Byron Dorgan: “the Senate, for all of the notice it gets in the national press, is nonetheless still a family of sorts. We are 100 men…”

“the Senate, for all of the notice it gets in the national press, is nonetheless still a family of sorts. We are 100 men and women who come to this fashion of public service from different points on the compass, from all across the country, and from different backgrounds--Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. We work together a great part of the year in this Chamber, and we spend a lot of time in our respective States. We have become friends. Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, nonetheless, are close personal friends in many cases. We are going to be saying good-bye to a number of Senators this year. I wish to, before we complete our work this week, say a word about a number of those who will be leaving. I actually threatened last week, I say to the Senator from Texas, Mr. Gramm, for example, to say a word about him. I will do that today in a moment. I will start with Senator Jean Carnahan, if I may.”