Thomas Daschle: “in his thought-provoking book, ``The Faith We Have Not Kept,'' Senator Strom Thurmond writes: The nation that ceases to…”

“in his thought-provoking book, ``The Faith We Have Not Kept,'' Senator Strom Thurmond writes: The nation that ceases to expand its consciousness begins to die at that very moment. Once a nation loses its conviction of truth, doubts, and self-doubts rob it of its will and its strength. During his 41 years and 10 months in the U.S. Senate, Senator Strom Thurmond has certainly helped ensure that this great Nation continues to expand its consciousness and to ensure that we never lose the conviction of truth. In so doing, he has helped our Nation continue to thrive and prosper and build its will and its strength. For these reasons, we admire as well as honor the man who this past Sunday, on May 25, became the longest serving Senator in the history of the United States. From the start, I want to make it clear I have not always agreed with the senior Senator from South Carolina. In fact, we probably disagreed more than we have agreed. But I also want to make clear that my disagreements with him have never once diminished my admiration for him as a man, as a lawmaker, and as an American. Never once have our differences reduced my respect for his tenacious fights for the causes in which he believes and his adherence to what he has called the bedrock for all our expectations, the Constitution of the United States.…”