shall return unto God who gave it." These words from Ecclesiastes spoken probably ten centuries before the birth of Christ-bare the indelible stamp of permanency. Somewhere, every day, every hour, every minute, they are brought home to someone, and in their train, follow the inevitable pain and sorrow and tears, that we all must bear when loved ones and friends depart from us in this earthly life. The angel of death is no respecter of persons, and each of us will one day hear the beating of his wings Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, And stars to set-but all, Thou has all seasons for thine own, O Death! Mr. President, it was with sorrow that I heard the sad news over the past weekend that our former colleague and friend, JOHN CORNELIUS STENNIS, had passed away at the age of 93. When I came to the United States Senate in January 1959, JOHN STENNIS was a Member of this body, and we served together 30 years-until he retired at the close of the 100th Congress in 1989. So, it is with sadness that I pay tribute to the memory of this departed colleague today. As we grow older, we are obliged to bid farewell to some friend almost every day, and thus does the circle gradually, and all too rapidly, diminish; for There is no union here of hearts That finds not here an end. Mr. President, JOHN STENNIS was a man who achieved greatly in life. For 41 years and 2 months, he represented a great and patriotic constituency in this Chamber, where some of the greatest men of the Republic have served and aspired to serve, and that achievement alone would mark him as a man among men. When we add to this the fact that he served as a member of the Mississippi State House of Representatives for 4 years, as district prosecuting attorney from 1932 to 1937, and as a circuit judge from 1937 to 1947, we begin to realize what a wonderful career we are remembering today-60 years in the public service-in elective positions, where neighbors and friends, who are often more critical than strangers, are the electors! What more could be said by way of eulogy? Volumes could be written and less said. Yet, that is the record of our former colleague and friend, who, in the merciful dispensations of an all-wise Providence, has now passed on to the other side. JOHN CORNELIUS STENNIS was born near DeKalb, Kemper County, MS, on August 3, 1901. He attended the county schools; graduated from the Mississippi State College in 1923, and graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1928. He was admitted to the bar in 1928 and commenced practice in his home town of DeKalb. I had the honor of serving on the Armed Services Committee and on the Appropriations Committee with Senator STENNIS, both of which committees he had served as chairman before his voluntary retirement at the close of the 100th Congress. JOHN STENNIS was an honest man, and he was a good man, as good men go in this life-plain and modest. He was amiable, courteous, and courtly-a southern Christian gentleman, in every sense of the word. He was intellectually honest, a man of great moral rectitude, simply in his habits, and completely devoid of hypocrisy. He was a Senator who loved the Senate and who was dedicated to its traditions. He was conscious at all times, of the great trust confided in him by the people he represented, and he carried in his heart a great reverence for this institution and for the Constitution of our country. His was a steady hand, an upright character. He was a man of justice and fairness to all. He was unassuming in his manner, sincere and firm in his convictions. Devoid of envy, he was ambitious only to serve the cause of justice and humanity, and being of, for, and from the people, he gave his life to their service. In him, the great people of Mississippi had an ever faithful friend and servant. Mr. President, JOHN STENNIS was not a large man physically. He was actually rather slight. But he was a giant. The breadth of his character was huge, and the steel of his courage was formidable. Nothing defeated him-not the bruises of the legislative battlefield; not the frightful attack by thugs in the street, who almost caused his death, near his home; not the death of his beloved wife; not the loss of his leg to cancer. Nothing defeated him. Nothing held him down for long. He always got up again and went on. He struggled, but he prevailed and endured. And he did it all with a quiet, unassuming dignity. He was courtly-ever the gentleman. I called him a Senator's Senator. He represented everything fine about the Senate and everything fine about the human spirit. He was the cream of all things decent that one looks for in a leader and in a man. Had he lived in another age he would have been just as great, as respected, as beloved, and as revered as he has been in his own time. He would have enhanced any company in any situation in any age. But most of all, the indomitable fortitude stands out. There is a courage possessed by some men which is extraordinary-far beyond what most individuals can ever muster in even their best and bravest moments. It is rarely accompanied by bombast and breast beating. It is carried with a quiet and calm demeanor. No outward show is necessary. In his case, the kindly visage gave no clue to the inner steel. He bore his duties and his crises, his joys and his sorrows, with equal dignity. But it was awesome actually to watch. How many times have I come to this Chamber for a vote, bone-weary, and at some dreadful hour in the morning, and seen him sitting straight as an arrow at his desk! There