And regrettable task to honor someone who secured all three parts of that senatorial crown. The senior senator from tennessee. The chairman of the committee on Health Education of labor intentions. Alexander. And i 31 set foot here is a talented young staffer. He did. In decades later he appeared before us is a super successful former governor and University President the nomination. For the past 18 years, we got new serve on one of the most popular senators modern american history. Ive known him for more than 50 years. We 31 met in 1969 when i was working for senator, cook. He worked down in the executive branch. We made the suggestion of his previous boss and mentor. He just off to serious young guys and even some livelier social lives. Now this may shock you. Im afraid that we did not exactly go crazy and paint the town red. As young men. But i will take a five decade friendship any day. Both of us headed back home to continue our prayers. Right future would likely lay in store for
First, let me add my words of fond farewell to my friend lamar alexander, the touching moments between the leader and the senior senator from tennessee moving to all of us. Senator alexander and i have not always agreed, but what an amazing and capable legislator and true statesman he has been. He has been in the middle of things for much of his 18 years in the senate, not because hes some ideologue in his corner, because he is someone who has always been willing and insistent on reaching across the aisle, on hearing another senators perspective, searching for Common Ground no matter how narrow it may be. He searches to do the right thing. I remember, the immigration bill. Watched him wrestle with it and turn and i knew in my heart, to do the right thing. Some real political consequence to himself. A man of principle. Almost every morning for a long time, and more often than not we found each other on opposite side. We learned the rules committee for a number of years. I will never spe
Burnable task to honor someone who secured all 3 parts of that triple crown. The senior senator from tennessee, chairman of the committee on health education, labor and pensions, Lamar Alexander. When i first set foot here is a talented young senator decades later, he appeared before us as a super successful former governor and University President with a nomination to the cabinet and for the past 18 years, we served along one of the most impactful senators in modern american history. I have known Lamar Alexander for more than 50 years. We first met in 1969 when i was working for freshman senator named marlon cook and he worked in the executive branch. We met at the suggestion of his previous boss and mentor senator howard baker. Either he suspected our paths might cross a result two serious young guys with lively social lives. This may shock you, mister president but im afraid young Lamar Alexander and young Mitch Mcconnell did not go crazy and paint the town red. I will take a 5 deca
My friend chuck for their remarks. I will have more to say to them later. On march 9th, 1967, senator howard baker junior, the newly elected senator from tennessee made his maiden address, his first speech on the floor of the senate. He spoke for too long. The republican leader of the senate who was also bakers father in law, walked to congratulate him and said howard, occasionally you might enjoy the luxury of unexpressed thought. Which is good advice for farewell address as well. Senator bakers legislative assistant, i was also a speechwriter that made an address, or at least i thought i was. He developed a bad habit of not saying what i wrote for his speech. I asked to see him, do i have a problem with our relationship . Write what you want to write and say what i want to say. I learned a couple other things about saying what i want to say. One came from alex haley, the author of roots, you heard him speak once and said may i make a suggestion . If when you begin a speech you would
Will talk about later to get to senator alexanders remarks at the 10 30 scheduled time. Thank you, mister president. It is such an honor to be here and to join my colleagues in paying tribute to senator alexander, there are many that want to speak and have a few words to say. All of us wish we could do this to a background of music with lamar playing the piano. That would be the proper setting but i am so pleased to stand and honor the three terms of service in this body and the way he touched the lives of individuals in this body and millions of tennesseans. We know that he has talked about it in his remarks, he has worked with educators. He has worked with innovators. He has worked with the healthcare community, and works with entertainers, many of whom called tennessee home. When i was serving in the house and representing tennessees seventh Congressional District so many times i would look over here and i would say what is lamar not working on today because he always had such a bro