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Bob Dole had a great farewell session in the Senate Chamber his last day before engaging on that whiz-bang Presidential campaign in 96. Strom was at the gavel as Prez Pro Tem, and Dole and Byrd were exchanging platitudes when the subject of Strom's legendary filibuster came up. Dole looked up to Strom and asked "How long was it?" and Strom had it down to the minute - "28 hours, 17 minutes. 45 seconds." That was, by the way, a continuous discourse by Thurmond over that time. Dole looked over at Byrd and said:

"That's why he's never asked to be an after dinner speaker."

They were also talking about Byrd's filibusters, where Bagman Bobby'd be deep in the events of his past life as a Senator in Augustan Rome, and Dole recalled how Byrd was saying "This is undemocratic. Would Cicero accept this kind of measure?" Dole stepped into the well, asked for an inquiry recognition, and said "I just conferred with Senator Thurmond, he served with Cicero, and he assured me Cicero WOULD support this measure."

Different type of Democrat and Senate comity back then. The Dems today are hitmen.