[Senate Document 104-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S.Doc. 104-27
Ronald H. Brown
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
S. Doc. 104-27
Memorial Tributes
Delivered in Congress
Ronald H. Brown
1941-1996
Secretary of Commerce
---
Compiled under the direction
of the
Secretary of the Senate
by the
Office of Printing Services
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
xi
Proceedings in the Senate:
Resolution of respect..............................
1
Tributes by Senators:
Abraham, Spencer, of Michigan..................
32
Daschle, Thomas A., of South Dakota............
17, 30
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut...........
24, 37
Remarks by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith....
28
Newspaper article from the Irish Times......
29
Dole, Robert, of Kansas........................
24
Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin.............
17, 30
Feinstein, Dianne, of California...............
15
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
2
Hollings, Ernest F., of South Carolina.........
5
Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas................
40
Kempthorne, Dirk, of Idaho.....................
40
Kennedy, Edward M., of Massachusetts...........
3, 33,
41
Articles from the Washington Post...........
34
Tributes to Charles Meissner................
42
Tribute read at the Metropolitan Baptist
Church....................................
3
Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut...........
7
Lott, Trent, of Mississippi....................
1
Mack, Connie, of Florida.......................
23
Moseley-Braun, Carol, of Illinois..............
23, 32
Moynihan, Daniel P., of New York...............
57
Sarbanes, Paul S., of Maryland.................
53
Remarks by F. Allen Harris..................
53
Remarks by Harold Ickes.....................
54
Remarks by Secretary of State Warren
Christopher...............................
55
Simpson, Alan K., of Wyoming...................
47
Newspaper tributes to Charles Meissner......
47
Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania................
20
Exhibit 1, Disinvesting in diplomacy........
21
Warner, John W., of Virginia...................
19
Proceedings in the House:
House Resolution 406...............................
124
H.R. 3560..........................................
170
Tributes by Representatives:
Becerra, Xavier, of California.................
164
Bereuter, Douglas, of Nebraska.................
72
Bishop, Sanford D., of Georgia.................
146
Clay, William (Bill), of Missouri..............
154
Clayton, Eva M., of North Carolina.............
60, 66,
68, 71, 73, 74, 77, 110
Clyburn, James E., of South Carolina...........
73
Collins, Cardiss, of Illinois..................
78
Conyers, John Jr., of Michigan.................
87
de la Garza, E. (Kika), of Texas...............
75
DeLauro, Rosa L., of Connecticut...............
153
Dellums, Ronald V., of California..............
120
Dingell, John D., of Michigan..................
69,
128
Tribute to David Ford.......................
163
Dixon, Julian C., of California................
85
Tribute to Ron Brown........................
85
Dornan, Robert K., of California...............
162
Dunn, Jennifer, of Washington..................
152
Eshoo, Anna G., of California..................
151
Farr, Sam, of California.......................
101,
119
Tribute to Adam Darling........................
166
Fazio, Vic, of California......................
150
Fields, Cleo, of Louisiana.....................
148
Forbes, Michael P., of New York................
130
Ford, Harold E., of Tennessee..................
144
Fox, Jon D., of Pennsylvania...................
134
Franks, Gary A., of Connecticut................
140
Letter of condolence sent to the Brown
family....................................
140
Frazer, Victor O., of the Virgin Islands.......
81
Gejdenson, Samuel, of Connecticut..............
147
Gephardt, Richard A., of Missouri..............
90,
123
Gilchrest, Wayne T., of Maryland...............
168,
170
Gilman, Benjamin A., of New York...............
158
Gingrich, Newt, of Georgia.....................
126
Hefner, W.G. (Bill), of North Carolina.........
147
Hoyer, Steny H., of Maryland...................
140
Remarks by Brigadier General William J.
Dedinger, Deputy Chief of Chaplains.......
142
Remarks by the President....................
142
Hyde, Henry J., of Illinois....................
144
Jackson, Jesse, Jr., of Illinois...............
135
Jackson-Lee, Sheila, of Texas..................
94
Jacobs, Andrew Jr., of Indiana.................
77
Johnson, Eddie Bernice, of Texas...............
86
Johnson, Nancy L., of Connecticut..............
66, 69
Kennedy, Joseph P., II, of Massachusetts.......
157
Kennedy, Patrick J., of Rhode Island...........
89
Kennelly, Barbara B., of Connecticut...........
131
Lantos, Tom, of California.....................
92
Tribute to P. Stuart Tholan.................
100
Tribute to I. Donald Terner.................
102
Lazio, Rick A., of New York....................
161
Levin, Sander M., of Michigan..................
147
Lewis, John, of Georgia........................
82
Martinez, Matthew G., of California............
161
Tribute by Dave Ross........................
161
Martini, William J., of New Jersey.............
151
Matsui, Robert T., of California...............
84
McDade, Joseph M., of Pennsylvania.............
157
McKinney, Cynthia A., of Georgia...............
145
Meek, Carrie P., of Florida....................
95,
128
Millender-McDonald, Juanita, of California.....
160
Morella, Constance A., of Maryland.............
80
Ney, Robert W., of Ohio........................
135
Norton, Eleanor Holmes, of the District of
Columbia......................................
64,
133
Oberstar, James L., of Minnesota...............
169
Owens, Major R., of New York...................
98,
155
Payne, Donald M., of New Jersey................
107,
112, 137
Pelosi, Nancy, of California...................
103
Portman, Bob, of Ohio..........................
145
Poshard, Glenn, of Illinois....................
117
Tribute to Gerald Aldrich II................
165
Rahall, Nick J., II, of West Virginia..........
121
Rangel, Charles B., of New York................
105,
139
Regula, Ralph, of Ohio.........................
92
Roth, Toby, of Wisconsin.......................
136
Rush, Bobby L., of Illinois....................
155
Scott, Robert C., of Virginia..................
109
Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr., of Wiconsin......
118
Shays, Christopher, of Connecticut.............
74,
138
Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, of New York........
90
Solomon, Gerald B.H., of New York..............
132
Spratt, John M., of South Carolina.............
134
Traficant, James A., Jr., of Ohio..............
83,
152
Watt, Melvin L., of North Carolina.............
96,
146
Watts, Julius C., Jr., of Oklahoma.............
159
Wise, Robert E., of West Virginia..............
59
Condolences and Tributes:
Ronald H. Brown, 30th U.S. Secretary of Commerce,
Business America.................................
175
Other Commerce Department Officials:
Duane Christian, Security Officer..................
177
Adam N. Darling, Confidential Assistant, Office of
the Deputy Secretary.............................
178
Gail E. Dobert, Deputy Director, Acting Director,
Office of Business Liaison.......................
179
Carol L. Hamilton, Press Secretary and Acting
Director of the Office of Public Affairs.........
180
Kathryn E. Hoffman, Special Assistant to the
Secretary........................................
181
Stephen C. Kaminski, Senior Commercial Service
Officer, U.S. Commercial Service.................
182
Kathryn E. Kellogg, Confidential Assistant, Office
of Business Liaison..............................
183
Charles F. Meissner, Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for International Economic Policy.......
184
William Morton, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
International Economic Development...............
185
Lawrence M. Payne, Special Assistant, Office of
Domestic Operations, U.S. Commercial Service.....
186
Naomi P. Warbasse, Deputy Director, Central and
Eastern Europe Business Information Center
(CEEBIC).........................................
187
Other Agencies:
Lee F. Jackson, Executive Director, European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), U.S.
Department of Treasury...........................
188
James M. Lewek, Economic Reconstruction Expert,
Interagency Balkan Task Force, Central
Intelligence Agency..............................
188
Corporate Executives:
Barry L. Conrad, Chairman and Chief Executive of
the Barrington Group, Miami......................
189
Paul Cushman III, Chairman and Chief Executive of
Riggs International Banking Corp., Washington, DC
189
Robert E. Donovan, President and Chief Executive of
ABB Inc., Norwalk, CT............................
189
Claudio Elia, Chairman and Chief Executive of Air &
Water Technologies Corp., Branchburg, NJ.........
189
David Ford, President and Chief Executive of
InterGuard Corp., the Luxembourg Subsidiary of
Guardian Industries, Auburn Hills, MI............
189
Frank Maier, President of Enserch International
Ltd., Dallas.....................................
189
Walter J. Murphy, Vice President of Global Sales at
AT&T Submarine Systems, Morristown, NJ...........
190
Leonard J. Pieroni, Chairman and Chief Executive of
Parsons Corp., Pasadena, CA......................
190
John Scoville, Chairman of Harza Engineering Co.,
Chicago..........................................
190
I. Donald Terner, President of Bridge Housing
Corp., San Francisco.............................
190
P. Stuart Tholan, Senior Vice President of Bechtel
Enterprises, San Francisco.......................
190
Robert A. Whittaker, Vice President of Foster
Wheeler Corp., Clinton, NJ.......................
190
Media:
Nathaniel C. Nash, New York Times, Frankfurt Bureau
Chief............................................
191
Crew:
Captain Ashley J. Davis, Pilot.....................
191
Captain Timothy W. Schafer, Co-Pilot...............
191
Staff Sgt. Gerald Aldrich, Crew Chief and Flight
Mechanic.........................................
191
Staff Sgt. Robert Farrington Jr., Steward..........
191
Technical Sgt. Shelly A. Kelly, Steward............
191
Technical Sgt. Cheryl A. Turnage, Steward..........
191
Croatians:
Niksa Antonini, Photographer.......................
191
Dragica Lendic Bebek, Interpreter..................
191
Ronald H. Brown, the Commerce Department's
Powerhouse.......................................
193
Highlights of Secretary Brown's Business
Development Missions.............................
195
Accomplishments of the International Trade
Administration Under Secretary Brown.............
197
President Clinton's remarks at Commerce Secetary
Ron Brown's Funeral..............................
207
A Moment of Sharing................................
211
Letter from Daniel J. McLaughlin, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, the Commercial Service................
214
Newspaper Articles and Editorials:
A Role as Nation's Chief Salesman Abroad, New York
Times............................................
216
Parting Gift to Troops: A Little Taste of Home, USA
Today............................................
217
A Lot of Us Had Friends on This Mission, Washington
Post.............................................
218
Plane Crash in Croatia Silences a Big Player in
Capital Debates, New York Times..................
219
Ronald H. Brown, Associated Press..................
222
Harlem Remembers the Heart That Never Left, New
York Times.......................................
223
Ron Brown's Contribution, San Francisco Examiner...
225
It Is Sinking In Today, Washington Post............
226
Peace Has Its Heroes, New York Daily News..........
228
Ron Brown's Mission, Boston Globe..................
229
Ron Brown, Houston Chronicle.......................
230
Let Us Resolve to Continue Their Mission of Peace
and Healing, Washington Post.....................
230
Brown Made a World of Difference in Commerce, Los
Angeles Times....................................
232
Amid Ceremony of Tears is a Sharing of Strength,
Washington Post..................................
234
A Man Beyond Race, Los Angeles Times...............
236
A Devastating Loss, Boston Globe...................
237
Homecoming at Dover, Washington Post...............
239
Mourners Flock to Pay Respects to Brown, New York
Times............................................
240
Brown Mourned on Dreary Day, USA Today.............
241
This Man Loved Life and All the Things In It,
Washington Post..................................
242
In Honor of the Late, Great Ronald Brown,
Manufacturing News...............................
244
BIOGRAPHY
Ronald Harmon Brown was born in Washington, DC on August
1, 1941. His father, William Harmon Brown, graduated from
Howard University where he met and married Ron's mother
Gloria Osborne. The family moved to New York City, where
William Harmon Brown managed the Hotel Theresa in Harlem.
Ron Brown attended Middlebury College where he integrated
the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He graduated in 1962
with an ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the
United States Army. He married Alma Arrington in August
1962. They welcomed into their lives a son, Michael, in
1965, and a daughter, Tracey, in 1967. Brown's Army career
began in Germany and concluded in Korea, where he rose to
the rank of Captain. Returning to New York after the Army,
he worked as a welfare caseworker by day and attended law
school at night. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1970
from St. John's University School of Law.
In the 1970s, Brown's career quickly advanced at the
National Urban League to the positions of Deputy Executive
Director and General Counsel in the New York office, and
Vice President of the organization's national office in
Washington. Emblematic of his service to the civic life of
Washington, he also joined the Board of Trustees of the
University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
In 1979, Brown joined Senator Edward M. Kennedy's
campaign for President as Deputy Campaign Manager. Brown
was then appointed Chief Counsel of the Senate Committee
on the Judiciary. Following the Democrat's loss of the
Presidency and the Senate in the 1980 elections, Brown
became the first African-American partner in the
prestigious Washington law firm of Patton, Boggs, and Blow
in 1981. In 1988, Brown served as Convention Manager for
Reverend Jesse L. Jackson's Presidential campaign.
Beginning in 1989, Brown acted to revive and unite a
dispirited and divided Democratic Party when he was
elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the
first African-American to head a major American political
party. As Chairman, he required State political parties to
sign coordinated campaign agreements before receiving
national party funds, he championed the effort to deliver
a unified Democratic message, and he broke records for
raising party resources. Facing a popular incumbent
President, Brown was probably the first Democrat to
believe that a Democratic challenger with a clear message
and an inclusionary program of support for working
families could prevail in the 1992 election. For 4 years,
he managed his Party's quest with optimism, abundant
energy and total commitment to victory. He presided over a
united 1992 Democratic National Convention in his hometown
of New York which paved the way for the election of
President Bill Clinton.
Following the election of the President, Brown was sworn
into office as Secretary of Commerce, again the first
African-American to serve in this capacity.
Significantly, he was also the first occupant of this
office to fully recognize the central role his Department
could play in creating jobs at home and building
prosperity as a bulwark of American security overseas.
Expanding the rights of individuals to participate fully
in the economic life of their country was a driving force
for Ron Brown.
Brown was a hands-on practitioner of economic
advancement and has been credited with overseas sales of
American products totalling $42 billion. He understood the
power of private enterprise to open societies and
strengthen democratic governments in such disparate places
as South Central Los Angeles, South Africa, Northern
Ireland, the Middle East and around the world. As Commerce
Secretary Brown used exports to create American jobs, and
trade to reinforce peace in areas beset by war and
struggle.
In advocacy of these ideas, he left for the Balkans on
what became his last mission of public service.
Brown was a success in his own right and on his own
terms. Supported by his wife and two children, with whom
he shared an unparalleled bond of love and pride, he was
able to consistently accomplish the near impossible. He
elected a President. He rebuilt the Democratic Party. He
reinvented the Department of Commerce. He was a proud
African-American and a role model for all Americans. He
was a peer of the most successful Americans in business,
yet appealed to the everyday person. He loved politics and
believed in the dignity and power of public service. In
every position he held, he recruited the most talented
allies who stood with him and against whatever challenges
lay ahead. He was surrounded with some of the best when he
and his colleagues died on a hillside near Dubrovnik,
Croatia serving our country.
He is survived by his wife Alma, his daughter Tracey,
his son Michael, mother Gloria Carter, daughter-in-law
Tami, twin grandsons Morgan and Ryan, mother-in-law
Dorothy Arrington and a host of family and friends.
Ronald Harmon Brown returns to Washington for his final
rest. With broken hearts and eternal love, we welcome him
home.
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
to
RONALD H. BROWN
Proceedings in the Senate
Monday, April 15, 1996.
IN TRIBUTE TO SECRETARY OF COMMERCE RONALD H. BROWN AND
OTHER AMERICANS
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today, the Senate returns to
session for the first time since the tragic accident on
April 3 that took the lives of Secretary of Commerce Ron
Brown and 32 other Americans.
The majority leader, with agreement of the Democratic
leader, has requested that the first action of the Senate
be the reading of a resolution honoring Secretary Brown
and those lost in the accident.
At this time, Mr. President, I send a resolution to the
desk and ask that it be read for the information of the
Senate.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
S. Res. 241
In tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and
other Americans who lost their lives on April 3, 1996,
while in service to their country on a mission to Bosnia.
Whereas, Ronald H. Brown served the United States of
America with patriotism and skill as a soldier, a civil
rights leader, and an attorney;
Whereas, Ronald H. Brown served since January 22, 1993,
as the United States Secretary of Commerce;
Whereas, Ronald H. Brown devoted his life to opening
doors, building bridges, and helping those in need;
Whereas, Ronald H. Brown lost his life in a tragic
airplane accident on April 3, 1996, while in service to
his country on a mission in Bosnia; and
Whereas, thirty-two other Americans from government and
industry who served the Nation with great courage,
achievement, and dedication also lost their lives in the
accident; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the United States pays
tribute to the remarkable life and career of Ronald H.
Brown, and it extends condolences to his family.
Sec. 2. The Senate also pays tribute to the
contributions of all those who perished, and extends
condolences to the families of: Staff Sergeant Gerald
Aldrich, Duane Christian, Barry Conrad, Paul Cushman III,
Adam Darling, Captain Ashley James Davis, Gail Dobert,
Robert Donovan, Claudio Elia, Staff Sergeant Robert
Farrington, Jr., David Ford, Carol Hamilton, Kathryn
Hoffman, Lee Jackson, Steven Kaminski, Kathryn Kellogg,
Technical Sergeant Shelley Kelly, James Lewek, Frank
Maier, Charles Meissner, William Morton, Walter Murphy,
Lawrence Payne, Nathaniel Nash, Leonard Pieroni, Captain
Timothy Schafer, John Scoville, I. Donald Terner, P.
Stuart Tholan, Technical Sergeant Cheryl Ann Turnage,
Naomi Warbasse, and Robert Whittaker.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a
copy of the resolution to each of the families.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is the intention of the
majority leader to bring the resolution up for final
passage sometime after tomorrow's policy luncheons. That
will allow those Members who desire to come to the floor
and pay tribute to Secretary Brown and other public
servants and industry leaders who lost their lives.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I will not say much here today
except that I knew Ron Brown very well. I thought he was
one of the finest people in this town. I knew him when he
was a leader on the Judiciary Committee under Senator
Kennedy, and we were friends ever since.
Many times I have lamented that we did not have as
competent and tremendous a leader in our party as then
Chairman Brown was. We had good people. We can be proud of
them. But Chairman Brown did one of the best jobs I have
ever seen done in a national election.
I also have traveled around the world and have seen some
of the work that he has done with regard to the Commerce
Department's work and opportunities, and he did a terrific
job. He was well recognized all over the world as somebody
who advanced America's business.
I personally want to send a message to his family and to
those who loved Ron Brown that I did, too, and I had cared
for him. Had I not been in the Balkans during that time--
we left the day after the accident--with the minority
leader and Senator Reid, I would have been at his funeral
to pay my respects to him and his family. Of course, I am
very grieved and hurt by this tragic accident.
I also want to extend my sympathy to all of the families
of those who died in that tragic accident. Having traveled
over there, I can see how that could occur. I can see how
difficult that must have been for all of those families
who lost loved ones as a result of that tragic crash.
