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Male voice: A new member of the Ninety-Second Congress is Senator William Roth of Delaware. Roth was sworn in today after Senator John Williams resigned to give

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his successor a seniority advantage over other new senators, an action characteristic of a man noted for both self-effacement and effectiveness,

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as Roger Mudd reports. Roger Mudd: John James Williams, aged sixty-six, of Millsboro, Delaware, is retiring. A victim of his own principle that

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no one should hold public office beyond seventy. But he always has been a loner and his conservative convictions are awesomely consistent.

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No federal subsidies for the rich, the poor, or the crooked. He became the conscience of the Senate with an investigative technique

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bordering on the primitive. No money, no committee forum, no power of subpoena, no TV, and no staff other

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than his original secretary, Eleanor Lenhart, who helped him build a voluminous file and a network of tipsters and the exchange of leads

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with such reporters as Clark Mollenhoff now back on the beat, even while he worked at the White House,

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continued to use Williams as an outlet. The Senator's critics are few. The few say he was inclined to overstate his accusations of

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wrongdoing or that his vision was limited because of his self-made money as a chicken farmer. But Williams's own view

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of the Senate is charitable. Senator John Williams: I'm leaving the Senate with a tremendous respect for the membership of the Congress.

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They're, in general, a hardworking, dedicated group of men. I think the government, in looking back in history,

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we had problems before. And one thing that I've always tried to emphasize: corruption has no political affiliation.

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I came here to help work on the legislation and like to think that I've done my part in that connection.

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I had no idea of ever getting into the investigating work. But it was called to my attention where certain people may have abused their public trust,

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and when that's called to the attention of any public official, he has a responsibility, in my opinion, to see if it's right.

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And if it is, take the appropriate steps to handle it, which I did. Roger Mudd: As Williams uttered those words, there were tears in his eyes

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and a wobble to his chin. Then the bells rang and the Senator headed toward the floor for one of his last roll call votes.

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Senator John Williams: I made the decision. It was not a hasty decision. But when you leave, certainly there's going to be, you

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leave with certain amount of regrets and there's going to be an adjustment to be made. I recognize that, because I've enjoyed this work.

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But on the other hand, I really look at it. I'm going to open another career. I'll be busy and I'd

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like to get back home too. Roger Mudd: Of the eight retiring members, none leaves a record more difficult to surpass.

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A quarter-century battle for honesty and ethics in government. Roger Mudd, CBS News, Capitol Hill. Mike Wallace: Mike Wallace for Roger Mudd.

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Goodnight from New York.