Mike Thompson: “one year ago today, Senator Lott had the sad duty of coming to the floor of the Senate to announce to this body that…”

“one year ago today, Senator Lott had the sad duty of coming to the floor of the Senate to announce to this body that Paul Coverdell, Senator from Georgia, had suddenly and unexpectedly died. While his absence was felt immediately and deeply, only now with the benefit of time can we develop a full sense of the contributions and legacy of this quiet statesman. Few Americans these days take to heart so completely the notion of public service as Paul Coverdell did. From the Peace Corps to his years in the Georgia Legislature to his time in the Senate, he was a model of dedication and sincerity, unwilling to substitute style for substance. He was a serious student of policy and a consistent advocate of deeds over words. Paul was a tireless leader in the effort to reform our education system and I am proud to support legislation renaming education IRAs as Coverdell education savings accounts. His concern for the young people of this country was also demonstrated by his commitment to the fight against the trafficking of illegal drugs. But perhaps above all, he was a great champion of civility. Each time I hear of the need to 'change the tone in Washington,' I think of Paul Coverdell. It is fitting that Congress has now sent legislation to the President that will rename the Washington headquarters of the Peace Corps for Paul Coverdell. I was honored to support that legislation, and I was honored to serve alongside Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia.”