Thomas Daschle: “Five years ago, Gary Sisco came to Washington and came to the job as Secretary of the Senate with the full confidence of…”

“Five years ago, Gary Sisco came to Washington and came to the job as Secretary of the Senate with the full confidence of then-majority leader Trent Lott. Today he leaves the Senate, leaves his job as Secretary of the Senate, having earned the full confidence of now-majority leader Tom Daschle. That did not just happen because he had the title. It happened because he worked at it. It happened because, in spite of the long tradition that he had of working for very able Members of the Senate on the Republican side in the Senate and the House and Governor, he came leaving his Republican credentials at home. He came working with us as Democrats and Republicans, equally serving his country and serving this institution as ably as anyone can. As Senator Lott has noted, the mark of a good and able public servant is one who leaves his job in a better position than when he came. I can say without equivocation Gary Sisco has met that test. It has been my pleasure to work with him. I have come to admire him and respect him, and I also respect the position he has taken with regard to this particular resignation.”