I could not speak more highly of a person than I am
presently speaking of Ron Brown.
I knew some of the others on the plane. I actually met
with some of the people who were friends of the crew who
flew the plane. We had a crew that flew us into Sarajevo
and into Tuzla who basically had worked day in and day out
with all of the members of that crew.
I know that I speak for everybody in the Senate and
across this country in extending our sympathy to all those
folks who lost their lives. I hope Ron's wife, Alma, will
be comforted, and I hope that the family will be comforted
as well. He has my respect, and I am very happy to have
had this time to pay my respects this morning.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I would like to read into
the Record a tribute to Ron Brown which I gave last
Tuesday evening at the Metropolitan Baptist Church here in
Washington. There were a number of speakers who reflected
on Secretary Brown's very considerable life, from early
beginnings to really an outstanding distinguished career,
and spoke with great tenderness and sensitivity and
thoughtfulness, not only about Ron but also about his
family.
I would like to take just a few moments of the Senate's
time today to read those remarks into the Record:
Alma, Tracey, Michael and Tami, Gloria Brown, friends
and fellow mourners:
I speak this evening in tribute to Ron Brown, because I
knew him well and loved him dearly. But I join as well in
tribute to the 34 others we have lost, who have now given
the last full measure of devotion. Our hearts are breaking
now. Our minds can hardly conceive the loss, or compose
the words to express the depth of what we feel.
The poet could have been thinking of Ron Brown when he
wrote of another who died too young, in words used about
my brothers too: ``What made us dream that he could comb
gray hair?''
Ron and I were supposed to have lunch this Friday. It
had been too long. We wanted to catch up. The Senate would
be in recess, and Ron would be back from Bosnia.
He said he wanted to show me the large fish tank in his
office. When he and Alma were at our home one evening, I
had shown them the modest tank we have. He winked at me
and told Vicki and our two children: ``Come on over to my
office--and bring Curran and Caroline too. I'll show you a
real fish tank. I'll even tell Ted where you can get
one.'' That was Ron--always the best in everything he did,
and wanting it for everyone else too.
We also had a few items of business to discuss. Ron was
chairman of the Senior Advisory Committee of the Institute
of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government at
Harvard. For him, it was a long and lasting labor of love.
As he had been inspired in his youth, so he always found
time for the next generation. While he was busy electing a
President in 1992, he was never too busy for those whose
election would come in 2012. He was there, year in and
year out, for every meeting at the Institute of Politics.
He would stay overnight in President Kennedy's room at
Winthrop House and eat and talk with the undergraduates.
He inspired students as he inspired CEOs. He was equally
at home in the classroom and the boardroom, in Harlem and
at Harvard.
So at lunch on Friday, we were to discuss the meeting in
Cambridge that was coming up later this month. The
committee had a couple of vacancies to fill. And now there
is an unfillable new vacancy.
Ron was first in so many things--his career was so
brilliant and conspicuous--that he was almost certainly
bound to be a target for some as surely as he was a role
model for others. He was prepared to pay that price to
advance his country and his beliefs. And something now
demands to be said. This, my friends, was a man of great
honor who proved anew my brother's ideal that public
service is a great and honorable profession.
I first came to know Ron almost half a lifetime ago
during his years at the Urban League. He was in the
vanguard of the new generation of civil rights leaders.
He already had then what he would later bring to the
highest places of power--a rare quality of double vision
in public life, which enabled him to see the issues
clearly and see the politics just as clearly too. He knew
how to steer by the stars, not just by the fading signals
of each passing ship.
He honored me by becoming part of my campaign for
President in 1980. He came on board as deputy campaign
manager for civil rights, and soon became deputy for
everything else as well. He was Will Rogers in reverse. I
never met a person who didn't like Ron Brown.
In 1980, I lost the nomination. But in Ron, I gained
another brother.
He was irrepressible and undefeatable. For him, ``no you
can't'' always became ``yes you can.'' You can integrate
that college fraternity. You can win the California
primary. You can rebuild the Democratic Party and elect a
President in a year when almost no one else thought it
could happen. Then you can reinvent government and invent
a new commercial diplomacy for a new post-Cold War world.
You can make the Commerce Department work--and if you'll
pardon a partisan note today, don't let anyone on Capitol
Hill tell you you can't.
Ron believed in government and all of you and in public
service. He detested cynicism and the shameful politics of
running for office by trashing the institutions you seek
to lead. He helped to write history, and not a single word
he wrote was petty or mean.
I have been through other moments like this, and I know
how tightly we grasp the memories in order to keep the
man. We recall what was only yesterday, and smile through
our tears.
I still see Ron, coming to play tennis on early mornings
before work. He'd arrive with three rackets, dressed to
the nines, looking like he was ready to play at Wimbledon.
He always won, and that's why I always made sure he was my
partner in doubles.
He had a style and a soaring spirit. He had a host of
friends who were honored to serve with him--many of us
assembled here today--those who were with him on his last
journey--and one other I must mention who was with him on
that remarkable journey to victory at the DNC--his
sidekick, Paul Tully. Ron, of course, never had his tie
out of place, while Paul never had his shirt tucked in.
What a marvelous combination they were for their party and
their country. Ron saw and called on the best in Paul, and
in all of us.
The great physicist Lord Rutherford was once asked how
he always happened to be riding the crest of the wave, and
he replied, ``Well, I made the wave, didn't I?'' That's
how I felt about Ron Brown. He was one of those few who
make the waves that carry us to a better distant shore.
For his nation, Ron was more than an ambassador of
commerce. His missions were pilgrimages of peace, of
economic hope and democracy's ideals.
For his party and his President, he was close to the
indispensable man.
For his friends, he was a Cape Cod day and a cloudless
sky.
For his family, he was everything--as they were for him.
Sometimes, I'd call during the day to see if he and Alma
could drop by that evening. He'd call back and ask for a
rain check. Michael and Tami were going out, and Ron and
Alma were babysitting for their twins. How he loved those
two young boys, Morgan and Ryan. His whole face would
light up when he talked about them.
And how proud he was and how much he loved his children,
Michael and Tracey. Everyone who knew Ron knew how special
they were to him, how much pride he took in their
accomplishments, how close he was to them.
And Alma, dear Alma, how he loved you. I remember
vividly one time when Vicki and I were talking to Ron and
we saw Alma across the room. I mentioned how beautiful she
looked, how extraordinary she was. Ron's face lit up with
that sparkling trademark smile, and he said, ``She's
pretty spectacular, isn't she?'' That said it all, and the
word ``spectacular'' was made for Ron Brown too.
Now Ron's journey of grace has come to an
incomprehensible end. But for this generation and
generations to come, he is spectacular proof that America
can be the land of opportunity it was meant to be.
We love you and we miss you Ron--and we always will.
Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, now that the initial shock
of the horrific jet crash in Croatia has passed, we are
forced to accept the fact that my friend Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown and 34 other talented professionals
have perished. Today, almost 2 weeks later, it's still
hard to describe the echoing sense of loss and deep
sinking sorrow that still remains in all of us--man,
woman, black, white, Republican, Democrat.
There has been much written and said about Ron Brown
over the last few days, and that is fitting, because there
is so much to say. He was many things: key strategist,
mesmerizing speaker, wily politician, savvy businessman,
superb lawyer. Most of all, he was an exemplary public
servant for this country. On his last day, he was on the
road in a faraway place aggressively promoting U.S.
business interests abroad. And, in this case, he was
trying to bring peace and economic recovery to the war-
weary Bosnian people. He took very seriously his
responsibility to preserve the American dream for the next
generation of Americans, so that they will have economic
opportunity rather than a declining standard of living. To
him, championing the economic interests of the United
States was tantamount to championing the people of the
United States, and so, in a very literal way, he died
serving his country.
Ron Brown was the most effective Secretary of Commerce I
have known in my years in the Senate. It is fair to say
that he was the most energetic and outstanding individual
to ever serve in that post. Throughout his distinguished
career in private industry, politics and the executive
branch, Ron Brown served as a role model for all
Americans. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, international
business has become the new realm for competition. Ron
Brown understood that and worked tirelessly to promote
U.S. exports and business overseas. It was quite typical
for Secretary Brown and me to meet after he had returned
from a long trip abroad. Lack of sleep and shifting time
zones never set him back. Jet lag wasn't in his
vocabulary. It just was not in Ron's nature to take time
to rest up.
Ron Brown was an especially strong role model for
African-Americans. He never forgot his roots, and he took
special pride in his efforts to make Commerce Department
programs more inclusive and to provide equal opportunity
in the work force. He took pride in his efforts to
revitalize the Minority Business Development Agency and
the Economic Development Administration. Most of all, he
set an example for those who would follow in his footsteps
with his determination, his intelligence and his optimism.
Secretary Brown came into the Commerce Department with a
tremendous task: to shake one of the Government's largest
and most diverse departments out of its dormancy, and turn
it into a forceful, focused, and effective agency. At his
confirmation, he expressed the following among his
priorities for the Department of Commerce: ``Expanding
exports, promoting new technologies, supporting business
development--these all require integrated action, crossing
old lines between business, labor and government.'' Ron
Brown was an expert in crossing old lines, whether racial
or bureaucratic, whether he was rejuvenating the
Democratic Party or reinvigorating the Department of
Commerce. He could see potential where others couldn't,
and he had that unbeatable combination of vision and
determination that was contagious. He inspired those
around him.
In addition to his political acumen and leadership
abilities, Ron Brown was extremely likable. I remember
walking down the corridors in the Hoover Building seeing
signs on employees' office doors that read ``Ron Brown Fan
Club.'' Even those misguided few in Congress who spent the
last year trying to abolish the Commerce Department found
their efforts thwarted by the simple fact that so many
businessmen and Members of Congress not only believed in
the importance of Commerce--but also that everyone simply
liked Ron Brown.
This is a tragedy that hits home for me, Peatsy, and my
staff. Ron Brown was a good friend. Our heartfelt
sympathies go out to Alma, his children, and all the
families of the passengers and crew of the aircraft.
Mr. President, let's all remember Ron Brown for his
firebrand style of engaged public service. We'll all miss
him. I wish we had more like him.
Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, as we return to session
today, it is spring in Washington. The blossoms are out.
It is a beautiful time, and yet I am sure the experience I
had in returning with my family yesterday was comparable
with others coming back to Washington; it brought home the
terrible tragedy that occurred while we were away, that of
the plane going down in Croatia carrying Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown and so many others, including two
corporate executives from Connecticut, Claudio Elia and
Bob Donovan. And coming back here to this city, where many
of us came to know Secretary Brown, filled me with a
sadness and a sense of loss yesterday and today.
I wanted to come to the floor and share with my
colleagues just a few thoughts about Ron Brown. I hope
someday in the not too distant future to be able to offer
to my colleagues some comments, if they did not have the
opportunity to know them, about Bob Donovan and Claudio
Elia, whose service to our country was extraordinary.
Today, however, I wanted to speak about Ron Brown. I am
proud that I had the chance to work with Ron Brown during
his all too short tenure at the Commerce Department. I
tremendously enjoyed working with Ron Brown in his various
capacities as a private attorney, as a leading Democratic
activist, as chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, and most closely and I think most creatively in
this last period of years as Secretary of Commerce. I am
honored that I can call him a friend. We are all going to
miss him--it's painful to think that my staff and I won't
have the sheer fun of working with him again--and the
country will miss him even more. I have the greatest
respect for him, as have so many others, as a wonderful,
warm human being and as a leader who had a clear-eyed
vision of how to make our people and our country better.
This is a case which is so often true where you
interconnect with a person in a professional capacity, but
you never think of a man in the prime of life not being
here. In a way, I suppose it is death that makes you
appreciate even more the great skills and the enormous
service that this individual, Ron Brown, displayed for our
benefit.
Ron Brown, it seemed to me, truly loved the job he had
at Commerce. He always managed to fit well, wherever he
was, and this job really did fit him like a glove, from
the moment he took it. He had an early understanding that
the mission of the Department of Commerce was to promote
economic growth, that is job creation. He understood from
his own experience the wide-open nature of our market
system and that it was the unique way America had for
creating opportunity for its citizens--the market, upward
mobility.
Ron Brown never saw the business community as an enemy,
he saw it as an ally in expanding opportunity, and he
threw himself into this job with a single-mindedness and
joyous commitment to forcing the system, the economic
system, to deliver for all Americans.
Against this background, I want to talk about two areas
of his time at Commerce that I think was so critically
important. I believe that they were truly extraordinary,
and set a new performance standard for our government's
relationship with the private sector.
exports
The first has been written about extensively in the last
days since his death, and even some over the preceding 3
years: The incredible export promotion operation he put
together at Commerce. But I do not think that enough has
been said about why that was so important.
Until the mid-1970's, the U.S. economy was on top of the
world, dominating it. While our economic rivals, led
particularly by Japan, were figuring out that selling
advanced manufactured goods for export was the key to
economic growth and raising the living standards of people
back home, our Government in a way was coasting on our
success. We were not paying attention to that message.
Other countries built export promotion machines--and
they were machines--through the most intimate and
comprehensive alliances between business and government,
the private sector and the public sector. But the truth is
that our Government paid too little attention to that need
to build those alliances. American businesses--and I would
hear this repeatedly from business executives in
Connecticut--would go abroad to compete, and they would
see what the business-government alliances of our
competitors were doing for export promotion.
I remember being told a story by the executive of one of
the companies in Connecticut, telling me that they were
competing against two other companies, one from Asia and
one from Europe, for a very large job in a foreign
country. They went over there to participate in
simultaneous bidding among the three business competitors.
This company from Connecticut, a big company, had its
executives and lawyers in one room. But in the other two
rooms, the executives and representatives of the Asian
company and of the European company were teamed up with a
representative of the Asian government and of the European
government, respectively. In that case, the Connecticut
company did not get the contract. We lost some opportunity
and jobs.
The State Department, I am afraid, continued to treat
American business as if it had to be held at arm's length.
Too many administrations went along with that distant
attitude. Preoccupied with the end of the cold war and
retaining the political alliances required for it, the
State Department embraced a traditional and outmoded
notion of what foreign policy was all about, what mattered
to people here at home. Too often they missed what was
happening in the world economy and the American economy
which has been a grave error. They made export promotion a
low priority, while our rivals made it the top priority.
The State Department treated U.S. business like pariahs,
it was ``Upstairs-Downstairs''--trade was beneath our
diplomatic priorities.
This hasn't ended. A Business Week editorial this week
notes that, ``The U.S. foreign policy and security elite
believe security should be divorced from economic issues.
Some go so far as to suggest that providing security is a
perk of global power.'' It concludes, ``We don't. American
workers can't be expected to suffer economically to
protect [other nations] from one another.'' Ron Brown
shared this view, and he was the new momentum for bringing
our economy into foreign relations. The President was his
staunch ally on this effort, and helped him force change
in this area.
Ron Brown, working together with President Clinton,
understood that they had to create a central position in
our foreign policy for our economic policy. Export
promotion had to be at the core of our international
outreach; that it was not a bad thing, but in fact it was
a very good thing, that if a President visited a foreign
country with the Secretary of Commerce and one of the
items they discussed with the leadership of that foreign
country was buying American goods.
I come from a very export-oriented State. In fact, it
has the highest level of exports per capita of any State
in the country. We know that exports create jobs, high-
paying manufacturing jobs, and that each manufacturing job
has an economic multiplier effect, creating a chain of
goods and services behind it, longer by far than most
other types of jobs.
The sad fact is that we have been disinvesting in
manufacturing since the mid-1970's, even though we need
those kinds of jobs more than ever to develop a strong
economy and a better standard of living for our people
which will continue America as the land of opportunity.
Ron Brown, as Secretary of Commerce, understood this from
the beginning of his service.
When he began his export promotion effort, within days
of arriving at the Commerce Department, the leaders of the
American business community that I spoke to--and I
particularly heard this from heads of firms in
Connecticut--were in disbelief. Someone was finally paying
attention to their priorities. Somebody was finally trying
to help them pull together an American governmental
countermovement to the vast efforts rival countries and
their businesses had been mounting for decades, to take
jobs and exports away from us. Finally, someone with real
power, the Secretary of Commerce, understood the problem.
The fact is, at the beginning a lot of folks in the
business community were skeptical that Ron Brown could
make this all happen.
But he proved them wrong, to their delight. He was great
at this. Trained as a lawyer and always a superb advocate,
he used those skills on behalf of American businesses
throughout the world. He knew how to run campaigns, and he
ran this export operation like a campaign, which is
exactly how it was. Nobody had ever done this before in
the way that Secretary Brown did, and our country has
never benefited as much before as we did from his service.
He even set up, in the Commerce Department, something
like a campaign ``war room,'' where he would get reports
on economic opportunities opening up to sell American
products and create American jobs--an early warning
system. Then the letters and the phone calls would start
flying--Ron Brown was a phone wizard, it was a technology
invented for him, he was forever reaching out to touch
some business leader or a head of state abroad. Then
following those calls with visits, such as the one he was
on when his life on Earth ended. He was so enormously
skilled, he was so hard working, he was absolutely and
irresistibly likable, he had such a great smiling charm,
such sharp intelligence, he was such fun, he had such
energy.
The customers loved his performance. They all knew he
spoke directly for and to the President of the United
States, and that he would relay their messages back to the
White House. Even our friends in Japan, who have
systematically been denying entry for too many U.S.
products for too long, liked him, as Ron Brown worked very
hard at breaking down the barriers.
U.S. business strongly appreciated his commitment to
them, an enormous accomplishment. He was a terrific
political operator in the very best sense of this phrase--
he was mobilizing the political system to serve the
public's needs. The business community understood this and
respected it deeply--I've heard this again and again from
U.S. companies. Ron Brown was a new kind of life force to
them and they had great affection for him.
Ron Brown and his team's export success was only
beginning when he left us, because the historical changes
he was starting are a long-term project. But this new
direction was a very important accomplishment for America.
A major job for Secretaries of Commerce from now on will
be to promote U.S. goods, not just on the offhanded,
random way of the past, but with all the force of Ron
Brown's campaigns, or they will be judged failures. From
now on, the Federal Government is going to have to get
down and get to work with business selling our economy.
It's about time, but it took Ron Brown to show us how to
do it. Ron Brown has set an entirely new standard for the
country by which all that come after him will be judged.
innovation
A second remarkable thing he did as Commerce Secretary
was to fight for innovation. This has been almost nowhere
mentioned in the press, and it is not well understood by
the public or the fourth estate or Congress. But Ron Brown
understood that for the American dream of opportunity to
be sustained for a new generation, a higher level of
economic growth was crucial. In addition to exports, he
concentrated on another ingredient of that strategy:
innovation. Even before he was sworn in as Commerce
Secretary, his friend George Fisher, then president of
Motorola and now of Kodak, invited him to speak to a
leading group of business thinkers, the Council on
Competitiveness. Ron Brown set out in that speech an
aggressive agenda of technology development and promotion.
