Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have not yet had the opportunity on the floor to express my regret for the passing of Senator Robert Byrd and my incredible respect for the service he gave our country. I was only able to serve with Senator Byrd at the twilight of his career. I knew him in my capacities as Assistant Secretary and then Secretary of the Navy years ago, and I admired him for many years as an individual of fierce intellect. He was a strong proponent of the balance of power, particularly protective of the powers of the U.S. Congress as they relate to the executive branch, which is an area I have also focused on over the years. Senator Byrd had great love for the people of Appalachia. He was their greatest champion. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word--self-made economically, born an orphan, and self-made in terms of his own education. I recall that when I was Secretary of the Navy, I had the authority to name various combatants, and I named a submarine the ``USS West Virginia.'' When I made the statement about why I named it that, I pointed out that West Virginia, in every war in the 20th century, ranked either first or second in terms of its casualty rate. He was someone who never forgot the contributions of the people of that much- maligned State to the well-being and greatness of our country. He left his mark on all of us, and I would be remiss if I didn't express my regret in his passing.”