On the recordJune 29, 2010
I come to the floor this morning to pay my respects to a most amazing man who the Senate Chamber has lost, Senator Robert C. Byrd. It certainly is a sad day for the Senate, for all the people of West Virginia who loved this man so much, and for the entire country, as we mourn the loss of the Nation's longest serving Senator. Robert C. Byrd was a historian, a poet, and he truly was a master of the Senate. We have heard a lot about this remarkable man. A lot of it bears repeating today. He was the longest serving Member in the history of this institution. He had courage. He had humility. He had intelligence. He had a vision that helped lead the Senate for many years. But he also showed us that one can change over time and admit their wrongs and move on and fight for what they believe is right. His principled stands are what I will remember most about him.