He recognized that innovation has been the great American
competitive advantage for generations, that it is now
under attack as our competitors expand, and that it has to
be renewed if we are going to keep expanding our economy.
Economists estimate that technology development--coupled
with a technologically trained work force--has accounted
for 80 percent of the increase in U.S. productivity and
wealth for most of this century.
Innovation is our bread and butter.
Brown understood that since the Second World War, the
Federal Government has backed most of the long-term
research and development and applied R&D that has gone on
in the United States, while business focused on shorter
term product development. That is an economic reality--the
risk and cost of R&D means that the private sector must
focus on what it can raise capital for--shorter term
products. It is a classic market failure problem, and
until recently Congress on a bipartisan basis has
supported the need for governmental support of innovation.
Brown picked up a series of small technology and
technology extension programs that had been quietly
started at Commerce in previous administrations, and made
them a central focus. With an able team around him, he
made the Commerce Department the administration's leader
in civilian technology development, and supported a new
system of cooperative R&D development with business,
requiring business to match Federal funding to ensure
sounder Government R&D investments and leveraging Federal
research dollars. He also helped expand a new system of
manufacturing extension centers around the country, now in
over 30 States, to bring advanced manufacturing techniques
and technology to smaller and mid-sized manufacturers
desperately in need of it to be able to compete with
global competitors. In a time of budget cutting, he
successfully found the resources to build these programs.
He was also head of the administration's information
infrastructure task force, formulating policies on the new
information highway and how to expand our population's
access to it.
He was a true innovation supporter, and was moving
quickly toward making the Commerce Department what it long
should have been: a department for trade and technology,
where each of these two sides of the department provides
synergy for the other. It was becoming an agency which
provided governmental leadership in these two areas in
support of the private sector, not trying to dominate it,
and much stronger because of this.
Ron Brown's clear success, of course, led to the usual
Washington political reaction against signs of creativity.
Unfortunately, for too much of this past year he had to
spend time deftly deflecting attacks on the existence of
the Commerce Department. But he had helped make it into an
instrument for growth and job creation, and his efforts
had strong support among business and work force
constituencies. He had begun the process to put the
Commerce Department on the map as a unique American engine
to support opportunity and growth in America. He had a
great dream for his agency, and I respect that dream very
much. I, for one, pledge to him that I am not going to sit
here in this body and let it get dismantled.
All around this city of Washington are statues of Union
Army generals. This is a good thing--they remind us of the
crisis the Civil War represented to our country's future,
of the great wave of sacrifice required thirteen decades
ago to keep this country intact and to advance the
freedoms it stands for. Now we are engaged in a different
kind of conflict, a global economic conflict. There are no
particular enemies in this conflict, at most we have
rivals, not enemies, although in some ways the real enemy
is ourselves because we have not yet been able to mobilize
to confront our problems. This new conflict will test
whether the great American dream of opportunity, of
economic growth that will allow all our citizens to grow,
will endure for future generations. Someday, if we are
successful in keeping our opportunity dream alive, we
should think about putting up some statues of the men and
women in the private and public sectors who are the new
generals, new kinds of heroes, of that conflict. Ron
Brown's statue should be one of the first we erect.
barriers
I have discussed his innovative role at Commerce, but I
want to say something about barriers, too. Occasionally, I
think about how Chuck Yeager felt piloting his X-1 rocket
plane when he was the first to break the sound barrier.
Ron Brown was a great barrier-breaker, too, our first
African-American to achieve many things. While Chuck
Yeager's courage enabled him to break his barrier, the
sound barrier remained and had to be broken again by
countless additional pilots. Ron Brown's barrier breaking
style was a little different. It also required courage,
but he had a way of breaking barriers that began to erase
them. He would get through a barrier in his wonderful,
excited, buoyant way, and he would make everyone who
watched him think, there goes another one, and why didn't
we do that long ago? When Ron Brown became Commerce
Secretary, many were expecting the President to name an
experienced business leader, and were appalled when he
named a friend and politician. Big business has long been
a barrier for African-Americans, but Ron Brown's
outstanding performance as Commerce Secretary, and the
depth of support he built in the business community, was
unlike anything any Commerce Secretary has been able to do
before. We watched and thought, there he goes through
another barrier, the biggest he had ever faced.
In so doing, Ron Brown broke an even bigger barrier.
America has been blessed with a long line of outstanding
African-American leaders. In the past, those leaders
typically have been leaders of the African-American
community, and that has been very important for the
country, too, and we need many more. Ron Brown well-
remembered and was intensely loyal to his African-American
roots, but, like Colin Powell, he was also a national
leader, who was clearly understood, in his great energetic
way, to be battling for the well-being of every American.
That is a new, promising thing in America, it is a strong
new step down our country's freedom road.
Mr. President, he led this effort to take some small,
relatively unknown program in the Commerce Department--the
Advanced Technology Program is one--to build it into an
engine for technology growth and job creation.
Much was said in the aftermath of Ron Brown's tragic
death about him being a bridge builder. I say he was also
a barrier breaker. I think sometimes about Chuck Yeager,
how he felt piloting that X-1 rocket plane when he first
broke the sound barrier.
Ron Brown was a breaker, too, but the thing about
Yeager's accomplishment is that barrier has to be broken
every time someone chooses to do it. Ron Brown broke
barriers that erased them. When he became Commerce
Secretary, many were expecting the Secretary to name an
experienced business leader. They were disappointed when
he named a friend and politician.
But Ron Brown, by his outstanding performance at
Commerce and the depth of support he built in the business
community, broke another barrier and brought with him the
business community and a lot of Americans.
Ron Brown was true to and proud of his African-American
roots and the community from which he came, but he became
in his lifetime like Colin Powell: Not just an African-
American leader, but a great American leader.
Mr. President, finally, I say this. All around our city
of Washington are statues of our great military heroes.
Now we are engaged in a different kind of global conflict:
an economic global conflict. If we ever start building
statues for those generals who served as courageously and
with great success in the economic battles that affect the
quality of life and job opportunity for people in our
country, we ought to erect a statue to Ron Brown as one of
the greatest of those leaders.
I yield the floor.
Tuesday, April 16, 1996.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I would like to comment
briefly on the tragic death of Secretary of Commerce Ron
Brown, which occurred last week in Croatia.
I have know Ron Brown and his family for 12 years. Ron
was a friend of mine, and a friend of the State of
California. One of his first duties as Commerce Secretary
was to find ways to resuscitate California's economy, and
he helped to do just that. Ron Brown made the Department
of Commerce a positive force for helping the largest State
in the Union recover from the devastating recession of the
early 1990's.
Ron had a vision of a prosperous America, where the
cliche that ``a rising tide lifts all boats'' could
actually come true. He focused his Department and this
administration on looking for opportunities to help the
American economy make the transition from the era of heavy
industry to an era of high technology, scientific
innovation, and the advancement of the current revolution
in communications.
Ron helped formulate this vision, made sure that his
Department gave grants and other forms of assistance to
firms pursuing it, and at the time of his death was
advocating that vision to other parts of the world.
But even more important than his career was the man
himself. Always upbeat, with ceaseless energy, Ron could
persuade the most vehement skeptic of the value of his
vision and efforts for our country. He served in a variety
of roles, and in each he excelled. His days as an
effective leader with the National Urban League
demonstrates this, where he became deputy executive
director, general counsel and vice president of the Urban
League's Washington, DC office.
Ron Brown's boundless energy and commitment to
excellence did not stop at the National Urban League. It
continued to help him break racial boundaries and become
the first African-American to head a major political
party, helping to elect the country's first Democratic
President in 12 years; the first African-American to
become a partner in his powerful Washington, DC law firm;
and the first African-American to take the helm at the
U.S. Department of Commerce.
I know of no chairman of the Democratic National
Committee who was better regarded, whose fundraising calls
were more frequently returned, or whose hardships and
public statements were more well regarded--Ron Brown was
tops.
In my view, Ron Brown's stewardship as Secretary of
Commerce was unparalleled. He truly cared about his work
and those the Department serves, and the record reflects
accurately billions of dollars in trade and new business
that will, in the future, benefit this country's
businesses and industrial base.
I find the circumstances of his untimely death to be
particularly poignant. Here he was, leading a group of
business people and his staff, on a mission of peace to
the war torn land of the former Yugoslavia.
He did not wait for peace to be restored. He went when
risks of hostile action were still present. He did not
wait for pleasant weather before springing into action.
And, he did not just work on economic issues. He also
spent time with our troops over there, to let them know we
support their efforts.
Mr. President, we have lost a great American in Ron
Brown. Whether it was politics, or crafting legislation
for the Senate, or civil rights, or military service, or
being a husband and a father, Ron Brown was a great
patriot, and a great human being. I shall always treasure
the relationship he and I had, and I shall miss him
terribly.
To Alma Brown and Tracy, who have traveled with me in
the campaign, I send my heart and prayers. With all his
family, I share an unrelenting emptiness and sadness. I
will miss the phone calls, the smile, the exploits from
progress, and, most of all, his abiding and consummate
belief in all of us.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to Ron Brown.
Ron Brown had a remarkable career, marked by his
exceptional ability to unify people from diverse
backgrounds. As chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, he used this talent to bring the party's
factions together. Democrats and Republicans alike spoke
with admiration of his aptitude as a party leader. Ron
Brown's work to bridge differences helped revitalize the
Democratic party and played an essential role in building
the support that led to President Clinton's election.
As Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown also unified
individuals from different walks of life to work for
American business. His aggressive efforts traveling the
world promoting American goods won him uncommon praise
from business leaders. It was his enthusiastic devotion to
this mission of championing trade and economic development
that took him to Bosnia earlier this month not only to try
to build American business, but also to aid in the
reconstruction of Bosnia. He made the ultimate sacrifice
for these goals, giving his life in service to his
country.
Ron Brown's career also leaves us with an example of
racial leadership, having been the first African-American
to chair the Democratic Party and the first African-
American Secretary of Commerce. His guidance was apparent
in the way he closed divisions within the Democratic Party
and in the way he brought together diverse individuals at
the Commerce Department. Ron Brown provided a real life
role model for aspiring young Americans as someone who
rose to the highest levels of government, and who was
admired and respected by those who knew him and knew of
his contributions to the well-being of his nation.
The loss of Ron Brown is tragic to America. His
leadership will be sorely missed. My deepest condolences
go to the Brown family and the families of all the other
Americans who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as I understand it, the
resolution which honors the memory of Ron Brown is still
pending, and I want to make a couple of remarks in regard
to that resolution and Secretary Brown before we close
tonight.
Mr. President, it is with sadness--and tremendous
gratitude for the work their lives exemplified--that I add
my voice to those honoring Commerce Secretary Ron Brown
and the extraordinary men and women who died with him on
that plane.
I am sure each of us will long remember just where we
were and what we were doing when we heard that Secretary
Brown's plane was missing over Croatia, and then, moments
later, when we learned the plane had crashed.
In my case, I was at home--packing to leave for Bosnia,
Croatia and Serbia myself.
So many thoughts raced through my mind. . . .
I thought of the meeting I was supposed to have had the
following evening in Zagreb with Secretary Brown.
I thought of how, just a few weeks earlier, Secretary
Brown had helped an electronics company in Rapid City work
out the final details of a contract with a group in South
Africa, and of all the people in my state who will be able
to work because he went the extra mile for us.
But mostly I thought, what a loss. What a terrible loss
our Nation had just suffered.
Ron Brown and the 32 brave Americans who accompanied him
on that noble mission to Bosnia represented what is best
about our Nation:
A ``can do'' sense of optimism and determination.
A generosity of spirit.
And an unshakable belief in democracy.
The men and women on that plane did not go to Bosnia
simply to bring contracts to America--as important as that
is.
They went to bring hope and prosperity to Bosnia so that
the fragile peace there might take root and grow, and
democracy might replace tyranny.
Hours after Secretary Brown's plane crashed into that
mountain, I was on another plane with Senators Hatch and
Reid. We spent 9 days in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia and
four neighboring states, assessing progress in the
implementation of the Dayton peace plan.
Every world leader with whom I met stressed the
importance of both promoting economic growth and building
democratic institutions to achieving a sustainable peace
in the Balkans. Those were the very goals to which Ron
Brown's trip to Bosnia was dedicated.
In an article I read, a woman who had worked with
Secretary Brown said it wasn't just that he saw a glass
half-full when others saw it half-empty. His optimism was
bigger than that. Where others saw a half-empty glass, she
said, he saw a glass overflowing with possibilities.
It would take that kind of vision to see the path to a
lasting peace in Bosnia.
Ron Brown was able to see that path. And, he was able to
make others see it.
He was a good salesman. What he sold was America--not
just American goods and services, but American ideals.
The reason he could sell America with such confidence is
that he believed in America, and in the goal of making
America--and the world--better.
Ron Brown spent his life transcending boundaries.
Boundaries of race.
Boundaries of party.
Boundaries drawn on maps.
And in transcending those boundaries, he made them less
formidable for all of us. That is part of the great legacy
he has left us.
I have been reminded these last few days of a scene in
the Shakespearian play, Julius Caesar. It is the scene at
Caesar's burial. Caesar has just been falsely maligned by
Brutus as a traitor.
Then Mark Antony rises to recall the Caesar he knew.
He was, Mark Antony said, a man who loved his country so
much he gave his life for it.
Then he stunned the crowd by reading them Caesar's will.
He had left all of his possessions to the people of Rome.
Even more precious, he had left his fellow citizens a
legacy of greatness and the ability, to quote Shakespeare,
``to walk abroad and recreate yourselves.''
Ron Brown and the men and women on that plane died
trying to recreate the American spirit of democracy and
opportunity in a land torn apart by war.
It is right that we offer these tributes to them. But,
in the end, the best tribute we can pay them is to keep
alive their determination to recreate what is best about
America wherever people long for freedom and justice and
opportunity.
Let us today rededicate ourselves to that noble cause.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I, too, like the
distinguished minority leader, remember where I was when
this tragic message came. I first thought to myself that
not too many months prior thereto I was with our
distinguished colleague on a similar mission in that
region. Senator Bob Kerrey and I were over there, and we
actually landed at the same airport. This was my fifth
trip. I was the very first Senator to make a trip to
Sarajevo some more than 3\1/2\ years ago. The thought came
to my mind where the Secretary had given his life,
together with the aircrews--aircrews that all of us have
traveled with. I traveled with those crews and their
predecessors for 20-plus years formerly as Secretary of
the Navy and now in the U.S. Senate.
They are a very dedicated and well trained group of
officers and enlisted men. The finest the Air Force has,
really, are dedicated to those missions. Those aircraft
are somewhat old, but they are well kept. They are not
palatial.
Of course, with the Secretary were a very distinguished
group of Americans from the private sector, and
journalists also, who were going to examine that war-torn
region, to help provide for those less fortunate than
ourselves, who have suffered the tragedies of that
conflict, a conflict of which to this day, although I have
studied it, I cannot understand the root causes.
But, nevertheless, I had known the Secretary. While we
are of opposite political persuasions, I always remember
him as a man of great humor. I never saw him without a
twinkle in his eye. Always he put forward his hand. There
were several stressful periods in his life and I always
stretched out my hand, because those of us in public
office know from time to time there are periods that put
us to the test. But he met the tests and he served his
Nation.
I join the distinguished minority leader and my
colleagues in paying our tribute to him as a fine
American, to the aircrews, to all passengers who were on
that plane. We give our heartfelt compassion to the
families that must survive this tragedy and go on to lead
constructive and meaningful lives.
Mr. President, I thank the Chair and distinguished
minority leader.
Wednesday, April 17, 1996.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, while in Paris, and at the
Embassy on the evening of April 2, I visited with
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown for whom a reception was
held in his honor along with the Secretary of Labor Robert
Reich.
As we all know, on the very next day Secretary Brown and
his company met their untimely deaths with the crash of
their plane making a landing approach into Sarajevo.
When Secretary Brown and I spoke on the evening of April
2 at about 6:45 he was robust, enthusiastic, and very
anxious to carry out his responsibilities as Secretary of
Commerce. He had brought with him a group of United States
businessmen who could be instrumental in the rebuilding
and the revitalization of Bosnia.
It is well accepted that, if the peace in Bosnia is to
stay and is to hold, there will have to be a buildup of
the infrastructure there, and Secretary Brown was there in
connection with those duties. He and I talked about
meeting in Sarajevo or Zagreb. But that meeting
unfortunately did not take place. The next morning I
departed for Serbia, was in Belgrade, and had a plane on
April 3 to travel to Sarajevo. That plane was canceled
because of weather. We did not go to Sarajevo, and the
same weather conditions resulted in the fatal crash of
Secretary Brown and his company.
I traveled the next day to Tuzla, arrived there early in
the morning, was met by General Cherry, and we immediately
talked about Secretary Brown's visit the preceding day.
Secretary Brown had arrived at 6:40 a.m. on April 3 and
visited the United States military establishment in Tuzla,
and departed at 1:58 p.m. And then, as we know, shortly
thereafter the fatal crash occurred on the approach to the
landing in Dubrovnik.
Secretary Brown was certainly a stalwart advocate of
U.S. interests, and his loss will be deeply felt by the
U.S. Government. On behalf of my wife Joan, I want to
convey our deepest sympathies and condolences to Ron's
wife, Alma, and their two children, Michael and Tracey,
and the rest of their family.
Exhibit 1
disinvesting in diplomacy
Large projected cuts in the 150 account will hamper our
ability to attain U.S. economic, security and political
objectives worldwide for many years to come.
Among the hardest-hit will be our large embassies in
Western Europe. These embassies protect and promote vital
U.S. interests. Western Europe is home to most of our
biggest and most powerful trading and investment partners.
NATO is our most important military alliance.
Our European allies share our democratic ideals and are
willing to join us in coalitions to promote global
stability. A few, such as France, have global military,
economic, technological and commercial interests which
parallel our own. In France, our diplomacy reaches well
beyond bilateral relations to include cooperation and
burdensharing on a broad range of global issues.
Embassy Paris, like most other major embassies, is
cutting back sharply its operations while trying to
economize. The consulate in Lyon was closed in 1992. In
1996, the Bordeaux consulate also had to be closed. The
latter had been in operation since George Washington's
Presidency.
In 1996, the Embassy was required to close its travel
and tourism office. Its ten person staff, which was
handling 100,000 requests for information annually from
potential foreign visitors to the U.S., was eliminated.
The calls will have to be absorbed or redirected with no
increase in staff.
In the past 2 years, Embassy Paris has cut the operating
hours of its communication center by 65 percent. A hiring
freeze has been in place for 4 years, and the Embassy's
French work force has not received a pay increase in 3
years. Twenty-five French employee positions have been
marked for elimination. The list of other reductions is
long.
