August 15, 1974
Page 28465
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, today marks a special occasion for the Senate, and for me personally. As of today, our distinguished colleague from Montana, Senator MANSFIELD, will have served as majority leader of the Senate for 13 years and over 7 months – longer than any other leader in the history of the Senate.
MIKE MANSFIELD'S career has been a distinguished one. He began serving his country more years ago than he may care to remember, when he was 14 years old and joined the Navy during World War I. He came to Congress first in 1943, and after five terms in the House came to the Senate 21 years ago.
But in my own tenure here, Mr. President, my friend from Montana has always been a member of the leadership – first as assistant majority leader, a post to which he was elected in 1957, and since 1961 as majority leader.
Senator MANSFIELD can take a major part of the credit for the achievements of Congress over those years. His leadership is important because it is based on the personal respect and affection in which we all hold him.
Mr. President, I am proud to be his colleague, and will always cherish his friendship.