high school senior class of nine students can travel from a desk in that small school to a desk on the floor of the united states senate. i was thinking about the late ted kennedy. ted kennedy, full of passion and on certain days when he was agitated and full-throated you could hear him out on the street fighting and shouting for the things he knew were important for america. i feel unbelievably proud to have been able to serve here with these men and women for so long. i thank my colleagues. >> from regent, north dakota, senator byron dorgan. senator, i don't think we're going to be making news here tonight, but i'm going to take this opportunity to tell "the ed show" show audience and many who listened on the radio for years that i've taken my political lead from you for a long time, and you are a dear friend, you are an honest man, you are fair