Transcripts For CSPAN Washington This Week 20161211 : vimars

Generals. He will also be talking about the heritage foundations 2017 index of strength, which measures americas military readiness and current threat environment. Joins usdi weingarten from new york city to talk about the trump administrations education policy, and what effect the nomination of betsy devos as education secretary will have on the apartment, and the China Studies Program director at Johns Hopkins school of International Studies discusses what impact president elect trumps recent conversation with the president of taiwan might have on u. S. Chinataiwan regulation relations. Join the discussion. Retiring Senate Minority leader harry reid of nevada was honored with a ceremony thursday at the capitol. It included the unveiling of a portrait of senator reid, which will hang near the senate chamber. Among the speakers, Vice President joe biden and former secretary of state hillary clinton. This is two hours and 15 minutes. [chatter] [inaudible conversations] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [cheers] [applause] sen. Mcconnell i must say this is a bit of an out of body experience for me. [laughter] its notnnell everyday the Vice President and secretary clinton come to visit us at the capital, but its not every day that a democratic leader gets to show us how he looks on campus. I know our guests wouldnt miss it. I know landra and the rest of the reid family wont miss this moment either. Its great to see all of you here. You will hear some tributes to harrys service shortly. I offered my own on the senate floor earlier today. One of the stories i told was about landra and harrys first date. He promised her a movie, she wound up push starting his car. [laughter] but unlike most teenagers, she didnt storm off or complain. She reassured harry instead with a warm smile. Harry said that smile changed him. He said that stuck with him through the decades and so has landra. They have been by each others side through the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs, the political spheres, health scares, they have seen it all. But we havent. We still havent seen harry in two dimensions. [laughter] sen. Mcconnell im sure you are all curious to see what lies behind that curtain. Is it harry sitting in his office . Is it harry leaning on a this . Cactus . [laughter] sen. Mcconnell is it harry highfiving bryce harper . [laughter] sen. Mcconnell we will find out soon enough as soon as the Vice President finishes his remarks. [laughter] sen. Mcconnell actually you may be here for awhile. [laughter] sen. Mcconnell in any case, let we welcome everyone. Congratulations, harry. Now on with the show. [applause] good afternoon everyone. Thank you leader mcconnell for your hospitality and your kind words about our special guest. The presence of such honored guests is a testimony to the towering leadership of harry reid. Vice president joe biden, president of the senate and most beloved Vice President in our history, and i mean that sincerely. [applause] rep. Pelosi secretary and senator hillary clinton. [applause] [cheers] rep. Pelosi thank you for your immeasurable contributions and leadership to our country. Senator Chuck Schumer and outstanding leader in his own right who build on senator harry , reids legacy. [applause]