i'm glad, also, to see in our midst one of the rocks of gibraltar -- there are only two--the real rock and strom thurmond. [laughter] [applause] he is the only remaining senator with whom i took the oath of office when i first came here. i'm greatly flattered by the presence of so many of my peers. and i can say something good about every one of you because i know something good about you. clio being my favorite muse, let me begin this evening with a look backward over the well-traveled road of history. history always turns our faces backward, and this is as it should be, so that we might be better informed and prepared to exercise wisdom in dealing with future events. "to be ignorant of what happened before you were born," said cicero, "is to remain always a child." so, for a little while, as we meet together in this hallowed place, let us turn our faces backward. so, for a little while, as we meet together in this hallowed place, let us turn our faces backward. look about you. we meet tonight in the senate chamber. not the chamber in which we transact our business daily now, but the