Thomas Daschle: “I would like to call to the Senate's attention an impressive milestone that a member of this body will reach this…”

“I would like to call to the Senate's attention an impressive milestone that a member of this body will reach this weekend. On Saturday the senior Senator from Kentucky, my friend and Democratic Whip, Wendell Ford, will have served the state of Kentucky in the Senate for the 8,478th day. He will become the longest-serving Senator in Kentucky history. While I suspect that Senator Ford might be more concerned this weekend about how his beloved Kentucky Wildcats will fare in the NCAA basketball tournament than about achieving any personal record, I hope he will allow me a few minutes to recognize this tremendous achievement. It gives me great personal satisfaction to see Senator Ford cap his distinguished Senate career by reaching this milestone. It is also appropriate that Senator Ford does so by surpassing the length of service of another great Senator from Kentucky, the former Democratic Leader and then Vice President of the United States, Alben Barkley. Wendell Ford began his Senate service back in December 1974. In 23-plus years, he has made his mark in the Senate in an extraordinary number of ways: as a tenacious fighter for the people of Kentucky, as a skilled parliamentarian and orator, as a leader and faithful soldier of his party, and as a genuinely warm, funny, and down-to-earth human being.”