[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Senate] [Pages 7652-7653] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]DESIGNATING THE HENRY CLAY DESK Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 89, submitted earlier by Senator McConnell. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 89) designating the Henry Clay Desk in the Senate Chamber for assignment to the senior Senator from Kentucky. There being no objection, the Senator proceeded to consider the resolution. Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is my distinct honor to support this resolution submitted today by Senator McConnell assigning the Henry Clay Desk in the Senate Chamber to the senior Senator from Kentucky. This resolution will ensure that the Henry Clay Desk will forever stay within the family of Kentucky Senators. The Senate has a proud tradition of passing this type of resolution. During the 94th Congress, for example, the Senate adopted a resolution assigning the Daniel Webster Desk to the senior Senator from New Hampshire. And, during the 104th Congress, the Senate agreed to a resolution ensuring that the Jefferson Davis Desk would forever reside with the senior Senator from Mississippi. Let me take a brief moment to reflect on the life and legacy of Henry Clay. Henry Clay began his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1803, at age 27, and remained in public service until his death in 1852. During Clay's long and distinguished career, he served his state and his nation in a wide range of capacities including speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and, of course, as a U.S. Senator for fifteen years. Clay also served President John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State for four years, and received his party's nomination for President in 1824, 1832, and 1844. Henry Clay's ability to facilitate compromise was quickly recognized in Washington, and he became well-known as a highly-skilled negotiator. This skill, coupled with his knack for convincing and persuasive speech, made Clay the ideal appointment in 1814 to help negotiate the Treaty of Ghent that concluded the war with Great Britain. And, during Clay's quest to save the Union in 1820, he earned his reputation as ``The Great Compromiser'' by helping broker the Missouri Compromise. His leadership, however, did not end there. He also went on to play a significant role in crafting the Compromise of 1850. Henry Clay's lifetime of public service is indeed worthy of recognition. He will always be a role model for public servants because of his dedication to the people of Kentucky and to our great Nation, and lives on his history as one of the greatest Senators of all time. In fact, Henry Clay's portrait is displayed just off the Senate floor to honor his designation in 1957, as one of history's ``Five Outstanding Senators.'' Clay certainly deserves today's honor of committing his former desk to Senator McConnell and to the senior Senators from Kentucky who will follow. Mr. President, let me say today that I think Senator McConnell is following in the footsteps of Henry Clay. He has done a tremendous job representing the good people of Kentucky for the past 15 years. And, on a personal level, I would like to say that I have developed a genuine appreciation for Senator McConnell's courage, his political insight, and his keen and candid advice on a wide range of subjects. I value him as a friend, a confidant, and an advisor, and look forward to many more years of service with him here in this chamber. Mr. President, I am proud today to support this resolution submitted by Senator McConnell. It is his strong [[Page 7653]] desire to maintain the heirloom of the Clay desk in the family of Kentucky Senators for the years to come. I urge the Senate to adopt this resolution and ask that it be included in the collection of the Standing Orders of the Senate. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 89) was agreed to, as follows. S. Res. 89 Resolved, That during the One Hundred Sixth Congress and each Congress thereafter, the desk located within the Senate Chamber and used by Senator Henry Clay shall, at the request of the senior Senator from the State of Kentucky, be assigned to that Senator for use in carrying out his or her senatorial duties during that Senator's term of office. ____________________