Farewell Address
FAREWELL ADDRESS
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Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as I think about Senator Clinton's leaving the Senate to become Secretary of State, I am reminded of the words of the great English bard William Shakespeare, who wrote that ``parting is such sweet sorrow.''
Senator Clinton's departure from this chamber is a time for joy as well as sorrow. Hillary Clinton has been an effective, hard-working Senator.
When Senator Clinton first came to the Senate in 2001, she asked my advice. Although Mrs. Clinton had been an accomplished and graceful First Lady, she told me that she wanted to excel at working for the State of New York.
I advised her to be a work horse about her new role as a Senator and a work horse she has been, and the people of her State have benefitted.
Following the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, she and I worked with Senator Schumer to secure financial aid for New York City to help the city to recover from that terrible tragedy. For that, she has since referred to me as the ``third Senator from New York,'' and I am very proud of that designation.
Senator Clinton and I have worked together on legislation for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, served on the Budget Committee together, and worked on several important appropriations issues.
Senator Clinton has been an active and aggressive Senator, always mindful of the traditions of this great Chamber. She has won the respect and admiration of everyone.
In her 2008 Presidential bid, Hillary Clinton broke down barriers for women all across this country, and inspired many of them to pursue their own hopes and dreams of a future in politics.
I will miss Senator Clinton. This Chamber has been graced by her eloquence, intelligence, and her natural leadership.
Mrs. Clinton's 8 years as our country's First Lady, and her 8 years in the U.S. Senate, where she served on five different Senate committees, including the Senate Armed Services Committee, certainly qualify her for the high honor of being Secretary of State. She will shine in that office because of her sound judgement, keen intellect, sharp wit, infectious charm, and powerful commitment to making this world a better place.
I congratulate Senator Clinton on her new position and wish her the best of luck and success. These are troubled times and she will have a most difficult job in the years ahead. Speaking at her graduation at Wellesley College, Hillary Clinton declared that, ``the challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.''
I say go to it Secretary of State-designate Clinton. If anyone can make ``what appears to be impossible, possible,'' Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton can and will.
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