Tony Thurmond: “while each of us is looking forward to adjournment so that we may go home and spend time with our constituents and being…”

“while each of us is looking forward to adjournment so that we may go home and spend time with our constituents and being closer to our family and friends, the end of the 105th Congress is a somewhat bittersweet occasion as many of our colleagues are concluding their careers in the Senate. One member who will not be back with us in January is my friend, Senator Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho. Senator Kempthorne arrived in Washington six-years-ago and very quickly established a reputation for not only being dedicated to the duties and responsibilities of his office, but for being an individual with a keen mind who approached matters before this body in a very thoughtful and deliberative manner. His opinion on issues was always well regarded and void of partisan rhetoric. Though one will never have every member of this Body agree with their position, everyone gave considerable weight to the remarks and positions of the Senator from Idaho. One of Senator Kempthorne's committee assignments was to the Armed Services Committee and I quickly spotted his leadership ability, and in a relatively short period of time, assigned him the chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Personnel.”