Official change in balance of power

(6 Jun 2001)
APTN
1. Wide shot of the US Capitol, zoom into Senate side of the Capitol
Pool
2. Wide shot of Senate floor as Senate is called to order
3. Senate Chaplain walks up to podium
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lloyd Ogilvie, US Senate Chaplain
"Today we thank you for the leadership that you've given the Senate, through Trent Lott and Don Nicholls. Now, we ask for your blessing on Tom Daschle and Harry Reid as they assume the demanding responsibility of majority leadership."
5. Senator Robert Byrd walks up to Senate well
6. Shots of Senator Byrd taking oath of office to be new Senate president pro-tempore
7. Senators applaud
8. Byrd takes his position, calls on new Majority Leader
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tom Daschle, Senate Majority Leader
"At a time when Americans are evenly divided about their choice of leaders, they are united in their demand for action. Polarised positions are an indulgence, an indulgence that the Senate cannot afford, and our nation will not tolerate."
10. Cutaway of Senator Byrd listening
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tom Daschle, Senate Majority Leader
"I believe that in this Senate, at this time, on this historic occasion, each of us has something to prove. We need to prove to the American people that we can overcome the lines that all too often divide us. We need to prove that we can do the work the American people have sent us to do."
12. Various of standing ovation in the Senate
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Trent Lott, Senate Minority Leader
"Primarily, I want to extend my congratulations to also my partner and my friend, Tom Daschle, as Majority Leader. I also extend to him my hand of continued friendship and commitment to work with him for the interest of the American people."
14. Standing ovation in the Senate
15. Senator Lott and Senator Daschle shake hands
APTN
16. Workman taking sign down from former Majority Whip's office
17. Cutaway of press
18. Man replaces sign with a new one
19. Wide shot of Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
20. Former Committee Chairman Arlen Specter sitting next to new Committee Chairman Pat Leahy
21. Senator Byrd arrives at the Capitol, smiles and waves
22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Patrick Leahy, New Judiciary Committee Chairman "..Beautiful, sunshiney, clear blue sky... at least that's the way it looks to me!"
23. Exterior of the US Capitol
STORYLINE:
In a historic mid-session change of command, the U-S Senate convened on Wednesday under Democratic control.
Democrats took over a Senate they last led in 1994, other than 17 days last January when little work was done.
With Republicans still controlling the House and White House, the transition gives Democrats their only opportunity for setting Congress' agenda and has made 53-year-old Tom Daschle, the Senate's new majority leader, the government's most powerful Democrat.
Mississippi Senator Trent Lott became Minority leader, after nearly five years in the majority.
Opening the day's session, Senate Chaplain Lloyd Ogilvie called for a prayer asking for a blessing for Daschle and the number two democratic leader, Harry Reid.
A short while later, by voice vote, the Senate elected the senior Senate Democrat, West Virginia's Robert Byrd, as president pro tempore, replacing Senator Strom Thurmond.
It's a constitutional and mostly ceremonial post that is also third in line for succession to the presidency.
Democrats regained control of the Senate with Vermont Senator James Jeffords' departure from the Republican party, made official with Tuesday's closing gavel.
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[@blueknight07]

My father despised trent lott in the 90s and 2000s. Now though he says he'd rather have lott than McConnell today

[@lucabadin]

The former Chairman mentioned at 20. and seen at 3:00 is actually Orrin Hatch, not Arlen Specter.

[@ralphp224]

This is a very extraordinary situation where the balance of power had changed in the senate. I honestly fear that something like this will happen in the current senate. By the way, that senator behind Trent Lott, is he the guy from Alaska who was convicted by the fbi?

[@OwenLenzmeierOrganist]

It certainly looks like Ted Stevens.

[@ryanfriedman4329]

No, Trent Lott’s from Mississippi. Lott has a noticeable southern drawl. Ted Stevens was from Alaska.

[@Progressive2024]

No he’s the guy who was forced to resign due to saying strom thurmond should have won 1948 at his 100th birthday

[@Sulla2300]

Wrong! The balance of power had already changed. Otherwise, Harry Reid would not have been in the chair.