January 12, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S279 amongst his Senate colleagues. He ly 11 years until January 10, this past The Senator from Tennessee. served a stint running the Democratic Saturday. He never lost an election for f Senatorial Campaign Committee. public office. Kentucky sent him to the By 1987, he had risen to become U.S. Senate four times, and he was the TRIBUTE TO MITCH MCCONNELL chairman of the Senate Rules Com- first statewide candidate to carry all Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, mittee. That position put him in 120 counties. those who have been listening and charge of the inaugural ceremonies at How does a country boy from Yellow watching for the last few minutes got the Capitol for both Presidents George Creek achieve such success at the high- one good lesson on why Senator H.W. Bush in 1989 and Bill Clinton in est levels of American politics? I think MCCONNELL has been here for over 24 1993. Kentuckians were proud to see because no matter where he ended up, years. This is a day to honor him, but one of their own on the inaugural plat- Wendell Ford never forgot from where he spent virtually all of his time hon- form just footsteps away from the new he started from. Even in his final oring someone else. President. months in the Senate, he still got It is a remarkable and rare event Wendell was chairman of the Joint goose bumps every time he looked up that Senator MCCONNELL could serve Committee on Printing where he at the Capitol dome on his way to longer than Wendell Ford, the man he worked to trim the costs of Govern- work. He remained the same man, par- just honored, longer than Henry Clay, ment printing and implemented the tial to a cigarette and a down-home longer than John Sherman Cooper, and first ever program for the use of recy- tale. longer than Alben Barkley. But all of cled printing paper. That may not be When his duties didn’t require him to us know longevity by itself is not a the type of issue that grabs the biggest be in Washington, he would return transcending virtue, but it is an indica- headlines, but, obviously, official home to Kentucky, as he did most tion of one of the most transcending Washington uses a lot of paper. Wen- weekends throughout his Senate ca- virtues; and that is, the people of Ken- dell was ahead of his time in making reer. A 3-day weekend was a perfect tucky for the last 24 years have seen these environmentally friendly efforts chance to go to the house he and his something special in MITCH MCCON- that are commonplace now, and he family owned by Rough River Lake and NELL, something that is good for Ken- saved taxpayers millions of dollars. do some reading and fishing. He once tucky, in the opinion of Kentuckians, Wendell could see the absurdity of said his idea of a vacation was ‘‘not and something that is good for our some of what goes on in Washington shaving and not wearing a suit.’’ country. I have seen that, too, but for and knew just when to break the ten- Wendell Ford never forgot the truly a longer period of time than 24 years; sion with a little humor. One former important things in his life—his wife 40 years, to be exact. colleague has spoken of one of the Jean, their children and grandchildren, I remember when MITCH MCCONNELL many times the Senate has continued and the simple pleasures of his native came to Washington, not the time he in session until 3:30 or 4 o’clock in the Kentucky. was an intern but as the legislative di- Many of my colleagues will remem- morning, with debate still going on on rector for Senator Marlow Cook. Legis- ber his trademark greeting when he the Senate floor. At one of these times, lative director is a little bit of a walked into a room. He would say: How Wendell nudged the Senator next to puffed-up title for the job at that time, are all you lucky people doing? Some- because in the office of Senator Baker him and said: You know, the people times that would be shortened to sim- of Tennessee, where I had been the year back home think that we are the ones ply: Hey, Lucky! who won. But Wendell never lost sight that he before, there was only one legislative Wendell even appeared once on the was truly the lucky one for receiving assistant. So we were legislative direc- cable channel MTV on a program the trust of the people of Kentucky tors of usually one or two people at a called ‘‘Rock the Vote’’ because of his many times over. He would be the first time, which may seem pretty hard for sponsorship of the motor voter law. to tell you that, and Kentucky and our staff members in this Senate to under- That MTV appearance made him very Nation are lucky as well for having had stand. I remember that by 1969, I moved popular with his grandchildren. Surely his many years of service. the number of U.S. Senators who have Over the next 6 years, as I work my over to work for Bryce Harlow in the appeared sandwiched in between videos hardest to better the lives of everyone Nixon White House. Howard Baker, for Whitney Houston and Billy Ray in Kentucky and the country, I am who had been a good friend of Marlow Cyrus is very small. going to remember the lessons learned Cook, the new Senator from Kentucky, In 1990, Wendell’s colleagues, as my from Wendell Ford’s long career. I will came to me and said: Marlow Cook has friend the majority leader pointed out, remember how his life is a testament a bright young man working for him; elected him to be No. 2 in their party to the success anybody in America can you ought to get to know him. in the Senate, the Senate whip. He held attain, even a country boy from Yellow So I did, 40 years ago. We both stayed in Washington for a that slot until his retirement in 1999. Creek. I will remember what an honor while. We both went home after a few Wendell was elected by acclamation it is to continue in the tradition of years, and in 1978, 30 years ago, we both and without opposition. That is obvi- Wendell Ford and so many other fine were elected to an executive position ously a position of great responsibility public servants who have come from in our home States—I as Governor of and honor, and it speaks to the respect the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Their Tennessee, and MITCH MCCONNELL as Wendell commanded from his fellow service will continue to remind me the county executive of Jefferson Senators. every day that with energy, determina- County, which is Louisville, the big After his election as whip, he said: In tion, and principle, being the Senator county there. Kentucky, we are known for our from Kentucky is the best job I could Then, in 1984, as the record shows and horses. I plan on being a workhorse and ever hope to have. not a show horse. Mr. President, I yield the floor. we all know, he was elected to the U.S. I think knowing Wendell’s work Senate, the only Republican in the ethic, no one doubted he would give his f country that year, I believe, who was all to the job. RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME able to defeat an incumbent Democrat. In March of 1998, Wendell became the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- When Senator MCCONNELL and I were longest serving Senator in Kentucky pore. Under the previous order, the young staff assistants in the Senate, history, breaking the record of the man leadership time is reserved. the leaders of the Senate were Senators he had seen giving a speech more than f Dirksen and Mansfield. There have 50 years earlier, Alben Barkley. That is been many great leaders of the Senate just another accomplishment in a long MORNING BUSINESS since that period of time. All of those list that he has amassed over his ex- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- leaders who were good—and most of traordinarily successful tenure in both pore. Under the previous order, the them were—knew this body, knew the State and Federal Government. Senate will now proceed to a period for Senate. They knew human nature in- Wendell Ford served in this body for the transaction of morning business for stinctively, but they had one other 8,772 days, a record that stood for near- 1 hour. quality, and this is another quality VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:19 Jan 13, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G12JA6.012 S12JAPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with SENATE S280 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 12, 2009 Senator MCCONNELL has. They had ter friend in the Senate or in this life seen fit to send MITCH MCCONNELL back great respect for our country. than MITCH MCCONNELL or his wonder- to the Senate. Last July, I brought onto the Senate ful wife Elaine. In his speech when the Senate moved floor a group of teachers of U.S. his- We have heard a bit about the his- from the Old Senate Chamber to the tory. They were selected, one from tory of Kentucky, we have heard a bit new Senate Chamber, Senator each State, under a program that is about Wendell Ford, but when you put Crittenden said: called Presidential Academies for this into historical perspective and you Senators are the representatives of Teachers of United States History.