Thomas Daschle: “nearly 26 years ago, I arrived in Washington as a newly elected Congressman with an urgent desire to help the people of…”

“nearly 26 years ago, I arrived in Washington as a newly elected Congressman with an urgent desire to help the people of my State but not nearly as much knowledge as I wanted about exactly how to do that. Having good ideas and getting those ideas enacted into law, as my old friend Paul Wellstone used to say, are often two very different matters. I decided to call on some of my heroes men who were serving in Congress then who had contributed greatly to the life of our Nation and whom I admired. One of those men was Claude Pepper. Another was Mo Udall. Both shared their time and wisdom generously with me and gave me advice that has guided me all these years. In 1988, Mo Udall wrote a wonderful book entitled ``Too Funny to be President.'' I recommend it to anyone, especially those who have the privilege of serving in elected office in our great democracy. The ability to see humor in one's own circumstances and to share a good-natured laugh with others is essential if you are going to last long in public office. Mo Udall dedicated his book ``to the 3,000 members of Congress living and dead with whom I served for nearly three decades.'' As I prepare to end my own nearly three decades in Congress, I, too, am deeply grateful to all of the Members of Congress living and dead with whom I have had the privilege of serving and from whom I have learned so much.”