Date: 1988-07-13
Speaker: DONALD ZACHARIAS (democrat)
Chamber: S

Welcome to the "Celebration of a Legend" in American political history. As president of Mississippi State University. Im honored to host you at the dinner in celebration that each of you has made possible through your contributions. We are grateful to President Reagan. Members of the United States Senate. and especially to the four Senators who are seated at tile head table and all of the people in Mississippi and Washington who guided our planning for making this event such a wonderful celebration. Because each person here has such a unique level of prominence in this entire affair and deserves a special introduction. we will simply say "thank you" to everybody whos here. Thank you for being and sharing this evening with the senator and we will omit any formal introductions. I think we would be here for most of the evening if we did that one thing alone. We will concentrate our attention on the man we honor and the University. and the state. and the nation that he loves. Celebrations like this are important for what they mean in the life of the country or an organization. They let us pause for a few minutes and remember what is right and special about the people who serve in our government. For each of us. John C. Stennis symbolizes something uniquely valuable in public life. During my first meeting with the Senator shortly after I became president of Mississippi State. I knew immediately why people recognized him as a national leader. In a brief talk with me in my office he revealed the qualities that we admire in leaders of all levels of our society. He was caring. analytical. unselfish. and humorous. and most of all. he was likeable. lie represents for you and me a model of integrity and likeableness. Your contribution. let me say. to the Stennis Institute at Mississippi State University will help its faculty and its director. Dr. Charles Washington. instill and reinforce those values in state and local and national leaders. In our teachers and in our students. Just as we benefited for decades from the leadership of Senator Stennis so future generations will benefit from your generosity. Now. no man of achievement stands alone. Senator Stennis. we honor you tonight because we see in you qualities we want In our lives and in every alumnus and legislator and citizen. Your life reflects the Influence of parents. schools. churches. universities. your family and your friends. We join you tonight in celebrating America and its universities and Its corporations. its state and local leaders. its hard working men and women of every walk of life and its vision for the future. Youve shown us how to live with todays challenges and tomorrows triumphs. Because you have served your nation so well. life is better for each of us. Thank you for what youve done. We have received telegrams from all the former presidents living. but I have one that I want to read particularly because I think it symbolizes the sentiment. Let me read it. Its very brief. The telegram says "I recall vividly a telephone conversation I had as President with John Stennis. I thanked him for tile indispensable roll he had played in helping us to get a defense appropriation bill through the Senate. And he replied. thank you Mr. President. but to be frank. I didnt do it for you I did it for my country. That is the essence of the man you honor tonight. Whatever he has done in public life. he has done for his country and that is why he is one of the greatest men of any party to have served in the United States Senate." Signed Richard Nixon. And now its my special honor to present the Governor of the state of Mississippi. the honorable Ray Mabus. Governor RAY MAsus: Mr. President. Senator Stenn6.. ionored guests. Mississippians. and Americans. its an impossible privilege to try to do justice to Senator John C. Stennis or to his career. No amount of time. however extensive. would be sufficient to recount his accomplishments. or to adequately express how the people of Mississippi feel about him. Given that. I assure you I will be brief. no matter how long it takes. Despite his long tenure. the essence of John Stennis has not changed. He is honest. straightforward. unpretentious and always mindful of the people back home. To those of us in politics who suffer the slings and arrows of what we sometimes feel to be an overly enthusiastic press. let me read you what two newspapers. known for their objectivity but not for any propensity to fawn over elected officials. have said about the person. the man from Kemper county. In 1902 the Washington Post wrote "no one in the Senate questions Stennis integrity or contributon to that body. The possessor of a tremendous booming voice. a Phi Beta Kappa key. and a universal reputation for fairmindedness. has long been one of his dominating features. A senators senator. an advisor to presidents. a man of enormous power and influence. And the New York Times. three years later. in 1985 said. "He is the undisputed patriarch of the Senate. a teacher to younger members. and a conscious for the entire Institution. He seldom makes national headlines but he wields considerable influence in the Senate itself and that influence comes from the quality of his personal judgement." That sort of praise is earned slowly. carefully. sometimes painfully over many years. Senator. It is not only your press that we in public service envy. what would any of give. any of us. for a career that saw you win a senate seat in 1947 and then. because of the quality of service you gave. not be challenged for reelection for 35 years. And then when that challenge came. to win going away. The stories that were to come from a lifetime of service are legion and legend. And let me share Just a few with you. Upon taking office. Senator Stennis set a goal for himself. It has become classic for its simplicity and directness. The senator said. and all Mississippians know this. "I want to plow a straight furrow right down to the end of my row." As Mississippis new junior senator in 1948 and Senator Stennis only had to remain a junior senator for thirty yearshe found the move from DeKalb to Washington to his liking with one notable exception. