J. Exon: “It has been a sheer pleasure to serve for the past 18 years with Bennett Johnston. Since the time I came to the U.S.…”

“It has been a sheer pleasure to serve for the past 18 years with Bennett Johnston. Since the time I came to the U.S. Senate in 1979, I have always admired Bennett's determination and rugged individualism. Bennett Johnston possesses many of the qualities that make this institution great, not the least of which is his ability to compromise. Some have called him the master of compromise. I, for one, have always admired his ability to work both sides of the aisle. And as we all know too well, a willingness to look past partisan differences is something of precious commodity in the Senate these days. Whether it was oil and gas price deregulation, the Supercollider, the Tongass National Forest, or nuclear waste disposal, Bennett always delved deep into the heart of the matter regardless of how complex or controversial. While we may not have always agreed on the issues, I have always known I could rely on him, time and again, for his wise and fair counsel. And, I did. For over two decades Bennett Johnston has been a dedicated public servant to the great State of Louisiana. As the Nation moves toward the new millennium, his service to this body and this country will not be forgotten. I salute Bennett Johnston, and Pat and I wish him all the best for the future.”