Dan Coats: “I too am privileged, like the rest of us, to have served in this body as an associate and colleague of Strom Thurmond. I…”

“I too am privileged, like the rest of us, to have served in this body as an associate and colleague of Strom Thurmond. I was 5 years old when Strom Thurmond ran for President. I learned about him in studying history and government in school. I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to know the man personally and to be a colleague of his and serve with him. Much has been said that I heartily agree with about the stature of this man, the remarkable career that he has had and is having, and his remarkable service to the people of South Carolina and to our Nation. I am one of those who share with the Senator from Delaware the pleasure and surprise of a phone call from Strom Thurmond on the day of my daughter's wedding apologizing for not being there, congratulating me and congratulating her. I, like Senator Biden, hadn't a clue as to how he found out my daughter was being married. I never mentioned it to him. But there he was.”