Cord Byrd: “I join with my two illustrious leaders in saluting Senator Thurmond--truly an outstanding Senator. None of us has ever…”

“I join with my two illustrious leaders in saluting Senator Thurmond--truly an outstanding Senator. None of us has ever seen a Senator like Senator Thurmond. He has served in the U.S. Senate 44 years. He has accumulated scores of honors, awards, and accolades. Today, he adds yet another accomplishment to his roster of achievements: the casting of his 15,000th vote in the Senate. This is a remarkable milestone for a remarkable individual. I would suggest if anyone wants to read a truly remarkable autobiography or biographical sketch, they read in the Senate Congressional Record about Senator Thurmond. I have never seen anything like the accounts of his career. Casting fifteen thousand votes in the United States Senate represents a record of service that few in this Chamber can hope to achieve in a lifetime. For Senator Thurmond, it is only part of the story. It was only after a rich and varied career that spanned more than three decades--a career as a teacher, a decorated World War II soldier, a governor, and a lawyer in private practice and he studied Blackstone; Blackstone; not many lawyers can say they studied Blackstone--that Strom Thurmond embarked on a new chapter in his life. In 1954, at the age of 52, he became the first--and only--person to be elected to the Senate on a write-in ballot. That is a remarkable achievement in itself.…”