Frank Lautenberg: “we could not help but note the sadness we all experienced as our friend and leader, Tom Daschle, made his goodbye…”

“we could not help but note the sadness we all experienced as our friend and leader, Tom Daschle, made his goodbye speech. As usual, when Tom Daschle spoke, it had meaning, substance. He certainly had that as he closed his chapter here--I hope not his book, just his chapter. He talked about things he cared about and people he cared about and what it is that drove him to take this job. Everyone knows how difficult a task being a leader in the Senate is. It is not always realized outside this Chamber how hard one has to work to please so many, to sacrifice so much in terms of personal life. Tom Daschle, our leader, distinguished Senator from South Dakota, outstanding leader--not just for this side of the aisle but the entire country. He lost an extremely tough, close race a couple of weeks ago. Tom Daschle is the stuff of which so many of our lives in the Senate are made. It is a sad day. It is not just a sad day for me, who treasured the friendship I had with Tom Daschle, listened carefully to his words and followed, for the most part, the directions he portrayed for all Members here, it is a sad day, obviously, for Tom Daschle's family; it is a sad day for the Senate and a sad day for everyone in this great country of ours.”