he would be, 17 years my senior, frail, missing one leg, with a pleasant greeting for all, in spite of the hour. In this age of clock-watching, and quality-of-life avocation, that kind of dedication may seem an anachronism. But JOHN STENNIS was dedication and duty epitomized in the human flesh. He showed us by his example. He never lectured, never said, "Do as I do." He just lived an exemplary life, and that was enough to teach all who were fortunate enough to be around to learn. He taught us how to be Senators, he taught us how to bear sadness and brutality without bitterness or surrender or despair. He did so by just being what he was. Mr. President, all that even the greatest of scientists can do is to try to interpret and apply the laws, the immutable laws, the eternal laws of God. Scientists cannot create matter and they cannot create life. They can mold and develop and shape and use them, but they cannot call them into being. They are compelled to admit the truth of the old nursery rhyme, which I am sure the Presiding Officer and the other distinguished Senator from Oklahoma will remember along with me: Nor you, nor I, nor anybody knows, how oats, peas, beans, and barley grows. But the Scriptures tell us of the laws of God, and reveal to us the Source from whence this Earth, the universe, and all of us who dwell here for a split second, as it were-between two eternities: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." The Scriptures also reveal to us that God created man from the dust of the ground, and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul." God then gave Adam a helpmate, Eve, and from those ancient parents, we have all descended, and from them, we have all inherited death. Only a Milton could so incisively provide a fitting epilogue to man's fall from grace. They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld of Paradise, so late their happy seat, waved over by that flaming brand; the gate but wiped them soon; the world was all before them where to choose their place of rest, and Providence their guide. They, hand in hand, with wondering steps and slow, through Eden took their solitary way. As so, it is our inevitable lot to die. But the Scriptures also tell us that we may live again in that long lost paradise from whence our parents came. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name appears in extra-Biblical texts as early as 2000 years before Christ. His name was Job, and from his patient, suffering lips came the age-old question, "If a man die, shall he live again", and later from his lips came the answer to his own question: "Oh, that my words were written and engraved with an iron pen upon a ledge of rock forever, for I know that my Redeemer liveth and some day He shall stand upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this Body, yet, in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." Mr. President, many years ago I read a story of an old Anglo-Saxon king who had his barons at a great banquet. They were eating their venison and quaffing their ale. It was a bitter night outside. The storm raged. The snow was falling thick and fast. Suddenly, into the rude chamber in which they were gathered, there flew through some crack or crevice in the roof a little bird. Blinded by the light and perplexed, it flew wildly here and there and beat itself against the rude beams. Finally, it found another crevice and out it went again into the night. The king, advanced in years, spoke to his barons and said, That bird is like a life; it comes from out of the night. It flits and flies around a little while, blinded by the light, and then it goes back out into the night again. Mr. President, as we witness the passing of a great and good man like JOHN STENNIS, we may well take appraisal of our own public and private merits and remember that we, too, only flit about for a little while, our voices resound in this Chamber for a few days or months or years, and then we are gone. These things are evanescent. Real substantial qualities of honesty, integrity, gentleness, modesty, and generosity will make the life of JOHN STENNIS remembered when much of what we say and do here in this Chamber shall have passed away and perished. JOHN STENNIS is gone. with your skysail set For ports beyond the margin of the stars.. And those of us who had the honor and privilege of serving with him may say of him: His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, "This was a man.” To the family and friends of JOHN CORNELIUS STENNIS, my wife Erma and I extend our deepest sympathy. I saw the sun sink in the golden west, Mr. President, I yield the floor. Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I wish to compliment my friend and colleague, Senator Byrd, for the tribute to our colleague, Senator STENNIS, who served in this body so ably, so well, for so long. His service of 41 years-only the Senator from West Virginia would know who has exceeded that besides Senator Hayden, I guess-but he had a remarkable tenure in the Senate. I had the pleasure of serving with Senator STENNIS. He was a person that had enormous credibility and reputation prior to my coming to the Senate going back for many years. He was even referred to in the Senate as a person known as the ethical watch guard of the Senate, and certainly a Southern gentleman in every single way. He was a real asset to this body, certainly to the State of Mississippi and to our country, as well. We shall all miss him, but not forget the contributions that he made to his State and country. |