August 7, 1972
Page 27019
SENATOR ALLEN J. ELLENDER
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I wish to express my deep sadness on the loss of a great Senator and good friend, Senator Allen J. Ellender.
Senator Ellender's last days were so characteristic of him – vigorous campaigning in his beloved Louisiana, followed by a rushed trip back to Washington for an important Senate vote. He was always a tireless public servant, committed to excellence in all that he did and the welfare of those he served. Age never diminished his powers. Long years of service never dulled his spirit. He passed from us as he always lived – actively engaged in the important events of his State and Nation.
Senator Ellender was a powerful man in the Senate, in part because of his long years of service, but more fundamentally because of great legislative skill and his mastery of his work, particularly in the agriculture and appropriations areas where his wisdom shaped the judgment of so many Senators for so many years. He immersed himself in his task without losing the broad perspective. He implemented grand designs through attention to detail.
Senator Ellender's legislative breadth was enormous. Food stamps, school lunch programs, rural development, farm income programs, water pollution control, flood control, national security, the Federal budget – these are only a sampling of the critical programs and areas Senator Ellender helped shape. Indeed, for the sheer productivity of his work, I doubt that Senator Ellender had any equal in the Senate.
But Senator Ellender's full contribution cannot be captured in a litany of accomplishments. He set, by the force of his example, standards for excellence and hard work in the Senate that challenged the capacities of us all. His presence was a constant reminder of our high responsibilities. His love for the Senate as an institution deepened our awareness of our special opportunity to serve in this great deliberative body. Senator Ellender, in short, achieved mightily and inspired us all.
Few men have had the privilege to serve their country over so long a period as Senator Ellender. Few men have filled their years with such enduring accomplishments. The Senate will miss him, and I will miss him in a very personal way.
I extend my deepest sympathy to Senator Ellender's son and to his grandchildren, to whom he has left an imperishable legacy.