After creating history breaking the record of the speech of the longest Senate in history, Senator Cory Booker told journalists as he left the floor that he was painful and tired, but grateful for his time.
“I didn’t know how long I could go. I’m very grateful to have lasted 25 hours,” Booker said.
Without taking a seat for the entire speech, dehydration, said the New Jersey senator, had his pros and cons.
The American senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) talks to the press at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP through Getty Images
Booker avoided a matter of whether he had any type of device or diaper to help him with the bathroom demands.
However, he said he did not need to use the bathroom during the entire 25 hours due to an incredibly rigorous fasting routine.
“My strategy was to stop eating. I think I stopped eating on Friday and then stop drinking the night before starting on Monday. And that had its benefits and really had its inconveniences,” he said.
The American senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) talks to journalists when he leaves the Senate Chamber after pronouncing a record floor speech in the United States Capitol on April 1, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Katopodis/getty images
“The most important thing I was fighting was that different muscles were really starting to calm down, and occasionally, spasm or something.”
Booker’s speech, which began on Monday night, continued for a total of 25 hours and 4 minutes, exceeding the previous record established by Senator Strom Thurmond, who filibusized the Civil Rights Law of 1957 for 24 hours and 18 minutes.
Booker was “very aware” of Thurmond’s record to speech.
“I was very aware of Strom Thurmond’s records since I arrived in the Senate. I always felt it was a strange shadow to hang on this institution,” Booker told journalists.
“The mission was to really raise the voices of Americans to tell some of their really significant stories, very emotional stories and let go and leave God.” To prepare, Booker said he tried to do as light as possible, and took everything out of his pockets, except a notebook with a biblical verse written by hand: Isaiah 40:31. “But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength; they will ride with wings like eagles, they will run and will not be tired, and they will walk and not pass out,” Booker said.
He trusted his faith, he said, at a time praying with Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock before speech.
During the entire marathon Talk-A-Thon, Booker occupied the small space of space that surrounds his desk.