Farewell Senator Conrad | Video

Jessica Roose | 12/27/2012

After two and a half decades in Washington, Kent Conrad is finishing up his final term in the Senate. "It was always my dream to be a United States Senator representing North Dakota. So, I realized my dream and you know I`m sure there will never be anything that matches this. But after 26 years, you know, that`s a long time to do anything. So, I`m looking forward to the next chapter," he said.

It`s this chapter he`s ending that will be remembered for years to come. During his two and a half decades in office he`s had to make plenty of tough decisions. He says one of the hardest ones he made is also one he is most proud of.

"One of the things I`m most proud of is that I voted against going to war in Iraq. I think it was a very serious mistake for the country. Because it wasn`t Iraq that attacked us on 9/11, it was Al Qaeda and of course they were operating out of Afghanistan. So I strongly supported going after them in Afghanistan and the war there. But I thought the war in Iraq was a mistake."

Whether you agree with him politically or not, his colleagues on both sides of the aisle say he always had North Dakota`s best interest at heart.

"He is very willing to set aside the politics and say lets work together for the good and for the quality of the state," said former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer.

And when he needed to prove a point, you can bet there was a chart involved.

"Senator Conrad, of course, is known for his charts. I thought at family dinners he was going to come up with a chart of what we were eating and how it was prepared and all of those kinds of things," Schafer said.

Those who worked for him say it was just his way of trying to be the best that he could.

"Kent set such high standards for everything that we did. He wanted to make sure that he was the best informed, most knowledgeable, best position to negotiate everything he did. Whether it be the farm bills that I helped him on or if he was involved in the highway bill or any other thing that was going on in Washington," said Former Deputy State Director Scott Stofferahn.

When he reflects back from when he started in 1986 until know, Conrad says he`s leaving Washington with no regrets.

"I think we`ve accomplished a lot of important things for North Dakota and so I leave with a good feeling."

His last day in office is January 2.

Click here to view the full interview with the Senator.

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