Word: dirksen
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Posies. Some ten feet away from Dirksen, drinking it all in, was North Dakota's Non-Partisan League Senator William Langer. Dirksen's speech, said Langer, "brought tears to my eyes. I wondered if we should not include in the resolution a provision for sending flowers to Senator McCarthy, and whether we should not debate the kind of flowers which should be sent-whether they be forget-me-nots, chrysanthemums or roses...
...Said Dirksen: "We could send to Joe McCarthy a note, this afternoon, in which we could say to him, 'Joe, we are going to have the Senate take a recess from day to day; we are going to be here to catch you the minute the revolving door of that hospital lets you out into the world.' That would be a healing sentiment, would it not, Mr. President...
...amazing it is, Mr. President," Dirksen continued, "that when a man lies in pain in a hospital, to send him a message at once so cynical and so brutal. Where are the common charities, after all, Mr. President? How bad must be the evil acids eating at the soul if finally they stir in such a way our passions and our tempers . . . Mr. President, there is fever and there is pain. The least we could do in an effort to be charitable would be to recess the Senate, in consonance with the suggestions made by eminent medical authority. When Senator...
...Everett Dirksen apparently could not decide if Langer was being facetious. He finally decided to play the North Dakotan straight, and as always, Dirksen was ready with a flowery reply. Said he: "The only thing I know in the rulebook about flowers is that there is in the general rules appertaining to the Senate a provision that flowers must not be brought into the Senate Chamber." It would be best, he thought, for individual Senators to follow their consciences about sending bouquets to Joe. But, he added, "Any Senator is at liberty to send flowers ... if the sweet and gentle...
When the ten-day adjournment was finally voted, the pro-McCarthy Republican Senators could scarcely conceal their delight. Ev Dirksen unintentionally explained why. Leaving the floor, he was asked by newsmen if some sort of filibuster was in prospect. Dirksen seemed shocked. "Goodness me, no," he replied. "Nothing could be further from the fact, that I'm trying to prevent a vote. Time is always a great healer, its soothing effect brings peace of mind." Then he paused, and added: "I don't know whether a vote can be reached...