WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said when he leaves the Senate in January he will do so with his head held high.
The Republican, who turns 82 Feb. 18, 2009, has served in Congress through four decades, the terms of seven presidents, six other Virginia senators and 11 governors, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday.
"I walk out, holding my head high, as able as I've ever been," he was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "I kind of hope that I fade away into history."
The Senate, he said, provides "the freedom to do pretty much as you please," tackling domestic and international issues. Also, senators can travel anywhere "and be well-received by foreign governments, executive branches or parliamentary leaders, because there's only 100 of you."
He called the Senate "a front-row seat on the greatest show on Earth."
Warner, inside the Senate, is widely considered a consensus builder.
"John Warner is very, very adept at governing," said Jim Webb, a Democrat and Virginia's other U.S. senator. "I never have seen him just offer to cut a deal -- he will almost always propose some kind of change."
