Chris Dodd: “I want to take a minute or 2, if I can, to join my other colleagues who over the last several days have paid tribute to…”

“I want to take a minute or 2, if I can, to join my other colleagues who over the last several days have paid tribute to our colleague from West Virginia, my seatmate, Senator Robert Byrd, who, on Monday, celebrated the unique landmark of serving longer than any other person in the history of this remarkable institution. I said to Senator Byrd, my colleague and seatmate, yesterday, his longevity is impressive but his record as a U.S. Senator is really what excels. While serving for 47 years in this institution is certainly remarkable, what he has done during those 47 years is what is truly remarkable. His contribution to the public discourse and debate of our country throughout that time has been truly exemplary. I noted the other day, in fact, that when Senator Byrd was first elected to the House, there was a wonderful picture taken that appeared with Senator Byrd and several other Members of newly minted Congressmen who had been elected in 1952 at the White House with Dwight Eisenhower. In that group of pictures was also a newly minted Congressman from Connecticut by the name of Thomas Dodd, my father. Senator Byrd and my father were elected to the House together in 1952, and came to this body together in 1958. So during these many years of public service, Robert C. Byrd has had to serve with two Dodds in the U.S. Congress, my father and myself. I sit next to Senator Byrd by choice.…”