Thomas Daschle: “The Senate and the American people will greatly regret the absence of Senator Exon from this Chamber upon his retirement…”

“The Senate and the American people will greatly regret the absence of Senator Exon from this Chamber upon his retirement at the end of Congress. I cannot think of anyone in this body who reflects the concerns of America's heartland and the commonsense approach to problems so prevalent in that part of the country better than the senior Senator from Nebraska. I am very pleased to have been able to call him a friend now for a long, long time. I have always felt a special bond with Senator Exon because he, too, was born and raised in South Dakota. His parents were active in the South Dakota Democratic Party. I do not know if that accounts for his outstanding career in the Senate, but I know it did not hurt. Senator Exon has given a lifetime of public service. He served in the Army in World War II and afterward became a successful businessman and proud father of three. In the 1970's, he was elected twice as Governor of Nebraska, serving longer than any other person in the State's history. He was elected three times to the U.S. Senate, and through his hard work and dedication, he has earned the affection and the trust of the people of Nebraska who know him best. Reflecting his rural upbringing, Jim Exon, without a doubt, is one of the most knowledgeable Members of this body on agricultural issues.”