Senate

Dem senator tears up in farewell speech

by Jordain Carney - 12/07/16 11:19 AM ET

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) gave an emotional farewell speech to the Senate on Wednesday as she nears retirement after decades in Congress.

“I want everyone to know, whether friend or foe, whether critic or admirer, I do appreciate the fact that you let me know how you felt about my work one way or another,” Boxer said, crying as she spoke from the Senate floor.

{mosads}Boxer has been in Congress since 1983, and in the Senate since 1993.

She continued to choke up as she read a letter she received from jazz musician Sonny Rollins.

“I wan to thank Sonny Rollins. I don’t know him personally. I met him once. But what he said is all I wanted to do, make life beautiful for people,” she said. “I didn’t always succeed. I didn’t always prevail. I felt the pain of losing many times, but I can honestly say I never stopped trying.”

In addition to praise from her own caucus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) marked the occasion on Wednesday.

“I told her many times that she has every right to be wrong. But, you know, on the things that are really important, we did manage to get things done together,” Inhofe said.

“There’s an awful lot of hate around here,” he added. “But I want you to know I’m truly going to miss you around here.”

Boxer and Inhofe have worked together for years as the top two members on the Senate’s Environmental and Public Works Committee.

Boxer also gave a nod to Hillary Clinton from the Senate floor, noting she won the popular vote, and called the Iraq War her biggest regret.

“It hurt my soul. I came to the floor every day and read the names of fallen soldiers,” she said. “Day after day, I made my case, but the war went on and and on and it took President Obama to finally end that war.”

Retiring senators are coming to the floor this week to give their farewell speeches.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) also spoke from the Senate floor on Wednesday after losing her November reelection bid. Sen. Barbara Miksulski (D-Md.) is expected to speak later Wednesday, and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will give his farewell address on Thursday.

Tags Barbara Boxer Harry Reid Hillary Clinton Jim Inhofe Kelly Ayotte Mitch McConnell