Thomas Daschle: “In the earliest days of our Nation, George Washington said it was the duty of public servants to ``raise a standard to…”

“In the earliest days of our Nation, George Washington said it was the duty of public servants to ``raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair.'' In his more than five decades as a public servant, Senator Edmund Muskie not only raised the standard of wisdom and honesty in public office. On many occasions and in many ways, he set the standard. Today I join my colleagues and, indeed, all of America, in saying goodbye to this extraordinary American. Senator Muskie served two terms as Governor of Maine--something of a minor political miracle in such a rock-ribbed Republican State. He also served with great dignity and distinction as our Nation's Secretary of State under President Carter. But it was his service in this Chamber, and as his party's candidate for Vice President, for which Senator Muskie will be best remembered--and rightly so. In 1974, I came to Washington as a Senate staffer. Senator Muskie had already served 15 years. What first impressed me about him was his compassion, and his unshakable belief in the infinite possibilities of America.”