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the main thing Stennis found wrong with Washington was the lack of good cornbread. Senator thats a sentiment that all Mississippians can share and understand. As a new senator. John Stennis showed proper respect for his seniors and he waited for several months before making his maiden floor speech. le explained the delay to friends by saying he didnt want to "pop off". but instead to know fully what he was talking about. I think theres a message there for most of us. One of the many hallmarks of his career has been his steadfast support for farmers and agriculture. Ile spoke forcefully and eloquently against federal cuts in agricultural assistance in that first year in tile Senate saying "the substance of our good earth Is going to the far horizons. It is vital that we concern ourselves thoughtfully and wisely to the replenishment of our acres and to the support of the men. women. boys. and girls who husband them." At times. his diligence on the subject of agriculture as it pertains to Mississippi required a more personal touch. For instance. there was a time when the senator fired off a letter to Secretary of Defense Forestall. He complained that army policy was working to the disadvantage of sweet potato growers in MlsslsS95S3 sippi and other southern states. Im happy to report that generations of soldiers have now had the opportunity to develop a taste for Mississippi sweet potatoes. Ile has something in common with you. Mr. President. In the early 1960s. Senator Stennis made his mark in the movies. Actually. Charles Lawton chose Senator Stennis as the model for a U.S. Senator as he prepared for an upcoming role. Lawtons part lasted for only one movie. John Stennis part on the great national stage has lasted for more than four decades. ills career began early at Mississippi State University. Senator Stennis sense of politics wns acute even then. As the great New York Times editor Turner Catledge. tells it. Mr. Stennis. a classmate of Catledges. was one of the few students at Mississippi State to possess a suit. And that suit made Mr. Sten. nis a very popular man. He loaned It out judiciously. And in the process acquired some of his very first political IOUs. Dont scoff. Ile was elected cheerleader because of It. If I may be allowed one personal moment. I am truly a child of the Stennis era. I was born a year after he went to the United States Senate. lie and my father are almost exact contemporaries. having been born less than a year a part In almost identical towns in Mississippi. They shared other things as wellabsolute honesty and courage. As a small boy. I can remember how proud my father was of Senator Stennis being the first. Democrat to stand up to and expose the bullying and fraudulent Joe McCarthy. In 1973 John Stennis was mugged and shot and was rushed to emergency surgery here in Wasthington. At exactly the same hour in Boston I was undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis. He. In his seventies. got out of the hospital before I did in my twenties. And finally. last year. as the Democratic nominee for Governor. my wife and I cam to Washington. Senator Stennis graciously consented to see me and we visited for more than an hour. Then to my surprise and to my utter delight he came to a function for me. I Introduced him to Julie and he raised himself out of his wheelchair by its arms to speak to her. When she insisted that he sit back down. he replied. "I never sit while being introduced to a lady." That is John Stennis. Its not a coincidence that his office is adorned with plaques reading "Look ahead" and "Mississippi comes first." These are philosophies he takes very seriously and the citizens of Mississippi and the citizens of America arc the beneficiaries. Long ago. Senator Stennis said something that I and other admirers of him would do well to live by. He said "making a living is the main problem of virtually all Mississipplans and I will never forget it. Every legislative problem must be looked at from the point of view." Senator Stennis. you have plowed a straight furrow and we love you for it. Thank you. Senator STEVENS. As the senator from Alaska. John. I bring you greetings from the north. Robert Service. the great bard from my part of the world was looking for you. John. when he wrote these words in the law of the Yukon. "Send not your foolish and feeble. send me your strong and your sanestrong for the red rage of battle. Send me men girt for combat. Men who are grit to the core. swept as the panther in triumph. fierce as the bear in defeat. sired of a bulldog parent. steeled in the furnace heat. Send me the best of your breeding. lend me your chosen ones. Them. I will take to my bosom: them. I will call my sons." Im sure the Mississippians here. are glad that Robert Services words did not lure you north. John. But youre made of the stuff Alaskans admire and wed gladly claim you as our own. Youve seen Washington grow from a small town emerging from the war with few sky scrapers and life at a much slower pace. To where we are now in this new city. new buildings on Capitol Hlill. like Dirksen. Hart. Rayburn. sky scrapers dotting the skyline and life moving at a much faster pace. There were only 96 senators when you got here. John. Hawaii and Alaska were still fighting for statehood. But