On the recordDecember 2, 2020
we all know that Lamar Alexander is a person of tremendous character and judgment, and it is not just because he asked that young woman in the red shorts that he met at that softball game so many years ago to marry him, who happens to be from Victoria, TX, which demonstrates his enormous good judgment. Certainly, we wish him and Honey the best in this next chapter of their lives. When I think about Lamar Alexander, I think about all of the Lamar- isms, and we have heard some of them here today: ``Find the good and praise it''--quotes his friend Alex Haley, which I think kind of speaks to the optimistic, positive view of life that we could use more of. Then I remember other words. He said: If you want to get a standing ovation before any group of individuals, you need to say, ``It is time to put the teaching of American history and civics back into its rightful place in our schools so our children can grow up learning what it means to be an American.'' He has talked about Alex Haley, his friend, who told him how to give a speech by telling a story. Aristotle also had an idea about how to give a great speech. He basically broke it down to three components. One is the logical argument, another is the emotional argument, but then another is about establishing your authority. It is about the character of the speaker.…