In view of these reduced resources, Embassy Paris is
making a concerted effort to ``work smarter'' with fewer
resources. It has formed ``teams'' to pool interagency
assets more effectively. It has negotiated savings of
$3,000,000 over 5 years in local service contracts. It
instituted a new interactive automated telephone service
for visa applicants which generates $8,000 to $10,000/
month in revenues. A consolidation of warehouses is saving
$400,000 per year. A new computerized pass and ID system
allowed the Embassy to cut 10 Marine guards.
This kind of innovation has allowed cuts to be
distributed and absorbed within the Embassy without
drastic cutbacks in services thus far. However, this is
now likely to change.
The State Department is calling for another round of
deep personnel cuts. For Paris, this would entail a 43
percent drop in core diplomatic personnel in the 1995 to
1998 period. Reductions this large will impact heavily on
core diplomatic strengths and the Embassy's effectiveness.
Some of the effects will be:
Advocacy for U.S. trade and business interests will be
reduced in frequency and effectiveness (recent investment
problems handled by the Embassy included U.S. firms in the
food processing, pharmaceutical and information
industries).
The loss of the Embassy's ability to monitor the Paris
Club, the organization which negotiates debt rescheduling
affecting billions owed the USG by developing countries.
A 50 percent reduction in contacts with the key French
officials we must reach if we are to influence French
policy and advocate U.S. positions on questions of vital
interest to us.
Closure of the Science office at a time when our
cooperative exchanges with France on nuclear, space and
health technology matters (to mention only three) should
be growing rapidly.
Significant cutbacks and slowdowns in passport and
welfare services to U.S. citizens. Passport issuance will
take 3 to 5 days instead of 1. Prison visits will be cut
to one per year. Consuls will no longer attend trials of
U.S. citizens. The consulate will be open to the public
for only 2 hours per day.
A 60 percent reduction in State Department reporting
from Paris, including the political and economic analysis
we need on France's activities in Europe, Africa and the
Middle East, and Asia.
These trends are disturbing and merit closer attention.
The Administration and Congress must work together to
assess carefully how budgetary and personnel cutbacks
affect our core diplomatic capabilities in Western Europe
and elsewhere. This is especially true at a moment when
business and information is globalizing and our national
interests dictate that we be even more intensively engaged
with our key allies than in the past.
Thursday, April 18, 1996.
Mr. MACK. Mr. President, I offer my heartfelt
condolences and prayers to the family of Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown and to all of the other families who
have lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy.
It is never easy to lose someone close to you. Yet I
believe those that Commerce Secretary Brown left behind--
his wife Alma, his daughter Tracey, and his son Michael--
can be comforted and given strength by the knowledge that
Ron Brown died doing what he loved: Representing the
President as Commerce Secretary and serving America by
promoting American economic interests abroad.
Secretary Brown will be remembered for his commitment to
our democracy, his charisma, and the enthusiasm with which
he embraced new ideas and challenges. I will keep Alma,
Tracey, Michael, and all others who are mourning this
great loss, in my thoughts and prayers during their time
of grief.
I would also like to offer my condolences at this time
to the family of Barry L. Conrad who was accompanying
Secretary Brown on his trip to the Balkans. Mr. Conrad was
the founder of the Barrington Group, a dynamic hotel
company in Miami, and had previously headed Burger King's
U.S. franchise operation.
In addition to being a successful businessman, Mr.
Conrad was a very prominent and well-respected member of
the south Florida community. This is a great loss not only
for the family and friends of Mr. Conrad but for the
entire State of Florida.
I am praying for the Conrad family, and all others who
are mourning as a result of this tragedy.
Friday, April 19, 1996.
Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. At this time, Mr. President, I also
call upon my colleagues and the American people to offer a
prayer in behalf of the late Secretary of Commerce, Ron
Brown, and the 34 others who died with him that tragic day
in Bosnia. They were serving our Nation. They were
pursuing the goals of peace, and their deaths all came too
soon. Because of those losses, as a country we have lost
so much.
I appreciate the majority leader giving us this
opportunity to express our great sympathy and condolences
to their families and again to give us a chance to
reaffirm the mission; that they have all given their lives
in pursuit of the higher goals of our Nation.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
Mr. DOLE. I now ask, in response to the statement by my
colleague from Illinois, that we now observe a moment of
silence in honor of the memory of Ron Brown and others who
died in that tragic accident.
[A period of silence.]
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, just 2 weeks ago, this Nation
was saddened and anguished by the tragic death of Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown and 32 other Government and business
leaders in Croatia. As a very close personal friend of Ron
Brown's, I regret deeply, Mr. President, that I could not
be here to console his widow, Alma, and his children,
Michael and Tracy, in their time of grief. My thoughts and
prayers today, as they have been over the last several
weeks, are with the Brown family and with the families of
all of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
Although we have many pressing issues before us in this
body, Mr. President, I want to take just a few minutes, if
I can, to reflect and remember the extraordinary and
distinguished legacy of Ron Brown. As I stand before the
Senate here today, many thoughts come to mind, Mr.
President, about Ron Brown--civil rights activist,
Democratic Party chairman, Commerce Secretary, bridge
builder, and certainly a very close and dear personal
friend.
Beyond my great sense of personal loss, Mr. President,
when I think of Ron Brown I also think of public service
and public servant. From all the time that I knew Ron
Brown, from when he was a trusted aide to our colleague,
Senator Kennedy, to when he was chairman of the Democratic
Party and his last role as Secretary of Commerce, Ron
Brown epitomized, in my view, what public service is all
about. Ron Brown labored tirelessly for what he believed
in. It seemed that no obstacle could prevent him from
attaining his goals.
At a time when respect for public service and public
servants has diminished, when pundits too often cynically
demean those who serve America, Ron Brown presented the
quiet dignity that comes with superb public servants. Ron
believed that one person committed to a task with
conviction in their heart could make a difference, and he
certainly did. His labors were the embodiment of George
Bernard Shaw's timeless words, ``You see things, and you
say why; but I dream things that never were and say why
not.''
On April 3, when Secretary Brown's plane crashed in
Croatia, Mr. President, I was in Ireland to fulfill a
long-standing commitment. Together with Ambassador Jean
Kennedy Smith and Prime Minister Bruton, we attended and
participated in a wonderful memorial service dedicate to
Ron Brown's memory at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
I say as an aside, Mr. President, we anticipated 30 or
40 people would show up, maybe from the Embassy staff, to
come by and pay their respects. In fact, over 500 people
unannounced showed up at the cathedral that morning to
participate in that service. I want to thank Dean Stewart,
who was in charge of St. Patrick's Cathedral, along with
other members of the clergy from throughout Ireland who
participated that morning, as well as some very
distinguished people who sang and purchased musical pieces
in memory of Ron Brown, not to mention the 500 people that
came from across the island of Ireland to express their
sense of loss.
For all of us there that morning, Mr. President, our
remembrances of Ron Brown hearken back to the visit he had
made to Ireland 2 years ago, to which I was a member, a
trip not unlike the one to Croatia, involving some 15
chief executive officers of businesses in this country, as
well as others from the House and the Senate that were
part of an economic mission to Northern Ireland.
A visit, Ambassador Smith reminded us, which led to
President Clinton to dub Ron Brown an ``honorary
Irishman,'' and it was mentioned again by her that morning
at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Ron Brown, Mr. President, had
come to Ireland with an ambitious but challenging goal: To
make the dream of peace during the formal cease-fire in
Northern Ireland a reality. Certainly, it was no easy
task, as we know, even today.
For anyone who knew Ron Brown, there were not too many
challenges that phased him. While I had known him for many
years, it was on that trip to Ireland that I had the
opportunity to see firsthand the enthusiasm and optimism
that infused him.
Remarkably, Mr. President, I watched an African-American
man, born and raised in Harlem, with no ethnic or
religious connection to Ireland, come to that island and
champion the peace process and the opportunities for
economic development. While on that trip, Ron Brown became
the first U.S. Cabinet secretary to make an official visit
to Belfast.
The success of Ron's trip to Ireland prompted President
Clinton to send Ron on many other missions across the
globe, including the one to the former Yugoslavia, a
mission which ended so tragically on that rainy and wind-
swept mountain in Croatia. This final mission, Mr.
President, was one of many that Ron tirelessly made to the
world's troubled spots promoting American companies and
American workers.
As Secretary of Commerce, on one level, Ron's job, of
course, was to promote U.S. business interests, which he
did very, very well. But for all who knew Ron Brown well,
his interests ran much deeper than that. Ron Brown used
the legitimate goal of increasing U.S. economic
opportunities as a means of advancing other interests as
well.
Ron traveled to many places that are beginning the
difficult journey toward reconciliation and economic
revitalization because, as a public man, a public servant,
he believed that the dynamism of private enterprise could
help bring lasting peace to regions that, for years, had
known only violence and hatred.
But Ron Brown understood that these trips were about
more than just helping business or free enterprise. As
Ambassador Smith noted in her eulogy in Dublin a week ago,
these trips were truly--to use her words--``peace and
democracy missions, too, missions of hope and idealism.''
Mr. President, these trips were about promoting the
importance of work, and the notion that through economic
opportunity, the process of political reconciliation could
begin and, more importantly, could last.
In the absence of it, of course, no permanent healing
will ever occur.
From Ron Brown's earliest days, at his first job
carrying records and reading public service announcements
at WLIB-AM, a radio station in Harlem, he understood the
critical importance of work. He understood that there is
nothing as rewarding, for individuals or a nation, as
waking up in the morning, going to work, and coming home
in the evening knowing that you have earned a true wage.
That is why Ron Brown went to Ireland and so many other
places, and it is why he was in the Balkans on that tragic
evening.
Ron Brown knew that after the peace treaties were signed
and when the guns were finally laid to rest, the
possibility of a truly lasting peace anyplace around the
globe would depend on every person having the same
opportunity to realize today the dream of a far better
tomorrow for themselves and their families.
When Ron Brown journeyed to the Balkans, he took with
him the unquenchable spirit of American optimism. He
sought to use American enterprise and the American can-do
spirit to promote economic development as a means of
bringing a truly lasting peace. And he sought to heal the
lingering anguish of ethnic violence with a promise of a
brighter future for all the peoples of the region.
Ron Brown leaves this world, Mr. President, with an
amazing legacy. He was the first African-American to head
a major political party in our country. He was the first
African-American to be Secretary of Commerce. He rebuilt
the Democratic Party, and he certainly helped to elect
President Clinton in 1992. He used the Commerce Department
to create millions of jobs for American workers and spread
the doctrine of economic development and cooperation
across the globe.
Ron Brown enjoyed a full and all-too-brief life on this
Earth and must be a source of inspiration to all of us, in
not just Government, but in our Nation as a whole.
In Ireland, Prime Minister Bruton described Ron Brown in
these words, which I think bear repeating--as a role model
``for those looking for inspiration as to how a life can
be led for the good of others.''
Ron Brown understood, Mr. President, that our lives must
have purpose and direction. And we can best remember him
by emulating the way he lived his life. Mr. President, I
think the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said it well when he
said, ``I expect to pass through this world but once. Any
good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can
show for any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not
defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way
again.''
Ron Brown's life symbolized these solemn words. While he
passed through our world, Mr. President, he did good. He
showed kindness and, regrettably--so regrettably--he will
not pass this way again.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the comments
of our Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith, along with an
article that appeared in the Irish Times, which captured,
as well, the remarks of Prime Minister Bruton, who spoke
at the memorial service in Dublin, be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
Remarks by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith at Memorial
Service for Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and His
Delegation
Taoiseach, distinguished guests, and friends of Ron
Brown, of Chuck Meissner, and of the other brave pioneers
for peace whose lives of courage and service were so
tragically cut short last week.
This has, indeed, been a sad week for America, a sad
week for Ireland. We have lost friends. But today, we
gather not only to mourn them, but to celebrate their
lives.
Last night, I spoke with Alma Brown and told her of the
memorial service we were holding today. She was so pleased
that Ron was to be remembered in this way by the people of
Ireland, because this country was so important to him.
I first met Ron Brown in the fall of 1979. My brother,
Ted, was about to begin a campaign for President of the
United States in 1980. My husband, Steve, was to manage
the campaign, as he had done for my brothers, Jack and
Bob. Steve needed a deputy campaign manager for civil
rights, and everyone said that Ron Brown was the perfect
choice--a new young leader in the civil rights movement,
and a worthy heir of the Reverend Martin Luther King.
We all loved Ron from the start. He served far above and
beyond the call of duty in the campaign. He gave his heart
to Ted and Steve and all of us in the Kennedy family gave
our hearts to Ron.
In the years since, I saw him often, most recently
during his frequent visits to Ireland. He once told me
that he felt a special welcome and sense of humanity in
Ireland, even for those who are not of Irish descent. In
fact, he enjoyed his time here so much that President
Clinton dubbed him an honorary Irishman.
Ron Brown was an original. I never met a person who had
greater ability to go into a hornet's nest, come out with
the honey, and leave all the bees laughing. No tunnel was
too long or too dark for Ron to not see the light at the
end. His warmth, and wit, and optimism were inspiring and
infectious.
He was a charismatic leader, who was good at every job
he ever took on--as a leader in the civil rights movement,
chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, and as
the Secretary of Commerce. A son of Harlem, he was a
remarkable American success story, and he dedicated his
life to helping others achieve their potential and their
dreams, as he had one.
He brought that same spirit of optimism to Ireland. As
he said during President Clinton's historic visit, he
found a ``belief in self that wasn't here before.''
``We are on a path,'' he said, ``and we won't be
denied.''
Ron was deeply committed to public service, and he
instilled that commitment in all who worked for him; in
Chuck Meissner, his tireless assistant secretary of
commerce, who felt very strongly the pulse for peace in
Northern Ireland, and in all those from the Department of
Commerce who are here today. The mission Ron Brown led to
South Africa and China, to the Middle East and Northern
Ireland, and, finally, to Bosnia, were more than trade
missions. They were peace and democracy missions too,
missions to hope and idealism. He understood that peace,
prosperity, and economic justice go hand in hand.
As President Clinton has said, ``Ron Brown walked and
ran and flew through life. He was a magnificent life
force.''
In the wake of that force, in the wake of that
remarkable life, all of us who knew Ron Brown, Chuck
Meissner, and the members of the delegation, all of us who
were fortunate to be touched by their warmth and share
their vision must try to carry on their work for peace,
for that is their legacy to us.
a
[From the Irish Times, April 11, 1996]
Bruton Says Brown Was a Model for All Who Want To Help
Others
(By Mark Brennock)
Politicians, business people and many others who knew
Ron Brown gathered in Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral
yesterday to honor an African-American whom President
Clinton had dubbed ``an honorary Irishman.''
As one who had not known him the Dean of St. Patrick's
the Very Reverend Maurice Stewart, said he had two images
of the late U.S. Commerce Secretary in his mind.
The first was of a man who had been praised after his
death by Northern Irish politicians of both persuasions.
The second was that when Mr. Brown was seen on
television, ``he always seemed to be smiling. He was a
happy man, and these days, that is as good an image as any
politician could project.''
Mr. Brown was among 33 people killed last week when
their plane crashed in Croatia. He had been on a trade and
aid mission to Bosnia and Croatia. He was also a key
figure in the U.S. Administration's involvement in the
Northern Ireland peace process.
The U.S. Ambassador, Ms. Jean Kennedy Smith, told the
congregation Mr. Brown had once said he felt ``a special
welcome and sense of humanity in Ireland, even for those
who are not of Irish descent. In fact, he enjoyed his time
here so much that President Clinton dubbed him an honorary
Irishman.
``The missions Ron Brown led to South Africa and China,
to the Middle East and Northern Ireland and, finally, to
Bosnia, were more than trade missions. They were peace and
democracy missions too, missions of hope and idealism. He
understood that peace, prosperity and justice go hand in
hand.''
She said everyone who had known Mr. Brown, Mr. Chuck
Meissner and the others who died in the plane crash ``must
try to carry on their work for peace, for that is their
legacy to us.''
U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, who had traveled to Ireland
with Mr. Brown in recent years, said on one level he had
been in Ireland to promote U.S. business, but ``Ron Brown
understood that these trips were about far more than
promoting business.
``He knew that after the peace treaties were signed and
the guns laid to rest, the possibility of a truly lasting
peace depended on each person having the same opportunity
to realize their dreams of a better tomorrow. He sought to
heal the lingering anguish and ethnic violence with the
promise of brighter opportunities.
``On the trip to Ireland, I . . . watched an African-
American born and raised in Harlem with no ties here come
and champion the cause of peace and economic opportunity
in Ireland.''
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bruton hailed Mr. Brown as a role
model ``for those looking for inspiration as to how a life
can be led for the good of others''. He said Mr. Brown had
brought his experience of a Harlem upbringing and his
involvement in the civil rights movement to work towards
the creation of ``a structure of peace'' in the world.
``As head of the Irish Government I want to thank him
for the enormous interest he took in peace and prosperity
on this small island.''
Ireland was not a major strategic interest for the U.S.,
he said. The U.S. could have confined itself to expressing
pious words and the occasional reference to Ireland at
election time. But the Clinton Administration had gone far
beyond that.
The President, who is in the west of Ireland, was
represented at the service by her aide-decamp, Col.
Bernard Howard. The attendance included the Lord Mayor of
Dublin, Mr. Sean D. Dublin Bay Loftus.
The Government was also represented by the Minister for
Finance, Mr. Quinn; the Minister for Enterprise and
Employment, Mr. Bruton; and the Minister for Tourism and
Trade, Mr. Kenny. Ministers of State present included Mr.
Pat Rabbitte and Mr. Austin Currie.
There was a large representation from the U.S. Embassy.
Among the other diplomatic missions represented were those
of Norway, Thailand, Nigeria and Israel.
A large contingent from the Department of Foreign
Affairs included the second secretary, Mr. Sean O hUiginn,
the Chief of Protocol, Mr. John O. Burke and Mr. Brendan
Scannell of the Anglo-Irish division. The Taoiseach's
programme manager. Mr. Sean Donlon, and representatives of
a number of other departments were also present.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I appreciate the unanimous
consent to speak for 20 minutes. Let me associate myself
strongly with both sets of remarks by the Senator from
Connecticut--first, as to our good friend and great loss
with regard to Secretary Brown, who we will miss greatly.
And, second, nothing could be more on our minds today than
the horror of last year in Oklahoma City. The moments of
silence here and across the country were a fitting
reminder of that tragedy, but also a time to feel some
real gratitude toward the employees of our Federal
Government, who do not always get treated with all the
respect and admiration they deserve. They had a very rough
year in 1995. I, for one, want to thank them for their
services and the sacrifices of their families throughout
the country, particularly with regard to those who
suffered the loss in Oklahoma City.
