Bob Dole: “last evening we received the news of the passing of a dear friend and leader in this Chamber, Strom Thurmond. Strom…”

“last evening we received the news of the passing of a dear friend and leader in this Chamber, Strom Thurmond. Strom Thurmond retired this year at the age of 100 after more than half a century serving the people of South Carolina and our Nation as a Senator, as Governor of South Carolina, and as a State legislator. Remarkably, his career in the Senate spanned the administrations of 10 Presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush. His passing last night certainly will be felt by so many Members of this Chamber who had grown accustomed to the courtly gentleman from South Carolina. But his life leaves a lesson for us all in compassion, respect, civility, dedication, and hard work. Before he was elected to the Senate in 1954, as the only write-in candidate in history to win a seat in Congress, Strom Thurmond was elected county school superintendent, State Senator, and circuit judge. He resigned his judgeship to enlist in the Army in World War II. He landed in Normandy as part of the 82nd Airborne assault on D-Day and, the story goes, flew into France on a glider, crash-landing in an apple orchard. He went on to help liberate Paris, and he received a Purple Heart, five Battle Stars, and numerous other awards for his World War II service. My husband Bob and I were honored to have known Strom Thurmond for so many years and to count him among our very special friends. He and Bob shared a great deal of common history, dating from their World War II days.”