Thomas Daschle: “we are all stunned and saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague. Our hearts and prayers are with Senator…”

“we are all stunned and saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague. Our hearts and prayers are with Senator Coverdell's wife Nancy, with his parents, with his family members, his many friends, and, I may say, particularly our colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have lost not only a close friend but a gifted leader. The great English poet Alfred Tennyson wrote of a dear friend who died suddenly: ``God's finger touched him, and he slept.'' Yesterday, God's hand touched our friend. Now he sleeps. And now we mourn. Paul Coverdell's life was too short in years, but it was long in accomplishment: A husband, a son, a friend, a loyal ally, an honorable opponent, an Army veteran, a business owner, a State senator, a Peace Corps director, and a U.S. Senator. In his 61 years, Paul Coverdell filled all of those roles--and more-- with dignity. He spent half his life, and nearly all his adult life, in public service. He and I didn't see eye to eye on a lot of matters. To be honest, I can't think of too many times we found ourselves on the same side of the debate. But I can't think of a single time that he was not fair, that he was not decent, and that he was not honest. Paul Coverdell, above and beyond anything else, was a gentleman. He was a reminder to us that we can all disagree without being disagreeable.”