I thank the Senator from Connecticut for his remarks.
Monday, April 22, 1996.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to touch on a couple
of matters this morning. The first relates to the
opportunity that I had during the recent recess to travel
to the former Yugoslavia. I was fortunate enough to travel
with two colleagues who, in the past, have indicated a
great deal of interest in Bosnia and other countries of
the former Yugoslavia, the distinguished Senator from
Nevada, Senator Reid, and the senior Senator from Utah,
Senator Hatch.
Our purpose was really threefold: First, to assess the
progress of the Dayton accords; second, to examine, as
carefully as we could, the role of the United States
military and our Foreign Service personnel in the
implementation of those accords; and third, to assess the
longer term issues of democratization and privatization as
they are developing in the former republics of Yugoslavia.
It was with a great deal of sadness that we left on the
very day that the Secretary of Commerce lost his life in a
plane crash near Dubrovnik. He and I were supposed to have
attended a reception the following evening in Zagreb,
Croatia.
I was extraordinarily saddened and disturbed by the
early reports that we were given regarding his accident.
There has been no one more dedicated to the causes of
economic development in troubled countries than the
Secretary of Commerce. There has been no one who has
carried the message of new opportunities for U.S. business
all over the world more diligently than Secretary Brown.
Last week, I addressed my thoughts with regard to the
many extraordinary accomplishments of Secretary Brown. I
will not do so again this morning except to say that his
loss will be mourned and his effort will, again, be
realized for what it was: a major achievement in peace, a
major achievement in creating new-found opportunities for
U.S. businesses abroad, and a major opportunity for
countries to continue to find new ways to work and to
conduct business with the United States.
His peace effort, on behalf of this country and the
people of the former Yugoslavia, was deeply appreciated.
And I must say, every place we went, it was the first
issue to be raised with me by governmental leaders and
others who mourned his loss and recognized his
contribution. They expressed the hope that his effort
would continue, that through other people and in other
ways, the extraordinary accomplishments of the Secretary
of Commerce would be continued.
So, while our trip began on a very sad and somber note,
our entire delegation chose to continue with it, in part,
to show the people of Bosnia and the entire region that
the United States remains committed to the peace and
development effort for which Ron Brown gave his life.
Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise to note the passing
of our Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown, in a plane crash
outside Dubrovnik, Bosnia. This tragic accident took with
it a vast amount of talent and expertise in the persons of
numerous American business people, and specifically in the
person of Secretary Brown. A dedicated member of his party
and this administration, Secretary Brown fought hard for
the ideals and programs in which he believed. His
commitment to the Commerce Department he led was shown by
his willingness to brave the dangers of Bosnia, business
leaders in tow, in pursuit of opportunities to help
rebuild that war-torn country.
Secretary Brown also was a committed family man, and I
know that his death is a great loss to his wife, his
family, his friends, and his neighbors. I extend my
condolences to his family in particular and hope that they
can find solace in the knowledge of God's grace and in
memories of the life they had with Ron Brown.
Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, it is always painful
when death comes too soon. It is even more so when the
circumstances are so overwhelmingly dramatic and tragic as
the airplane crash in Bosnia that took the life of our
Nation's Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, and 34 others.
Ron Brown was a dear and personal friend. His loss was
compounded by my personal friendship with four other
people who died that day. The shock of it still resonates.
His family, and the families of the others who died with
him in the service of their country feel the pain most
directly. There is no substitute for the love and the loss
of a husband, a father, and relative. I want to offer them
my sincere condolences and prayers at this sad time.
His colleagues in the Government and in the private
sector will miss him and his leadership. Ron Brown not
only energized the Democratic Party, but the Department of
Commerce as well. The result of his efforts ranged from
the creation of jobs for hundreds of thousands of American
workers, to a special job for a singular American, Bill
Clinton, now President of the United States.
Ron Brown's legacy of achievement is a beacon of hope to
all Americans, precisely because he exemplified the
possibilities when the higher angels of the American
character prevail. He overcame potential limitations, and
turned liabilities into assets by dint of commitment,
effort, and talent. His was the essential American success
story. But his was also a success story for all humanity.
Ron Brown was not a selfish person. His life was dedicated
to reaching out to others in pursuit of the common good.
That legacy is no more poignantly demonstrated than in the
young people to whom he gave opportunity and guidance and
a chance. Ron Brown did not pull the ladder of success up
behind him.
I count myself among the fortunate proteges of Ron
Brown. He helped make my history-making election to the
U.S. Senate possible. I was only one of many of his
students. Several others died with him that day.
Ron Brown's passing has been publicly mourned by
millions, and created an opportunity for a public
expression of gratitude for his public service. I hope the
families of those who perished with him will take some
measure of that expression as gratitude in mourning for
the lost ones: Ron Brown, Kathryn Hoffman; Duane
Christian; Carol Hamilton; Bill Morton; Chuck Meissner;
Gail Dobert; Lawrence Payne; Adam Darling; Steve Kaminski;
Naomi Warbasse; Kathy Kellogg; Jim Lewek; Lee Jackson;
Dragica Lendic Bebek; Niksa Antonini; Nathaniel Nash;
Barry Conrad; Paul Cushman III; Robert Donovan; Claudio
Elia; Leonard Pieroni; John Scoville; Donald Terner; P.
Stuart Tholan; David Ford; Frank Maier; Walter Murphy;
Robert Whittaker; Ashley Davis; Tim Schafer; Gerald
Aldrich; Robert Farrington, Jr.; Cheryl Turnage; Shelly
Kelly.
We will, as a community, have to close ranks to go
forward without them, but with God's grace the mark they
made in service to us all will carry on.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the tragic plane crash in
Croatia on April 3 that took the life of Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown also took the lives of 34 other men and
women of great talent, promise, and dedication, including
11 other employees of the Department of Commerce.
Since that tragedy, many eloquent words have been spoken
and written about all of the victims. In two of the most
eloquent articles I have seen. Michael Wilbon wrote
extremely movingly in the Washington Post on April 5 about
his friend Kathryn Hoffman, and Cindy Loose wrote equally
movingly in the Post yesterday about the life of Gail
Dobert. Sadly, these two lives of great promise have been
suddenly and tragically cut short. I know that many others
will be interested to learn more about the lives of these
two dedicated employees, and I ask unanimous consent that
the articles be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the articles were ordered to
be printed in the Record, as follows:
[From the Washington Post, April 5, 1996]
The Death of My Friend Is Our Loss
(By Michael Wilbon)
One of my dearest friends, Kathryn Hoffman, was on that
plane. I have no idea of her official Commerce Department
title, but I do know she was Ron Brown's right hand, his
scheduler. When he went to Africa, she went with him. When
he went to Asia, she went with him. I have her postcards
from South America and Eastern Europe and other corners of
the world in a kitchen drawer.
Kathryn was the girl you dreamed about meeting as a
little boy: stunningly pretty, smart, quick with a
comeback, and a sports enthusiast. Okay, she wasn't
perfect; she was a Knicks fan. But Boys Night Out often
was amended to Boys & Kathryn. Never Kathy. Kathryn. I
called her from the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and made
her give me play-by-play on the fourth quarter of a Bears
game, and she was seamless. Another time we drove from
Chicago to Capital Centre in 10 hours, just in time to see
Tyson knock out Spinks in the first round on closed
circuit. She used to say I had the greatest, most
glamorous job--traveling the world in search of games, but
last week there was this late-night phone call. I was
going to the Final Four; she was going to France, then
Bosnia. I told her I couldn't believe a basketball fan
such as Ron Brown was leaving during the Final Four, and
she laughed.
She had taken her dogs, Max and Bo, to Fredericksburg to
the breeder where they stay when she's traveling. She had
a house now and a four-wheel drive vehicle and a garden,
for crying out loud, and I couldn't help but ask if
finally, having seen the entire world and then some, if
she still thought this life of hopping planes was so
glamorous. And she said, no, not anymore, but there are
people who love their work and are addicted to excitement
in a way no desk job can satisfy. It's the truth. We made
the promise we always made about getting more balance in
our lives, about traveling less. We planned dinner for
Saturday--tomorrow night.
Most of us who live our lives this way don't think about
dying on a plane, not when you're single and 35 has yet to
come and the career--in Kathryn's case, public service--
keeps you on a high. You get on the plane and read, work,
go to sleep. It becomes, perversely enough, the place you
can relax. I never, not for one split second, thought a
U.S. military jet would fail to bring her back alive.
Four of my closest friends have worked for Ron Brown at
Commerce, which made the moments immediately following the
news of the crash, well, numbing. Through them, I got to
know. ``The Secretary'' (as they'd call him) a little bit
and to admire him a lot. His death, and the recent deaths
of Arthur Ashe and entrepreneur Reginald Lewis, depress me
to the point of despair, not just because inspired and
productive men were snatched from earth in the primes of
their lives, but because they were the hedge against
hopelessness. They were the healers, the men who could
negotiate any situation--men who looked at bigots and
fools and laughed inside while brushing them aside. It's
sick, debating whether Michael Irvin or Mike Tyson is a
role model when Ron Brown was on TV every night, dressed
up, looking good, sounding even better, jetting hither and
yon, networking with world leaders and businessmen to do
work that mattered, helping save the Democratic Party from
itself, being a patriot. No, you couldn't find him on
``SportsCenter,'' and he didn't have stats or a trading
card, but he was a role model. He defined it.
I wonder, in the wake of his death, how many Division I
scholarship football and basketball players (outside of
Washington) can tell you what Ron Brown did for a living,
why he needed to go to Dubrovnik and why his death has
caused so much anguish among people who never met him. No
Ashe, no Lewis, no Brown. Sports, business and government.
Are there people in the ranks like them? Can we be certain
the intellect and relentless work they provided will be
replenished in the near future? Perhaps the worst thing
about the crash is that it deprived us not only of the
general, but of his lieutenants such as Carol Hamilton and
Bill Morton and Kathryn Hoffman, people who had made
public service their lives, their passion. We have to hope
there's no shortage of worthy candidates to take up their
missions.
This was to be a festive weekend, and not just because
of Easter. For the first time since last August, just
about all the members of the crew are going to be off the
road, off the planes and out of the hotels. Many of us
made plans here in Washington. Age 35, which Kathryn would
have been in August, is about the time you start to
realize life isn't everlasting, when you become more
serious and consistent about those silent prayers for your
friends in flight, when it first hits you that just
because you planned dinner doesn't mean everybody's going
to be there.
I joined a couple of my friends from Commerce late last
night because sleep wasn't coming, and misery needs
company most when nobody's got any answers. I tried to
think of all the safe, productive trips abroad that
Kathryn made with The Secretary, all the trade and
business their missions helped generate, all the goodwill
their junkets created for the country. But the head is
never any match for the heart, and that didn't change last
night. What I wanted was another postcard in the mailbox,
one from Singapore or Venezuela that let me know she was
safe, one signed, like so many others, ``Be home soon,
Love, Kathryn.''
a
[From the Washington Post, April 15, 1996]
After Funeral, a Celebration of a Rich Life--Birthday
Party Becomes Tribute to Croatia Victim
(By Cindy Loose)
Gail Dobert was always up to something. She was the one
to organize the beach house rental at Rehoboth Beach, DE,
every summer, inviting so many people that you never got
your own room--and felt lucky if you got a bed.
She could get tickets to anything and persuade her
friends to go anywhere, even a business dinner. ``I have
to go talk to a Bonsai tree woman,'' she once told her
friend Krista Pages. ``Come on, you'll have a great
time.'' Believe it or not, it turned out to be fun, Pages
said.
If she could have been at her 35th birthday party, which
she organized before leaving for Bosnia with Commerce
Secretary Ronald H. Brown, she would have loved it.
The barbecue and keg party took place Saturday, just as
she had planned, a few hours after her burial in a
Maryland cemetery. Dobert, the acting director of the
Commerce Department's Office of Business Liaison, was
among the 35 people who died when Brown's airplane crashed
into a Croatian hillside. Like her, several of the victims
were young and most were in the middle ranks of government
service.
Her friends and family memorialized her in all the
traditional ways. On Friday, the anniversary of her birth,
a funeral was held in her home town on Long Island. On
Saturday morning, hundreds gathered at St. Peter's Church
on Capitol Hill to eulogize her, then followed the hearse
for a graveside service.
It might seem strange to follow that with a party,
conceded her friend Chris Wilson. But if you knew Gail
Dobert, he said, it would not seem that extraordinary. She
was, he explained, a festive, life-loving person who would
have wanted her family and friends--well in excess of 100,
it turned out--to hold the party she had planned for them.
Besides, they couldn't just all go home alone. What
else, then, could they do? ``This party has got to be the
beginning of getting better--her death has been so hard,
it just has to be,'' Wilson said.
Despite working grueling hours at the Commerce
Department, Dobert was always the life of the party. If
anyone could persuade a shy person to sing along at a
karaoke bar, belting out, ``These boots were made for
walking,'' it would be Dobert.
``There is so much to celebrate about Gail's life and so
many fun things to remember,'' Pages said. ``For her to
live on, you have to talk about the good times.''
So there they were, eating and drinking and sharing
pictures in the Alexandria home and back yard of Chip
Gardiner, a congressional aide.
``This is such a tribute these young people are paying
our Gail,'' said Dobert's mother, Maureen. ``When people
think of Washington, they think of a huge bureaucracy. I
wish they knew how many idealistic, hard-working young
people there are. The politics in the halls of Congress
may be the engine, but the train is run by them.''
``She made us very proud,'' said Dobert's father, Ken.
``We always said that if parents got paid, we'd have to
take half pay because she and her brother made our job so
easy.'' Dobert's brother, Ray, turned 33 the day of his
sister's burial. There was a cake for him at her birthday
party, just as she had intended.
Small groups at various times surrounded photo albums,
laughing. ``There's the famous raincoat,'' someone said,
pointing at a photo snapped at a wedding reception as the
band played ``It's Raining Men.'' No one was dancing until
Dobert decided to enliven things by hopping on the dance
floor with a tambourine and the bright pink and iridescent
yellow coat.
Eileen Parise had a picture from the time she got Dobert
and two other friends tickets to the Baltimore reception
Vice President Gore gave in honor of Pope John Paul II. As
happened not infrequently, Dobert's battered car broke
down, this time on Route 50 near the Baltimore airport.
``The other people in the car were praying and saying
Hail Marys,'' Parise said. ``Gail starts schmoozing the
state trooper that came by. He not only had the car towed
but then drove everyone to the reception.''
From inside, someone shouted, ``Here's Gail,'' and about
a dozen people, expecting to see a vacation videotape from
Rehoboth, ran inside. Instead, it turned out to be the
evening news, with a snippet of Dobert's memorial service
that day. The clip went by quickly, segueing into another
memorial for another crash victim. There was pained
silence. Then someone moved to turn off the television,
and another guest arrived.
``We brought a semi-good bottle of wine,'' the new guest
told Gardiner.
``You can drop the semi--it's full isn't it?'' Wilson
asked. ``Hey, it even has a cork.''
The celebration and jocularity were real, but so were
the moments of pain expressed on every face at some point.
Maureen Dobert sang along when a birthday cake was brought
out for her son and another guest with an April 13
birthday. But she confided that she was using her public
face. The private one, she said, gives into grief
sometimes.
``You know, one day they go to kindergarten, and you
have to let them go,'' she said. ``Then they want to ride
their bike around the corner, and you tell them to be
careful and let them go. Before you know it, they're
adults and you say, okay, I'm going to let them go.
``But this is the hardest letting go you ever have to
do. I wanted her longer, but it's not going to work. It's
the hardest letting go, but somehow you have to do it.''
Tuesday, April 23, 1996.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I wanted to take a few moments
today to commemorate the life of Robert Donovan, president
of ABB Incorporated, who so tragically perished with
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown in Croatia.
Over the past few weeks, the Nation has come together in
an outpouring of support and remembrance for the life of
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.
And deservedly so. Ron Brown was a great American who
faithfully, and with quiet dignity, served his country and
his party.
But, we must not forget those in our own community who
were taken away from us on that wind-swept mountain in
Croatia.
Robert Donovan, as well as all the others who were
killed, deserve our special praise and commemoration
because they died while on a humanitarian mission of
mercy.
Robert Donovan didn't have to travel to the Balkans. He
certainly could have stayed in Connecticut. But, Robert
Donovan believed, as did everyone else on that plane, that
in the global economy of the 21st century, Americans have
a need and a responsibility to reach beyond their borders.
And, what's more, he believed the business community had
a solemn obligation to do all it could to help those
nations that are in the midst of the difficult process of
rebuilding and reconciliation.
Some may cynically suggest that Robert Donovan and the
other business leaders who traveled to Croatia were
interested only in a financial bottom line. But one
doesn't journey to Bosnia to make money.
Robert Donovan went to the Balkans because he believed
that the dynamism of American business could help bring
lasting peace to regions that for years knew only violence
and hatred.
And he believed that his efforts could make a real
difference in healing the lingering anguish of ethnic
violence.
This spirit of altruism was evident in everything that
Robert Donovan did.
At a time when pundits and politicians alike have made
corporate CEO's Public Enemy No. 1, Robert Donovan proved
the stereotype wrong. He was a man who remained strongly
committed and loyal to his workers and his company.
He was as comfortable dealing with ABB employees, either
in the workplace or running in the neighborhoods around
this plant as he was dealing with international wheelers
and dealers.
And his generosity spread beyond the workplace. He took
an active, personal interest in helping out at the 1995
Special Olympics World Games in New Haven.
But, Robert Donovan was a man who didn't hesitate from
taking on difficult tasks and that was never more obvious
than on his last mission to the Balkans.
And, while I know this is a difficult time for Robert
Donovan's friends, family and colleagues, it is important
to remember that last mission and all the tireless work
that he did on behalf of ABB, his family, and his country.
It's that enduring legacy that we must all remember in
this time of tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife Margaret,
and his children Kevin and Kara.
claudio elia
Mr. President, I also wanted to take a few moments to
remember another Connecticut resident who tragically
perished with Commerce Secretary Brown in Croatia--Claudio
Elia, of Greenwich, CT, who was chairman and CEO of Air &
Water Technologies Corp.
Like Ron Brown and all the others who died in Croatia,
Claudio Elia was on a solemn mission of mercy and he
deserves particular recognition from this body.
Claudio Elia came to this country from Italy and took
advantage of the vast economic opportunities available to
all Americans. He started his business career in 1968 at
the Boston Consulting Group and from there he quickly
worked his way up the corporate ladder.
In fact, Elia's value at Air & Water Technologies was so
significant that it took three top executives to replace
him.
But, as Claudio Elia reveled in the economic
opportunities that he received in his country, he traveled
to Bosnia so that others would realize the same
opportunities.
