Senator Howard Metzenbaum

Floor Speech

SENATOR HOWARD METZENBAUM -- (Senate - March 13, 2008)

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, all of us are deeply saddened with the loss of an extraordinary Senator and a great human being: Howard Metzenbaum. We extend our condolences to Shirley and to the members of the Metzenbaum family.

He truly was the conscience of the Senate for so many years. This is an institution made up of 100 individuals, and all of us wonder whether any of us can make much of a difference in a group of 100. But history will show that Howard Metzenbaum made an extraordinary difference in this institution and for the working men and women of this country whom he championed.

He was an unabashed champion for those who were left out and left behind. So often their interests and their well-being are forgotten, but they never were when Howard Metzenbaum served in this institution.

Reference has been made to one of the great battles, among the many he fought, and that was on this issue of the deregulation of natural gas. Howard and Jim Abourezk and a few of us were interested in that issue. We were following the leadership of Howard Metzenbaum. He absolutely infuriated every Member of this body as he kept us here day and night, day and night, rollcall after rollcall, but he would not give up, and he would not give in.

All of the Members were in an uproar, until finally a solution was reached and the Senate went in adjournment. As Senator Metzenbaum walked out on the Senate steps, Senator after Senator came up and congratulated him. They all were expressing a viewpoint that was unsaid, but they were basically saying beneath their breath that they hoped they could be the champion for their interests as Howard Metzenbaum was a champion for the interests of working men and women in this country.

Howard could scold, he could hassle, he could provoke, he could cajole, but he also could smile and he could joke. He had a warm heart and a brilliant mind. He was a Senator's Senator. He will be greatly missed, but he will be greatly remembered as well for his service to this institution, which he loved, and for the people of Ohio, whom he served so nobly.

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