Cord Byrd: “One day we will leave this Chamber for the last time. And, if I am able to do so, I will look in a mirror. I will say to…”

“One day we will leave this Chamber for the last time. And, if I am able to do so, I will look in a mirror. I will say to myself: How did you serve? Did you think mostly of yourself? Did you think in terms of only your generation? Did you think in terms of your children's future? Did you think about your great grandchildren? What about that little great granddaughter? She is going to be in school one day. When I look into that mirror, what will I say as to my stewardship during these years when I have served the people in the Congress? If I haven't served well, I shall have cheated that great granddaughter. I shall have cheated my daughters and my grandchildren. I would say as I look in that mirror: When you get all you want in your struggle for pelf, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that guy has to say. For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgment upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the man staring back from the glass. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, For he's with you clear down to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous, most difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum, And think you're a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass will just say you're a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye.”