Chris Dodd: “before our friend from Arkansas leaves the floor, let me also say, if his children are watching, they should be very…”

“before our friend from Arkansas leaves the floor, let me also say, if his children are watching, they should be very proud of their father. I have had the privilege of serving with the Senator's father. In fact, we sat next to each other as I arrived here as a freshman Senator. The Pryor and Dodd families go back for some time. I want you to know that what you and your 13 colleagues did last week--and nobody can say for certain where this is going to lead, but you have given this institution an opportunity to continue its tradition of providing the one place in Government where all voices can be heard. That is not true in anyplace in the executive branch, necessarily, or the judicial branch. And even in the legislative branch, in the other body, the majority rules. The Senate is the one place where all voices must be listened to. Because of what you and our 13 other colleagues--6 other Democrats and 7 Republicans--were willing to sit down and try to fashion, we have been given a chance to live up to the longstanding, historic traditions of this place in which we have been privileged to have been elected to serve. There have been 1,884 of us in 218 years who were chosen by our States to represent their interests and the Nation in the Senate. I can just say to my friend from Arkansas, you will be involved in a lot of issues during what I hope is a long career for you here in the years ahead.…”