The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S12165-S12166 on Oct. 2, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS
Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I want to take a few movements to salute all of our colleagues who are retiring from the U.S. Senate. These are individuals of uncommon character and devoted service--individuals who have strengthened their Nation and enriched each of us who has had the opportunity of serving with them.
We all know who these 13 Senators are. In retiring, they will undoubtedly affect the composition and character of this important legislative body. Over the weeks, these Senators have been recognized by their associates, colleagues, friends and constituents. Many tributes have been offered here on the floor.
Today, I would like to express my personal gratitude not only to all 13, but to several Senators who had a particular influence on me, the committees on which I serve, and our agendas in those respective committees.
Senator Howell Helfin is retiring after three terms as the honorable Senator from Alabama. In our years of working together--getting to know each other in our service to the North Atlantic Assembly--I have grown to appreciate and admire this great gentleman. He has judicial temperament, one that I imagine was carefully cultivated in the many years which prepared him for his service here in Washington.
Senator Heflin has a keen understanding of diplomacy and America's eminent position in the world. His dedication to the North Atlantic Assembly, our international interests, along with his service in the Senate, and to his fellow Alabamans qualify him for that honored distinction of statesman. And I feel richly rewarded for the time I've been able to spend with him.
Senator David Pryor, also retiring after three terms, is another colleague I want to salute personally. He's the other half of the fly-
before-buy duo. Together we worked to create the operational and live fire testing laws for weapons. He was critical in our efforts, instrumental to our success.
Many authors and military personnel have documented the lives saved as a result of problems discovered and corrected in operational live fire tests. In other words, there are men and women today who, perhaps unknowing, owe a great deal of gratitude to Senator Pryor and his tenacity in seeing this legislation through.
Despite many attempts to ignore and circumvent these laws by the defense buying bureaucracy, Senator Pryor and I provided rigorous oversight, regardless of which party controlled Congress. When the Democrats were in charge, Senator Pryor chaired the hearings. I chaired when Republicans were in charge. Our objective was never lost, and the work moved forward. Our commitment was always to the courageous soldier in the field--the individual dependent on the weapon systems.
Another Senator with whom I've had the pleasure of working closely is Sam Nunn, one of the most honorable, fair and bipartisan leaders I've known. Sam and I have alternated between chairing and serving as ranking minority member on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations since 1981. On many occasions, our staffs worked together on joint investigations.
We launched the first congressional investigation identifying crack cocaine as a significant drug problem. We investigated airline safety, and explored the Justice Department's handling of the Jackie Presser ghostworkers issue. Senator Nunn has been a staunch opponent of waste, fraud, and abuse, and he has gained world renown as an expert in matters of defense and foreign affairs.
Most recently, he and I launched the first investigation of Russian organized crime activities in the United States, continuing PSI's longstanding history of being Congress' primary organized crime investigator.
I am also grateful to Senator Nancy Kassebaum and her leadership in health care. Nancy is another one of the profoundly thoughtful Senators who serve as the catalyst for important policies and laws. She was certainly a catalyst in the effort to successfully pass the medical savings account demonstration program, as part of our effort to make health care more accessible for Americans.
Another retiring Member of the Senate, after five terms in Senator Mark Hatfield, a man whose dedication to principle has distinguished his career in the State House as well as on Capitol Hill. Among his many legislative successes, I'm grateful for Senator Hatfield's work on behalf of Amtrak, as well as his objective analysis and contributions to debates and initiatives through the years.
Likewise, Hank Brown, and his rugged, no-nonsense approach in promoting a strong foreign policy and fiscal responsibility. Hank and I have served together on the North Atlantic Assembly, and we have joined efforts to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. His eloquence and clear logic make him unusually effective and a pleasure to work with--not to mention his love for St. Bernards--another devotion we share.
I appreciate Bill Cohen, our distinguished senior Senator from Maine. Senator Cohen is a noted novelist, a poet. I've found many of his speeches brilliantly enriching, especially a speech he gave a few years ago about the changing culture around us. Bill has been a dogged proponent of cutting waste, fraud, and abuse on the Government Affairs Committee, and he has been active in our efforts to understand and build relationships of trust with the nations of the Pacific. He will be remembered not only for his work with ASEAN, but for his efforts on behalf of NATO, and his chairing of the Munich Conference.
Finally, Mr. President, I want to recognize Senator Alan Simpson, a good friend and revered colleague. There are few men who become legends in their own time, but Al is certainly one of them. His easy-going, affable manner and ready wit were equal to his majestic stature and trademark smile. There hasn't been a time when Al's opened his mouth to speak that I haven't waited in anticipation for some new sparkling gem of wisdom, a witty turn of phrase, or an outright joke.
Al taught us, as his mother taught him, that humor is the irreplaceable solace against the elements of life; hatred corrodes the container it's carried in. With his humor, he could diffuse even the most impassioned and tensely difficult moments.
It was Al who, during one very difficult period--a period of some contention on this floor--told us of the successful marriage philosophy he shares with his wonderful wife, Ann. It was a simple philosophy:
``Never go to bed angry * * *'' he said. ``Always stay up and fight!''
During another heated moment, in the middle of the confirmation hearings on Judge Robert Bork, Al reminded us, with his western charm, the ``Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.''
And it was Al who taught us how to deal with the media. Once, when pressed for his church preference, he answered: ``Red brick!''
Indeed, as the liberal commentator, Mark Shields, has recognized,
``Al Simpson is a man of uncommon wisdom.'' With his retirement, he not only leaves behind a rich legislative legacy, and dear memories for friends, but a reputation akin to that which attends Will Rogers. I can only imagine that in the years and decades ahead, Al, like Mark Twain, Will Rogers, Winston Churchill, and other great wits, will come to inherit aphorisms and jokes that he never told. But then, those of us who know him, realize that he truly deserves such an honor.
It has been my pleasure to serve with Senators Simpson, Cohen, Brown, Hatfield, Kassebaum, Nunn, Pryor, and Heflin--as well as with Senator Simon, who we saluted with our bowties last week, Senator Bennett Johnston--four successful terms from Louisiana, Senator Exon, and Senator Bradley, who I've had the pleasure of serving with on the Finance Committee. And I appreciate Senator Pell, another fine leader who leaves a great legacy, both at home and abroad. Mr. President, I salute all those who are retiring this year. Each has lived a life in deeds, not words, and in their actions have written their legacy on tablets of love and memory.
____________________