as time went on and your seniority meant you could choose the committees you want. you choose Appropriations. where the money is and Armed Services. where the power Is. Youre the last senator. John Stennis. that will ever serve on both committees. both of those committees. at the same time. Its true the senate has changed the rules. we can no longer serve on those two committees. Senator Stenntls is the last. And Ill tell you. as one Scotsman to another. you couldt have chosen better assignments. And we couldnt have found a better person to serve on those committees all these years. John Stennis. youve been an inspiration to new senators for four decades. Youve always been there when our nations defense forces needed help. needed encouragement. and advice. Youve now trained a legion of lieutenants. John Stennis. and Im proud to be one of them. As a Republican. Ive sat by your side now for seventeen years and Im honored to Join those who honor you tonight. God bless you always. my friend. Thank you very much. Senator JoHNsTon: Mr. President. Senator Stennis. distinguished friends: When I came to the Senate 16 years ago. green. naive. untutored. Ignorant. and the number of those who can recognize that quality are growing in number all the time. I looked around for a role model. a ierson whose qualities. I thought I could best emulate when I would strive to be the best Senator I could. And you will not be surprised to learn that I chose John Stennis. Why did I choose John Stennis and why did a whole host of other Senators similarly situated throughout the decades choose John Stennis? Well. in my case. It was not because of only what hes contributed to the national defense. although there are only a handfull in the history of this nation who have done as much. It was not because of his skill as a legL.iator or his skill as an orator although few could stand on that senate with that huge voice and that great intellect and that great power and skill. and an intuitive skill as a legislator that John Stennis could. That wasnt really the reason. The reason was because of the remarkable quality of John C. Stennis character. Here is a man who. himself. defines the word integrity. In the Senate. to be a man of integrity means someone whose word you can count on. But to say that for John Stennis Is Just to begin the litany of his qualities. He is a man without duplicity. without a shred of artifice. He is a loyal and forgiving friend. without at the same time. in any way. compromising his own principles. The Senate Is very much a mens club. although we have two very distinguished women. Nancy and Barbara. But in this mens club which is very much like a boys summer campReally. we eat together. we Joke togetherin all of those 16 years. I have never heard one curse word or one dirty Joke out of the mouth of John Stennis. And he could do this without being selfrighteous or goodygoody. And believe me that is an accomplishment. lie is a man who is courageous without being combative. who has never in the 16 years that I have seen him claimed credit for anything. In the United States Senate. do you know what that means? That Is a unique quality. Real humility without. at tile snme t line. failing to recognize ls own self worth. lies dignified without being stiff. patriotic without being chauvinistic. and he has a deep and abiding and securing faith in God without a shred of hypocrisy. Yes. Virginia. there are a few heroes left in America and we honor one tonight. Senator WARNER. Mr. President. Senator Stennis. the many friends of John Stennis who gathered here tonight. First. I would like to ask you to join me in paying recognition to the four horsemen that made this dinner possible: Gray Armistead. K.K. Bigelow. Powell Moore. and Skip Walton. Lets give them all a hand. One of Senator Stennis great friends was Carl Hayden. and he coined that immortal phrase which said that all members of the Senate fall into one of two categories: show horses or work horses. Theyll debate for long in which I fall. but John Stennis falls in as a work horse. And seeing Bob Byrd out here and others tonight. John Stennis leaned over and told the President: "Mr. President. youll not have the opportunity to raise that great continuing resolution again because were going to pass those appropriations bills. Now. thats a work horse. Much has been said about. and properly so. of our guest of honors love for his native state. But in the two decades that Ive been privileged to know him and consider him as really. I say tils with all humility. as a second father. he has sat me literally on his knee and told me many stories about his other state. Virginia. which he loves so dearly. Indeed. the phrase has been coined that Virginia is for lovers. John Stennis affair with that great state began In 1924 when as a young man he walked into the dean of the University of Virginia law school. his office. and in a brief conversation. convinced the dean to take him without even filing an application. My how things have changed! le went on to distinguish himself for the law review and Phi Beta Kappa. But his classmates remember him for the only man in hi. class. so far as I know. the only man in the history of the University of Virginia. including this humble student. who memorized every single word In the United States Constitution and he knows it by heart to this day. Throughout his career. his heroes have been the founding fathers. He has gone back Into Virginia. where many lived to visit their birthplaces. their homes. study their history. As a matter of fact. just a few weeks ago Senator Stennis returned to George Washingtons birthplace and Indeed where George Washingtons mother Is buried. Tonight I picked a quote by General Washington later president who said "Every nomination that I make for public office. I have endeavored as far as my own knowledge extended where information could be obtained to make fitness of character my primary object." John Stennis. you passed George Washingtons test. Now. he has returned again and again to our beloved state but the man. perhaps. that he admires the most is Thomas Jefferson. John Stennis visited Monticello before it was restored. And he told me of his love for that great statesman. I draw on another quote which Jefferson said: "God grant that only men of principle be our principal men." Thats the man we honor tonight. John Stennis. And now. ladies and gentlemen. it is my privilege to introduce my friend. my colleague. the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. the Senator from Georgia. the senior senator. Sam Nunn. Senator NUNN. Thank you very much. John Warner. my good friend. you handled the microphone this evening very well. John. I didnt have to put my hand over it a single time. Mr. President. friends of John Stennis. it has been said that great men are like eagles. they do not flock together. You find them one at a time. soaring alone. using their skill and their strengths to reach new heights and to seek new horizons. Such a man and such an eagle is John Stennis. He is a man. gentle and courteous in conduct but tough and strong in conviction and in character. He is a man of singular purpose and broad visionyet sensitive. and understands of the needs of others. For the last forty years John Stennis has personified the highest ideals of honor and integrity within the United States Senate. Those of us who serve with him treasure his steadfast leadership. his fearless courage. his kindness towards others. his unselfish devotion to public service. and his unshakable faith in God. And in government of. by and for the people. We. the people has special meaning for John Stennis. Long ago. Senator Stennis said of another Senator who had performed his duties well under great pressure. quoting him. "he had the moral fiber. the legal training. and the sense of devotion to duty. More than that. he had a great spiritual reservoir that came to his rescue and served as a solid. strong foundation for him all the way through." End quote. That statement would apply even more to John Stennis. himself. lIe has plowed his furrow straight across 60 years of public life. Despite great physical pain at times and even the loss of his beloved Miss Coy who sustained him and strengthened him through 54 years of marriage. John Stennis career in the Senate and particularly his leadership of the Armed Services Committee were an inspiration to me when I decided to run for the United States Senate. From my first days in the Senate. he has been a patient mentor. a strong and valuable ally. most of all. a cherished friend. As chairman of the Armed Services Committee. he set a standard that all of his successors strive to meet. For me. no higher honor has come my way than serving in the United States Senate with this soaring eagle. When John Stennis returned to the Senate after recovering from a gunshot wound. our late colleague Senator "Scoop" Jackson said of him. "The Senate is now whole again." Its hard for me to imagine the United States Senate next January without John Stennis at his desk. Very difficult. The Senate and the Nation will miss him but his legacy of integrity. of devoted service to his country will inspire the Senate and the Nation for generations to "ome. Our next speaker tonight Is a man who has much in common with our honoree. First. both men have reached their prime in government service at an age that. frankly. most of us will be sitting on our porch thinking only of what time we should feed the dog. The second thing they have in common. both have built a reputation in public service of holding to their firm convictions through thick and thin regardless of what might appear to be the expedient thing to do. Third. both displayed great. great courage recovering from life threatening gun shot wounds. Fourth. both are devoted to our nations security. So I think it Is particularly appropriate that our tribute tonight is really lead by our commanderinchief. This president. like seven other presidents from both political parties. has shown his special appreciation for the leadership and the wise counsel of John Stennis. His presence here tonight befits the way In which Ronald Reagan has brought so much to the office he now holds. He has enlivened us all with his wit. his warmth. his grace. and his sense of optimism that have been so meaningful to this nation for the last seven years. Ladies and gentlemen. it is my high honor and great privilege to present to you the President of the United States. President REAGAN. I want to thank you especially for extending your gracious southern hospitality to this fellow who happened to be raised up north in Illinois. In fact. being here with all you southerners. would you be surprised if It reminded me of a story? It has to do with a yankee who was driving through the deep south in Mississippi and there was a car on the road with a native son driving. and there was an accidentthey collided. The cars were pretty much wrecked but both got out and. fortunately. neither one was seriously injured. And the hometowner. the constituent of our guest of honor. said "wait a minute." he said. "you look a little shaken up . . . Just a second." He went back to his wrecked car and came back with a bottle of bourbon and said "take this. it will settle your nerves." So he took a shot and tried to give it back. And he said "No. no. go on. Go ahead. take another one. Go ahead." About two or three drinks later the yankee said "Hey look. wait a minute. southern hospitality is alright. but here you havent