Cord Byrd: “if I may again claim the floor just for 2 or 3 minutes, I thank the senior Member of this body for his preeminently…”

“if I may again claim the floor just for 2 or 3 minutes, I thank the senior Member of this body for his preeminently gracious and charitable remarks. There is a place named Thurmond in West Virginia. It is down on the New River, and it is a very historic place, an old railroad town. There was a poker game there that continued for several years. I have heard various stories about this poker game that lasted 7 years. Some said it lasted 10, 11 or 12 years. It was evidently a long, long time in its existence. Thurmond is just a small town now--not to be called even a town. But I am very proud that Senator Thurmond of South Carolina has reminded me of Thurmond, WV. I hope Senators will travel through Thurmond at some point. It is on one side of the river, and on one side of the railroad tracks. One can see the beautiful mountain peaks on each side. I thank the Senator, too, for his services to his State and to his country. If one reads his biography, one will find that he is truly a remarkable Senator who has led an extraordinary and remarkable political career, a career in public service. He honors me with his kind words, and I am thankful to the divine hand that guides us all for having let me live and serve in this body with Strom Thurmond now for 40 years. I am grateful for my friendship with him and most appreciative of his kind words this morning.”