Pete Domenici: “I wanted to say a few words before the leader left. I even hate to call him leader or majority leader. He has become a…”

“I wanted to say a few words before the leader left. I even hate to call him leader or majority leader. He has become a great friend. I don't know how to explain it, but I didn't really think coming to the Senate that I would have a chance to meet somebody like our good departing leader. I have met all kinds of people here. Henry Bellman once said: If you sit down with all 100 of them, no matter what you have said about criticizing them, there are no better 100 men put together in America than the 100 Senators who serve. I believe that is true. I am wondering now about whether the Senator wouldn't rival military leadership. But the point is, I didn't think Bill--I know we can't do that in the Senate, use first names--but I didn't think I would ever meet in the Budget Committee of the U.S. Senate--sitting in the very last seat available was this man whose name is so simple, but I had so much trouble with it. Do you remember? I didn't say 'Frist,' I kept saying 'First.' I don't know why, but I did that for a long time, and then it became sort of a--people would come up and punch me so I would say it right. But whether it is 'Frist' or 'First,' I guess they mean about the same thing to me. You are truly first. What we have gone through personally will not be reflected in the Record. People know I have had a few years of illness. It is mostly gone now. But I found out he was a superb doctor, and eventually I found out there weren't too many better anywhere.…”