Don Nickles

Mr. NICKLES

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I rise on behalf of all my colleagues in the Senate, Democrat and Republican, to say thank you to Senator Dole for his years of service in Congress, House and Senate, but especially the Senate, especially for his leadership, for his willingness to really embody what leadership is all about. The man from Russell, KS, has indeed done very well. The man from Russell, KS, has overcome a lot of difficulties, and truly been a national hero. I was with Senator Warner, Senator Mack, and Senator Dole in Italy where Senator Dole nearly lost his life in Castel Diano, and I realized what real leadership was all about, that a young man from Russell, KS, risked his life, almost gave his life, to reestablish freedom in a faraway land. I saw the love and respect that the people had in northern Italy for Senator Dole, and my respect and admiration for him only grew. It has grown as we have shared many fine years in serving together, and I thought about this, most of our colleagues here have only known Senator Dole as the leader or minority leader. Some have had the pleasure of serving with Senator Baker and Senator Byrd, as majority leader, but to our leader, we want to say thank you for your service not only to Kansas but to our country, for reaching out in bipartisan fashion and making great changes for this country. I remember when you were elected chairman of the Finance Committee, tax rates were 70 percent. When you were finished, they were 28 percent. The economy really grew. You forged bipartisan working relationships with everyone. You are well liked by every Member in this body. I want to apologize to my friends and colleagues that have been coming to me for the last hours, saying, ``I want to speak,'' because we could not accommodate all the requests. I ask unanimous consent following the swearing in of Senator Frahm, that we will keep the Record open for the remainder of the day so that remarks can be added to the remarks made earlier this morning.

Mr. NICKLES. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I compliment my colleague from Virginia and now recognize the Senator from West Virginia, Senator Byrd.

Mr. NICKLES. I thank my colleague from North Dakota, and I yield 2 minutes to the Senator from Virginia.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I yield 1 minute to the Senator from North Dakota.

Mr. NICKLES. I yield to the Senator from New Jersey, 2 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. I compliment Senator McCain for an outstanding, moving, inspirational speech that I hope my colleagues will have a chance to review. I ask unanimous consent to postpone the time allocated to Senator Byrd and Senator Daschle to 11:45.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, next in order for appearance, I know on the unanimous consent request Senator Byrd had this time. He is not here right now. I yield to the Senator from Arizona 5 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I compliment the Senator from Missouri. That was a truly outstanding statement. I want to announce to my colleagues that I have several colleagues seeking a lot more time than we have available. I hate to disappoint colleagues because I know many wanted to speak prior to Senator Dole's speech at noon. We may not be able to accommodate everybody. I cannot accommodate everybody on the floor, and that disappoints me greatly. If I stay on the order of requests, the Senator from New Mexico actually has been here for some time, and I know the Senator from Arizona has also. We actually have a unanimous-consent request that would allow Senator Byrd to speak at 11:30. And the Senator from Virginia and the Senator from New Jersey would like to speak. That makes it very difficult. I would call on the Senator from New Mexico. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from New Mexico. If my colleagues could not spend all of that time it would be greatly appreciated.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank Senator Gorton from Washington for an outstanding statement. I yield 5 minutes to Senator Ashcroft from Missouri.

Mr. NICKLES. I thank Senator Inhofe, my colleague, for his statement. I now yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Washington, Senator Gorton.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I wish to thank Senator Grassley from Iowa for an outstanding statement. I yield 6 minutes to the Senator from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank Senator Simpson for his comments and for the excellent working relationship that he has enjoyed with Senator Dole over the years. As all of us know, he is retiring as well. Certainly, he will be missed. His wit and wisdom will be missed in this body, as well. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Iowa, Senator Grassley.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank Senator Snowe for her outstanding comments. I now yield 5 minutes to the senior Senator from Wyoming, Senator Simpson.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I yield the Senator from Maine an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I compliment Senator Gramm for an outstanding and very strong statement. I now yield to Senator Snowe from Maine 5 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Rhode Island for his excellent remarks. I now yield 5 minutes to Senator Gramm from Texas.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank Senator Thomas, from Wyoming, for his remarks. I yield to the Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Chafee, 5 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank Senator Campbell for his outstanding statement. Next, I yield to Senator Thomas, from Wyoming, 5 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank our colleague from Texas for a beautiful statement. I now yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Colorado, Senator Campbell.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank our colleague from Florida. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Texas.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Utah for his excellent speech. I appreciate his comments very much. Next, I will yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Florida.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Minnesota for his comments. I call upon Senator Bennett from Utah for 5 minutes.

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Kansas for her eloquent remarks. She has known Senator Dole and worked with Senator Dole maybe closer than any of us over the last several years. She, likewise, will be retiring this year and certainly will be missed by all of us in this body. She has brought a certain degree of civility that is certainly needed in this body. I compliment Senator Kassebaum for her statement. Next, I call on Senator Grams from Minnesota.

Mr. NICKLES. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield to the Senator from Kansas, Senator Kassebaum, 5 minutes.