had a drop. You take one." He says "No. Im just gonna stand here and wait til the police come." While were all sorry to see Senator Stennis leave Washington. I want you to know that I have a special reason. You see. Senator. your one of the few fellows left In this town who calls me "Kid." But Senator Stennis. honored guests. and ladles and gentlemen. this gathering tonight truly is a celebration and the man we honor is no ordinary individual. The life and career of John Stennis are legendary in his home state of Mississippi and here in Washington where he has served. as you have been told several times tonight. with quiet dignity for fortyone years. Fortyone years. consider that if you will. Senator Stennis has served in the senate for one fifth of the life of this nation. Probably half of the people in this room tonight had not even been born when John Stennis came to Washington and I suppose there are plenty in the other half whod hardly care to admit it. Over four decades of service in the United States Senate. a period during which this country has undergone tremendous challenge and change. The humble man who came to Washington from a small town in Mississippi has made a impression on American government that is difficult to measure and hard to fully describe. He has demonstrated for all of us that one man committed to God and country. willing to work hard and sacrifice personal gain and comfort. can make a difference. Mississippi can take pride in the accomplishments of John Stennis. but he is a United States Senator and so we celebrate his contribution to all of America. Tangible evidence of the difference between or the difference Senator Stennis has made abounds. Our strong and able military. represented so splendidly here tonight. owes much of its strength to this man who has always been an unwavering advocate of peace through strength. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 70s. Senator Stennis led some of the most crucial legislative battles in history on behalf of our national defense. Back home In Mississippi. the economic opportunities that Senator Stennis has helped to bring about are beyond counting. Today. there is room for even more economic growth in Mississippi. as there is in all the 50 states. But now Mississlpli fully shares in the economic life of the nation. And yet John Stennis greatest contribution to American government has been his abiding example of integrity in public service. From the time he was elected to serve the people or Kemper County in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1928. until this moment. six decades later. Senator Stennis has been under the oath of public office. And for these six decades he has done that oath constant honor. Here in Washington John Stennis established his reputation early in his Senate career. always recognizing the effectiveness of the Senate is harmed when members fail to uphold the highest standards. Its no wonder the Senate looked to John Stennis as a leader when the Select Committee on Standards and Conduct was formed In 1965. And now. Id like to add a personal note. Life has not always been easy for Senator Stennis. We all recall his remarkable recovery from gun shot wounds in 1973. His sense of purpose. his commitment to duty would not allow him to stop or even slow down. Then there was heart surgery in 1983. And then in 1904 there was more surgery. radical surgery. I remember visiting Senator Stennis at Walter Reed Army Medical Center just days after the removal of his left leg. I admit I felt great pain for him. this fiercely independent man forced to undergo such a life altering operation. I went to Walter Reed to encourage Senator Stennis but when I left. it was I who had been strengthened. For even then. from his hospital bed. John Stennis talked of the future of this nation. His determination to return to his post was evident in everything he said. It was December 4th when I made that visit to Walter Reed and Just over a month later. I stood Inside the Capitol to take the oath of office for the second term of president and yes. there was John Stennis. in the front row. Senator. when I consider your career theres a certain comparison that comes to my mind. In troubled places. youve brought calm resolve. like one of the many great fighting ships youve done so much to obtain for the Navy. serene. selfpossessed but like a ship of the line. possessed of a high sense of purpose. That is John Stennis. And Senator if you think Im leading up to something. I am Senator Stennis. and ladies and gentlemen. its my honor to announce tonight that as an expression of the nations gratitude for the public service of the man we honor tonight. the Navys next nuclearpowered aircraft carrier CVN74 will be christened the USS John C. Stennis. Senator. you have devoted your life to the service of our nation. I can do no more tonight than say on behalf of the American people thank you for your dedicated service. Gods speed in your further endeavors. And God bless you. Senator STENNIS. President Reagan. ladies and gentlemen. friends all. let me warmly and deeply thank you for the fine things that youve had to say. Really at the time you said them. I was almost overcome. And I had this thought that I want to share with you. Even though this applause. these words of compliment were truthfully said by the talk of the person. and they meant every word they said with the deepest of feelings and I appreciate it with all of my capacity. but I believe the biggest thing about it Is that they are heartily expressing at the same time their interest In and respect for the free government that we have. I mean every word of that because. one reason. Ive had cause for several years to remember almost everyday that we had to count our blessings. and count our shortcomings. too. and. be firmer and mre demanding and determined with ourselves to live up to the spirit and the words of our great constitution"* like it or not at that moment. in particular. And I want you to understand this. although I am very appreciative of every word you said about me: but those good things let us emphasize that as to our form of government and what my friends and I are going to do to see that it does meet these graver problems that we are confronted with. And I use that time thats already been brought out of how long Ive been there. 