Pete Domenici: “I was unexpectedly elected to the Senate and I never had been a legislator anywhere. I was on a city council. I sit…”

“I was unexpectedly elected to the Senate and I never had been a legislator anywhere. I was on a city council. I sit here--but I sat in that second-to-last seat and waited my turn. And what a long time it took. I was never blessed with the luxury, Senator Byrd, that you have been in your life of being on the Democratic side all of your life and having such huge majorities from your side of the aisle. When I arrived, there were only 38 of us. We didn't have to worry about this kind of agreement, as you know. The Democratic majority was a huge majority and they ran every committee. They were in charge and they got a lot done. But what I learned, so there be no mistake about it, was to work with Democrats. I learned to work with them when we got up to 44, and I learned to work with them when we got up to 46, and what a thrill when we finally got a majority. I still have more legislation passed here, there, and yon that is bipartisan. I wish to say from the very beginning, I pledge to try to make this work.”