Dale Bumpers: “I was particularly taken by the observation of the Senator from North Dakota about the Gettysburg Address, because Dr.…”

“I was particularly taken by the observation of the Senator from North Dakota about the Gettysburg Address, because Dr. Edward Everett was considered the greatest orator in America. After he spoke for 2, 2½ hours on a very hot, steamy day, Lincoln found it very difficult to stand up and follow a man of such oratorical skills and national renown. On the train on the way back to Washington, he thought that he had been an abominable failure. He could not imagine people taking his words very seriously after that oration. Of course, the rest is history. But I just want to point out to the Senator from North Dakota that Garry Wills has written a great book, just on the Gettysburg Address, really more than I want to know about the Gettysburg Address, but it is a fabulous book which goes into great detail about the events of that day. I would like to share one final observation--and I know the Senator from North Dakota is as well acquainted with these figures as I am-- when you stop to consider that there have been 83 or 84 resolutions to amend the Constitution introduced in the U.S. Congress since January 1995, 83 proposals by Members of this Congress to tinker with that sacred document. There have been 2,300 proposed constitutional amendments since I came to the Senate.”