Cord Byrd: “As I have stated, I don't question the President's legal right to do that. That is not the question. I think the…”

“As I have stated, I don't question the President's legal right to do that. That is not the question. I think the question is, as I have tried to pose it, that the Senate, a body which, under the Constitution, approves or disapproves the ratification of treaties, should have an opportunity, in the case of the ABM Treaty--a treaty of such significance as this one has been and is--the Senate should have an opportunity to debate this. As I have indicated, I think the President should have asked for some advice from the Senate. He does not have to take the advice, but I have seen no evidence of the President seeking advice on this matter. He simply made up his mind to do it and did it.”