Remembering Senator Robert C. Byrd

Floor Speech

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I come to the floor this morning to pay my respects to a most amazing man who the Senate Chamber has lost, Senator Robert C. Byrd. It certainly is a sad day for the Senate, for all the people of West Virginia who loved this man so much, and for the entire country, as we mourn the loss of the Nation's longest serving Senator.

Robert C. Byrd was a historian, a poet, and he truly was a master of the Senate. We have heard a lot about this remarkable man. A lot of it bears repeating today. He was the longest serving Member in the history of this institution. He had courage. He had humility. He had intelligence. He had a vision that helped lead the Senate for many years. But he also showed us that one can change over time and admit their wrongs and move on and fight for what they believe is right.

His principled stands are what I will remember most about him. I was so proud, back in 2002, to stand with him and a total of 23 Senators who voted against the Iraq war. I will not forget how strong he was, reminding us that as a country we do not have to act out of fear. I was proud to stand with him many times since then, when he would knowingly wink at me and remind us of the 23 who stood tall in the Chamber that day.

His floor speeches were legendary. I remember so many times throughout my tenure with him as he railed on the floor about whatever passion he had at the moment, whether it was his little dog he would tell us a story about or some part of history he wanted to remind us of, always with a point at the end. I remember his compassion as he spoke, and his flailing arms. He always reminded us that we are human beings here. He had a true way with words, and he literally wrote the book on the Senate. Most importantly, he protected this institution from every attack.

To his very last days here he was weighing in on proposed changes to the filibuster rule, a rule he played a central part in reforming three decades ago.

But the true honor of serving with Senator Byrd came from his personal touch. I personally so remember my very first meeting many years ago with Senator Byrd. I came here as a brandnew Senator in 1993. I wanted to serve on the Appropriations Committee, the committee he chaired. It is a very powerful committee. It was a big ask for a freshman Senator coming in. I was told that in order to get that seat, I would have to call him up and ask for a personal meeting. That was pretty intimidating, coming here brandnew and asking for a meeting with the chair of the entire Appropriations Committee.

He granted the meeting. I remember walking over to the Capitol to his office and not knowing what to expect. I couldn't have known what to expect because, when I walked in, I found this warm, wonderful, cordial human being. He regaled me with stories from his youth and talked about being a coal miner's son and the poverty he grew up in. He showed me his fiddle he was so proud of but that he played no more. He told me poetry he recited from memory. I remember sitting in his office and thinking: I can't believe I am sitting here with a part of history. Then, of course, he grilled me on my stance on the balanced budget amendment and the line item veto before he said: Yes, I would like you to serve on my committee.

I have been so proud to serve on that committee with him ever since. He taught me so much about protocol, about managing legislation, about the rules of the Senate, about respect. Yes, respect was what I think I learned from him most. He was a taskmaster. He believed passionately in the rules of the Senate, but he also believed in working together for the common good.

In the first year I was here, Senator Hatfield, Republican from Oregon, and Senator Byrd were the chair and ranking member on the Appropriations Committee. Senator Byrd called and asked me to come to lunch in his office with a small group of Senators, with Senator Hatfield and myself and several Democrats and Republicans. I was so honored to be asked, and I came over not knowing what to expect. Senator Byrd and Senator Hatfield, a Republican and Democrat, a chair and a ranking member of the most powerful committee, the Appropriations Committee, sat and talked to us about what they felt was being lost from the Senate and that, as new Members, it was our responsibility to return the Senate to. That was respect and listening to each other. They told us in words about how ``one year I might be chair,'' said Senator Byrd, ``but I know full well an election will change things and Senator Hatfield will become chair. So we better work together, and we better respect each other, as we put our bills together. Because you never know when you are going to be in the minority or the majority.''

Their words were powerful. But even more powerful was sitting there listening to these two gentlemen, a Republican and Democrat, listen to each other, laugh together, have lunch together, and pass on a lesson to those following us about what we all need to be when we call ourselves United States Senators.

Senator Byrd earned many titles over the years: majority whip, majority leader, chairman of the Appropriations Committee. But I know the title he cherished the most was husband. His love of his family trumped everything else.

I so remember one time my husband, who lives out in the State of Washington--as my colleagues know, I travel home every weekend to be with my family--one weekend my husband came out here to be with me. Why? Because it was our anniversary. I was going to be here voting so he traveled here from Washington State and came into the Capitol. As he was coming in, I met him. Senator Byrd happened to be leaving the Senate Chamber. He saw my husband and he welcomed him and said: What are you doing out here in the other Washington? My husband said: It is our anniversary. Senator Byrd said: Well, which anniversary is it?

Rob said to him: It is our thirty-second. Senator Byrd paused and nodded, and he said: That is a good start.

He had been married for 67 years. He was going home to be with his wife. That is a moment I will cherish, because it sets in perspective all that I know about Senator Byrd. He taught by example. He taught by words. He knew humor and how to use it. But most of all, he had respect for every one of us here.

He was a gentleman. He certainly was tough. But he treated everyone with dignity and respect. Everyone here on this floor has been molded by his presence. We have learned so much from him, and he will be missed.

But I know for certain his work and his passion and his spirit will never be gone from this Senate he loved so much, and I know as I walk on this Senate floor, I will try and remember, as he taught me so well, respect of others above all.

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