40 odd years. Ive used some of that time to try to comprehend more depth in the better way so far as I was concerned. the unmistakable duties of anyone holding an office of trust to make it work or change it around to better meet the occasion and let that be the object of both our affection and our appreciation. Its a mighty good tonic to the person that receives your cheers. ovations. I dont want you to discount it but lets go back and repeatedly emphasize over and over the large and small things and let that that are needed to make our system work. And then do our share. the very best we can in bringing about results that we believe in. that we think are necessary and that we think we can live by. Thats not an uncertain feeling with me. I have assurances of faith. that we ae going to meet that demand and it is a demand on us. May I say that Im not entitled to as much credit as my friends here have given me tonight. even though I appre.late it deeply. I was just trying to do what looked like to be the duty and keep it up the best I could. May I have an indulgent word here. just a minute? Its a little unusual. During these testimonies here tonight. my thoughts went back to my mother and father. I was the youngest child (these have a general meaning or I wouldnt bring them up) and think of my three sisters and my three brothers whove all passed away. but they were here tonight. in part. They were not saints. but some of those good things you said about me fit them better. And anyway thats where I got my start. Thats where I got my sense of direction. And I say that all In the same spirit of love and all in the same spirit of being thankful and trying to point out as a man and a woman does to their own children. that those paths that we think should be cultivated. Now. let me thank you again for every word thats been said. Let me share with you something that I have now. Things like this are an encouragement to me and theyre a part of our personnel and a part of our life. I have four type written pages here that Im not going to read. Just want to give this illustration. I ran for the United States Senate in 1947. more on a hope with a little prayer for light and guidance. virtually no money. didnt require it in those days. And my wife. I want to mention her especially too. getting down to the work part. the planning part. the encouraging part day by day. She was not only an inspiration. an encouragement to me. she did good for all and I pay tribute to her tonight in a semipolitical meeting for having done her part. She always did. But back to the point here. This friend that Im going to quote to you now is an old timer. Hes constable or was in one of our countries where I was circuit Judge and I kept order and quiet in tile court and took police In door by door sometimes. So I had him in charge of the main courtroom door. assigned him his duties and gave him notice on the wall that said when court would open. So two days or three after that election in 47. I got a card from hima postal card. (think it just cost them one penny then to send them.) Weve had a serious time here and good time tonight and this is my small contribution to the good time. lie says "Dear Judge Stennis." he didnt believe in switching over overnight. you know. he said "I am very sorry that you did not receive all of the votes which were cast in my home box." Now. thats very carefully worded. "In fact. though. judge. you did get them all except a few nutty ones." Now. some of you writers try to improve on that as being expressive. "And also. you lost some of the old soreheads." Now. thats good English too. "We are happy that you were elected. Now. we want you to try for Mr. Trumans place. You can win it. You Just round up the votes In tile rest of the country and me and L.M. Prichard will round them up in Oktibbeha County." Well. I didnt hold anymore court there but as long as he lived. I would drive by the courthouse when I went through Starkville and get someone to go in and see If my old friend was there. and if so Id get him to come out or Id go in to see him. Let me close with a thought. of all of our duties and privileges that relate to our constitutional form of government amend it if you want tofor principle. and that we have an obligation there and it yearns for it. if it doesnt get it. it seeks a substitute. and theres where the trouble Is. Whatever Ive been able to do in the Senate is due largely to three things. One is the help and assistance of a fine group of staff. A splendid group. I think anyone to go the road to be an effective Senator these days with that volume of complicated matters. they must have that staff. And I pay special tribute to them. I want to mention. too. the eternal principles of our obligation to try to make it stand up and go through whatever comes in our form of government. Ive made a study. a studynot of reading a book. but made a study of the way the pioneers met their almost unconquerable agencies lines agains them back when they laid the foundation for our great system. And we must train ourselves to set aside some of our energy. knowledge. and knowhow and keep on making our system work. May God help us as we go. Thank you again.