

perfect is to change often.’’ STROM THURMOND was an honest

and principled man, but he also was a man constantly striving to make this a better nation.

I now ask my fellow Members of the Senate to join me in

honoring our good friend and colleague for all he did

throughout his life and throughout his tenure in the Senate.

His brilliance, leadership and unmatched wit will be sorely

missed by this legislative body and by the entire Nation.

On June 26, 2003, one of this Nation’s brightest stars

faded away. Even though the light may be out, I believe we

all will find our own way to hold on to the many memories

and stories STROM THURMOND left behind with us.

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Proceedings in the House of

Representatives

THURSDAY, June 26, 2003

SOUTH CAROLINA LOSES A LEGEND

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is with

great sadness tonight that I announce that Senator STROM

THURMOND passed away at 9:45. I was a former staff member of Senator THURMOND, my wife was a staff person for

Senator THURMOND, and our three sons have been pages

with his office.

With the death of STROM THURMOND, South Carolina has

lost its greatest statesman of the 20th century, just as John

Calhoun was the most revered South Carolinian of the 19th

century. STROM THURMOND will never be replaced in the

countless hearts of those who loved and respected him.

The entire Wilson family mourns this profound loss and

we extend our sympathy to the Thurmond family.

Senator STROM THURMOND will endure as the leading example of a public servant due to his love and devotion to all

the people of South Carolina regardless of status, race, politics or region.

He was our living legend. STROM’s life was dedicated to

achieving peace through strength, as shown by his military

service in liberating Europe from Nazi fascists, his tireless

work in fighting for a strong national defense in Congress

which ultimately led to the defeat of Soviet communism.

He pioneered the development of the South Carolina Republican Party from effective nonexistence in the 1960s to

majority status by the end of the century. He has been a role

model of service to South Carolina’s young people and our

family has had three generations on his staff: my wife’s two

uncles were staff attorneys, my wife and I were interns, and

our three oldest sons were pages. A distinguished highlight

for our family was to host Senator THURMOND on the last

Sunday before his last election in 1996 at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.

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The legacy of STROM THURMOND will always be felt in

South Carolina because of his steadfast integrity and the

meaningful results of his thoughtful constituent service. He

was my personal hero, and I will miss him dearly.

MONDAY, July 7, 2003

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

A message from the Senate by Mr. Monahan, one of its

clerks, announced that the Senate agreed to the following

resolution:

S. RES. 191

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND conducted his life in an exemplary manner, an example to all of his fellow citizens;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND was a devoted husband, father, and most recently, grandfather;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND gave a great measure of his

life to public service;

Whereas, having abandoned the safety of high position, the Honorable J.

STROM THURMOND served his country during World War II, fighting the

greatest threat the world had thus far seen;

Whereas the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND served South Carolina in

the United States Senate with devotion and distinction;

Whereas his service on behalf of South Carolina and all Americans earned

him the esteem and high regard of his colleagues; and

Whereas his death has deprived his State and Nation of a most outstanding Senator: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND,

former Senator and President Pro Tempore Emeritus from the State of

South Carolina.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions

to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the

family of the deceased.

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a

further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable J. STROM THURMOND.

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Celebrating the Life of

J. Strom Thurmond

December 5, 1902–June 26, 2003

Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Matthew 25 : 21

First Baptist Church

Columbia, South Carolina

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Prelude Mrs. Joyce English

National Anthem Mrs. Barbara Bowens

Greeting the Reverend Dr. Wendell R. Estep

Congregational Hymn 10 How Great Thou Art

Eulogies the Honorable John E. Courson

the Honorable William W. Wilkins, Jr.

the Honorable Kay Patterson

the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Mr. Bettis C. Rainsford

Scripture the Reverend Dr. Fred W. Andrea III

Isaiah 40 : 28–31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint,

And strengthens the powerless.

Even youths will faint and be weary,

And the young will fall exhausted;

But those who wait for the Lord shall

Renew their strength,

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

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Solo On Eagles Wings Mrs. Donna Ritter

Message Dr. Andrea

Scripture

Psalm 30 : 1–5

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,

And did not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you

Have healed me.

O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,

Restored me to life from among those gone

Down to the Pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,

And give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment;

His favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may linger for the night,

But joy comes with the morning.

Presentation of Flags

the Honorable Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr.

Mr. Warren H. Abernathy

Dr. Donald L. Fowler, Sr.

USAR, Ret. 360th Civil Affairs Brigade

Benediction Dr. Andrea

Recessional Amazing Grace Mr. David M. Nichols

Organ Postlude Mrs. Joyce English

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Family

Preceded in death by his parents

Eleanor Gertrude Strom

The Honorable John William Thurmond

His first wife Jean Crouch Thurmond

His brothers and a sister

Dr. John William Thurmond, Jr.

Dr. Allan George Thurmond

Miss Anna Gertrude Thurmond

Survived by his sisters

Martha Thurmond Bishop

Mary Thurmond Tompkins

His nieces and nephews

Betsy Thurmond Keller

Ellen Thurmond Senter

Dr. John William Thurmond III

Mary T. Tompkins Freeman

Dr. Walter Grady Bishop, Jr.

The Honorable William Thurmond Bishop

James Allan Bishop

Dr. John Barry Bishop

Preceded in death by his daughter

Nancy Moore Thurmond

Survived by his wife Nancy Moore Thurmond

His children

J. Strom Thurmond, Jr.

Julie Thurmond Whitmer

Paul Reynolds Thurmond

His grandchild

Martin Taylor Whitmer III

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Pallbearers

United States Army

United States Marine Corps

United States Navy

United States Air Force

United States Coast Guard

Joint Honor Guard provided by the South Carolina

National Guard

Caisson and artillery supplied by the South Carolina

Military Department

Commanded by Major General Stanhope S. Spears

Honorary Pallbearers

State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)

Memorials

Strom Thurmond Foundation

PO Box 50214

Columbia, SC 29250

Aiken’s First Baptist Church

PO Box 3157

Aiken, SC 29802

Edgefield County Hospital

PO Box 590

Edgefield, SC 29824

Interment at Willowbrook Cemetery

Edgefield, South Carolina

the Reverend Dr. Fred W. Andrea III

Dr. John Barry Bishop

Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc.

Aiken, South Carolina

Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home

Edgefield, South Carolina

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