Claudio Elia didn't have to travel to the Balkans. There
are excellent business opportunities elsewhere. But,
Claudio Elia recognized that in the global economy of the
21st century, Americans must often look beyond its borders
for new possibilities.
One of Claudio Elia's former classmates said at his
funeral that: ``His presence on that flight was vintage
Claudio. He was constantly pushing the envelope, looking
for new opportunities and business relationships.''
And those words were most true on the final mission of
his life to the former Yugoslavia. He believed that
American businessmen have an obligation to play a role in
helping nations that are on the difficult journey toward
peace.
There are those who have cynically insinuated that
Claudio Elia and the other business leaders who traveled
to Croatia were interested more in their financial bottom
line then the well-being of the Bosnian people. Well, as I
said before, one doesn't journey to Bosnia to make money.
I believe that Claudio Elia and everyone else on that
flight ventured to the Balkans because they shared the
vision of Ron Brown.
They believed that through the machinations of the free
market they could make a real difference in the lives of
the Bosnian, Serb, and Croatian people. They understood
that even though peace had been achieved, the chance for a
real and lasting peace would depend on all peoples having
the same opportunity for a brighter future.
Claudio Elia took with him to the Balkers the
unquenchable spirit of American optimism and idealism that
has infused our Nation for 220 years.
That spirit was as evident when he was in the boardroom
or on an overseas mission, as it was when he was sailing
his yacht in the Long Island Sound or dealing with his
employees in the same manner he dealt with everyone else.
Claudio Elia was a man who didn't hesitate from taking
on difficult tasks and that was never more obvious than on
his last mission to the Balkans.
And, while I know this is a difficult time for Claudio
Elia's friends, family and colleagues, it is important to
remember that last mission and all the tireless work that
he did on behalf of his family, and his country.
My thoughts and prayers remain with his wife Susan and
his children Christine and Marc.
Thursday, April 25, 1996.
PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT
Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent
that the statement submitted with reference to the death
of Secretary Brown and other officials at the Commerce
Department and from the business community be compiled and
printed as a Senate document.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Wednesday, May 8, 1996.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I wish to reflect briefly
on the loss of life and tremendous talent our Nation
suffered when, only days before Easter Sunday, 33
Americans--leaders in business and Government--perished in
a storm off the coast of Croatia.
Each of these individuals was strongly committed to the
idea that economic renewal is critical to achieving peace
in that desperately war-torn land. Compassion for others
in need drew all of them on their mission to the Balkans
in an effort to help heal that desperate corner of the
globe.
I particularly want to remember U.S. Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown. Charismatic and energetic, he
inevitably devoted himself to the task at hand with all
his heart and mind. His enthusiasm for public service was
only equaled by an amazing ability to attain his goals. He
lived the American success story by proving that everyone,
through hard work and determination can achieve their
heart's desire.
Ron Brown's immense personal popularity made his
untimely death all the more sorrowful.
Born in Washington, DC, but raised in New York's Harlem,
Secretary Brown attended Middlebury College in Vermont
where he was the only black student in his class. After
graduation he joined the U.S. Army and, serving as an
officer, proudly represented his country abroad.
Following his military career he worked as a welfare
caseworker in New York City while attending law school at
night. An individual of enormous charm and wit, Ron Brown
became the first African-American leader of a major
political party in the United States. Regarding this
historical achievement he stated, ``I did not run on the
basis of race, but I will not run away from it. I am proud
of who I am.''
President Clinton named Ron Brown to serve as U.S.
Secretary of Commerce, the first African-American to
occupy that post. He performed its duties with wisdom,
dedication, and conscientious attention to detail.
Secretary Brown more than anyone else in Government, gave
business a seat at the diplomatic table. Because of his
friendship with and access to the President, the State
Department was on constant notice that if our economic
efforts overseas were not represented, Ron Brown stood
ready to serve as their advocate.
Representing the United States around the world, he was
America's premier salesman for what we have to offer--
equality, opportunity, and abundance.
This April, bravely undertaking a mission into what had
recently been a war zone and still was a potentially
hostile region, Ron Brown proved to the world what those
who knew him always took for granted: that he cared less
for his personal safety than for the good of the people
who live there.
In his own wonderful way, Ron Brown served as a
peacekeeper. Working to establish international trade and
business in the region, he offered its people the
opportunity to rebuild a civil society.
Yes, the United States lost 33 lives, 33 talented
individuals, each with an unlimited potential to achieve.
But we as a nation have also gained 33 luminous examples
of ultimate dedication and compassion. These bright stars
of self-sacrifice form an American constellation which
can, if we let it, guide us forward with generosity and
courage toward a better tomorrow for ourselves and all of
our neighbors.
Thursday, May 23, 1996.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the tragic plane crash in
Croatia last month that took the life of Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown also took the lives of other
outstanding officials in the Department of Commerce,
including Charles F. Meissner, who was Assistant Secretary
for International Economic Policy and who was also the
husband of Doris Meissner, the Commissioner of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service. During the 1970's,
he had served with great distinction for several years on
the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Our hearts go out to the Meissner family in this time of
their great loss. In the days following that tragedy, a
number of eloquent tributes to Charles Meissner described
his extraordinary career, his dedication to public
service, and his contributions to our country and to
people throughout the world. I believe these tributes will
be of interest to all of us in Congress and to many
others, and I ask unanimous consent that they be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the tributes were ordered to
be printed in the Record, as follows:
Tribute to Charles Meissner
(By Stuart E. Eizenstat)
Doris, Christine, Andrew, family and friends of Chuck
Meissner. I feel doubly blessed by my association with the
Meissner family. In the Carter administration it was my
good fortune to work closely with Doris on immigration
issues--to see directly her intelligence, her calm amidst
the pressures of policymaking, her quiet dignity, her
dedication to public service. It was then that I first
came in contact with Chuck.
But it was during the past 2\1/2\ years, with me in
Brussels and Chuck in Washington, that we formed an
intense professional and personal bond which profoundly
influenced me. We worked together on every important trade
and commercial issue involving the European Union and its
member states.
During Chuck's frequent travels to Brussels, he stayed
with Fran and me, and had many meals with us. Chuck and I
attended innumerable meetings together. When my
appointment to my current position at Commerce became
known, I spent a great deal of time talking and meeting
with Chuck, seeking his advice and counsel and telling him
of my plans to beef-up the International Economic Policy
unit he so ably led. Our last conversation came only a few
days before his trip to Bosnia and Croatia.
During Chuck's all-too-brief tenure as Assistant
Secretary, there was hardly a continent that did not
benefit from Chuck's sterling efforts. Chuck used his
extensive financial experience at Chemical Bank and the
World Bank to encourage private sector investment in the
border regions in Mexico, as chair of the U.S.-Mexico
Border Economic Development task force. He helped to
expand economic contacts between the West and Central
Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union by his
work to invigorate the Economic Forum of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and by the drive
and leadership he gave to the West-East Economic
Conferences.
Chuck was inspiring in his work with large and small
American companies. He had a flair for dealing with CEOs.
They empathized with him and understood his global vision.
Nowhere was this better exemplified than in the
Transatlantic Business Dialogue. Secretary Brown initiated
the idea that U.S. and European business should take the
lead in helping government design future transatlantic
commercial policy. But it was Chuck that made this idea
work. The success of the historic conference in Seville,
Spain, last November that brought a 100 leading American
and European CEOs together was due in large part to Chuck.
Following on his deep conviction that trade was the best
force for peace, Chuck used his boundless energy to bring
American companies together with companies in emerging
democracies and in reforming countries. He was the leading
force behind President Clinton's White House Conference on
trade and investment in Eastern Europe, held in Cleveland
last year. That conference exposed America's top companies
to the genuine opportunities to build commercial bridges
to Central Europe.
He poured his heart into using commercial policy to
support the peace process in Northern Ireland. He was
particularly proud, and justly so, of bringing scores of
companies there to support our efforts and those of the
British government to bring peace to that troubled land.
When peace finally comes to Northern Ireland, as it surely
will, Chuck Meissner will have played a major role in
being a midwife. He was just beginning to do the same in
Haiti.
It was on another such venture to undergird a fragile
peace, that took Chuck and Ron Brown to Croatia and
Bosnia. He died doing what he loved, using the resources
of the American private sector to strengthen the forces of
peace and democracy abroad. The terrible conflict in
Bosnia has now claimed several friends, earlier Bob
Frasure, and now Chuck, Ron and our other colleagues at
the Commerce Department.
Chuck maintained a punishing travel schedule, as he was
driven to extend our commercial diplomacy round the world.
He joked to me that he only saw Doris, with her own
demanding schedule, as their planes criss-crossed in the
sky! And Doris, his love for you and the children was
evident in the fond ways in which he talked about you.
But all of this was a continuation of a life devoted to
public service, with a particular emphasis on expanding
America's economic relationships abroad, relationships
which are the very essence of our efforts to expand
democracy and prosperity around the globe. He served in
senior positions in the Treasury Department, on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, where he was staff director
of the Subcommittee on Foreign Relations, and in the State
Department where he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for
International Finance and Development and Ambassador and
U.S. Special Negotiator for Economic Matters. Chuck's
service to the United States was not limited to civilian
positions. He was a Vietnam veteran, decorated on several
occasions for his bravery in combat as a Captain in the
United States Army.
But with all of these accomplishments, I will most
remember Chuck with genuine love and affection for
something more personal. Few people have touched me the
way Chuck did. He had a wonderful joy of life and sense of
humor. He made me laugh--not always easy to do! When I
told Doris at her home Friday about this, she said, ``You
know, one of the reasons I married Chuck was that he made
me laugh too!''
When Chuck came into a room his radiance lit it up. That
beautiful smile and almost cherubic face--like a grown-up
version of one of Raphael's endearing child angels--never
failed to touch me deeply and to the core. I was drawn to
Chuck, as I know all of you were, by not only his obvious
competence but by his basic decency, his goodness, his
wonderful humanity. Chuck believed in causes but he never
forgot the people who were to benefit from them.
Just as we all feel blessed by Chuck's friendship, and
by his caring, all of us also feel, in our own way,
cheated by his tragic death--for myself, deprived of an
opportunity to work even closer together on the causes he
so believed in, deprived of more time to nurture our
friendship, deprived of the chance to simply feel so good
in his presence.
But all of this pales in comparison to the loss for
Doris and the children of a husband, a father, a
companion. There is an old saying, that ``men and women
plan, but God laughs at our plans and has his own for
us.'' None of us can possibly explain this tragedy. All
one can say is that God on High must have been
particularly lonely and needed Chuck's companionship and
laughter; as those who knew him on this imperfect earth so
reveled in it.
Chuck, we loved you as you loved us. Our memories are
sweet as the fragrances of Spring will surely come. They
did not die with you. All of your friends will always be
the better for you having come into our lives with your
wonderful countenance.
Doris, we hope that our prayers and the heartfelt
feelings of your colleagues in the Justice Department, the
Commerce Department and throughout the Administration will
strengthen you in these dark and difficult days, and will
sustain you as you continue to service the country so well
for which Chuck gave his life.
a
Reflections on Charles Meissner
(By Michael Ely)
Today it is my honor briefly to talk to you about
Charles Meissner and the central theme of his working
life, service to his government and, more broadly, service
to his nation and to the world. Chuck might have been
embarrassed by this discussion. His sense of personal
responsibility and commitment was so deep and integrated
into his life that it became part of his personality. It
went right down to his toenails. He felt that devotion to
the public good was normal and natural behavior, even if
not widely shared in a world full of people in futile
pursuit of private gain and satisfaction outside of and
divorced from the public good.
Indeed, his concept of the good was universal,
comparable to what we might think of as the inner vision
of a saint, but tempered by years of experience in
addressing complex issues of public policy where the path
to the good is unmarked and has to be discovered or even
created. Here was an area that must have drawn Doris and
Chuck together: their willingness, even eagerness, to
grapple with policy issues with difficult tradeoffs, no
easy solutions and multiple painful outcomes. Chuck sought
to reconcile commercial affairs with broader national
interests; Doris deals with the terrible tensions between
social decency and justice and conflicting economic and
social problems.
Our paths first came together in the State Department
almost two decades ago. From a senior staff position with
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he had been
parachuted in, as it were, as Deputy Assistant Secretary
in the Bureau of Economic Affairs, then a powerful and
aggressive organization with entirely State personnel.
Chuck used to joke, with some reason, that I was brought
in as his principal deputy to keep an eye on him. We ended
up mentoring each other, he with his broad Treasury and
Senate background, I a decade older with depth in overseas
diplomatic service and State bureaucratic background. Our
relations, warmed by Chuck's openness, honesty and obvious
ability, deepened into mutual trust and ripened into
friendship.
It was in retrospect an exciting and creative period. In
the wake of the first oil shock and the world economic
slowdown many countries in Latin America, Africa and
eastern Europe could not repay to the U.S. hundreds of
millions in official debts contracted in better times. It
was Chuck's labor of Hercules to sort out the economic
implications and the sticky foreign and domestic politics
to come up with a set of U.S. Government responses. A
thankless business--he specialized, like Doris, in
thankless tasks--with infinite opportunity for offending
the Congress, the Treasury, the debtor countries and the
other creditors.
It was in this thicket of problems that he encountered
Michel Camdessus, then a very senior officer of the French
Treasury, and like him an official of extraordinary
breadth and ability. Their initial adversarial relations
were transformed by mutual appreciation into a partnership
that defined the rules for handling sovereign debt, and
lived on through the years that followed.
The dozen years Chuck spent sorting out the debt
problems of the Chemical Bank and experiencing the
institutional culture of the World Bank were stepping
stones to his policy position in Commerce; all of us
confidently expected his star to mount in the coming
years, the years that have been taken from him.
As a negotiator he was matchless. He won, of all things,
by being straight! To begin with, Chuck was deeply
uninterested in the social luxuries of diplomatic life (I
finally got him to recognize the difference between red
and white wines) and skipped the cocktail parties unless
he had a diplomatic chore to do there. For another, he
neither bluffed nor threatened, nor did he respond to such
tactics; while he could sense the hidden agenda of his
adversary, he had none of his own; and his attention never
wavered nor temper flared. His physical vitality and a
Churchillian ability to snatch catnaps equipped him to
outlast the most tenacious adversary. And his patience had
no end.
This perhaps gives one insight into the secret of
Chuck's consistent success as a public servant: a
unmatched combination of selflessness, honesty, self
control, and hunger for the public good that set him apart
and armored him against any accusations of personal
advantage. All this was matched by easy good humor,
modesty, natural courtesy and a radiant smile that made
this man, in some respects really most formidable, one of
the least threatening I have ever known. The biggest
occupational hazard of diplomacy is vanity and it
increases with rank. Chuck's ambassadorial title,
conferred to increase his negotiating prestige, never
impressed him; he laughingly liked to suggest he be called
Ambassador Chuck.
Yet he was a true intellectual--he would not have liked
the term--with an original, searching mind that looked so
broadly and deeply as to go quite beyond the reach of most
of us. Because of this he was, I think, sometimes quite
alone--very few could stay with him at the vertiginous
level of conceptualization that he felt was--is--urgently
needed to think out tough problems. It was to help in this
endeavor that he asked me to join him as an adviser.
In particular, Chuck was convinced that the age calls
for new and creative ways to use the dynamism and power of
the American private sector as an instrument for peace,
stability and democracy. In his 2 years at Commerce he
wrestled with the challenge of integrating foreign
commercial policy with its materially-driven bottom-line
goals with broader foreign policy to find how they could
be used to energize and reinforce each other. The
breakthroughs for reconciliation in Ireland, which Chuck
created almost single handedly, were propelled by his
vision of economic growth and development based on
cooperative measures to induce private investment by
American enterprises.
Underlying all of his endeavors--his efforts in Ireland,
his attempts to strengthen the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, his approach to the problems of
the big emerging markets--was a great long-term vision. He
believed that the essential task of the post-Cold War era
was to structure incentives and institutions for bringing
all the Russias, Chinas and Bosnias--all the reforming and
emerging countries--into the world economic order. Chuck
dreamed of a world of peace, stability and democracy built
upon irreversible global interdependence: all nations
would have more to gain by cooperating, by participating
in an open world system based on the rule of law, than by
resort to traditional unilateral attempts to seek
advantage. He saw the vast American commercial structure
as a central instrument in this great scheme.
He was working on how to articulate this broad concept
into a series of strategies when he was taken from us.
A week ago Stuart Eizenstat led a gathering of Commerce
employees in reflection on the loss of Chuck and his
colleagues. In that moving ceremony one of the respondents
from the audience declared that the finest memorial for
the perished would be to continue to work toward the goals
they believed in. So be it with Charles Meissner,
visionary, public servant, man of honor--and husband,
father and friend. His memory will strengthen and sustain
us as we continue his gallant search.
a
The Honorable Charles F. Meissner
Charles Meissner was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary
for International Economic Policy at the Department of
Commerce on April 4, 1994 following confirmation by the
United States Senate. As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Meissner
was responsible for international commercial policy
development, including country and regional market access
strategies, multilateral and bilateral trade issues, and
policy support of Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown on
international issues.
Since 1992, Mr. Meissner had served at the World Bank as
manager of the Office of Official Co-financing and Trust
Fund Management. Mr. Meissner was responsible for
maintaining the Bank's financial relationships with
official co-financiers who co-finance approximately $10
billion in projects annually with the World Bank.
Previously, Mr. Meissner served as vice president at
Chemical Bank where he coordinated sovereign debt
restructuring policy within the bank and represented
Chemical in negotiations with debtor countries.
In 1980, Mr. Meissner was appointed Ambassador and U.S.
Special Negotiator for Economic Matters. Mr. Meissner has
also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for
International Finance and Development in the Bureau of
Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of
State.
In 1973, he accepted a professional staff appointment to
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate
where he served as an economist. In his final year with
the committee, he also served as staff director to the
Subcommittee on Foreign Assistance. He began his career in
1971 at the U.S. Department of Treasury in the Office of
International Affairs where he worked as the Japan desk
officer and as special assistant to the Assistant
Secretary for International Affairs.
A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Meissner is a three-time
graduate of the University of Wisconsin, including a BS in
1964, an MS in Economics in 1967, and a Ph.D. in
Agricultural Economics with a minor in Latin American
Studies in 1969. He served in the Vietnam War as a Captain
in the United States Army during 1969 and 1970 and
received for his service the Army Commendation Medal, the
Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star.
Doris and Chuck met during their freshman year at the
University of Wisconsin and were married in 1963. They
have two children, Christine, 31, and Andrew, 27.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, I rise with my colleague
from Massachusetts to mourn the loss of Charles F.
Meissner, the Assistant Secretary for International
Economic Policy at the Commerce Department. He was a man
who devoted his life to furthering America's economic
strength; our Nation is the better for his service.
