Cord Byrd: “every class of Senators seems to have characteristics or qualities that make it distinguishable from other classes. The…”

“every class of Senators seems to have characteristics or qualities that make it distinguishable from other classes. The Senate class of 1946, for example, has been considered the ``post-New Deal Republican Eightieth Congress.'' The Senate Class of 1958, my own class, had qualities to which I devoted an entire chapter in Volume I of my history of the United States Senate. The class of 1974 has been referred to as ``Kennedy children'' because of the influence that President John F. Kennedy had on so many of them, and as the ``Watergate Babies'' because so many of them owed their victories to the fallout from the scandals of the Nixon Administration. The Senate class of 1980 was certainly an integral part the ``Reagan Revolution.'' I daresay that the Senate class of 2000 may well become known for, and distinguished by, a renewed dedication to the Senate as an institution. That is what they have brought to the Senate. I have never seen a freshmen class of Senators demonstrate more pride in understanding the rules, customs, and traditions of the Senate as has the class of 2000. They first grabbed my attention early in this session when three of them--namely, Senators Mark Dayton, Bill Nelson, and Hillary Clinton-- came to me and asked for my advice not only on how the Senate works, but also what makes it work, and what they could do to make it work better. I have seen and witnessed so much in my lifetime that few things ever impress me any more, but that did.…”