His close friends--leaders from the public and private
sector--have eulogized Chuck Meissner more ably than I
could ever hope to do. I want to share their moving
statements with my colleagues and with others of our
Nation, so all Americans may know and understand how
deeply America misses his service and his leadership. I
ask unanimous consent that these tributes to the life and
accomplishments of Chuck Meissner be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the tributes were ordered to
be printed in the Record, as follows:
Tribute to Charles Meissner
(By Michel Camdessus)
Having had the privilege for 18 years to be one of the
innumerable colleagues and friends of Chuck Meissner in
the international community, let me try to tell you what
sort of man he was for all of us.
Let me tell you first how we became friends, something,
I must say, which changed my life.
When I first met Chuck in 1978, he was the highly
respected and seasoned head of the U.S. delegation to the
Paris Club--this group of industrialized countries dealing
with the payment difficulties of the debtor countries--and
I its newly appointed and totally unprepared Chairman. It
was there, as Chuck tactfully guided me through the
intricacies of developing country debt, that I first came
to know the fine qualities that we all admired so much in
him.
I must say, from the first he impressed me very much. He
was one of those people whose mere presence transformed a
group's life, focusing its purposes, adding to its
creativity, making it congenial and enthusiastic. What was
the secret of this? Was it his charm, his persuasiveness,
his distinction and natural nobleness, sense of humor, the
fun he found in working, his selfishness, his own sense of
purpose and dedication? All of these things, and more! The
fact that behind the opposite member at the negotiating
table he saw a person, and behind the problems, people;
men, women, children, whose opinion had to be sought given
their responsibility for their own destinies, people whose
suffering had to be alleviated, people who had to be given
a new chance . . . And more again, but you had to know him
well to perceive this and to be prepared to read it in his
eyes, his smile, his jokes, or in his silences, the
extraordinary way in which love was the unifying factor of
his life. He loved his family, he loved his friends, he
loved his country, the values of his country and to work
for them, knowing pretty well since his experience in
Vietnam that this could imply the ultimate sacrifice. Let
me mention a few of these values: the sense of
responsibility for leading the way toward a better world,
confidence that it is always worthwhile to help people
stand again on their feet, to work with them to build
peace through solidarity. I said solidarity; perhaps the
proper word should be brotherhood throughout the world
``from sea to shining seas.'' This was, I think the
professional secret of Chuck, the fact that in one way or
another, even in the most adverse situations, he was
always giving something of himself, putting his mind and
heart into achieving a better agreement, in finding a more
constructive solution.
I witnessed this many, many times, as the debt crises
multiplied the clients of the Paris Club, making Chuck a
regular customer on the transatlantic flights between
Washington and Paris. Let me tell you that I particularly
admired him on the occasion of an UNCTAD meeting in Manila
where, leading the American delegation, his role was
decisive in transforming an occasion which could have been
confrontational and rhetorical into an opportunity for
solidly laying down the basic principles (the so-called
``features'') which since then have governed public debt
rescheduling operations. This could seem somewhat esoteric
to you, but if I tell you that since then, on the basis of
these principles, more than 250 billion dollars of public
debt has been generously rescheduled . . . and 65
countries have been given a new chance, you will have some
idea of the contribution Chuck made in making the world a
better place. No more of this.
In the days since that terrible tragedy on the hillside
outside Dubrovnik, Chuck's many friends, colleagues and
admirers around the world have recounted the many other
instances in which Chuck tried to make a difference--and
succeeded. In Belfast, where he had traveled many times to
assist in building economic bridges across the political
divide, and where, as I read in a message from the West
Belfast Economic Forum director: The community activists
working towards economic and social regeneration in West
Belfast came to know Charles Meissner. It was, however, to
Chuck Meissner's own credit as an individual, that we came
to also regard him as a friend. Over the past 2 years,
Charles Meissner returned to West Belfast on several
occasions. Always, he ensured that grassroots activists
from the disadvantaged communities were consulted and kept
informed. He understood that if there was to be a ``Peace
Dividend'' then any economic intervention from the USA
must be targeted specifically at those communities which
have suffered most from exclusion and marginalization.
Chuck recognized that more than straightforward economic
investment is required to bring about economic
regeneration. He valued the work of the community
organizations and the opinions of those with firsthand
experience of dealing with the problems in our community.
Chuck gave freely of his own time and expertise and
encouraged others, both within his department and among
the American business community to support locally based
economic initiatives.
Chuck's action was similar at the U.S.-Mexican border,
where he worked to improve the economic and environmental
conditions. And most recently, in Bosnia where Chuck was
seeking to secure a fragile peace with the promise of a
better future through economic development and trade.
Suffice it here for me to quote his last declaration in
Bosnia. I quote the wire agencies:
`` `We want to build confidence in investing and
reestablish the internal confidence' between the Serbs,
Croats and Muslims, said Charles Meissner, Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for international economic policy.
``Development `gives a common ground that you re-
establish economically, developing the basis for
interdependency,' he said.''
This was Chuck, my friends, this is Chuck: a great man,
a great friend, a great American, a great builder of
peace, one of those ``God will call his children'' (Mat.
5-9), one of those who can tell the Lord with a joyful
assurance ``your house will be my home.'' (Ps. 23).
a
Memorial Service for Charles F. Meissner
(By Ted Crabb)
I came to know Chuck Meissner in the early '60's when I
was working, as I still do, at the Wisconsin Union, the
student-led community center at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Like his brother David, Chuck came to
the Union not only to take part in the social, cultural
and recreational activities the Union provided, but to
help plan, develop and promote those activities.
It tells you something about Chuck Meissner that in
choosing to become active at the Union as a student, he
was not deterred by the fact that his older brother had
already made his mark there, first as a committee chair
and then as president of the Union's student-faculty-
alumni governing board. Another person, less comfortable
with himself, might have chosen a different activity, or
even a different college in the first place. Not Chuck. If
the Union was the place to mix with students of diverse
backgrounds, to meet informally with professors, to debate
the issues of the day, to encounter new and provocative
ideas, to get involved, then that's where Chuck wanted to
be.
It may have been at the Union that Chuck learned the
patience that would enable him to cope with the vagaries
and uncertainties of government service. Two years in a
row, Chuck was responsible for a lecture to be given by
Werner von Braun. Two years in a row, he made posters,
distributed notices to university classes, made
arrangements for a special dinner for the honored guest,
even produced little table tents resplendent with
glittering rocket ships. Two years in a row, von Braun
canceled his appearance at the last minute.
Certainly, Chuck learned at the Union how to deal with
dashed hopes. In his senior year, he was a candidate for
president of the Union but lost out to his good friend,
Carol Skornicka. It tells you something about Chuck that
this defeat was no permanent setback to their lifelong
friendship.
Chuck left the university after he finished his graduate
work in Agricultural Economics, but he retained his
interest in the university and in the Wisconsin Union. For
the last 11 years, he served in an advisory role to the
Union, most recently as a member of the board of trustees
of the building association. In that role, he was the kind
of board member that a president or director both loves
and fears.
Chuck didn't just attend meetings. He engaged himself in
them totally, asking tough questions, goading everyone to
more effort. And when he left the annual meeting after an
intense day and a half session, I knew that within a few
days, I'd get a letter from him. It wouldn't be one of
those innocuous, ``Thank you very much, you're doing a
great job and enclosed are my expenses'' letter. No. It
would be two or three single-spaced, tightly packed pages
of ideas for the future and suggestions for
implementation. ``What is the Union doing to prepare for a
decline in funding when undergraduate enrollment is cut
back? What can you learn and put into practice from the
recent Carnegie Foundation report on higher education?
What is the Union doing to serve the community in
continuing education and to broaden the life experiences
of students?''
In one letter in 1990, Chuck focused on the role and
image of Union South, a second Union building, located on
the Engineering Campus and long seen by some as a sort of
afterthought, or as Chuck called it, ``the second child
who has to share his parents' love and always perform up
to the older sibling's standards.'' Chuck had a dozen
different ideas for upgrading its image, including the
possible rededication of the building to honor those who
have promoted civil and human rights in Wisconsin as a
means of promoting greater campus community feeling in the
cause of a shared heritage among blacks, whites,
Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans on campus.
At the 1991 meeting of the trustees, Chuck proposed the
establishment of a permanent endowment for the Union
trustees, to provide a stable source of funding for the
programming efforts of the Union and the upkeep and
renovation of the physical structures. He followed up his
suggestion with a three-page draft of a funding statement
that the board of trustees adopted at its next meeting,
with almost no changes, and which it has since
implemented.
All directors of organizations should have members like
Chuck to prod and nudge.
The Wisconsin Union is a tiny entity in the world that
Chuck occupied. It tells you a lot about Chuck Meissner
that he gave it the same kind of focused attention he gave
to the global issues that made up his work day. Just last
fall, he was calling to ask me to send him information
about the Wisconsin Union that he could take to a person
he'd met on a trade mission, who was trying to build a
campus community center at his own college in Ireland.
The goals and the purpose of the Wisconsin Union as a
unifying force in a diverse community were not just words
to Chuck. He believed in the worth of student volunteer
activities. He never wavered from the view that the
Union's primary mission was to provide opportunities for
volunteering and to help students develop the skills that
would make them effective volunteers and contributors to
their communities--to become persons who were concerned
not just with getting something out of life but with
putting something into life. Chuck had great faith in
students. He believed there was little they could not
accomplish if given the opportunity. His constant question
was, ``What is the student role in this program or this
function?''
To those of us who worked with Chuck at the Union, it
was no surprise that his last effort would be leading a
group of volunteer business leaders to Bosnia. Again, he
had persuaded others to apply their skills and talents to
doing a job that needed to be done. The scope of the job
was mammoth: beginning the healing of the unimaginable
wounds of a civil war and the rebuilding and revitalizing
of an entire society. But Chuck had seen that there was a
role to be played by volunteers who were willing to put
their unique talents and resources to work to help their
larger community. As he had done throughout his life, he
was putting into practice the Union ideal that the
foundation of democracy is the individual efforts of
citizens, working together to solve their common problems.
Many people say that heroism has vanished from America.
We in this audience know better. We know that Chuck
Meissner was a hero. Not only because he gave his life for
his country or because he took great risks in the service
of his country or flew dozens of hazardous and
uncomfortable flights to remote places, all of which he
did, but also because he lived the values to which many
people give lip service. He honored his commitments. He
gave generously of himself, not for self-aggrandizement or
private fortune but for the worth of the undertaking. He
did what he did because it was the right thing to do. And
in the end he left the world a better place for his having
been here.
We think of Chuck and we remember that broad smile, that
gentle spirit, the way he could walk into a room of
strangers and put everyone at ease, his enjoyment of the
rich and varied experiences his jobs offered him, and that
sense of irony that helped him maintain his perspective in
the heady and unreal world of Washington politics. We
think of the love and pride that were so evident whenever
Chuck talked about Chris and Andrew. We think of his
marriage to Doris: a marriage in which each partner
provided the ballast that allowed the other to soar. And
when we think of all these things we can only be grateful
that we knew Chuck and that he was our friend.
a
[From the National Journal, April 13, 1996]
Here Was a Public Servant
(By Ben Wildavsky)
The way a friend of Charles F. Meissner's tells the
story, Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown was once leading
an American delegation to Bonn when high-profile diplomat
Richard C. Holbrooke joined him in the head car of the
U.S. motorcade. Not long after the vehicles got under way,
the motorcade stopped. Holbrooke walked back to find
Meissner in another car and told him that Brown had
requested that the two of them trade places. ``I
understand you're the guy who tells him what to say before
the meeting,'' Holbrooke told Meissner.
Meissner, the Assistant Commerce Secretary for
international economic policy, was one of the best of that
unsung yet indispensable Washington class: the people who
tell other people what to say before the meeting. While he
was a distinguished international negotiator in his own
right, Meissner was fulfilling a key behind-the-scenes
role for Brown when he was killed in the April 3 plane
crash that took the lives of the Commerce Secretary and
more than 30 other Americans.
Those who knew Meissner say the 55-year-old
international economics expert showed by example what it
means to live a life of public service. ``He was a civil
servant in the best tradition of the European civil
service, where it carries much more prestige,'' said
Jeffrey E. Garten, former Commerce undersecretary for
international trade and now dean of the Yale School of
Management. ``When I was nominated to go to the Commerce
Department, he was about the first person I went to, to
see if he would come with me.''
With the new Clinton Administration eager to give the
Commerce Department an active role in combining commercial
and foreign policy, Meissner's extensive background in
government and in international banking was tailor-made
for the department's mission. ``Chuck had the ideal
profile in that he had worked in the State Department but
he had all this private-sector experience,'' Garten said.
``Most importantly, he knew how to deal with the
bureaucracy--and in the State Department, he was known for
being very, very tough in pursuing his goals. It was kind
of a joke that when he headed toward Treasury, they all
left their offices because they didn't want to spend the
next 3 days arguing with him. He was extremely
tenacious.''
Charles William Maynes, editor of Foreign Policy
magazine, said Meissner deserves a share of the credit for
the changed role of the Commerce Department under Brown.
In the Administration's first 3 years, ``there was more
foreign policy coming out of the Commerce Department than
any other division,'' Maynes said. ``You can quarrel with
it, but they had a specific strategy and certain countries
they targeted. That is Chuck and Garten and Brown who did
that--that's where that came from.''
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he
earned a doctorate in economics, Meissner received the
Bronze Star for his Army service during the Vietnam war.
He began his Washington career at the Treasury Department
in 1971. Following a 5-year stint as a Senate Foreign
Relations Committee economist, he joined the State
Department as a Deputy Assistant Secretary and later
gained ambassadorial rank as the lead U.S. negotiator on
international debt rescheduling. Meissner spent 9 years as
a Chemical Bank vice president, then moved to a senior
World Bank post in 1992 before joining the Administration
in April 1994. His wife, Doris, became commissioner of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1993.
Meissner was known among colleagues and friends for an
engaging sense of humor and for his basic decency. In the
days after Meissner's death, a colleague spoke of the
strong interest he took in advancing the careers of the
people who worked for him. Another recalled the
``extraordinary''--and successful--efforts Meissner made
to help a Vietnamese woman escape her country just before
the fall of Saigon. Many remembered his personal warmth.
``He was splendid in every aspect of his personal and
professional life,'' said Richard M. Moose, undersecretary
of State for management, who first met Meissner around
1970 at the U.S. military headquarters in Vietnam. Moose
was then a staff member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, and Meissner was an Army Intelligence officer.
Meissner helped brief the visiting Capitol Hill aides and
impressed Moose right away. ``He found a way not to go
along with the convention of misleading congressional
delegations,'' Moose said. Later, when Meissner went to
the Foreign Relations Committee, the two became partners,
taking numerous trips together to Vietnam and Cambodia.
``It was like a traveling seminar in macroeconomics,''
Moose said. ``He was terribly good at taking his knowledge
of economic theory and applying it to very practical kinds
of situations.''
Maynes said Meissner had a rare understanding of the
real-world intersection of politics and economics. ``He
was an out-standing economist and a devoted public
servant,'' Maynes said. ``But the most notable thing about
him was that he was an excellent negotiator.'' He observed
that Meissner's negotiating skills were ``so
extraordinary'' he was asked to stay at State in the
Reagan administration even though he was a Democrat.
Other testimonials to Meissner's qualities abound. W.
Bowman Cutter, former Deputy Director of the National
Economic Council, said Meissner's high-level experience in
government and business made his judgment ``something you
could really rely on.'' Meissner ``obviously loved his
work, and he was good at it,'' said former Senate Majority
Leader George J. Mitchell (D-ME), who worked side by side
with Meissner in the U.S. effort to promote economic
development in Northern Ireland and called him ``a good
friend.''
In the end, another friend said, Meissner stood out for
his love of substance. ``The higher you go in government,
the more you come in touch with sharks or political
animals who really aren't interested in policy but who
want to do favors for people on the Hill, or do what looks
good in tomorrow's press stories,'' said Ellen L. Frost, a
former trade official now with the Institute for
International Economics in Washington. ``And Chuck was
never one of those. He cared about sound policy.''
Wednesday, June 12, 1996.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, on Friday, May 3, I had the
honor of joining with Secretary of State Christopher and
the American Foreign Service Association [AFSA] in paying
tribute to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 32 other
Americans who were tragically killed in Croatia while in
service to our country. A plaque was also dedicated to
three diplomats who died seeking peace in Bosnia less than
a year ago. On the occasion we were reminded not just of
the individuals who lost their lives in these terrible
tragedies, but of the risks and sacrifices that members of
our Foreign Service undertake on a daily basis in an
effort to support peace, democracy and freedom around the
globe.
During the ceremony, held on the 31st annual Foreign
Service Day, very moving speeches were delivered by Harold
Ickes on behalf of President Clinton, by Secretary of
State Christopher, and by F. Allen ``Tex'' Harris,
president of AFSA. I believe their remarks bear repeating
to a broader audience and thus ask that they be printed in
the Record.
The remarks follow:
Remarks by F. Allen Harris, President of AFSA
Dear family members, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen and colleagues:
The American Foreign Service Association has the sorrow-
filled responsibility of honoring those members of the
Foreign Service and our colleagues serving abroad who lost
their lives under heroic or other inspirational
circumstances.
Today, we have the very sad duty of adding six names to
the traditional Memorial Plaque:
Samuel Nelson Drew, Robert C. Frasure, Joseph J. Kruzel,
Ronald H. Brown, Lee F. Jackson and Stephen C. Kaminski.
We have the deep sorrow of honoring all those who died
with Secretary Ronald H. Brown:
Gerald V. Aldrich, Niksa Antonini, Dragica Lendic Bedek,
Duane R. Christian, Barry L. Conrad, Paul Cushman, III,
Adam N. Darling, Ashley J. Davis, Gail E. Dobert, Robert
E. Donovan, Claudio Elia, Robert Farrington, Jr., David
Ford, Carol L. Hamilton, Kathryn E. Hoffman, Lee F.
Jackson, Stephen C. Kaminski, Kathryn E. Kellogg, Shelly
A. Kelly, James M. Lewek, Frank Maier, Charles F.
Meissner, William E. Morton, Walter J. Murphy, Lawrence M.
Payne, Nathaniel C. Nash, Leonard J. Pieroni, Timothy W.
Shafer, John A. Scoville, Jr., I. Donald Terner, P. Stuart
Tholan, Cheryl A. Turnage, Naomi P. Warbasse and Robert A.
Whittaker.
I now have the honor of introducing the personal
representative of the President of the United States of
America, Mr. Harold Ickes, Assistant to the President and
Deputy Chief of Staff.
a
Remarks of Harold Ickes, Assistant to the President and
Deputy Chief of Staff
Secretary Christopher, Secretary Perry, Secretary
Kantor, members of Congress, men and women of the Foreign
Service, ladies and gentlemen.
President Clinton asked me to be with you today as we
honor an extraordinary group of Americans who gave their
lives in service of their country and in the service of
humanity.
Before reading the President's dedication, let me say to
the families and loved ones of Bob Frasure, Joe Kruzel,
Nelson Drew, and to those of Ron Brown and his entire
delegation, I know that this is a day of very, very mixed
emotions.
You've lost a father, a mother, a husband or a wife, a
son or a daughter, a friend. The American people have lost
some of their finest.
On a very personal note, with the death of Secretary Ron
Brown, I lost one of my closest friends and wisest
advisers. Ron Brown was in his service and in his life a
spring day. He let himself and all of us to believe that
making a difference was a joy as well as a duty. He was an
achiever of potential. His grace, his intelligence, his
self-confidence without a trace of arrogance, and his
abilities to motivate, to lead and to bridge were a rare
combination of qualities.
I am very proud and very fortunate to have had him as my
friend. To Alma, Michael, Tracy, we will all miss him
greatly. Let me now read the President's dedication.
Each year on Foreign Service Day, hundreds of active and
retired Foreign Service employees come together to discuss
foreign policy initiatives. It is also a day of
remembrance when the foreign affairs community honors its
many colleagues who have given their lives in service of
our country.
``As we pay tribute to the memory of those who we have
lost, let us rededicate ourselves to the goal for which
they lived: maintaining America's leadership in the fight
for peace and freedom throughout the world.
``In today's increasingly interdependent world, our
Nation's future is linked more than ever to events that
take place beyond our borders, to strengthen our security,
promote our prosperity and advance our interests. As we
move towards the 21st century, America must stay engaged.
``Whether supporting peace, freedom and democracy and
other transnations threats, combating environmental
degradation, opening markets and expanding of trade, the
American Foreign Services has a critical role to play.
``Our Foreign Affairs men and women serve on the front
lines, often in demanding and sometimes dangerous
surroundings. I'm committed to do all I can to insure that
Congress provides the funding we need to support your
essential work.
``This year, our Nation has lost some of its best and
brightest public servants, and I have lost a very dear
friend. The American people will not forget the
contributions made by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and
the 34 members of his delegation who died in a plane crash
on a fog-shrouded mountainside in Croatia.
``They were on an important mission to bring development
and economic stability to a war-torn region far from home.
Unfortunately, theirs is not the only recent tragedy in
that part of the world. We finally and respectfully
remember our colleagues, Robert Frasure, Joseph Kruzel and
Samuel Nelson Drew who lost their lives in Bosnia.
``These men, who represented the Department of State,
the Department of Defense and the National Security
Council and the United States Air Force, embodied the
spirit of service that sets our Nation apart. Their heroic
efforts helped bring an end to 4 years of bloodshed and
gave the children of Bosnia a chance to grow up in peace.
``To all Foreign Service professionals, active and
retired, and their family members in the United States and
abroad who support America's values worldwide, I send my
deepest thanks and appreciation.'' Bill Clinton.
Mr. Harris. Thank you very much. We appreciate that. I
now have the great honor of introducing a distinguished
American with a long, long successful record of service to
this Nation and to his community. Family members,
distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen, colleagues, the
Secretary of State, Warren Christopher.
a
Remarks by Secretary of State Warren Christopher
Thank you, Tex, Harold, Senator Kassenbaum, Senator
Sarbanes, Secretary Perry, Secretary Kanter, and other
distinguished guests here today.
Let me extend a special welcome to the families of the
men and women we are honoring today. You will always be a
close part of the State Department family.
As the President has said, we come together every year
on this day to celebrate the dedication and the
accomplishments of the Foreign Service. But this is often
a sad day as well because it is the day we add names to
the memorial plaques in remembrance of our colleagues who
gave their lives in service to their country.
Thirty years ago there were 72 names on this wall,
covering all of American history since 1780. Now the list
has grown to 188. And in the last year, two terrible
tragedies have reminded us again that in this dangerous
world, duty and sacrifice often go hand in hand.
We often say that we must take risks for peace. Today we
see that the risks are all too real. To our sorrow, we
learn that peace cannot be made through telephone or fax.
It usually can't be made in Washington or in Geneva. It
can only be made by people who are willing to fly where
the bullets fly, to go where roads are treacherous and
where safety and security are often missing in action.
Sadly, we can't take the danger out of diplomacy. But we
can and must honor the peacemakers and their deeds. And we
can make sure the American people know of the sacrifices
the peacemakers make for our sake.
Last August in Bosnia three American diplomats were on
their way to the besieged city of Sarajevo when they lost
their lives on a muddy mountain road. Bob Frasure, Joe
Kruzel, and Nelson Drew believed that peace was possible
in Bosnia. And they were certainly right. Indeed, they
were the path-finders who made peace possible.
Just a month ago, Ron Brown and a team of government
officials and business leaders were on a journey to
Croatia. They lost their lives trying to make sure that
the peace our diplomats had forged would endure. They were
convinced that American capital and American know-how
could help rebuild that shattered land, that it could give
the people of that country a reason to resist the
temptations of war. And they, too, were right.
As I have travelled the world in the weeks since these
two tragic events, I have received a chorus of condolences
from leaders all around the world who understand the
sacrifices made by the families of the men and women who
died in those tragic events.
A short time ago, when I was in Sarajevo and in the
compound of our Embassy, I planted two dogwood trees in
honor of Bob Frasure. But by far the most eloquent tribute
to his work, and to Joe's and to Nelson's and to Ron's and
all those we honor today, has been the return of normal
life that I could see all around me in Sarajevo. Every
school reopened, every family reunited, every road and
factory rebuilt is a monument to the service of these
brave Americans.
That monument, of course, is a work in progress. It is
being shaped by countless hands--by our diplomats, our
soldiers, by our civil servants, and by the people of the
region. The memory of our fallen colleagues impels us not
to rest--not to rest at all--until this work is completed.
The men and women we honor today, as the President said,
will always represent what is best about America. They
were generous enough to share their talent and spirits
with others. They were dedicated enough to make sacrifices
in the cause of public service. They were realistic enough
to know that America's fate is inseparable from the fate
of the world. And they were optimistic enough to believe
that the difficult problems can be solved but only solved
when America is determined to overcome them.
Thinking of them, I was reminded of something that one
of our visitors this week, Shimon Peres, once said:
``Nobody will ever really understand the United States . .
. You have so much power, and [yet] you didn't dominate
another people; you have problems of your own, and [yet]
you have never turned your back on the problems of
others.''
Anyone who knew these wonderful friends and colleagues
understands something very important about America.
Anybody who passes through this hall and who pauses to
think about the lives behind the names of the people on
these plaques will understand something about the American
ideal. Here, in the presence of these names, there is not
an ounce of cynicism about the country or about the people
who represent it.
So even as we mourn, let us keep alive the spirit that
gave these lives such meaning. And let these names be a
reminder to us all--a reminder of the risks and hardships
that dedicated Americans endure for their country, and let
it be a reminder of the constant need to carry on their
work, our work, until it is finally finished.
Thank you very much.
Wednesday, July 10, 1996.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I introduce a bill to honor
and remember a truly exceptional American, Ronald H.
Brown. The bill would designate the Federal building
located at 290 Broadway in New York, NY, as the ``Ronald
H. Brown Federal Building''.
It is a grand gesture to recognize the passing of this
remarkable American and special friend, and I would ask
for the support of all Senators of this legislation to
place one more marker in history on Ron Brown's behalf.
Ron Brown had a great love for enterprise and industry
as reflected in his achievements as the first African-
American to hold the office of U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
His was a life of outstanding achievement and service to
his country: Army captain; general counsel, deputy
executive officer, and vice president of the National
Urban League; partner in a prestigious law firm; chief
counsel, and chairman of the National Democratic
Committee; husband and father. And these are but a few of
the achievements that demonstrated Ron's spirited pursuit
of life.
To have held any one of these posts in the Government,
and in the private sector, is extraordinary. To have held
all of the positions he did and prevail as he did, is
unique. Indeed, Ron Brown was unfairly taken from us;
however, while with us, he lived a sweeping and
comprehensive life. And we are all diminished by his loss.
Therefore, I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to
this uncommon man.
Proceedings in the House
Tuesday, April 16, 1996.
REMEMBERING SECRETARY RON BROWN AND THOSE WHO PERISHED
WITH HIM
Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember still,
as we are all still feeling, those who were on the plane
with Secretary Ron Brown. It was a loss that this country
feels now and is going to feel for quite a long time.
In West Virginia we feel this deeply, the lose of the
Government personnel, the military personnel, the private
sector personnel. In addition to Secretary Brown we lost
William Morton of Huntington who was buried Saturday in
Huntington, who was long time involved in so many things
that made this country great: political campaigns and
working with Secretary Brown in a number of capacities.
He grew up and graduated, went to Huntington High School
and went on to make his mark in so many different areas. I
give thanks for his life and that of Ron Brown's. With
Secretary Brown he was a man of composure, a man of
pragmatism, a man of obvious intelligence, and a
compassionate man.
So many stories that each of us has about Secretary Ron
Brown. I remember one. He visited Martinsburg, WV, at my
request somewhere around 2 years ago. We had a
celebration, he was kicking off a compressed natural gas
vehicle caravan. We had bands out there, and there were
two little children that were making presentations.
I still remember that Secretary Brown was there
surrounded, by Members of Congress and the State
leadership and the city leadership and the county
leadership, and everybody's in a suit looking very
official, and these two little girls. One of the little
girls was making a presentation in the microphone, and of
course she was dressed in her Sunday best, and she was a
little awed by all of this and she had trouble with a
couple of her words. Secretary Brown nodded very
patiently, went over and leaned over and said take your
time. Just take your time. She smiled and finished like a
champ.
Secretary Brown was, we liked to kid him, he was a
property owner in West Virginia owning property in the
Canaan Valley. But I think what he will be remembered for,
so much he will be remembered because more people are
working today in this country because of Ron Brown. There
are more opportunities for people today in this country
because of Ron Brown. There are more jobs that have been
created in this country today because of Ron Brown. There
are more trade opportunities here and abroad because of
Ron Brown.
The Commerce Department, which has been a traditional
backwater for many years, is a thriving vibrant department
today because of Ron Brown. In so many areas we see his
hand and we are going to miss that guiding hand.
The testimony of Ron Brown, well, there are so many
testimonies, but I know one. As well as being a member of
the Democratic Party, he is the one who put us back on
track. He took a demoralized party and turned it, in just
a few short years, to one that won the Presidency for the
first time in 12 years. A tribute to Ron Brown is how many
of us, how many people who came in contact with him called
him friend.
I was at a meeting in Missouri this week, Republicans
and Democrats alike, as well as foreign parliamentarians,
and Ron Brown's name came up. And all of us stopped and
every one of us had a story to tell about Ron Brown. Every
one of us wanted to tell that story. Every one of us knew
him as friends. Ron Brown was our friend. He was a friend
of America's and we miss him. We miss him, very, very
much.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, on a hillside over Bosnia,
this Nation lost 33 dedicated and committed Americans.
Among those lost was the man we pay tribute to today,
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown.
We pay tribute to Secretary Brown because, in the finest
tradition of America, he gave his life, in service to his
country, while promoting peace in a region torn by war.
This tribute has been organized by those of us who serve
on and who have participated with the President's Export
Council [PEC].
Secretary Brown was a public sector member of PEC, and
the driving force behind a notable private-public
partnership, whose mission is to expand U.S. exports
abroad.
At the very first meeting of PEC, on February 13, 1995,
President Clinton attended, and Secretary Brown welcomed
and swore in the appointees.
Secretary Brown emphasized that he would regard PEC
members as the board of directors of America's National
Export Strategy, first implemented in September 1993.
And so, Mr. Speaker, we think it only fitting that the
PEC ``Board of Directors'' lead a tribute to the person
who, in our minds, was the chairman and chief executive
officer of America's effort to achieve free and fair trade
and to give a chance to U.S. businesses of all sizes to
market their goods and services abroad.
Ronald Harmon Brown was born in Washington, DC, on
August 1, 1941.
He was raised in Harlem by his parents, attended
Middlebury College in Vermont, was commissioned an officer
in the Army and spent time in West Germany and Korea--
surely the seed of foreign trade was planted at this time.
When he left the Army, he joined the National Urban
League as a welfare caseworker, evidencing early in his
career a dedication to public service. At night, he
attended law school.
Shortly after law school came his first foray into
politics, when he was elected district leader of the
Democratic Party in Mount Vernon. Immediately, he became
known as one who could build bridges and close divides.
In 1973, he moved back to Washington, DC and, following
a series of public and private-sector positions, on
February 10, 1989, he was elected by acclamation as the
first African American chair of the Democratic National
Committee.
The rest is history, as Ron went on to help elect
President Clinton and to be asked to serve as Secretary of
Commerce.
In a relatively short period of time, he made giant
strides, distinguishing himself, making his mark in many
places, leaving his permanent imprint on the sands of
time.
Neither race, nor color, nor religion, nor background,
or any of those false barriers stood in his way. We could
always count on him to fight another fight, to write
another chapter, to run another race. Secretary Ron Brown
will be sorely missed.
He will be especially missed for his work with PEC in
behalf of U.S. exports and his efforts as Secretary of
Commerce. One of his last appearances in the United States
was at the most recent meeting of PEC. At that meeting, he
shared his thoughts and plans on the Bosnia/Croatia trip,
as well as uncommon insights he had gathered about trade
around the world.
From that meeting came the proposed PEC ``Statement of
Principles'' concerning export administration. Those
principles reflected Ron's vision and wisdom--declaring
exporting as a right of every American citizen, not a
privilege, as early versions of the Export Administration
Act had stated.
And, those principles outlined what America's position
should be on export restrictions, seeking to make sure, as
Ron always did, that there is a level playing field
throughout the world and that no one nation could assume
an unfair competitive advantage in an increasingly
competitive marketplace.
While those proposed principles reflected Ron's views,
they were shaped and will be reshaped by all members of
PEC, public and private, and certainly included the view
of those business and corporation representatives who
served.
Indeed, Ron's work and the work of PEC made certain that
businesses of all types, politics aside, could benefit
from the renewed trade efforts, and they did.
During his tenure, important groundwork was laid, major
breakthroughs were experienced, and future prospects for
peace and prosperity were cemented. And, while Ron was a
deeply committed Democrat, on the matter of free and fair
trade, he was first an American. Party took a second seat
to the goal of expanding exports.
Ron knew what many of us have now come to know. For
every $1 million we make a available to finance exports,
we generate a $7 million return, and, more importantly, we
create new jobs.
In the First Congressional District of North Carolina
alone, there are more than 450 companies that manufacture
goods of foreign markets--and nearly two-thirds are small-
and medium-sized businesses, employing less than 100
people.
All in all, eastern North Carolina ships more than $1.3
billion of goods overseas each year. Indeed, in 1994,
270,000 new jobs were attributed to North Carolina,
exports, generating some $13.7 billion in revenue, a 21.7
percent increase. In 1994, North Carolina ranked 10th in
the Nation in exports.
More and more, the economic well-being of our region and
our State depends on our ability to sell our products to
other countries.
Clearly, our ability to generate good jobs in the future
is tied to exports and the ability of local companies,
small and large, to exploit opportunities in other
countries.
As a member of the Subcommittee on Procurement, Exports,
and Business Opportunities of the House Small Business
Committee and an appointee of PEC, I have learned a great
deal about the relationship between exports and better
jobs.
I have come to appreciate eastern North Carolina's
unique combination of harbors at Wilmington and Morehead
City, a strong interstate system, and a state-or-the-art
air shipping facility at the proposed Global Transpark in
Kingston which makes our area particularly well-suited to
be involved in the export boom.
I've been working with community leaders to have the
proposed Global Transpark designated a free-trade zone,
which would make it a hub for international shipping. If
we are successful, the seafood caught off our shores in
the morning could be someone's dinner in Japan the next
day.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, for every
$1 billion in exports, 20,000 jobs are created.
U.S. exports of goods and services can reach $1 trillion
by the beginning of the next decade and can produce over 6
million new jobs. This could mean, by the year 2000, more
than 13 million Americans who will be earning their living
as a direct consequences of exports.
But businesses, large and small, usually face three
challenges when they begin to look to other lands, gaining
access to the capital needed to open new product lines or
modify existing ones for overseas consumers, attaining
technical training vital to dealing with other
governments, and finding the information about
regulations, American and foreign, and trade practices in
other countries.
Secretary Ron Brown, through the Department of Commerce
and the President's Export Council had undertaken, like
never before, to remove those barriers to exporting, to
overcome the challenges.
Mr. Speaker, the greatest tribute we can give to Ron
Brown and those 32 other Americans who perished in Bosnia,
is to keep their work going and make their dreams come
true. That is a tribute in which Democrats and
Republicans, small, medium, and large businesses, and
Americans of all stripes can join.
Growth in real incomes and living standards depends
heavily on trade.
Secretary of Commerce designate Mickey Kantor recently
noted that expanding trade is critical to creating good,
high-wage jobs.
The 11 million Americans who owe their jobs to exports
are earning 13 to 17 percent more than those in nontrade
jobs. Ron Brown had the right idea.
I invite my colleagues to join me in keeping that idea
burning and in creating a living legacy for a man who
lived his life in sacrifice so that millions of his fellow
citizens could live their lives in pride.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from
North Carolina for her leadership in organizing this
special order and much deserved tribute.
Ron Brown was my constituent and my friend, so that last
week I had one of the saddest weeks of my tenure as the
Congresswoman from the District of Columbia. I was, of
course, at Dover where the bodies of 33 Americans came
home, and then on another evening at the Metropolitan
Baptist Church to speak in tribute to Ron Brown, and
finally at the funeral at the National Cathedral, where
there was an outpouring of people from all over the world.
May I first read the names of all seven of my
constituents who perished on that flight. Ronald H. Brown,
Secretary of Commerce; Adam M. Darling, confidential
assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Gail E.
Dobert, acting director of the Office of Business Liaison;
Carol L. Hamilton, whose parents I know very well, press
secretary to Secretary Brown; Catherine E. Hoffman,
special assistant to Secretary Brown; William Morton,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Trade; and
Lawrence M. Payne, special assistant, Office of Domestic
Operations. For all of my seven constituents there is
still great grief and feeling in the District of Columbia.
Ron Brown had been a friend for 30 years. When he and I
were both young and his wife Alma and I were in a club in
New York called Liaison, and Michael and Tracy were born
to them, and Johnny and Catherine were born to my husband
and me, Michael now has a wife, Tammy, and one of the
saddest things to see is Ron with these two babies, these
twin sons who were his grandsons. Ron was a wonderful
family man. His son, as was said at the funeral, was his
best friend.
Ron was a man of extraordinary determination, energy,
and ability. Seldom has one American put together so many
of the traits necessary for success in public life. As
both policy spokesman and politician, Ron Brown excelled,
bringing his party back to life again and helping
Democrats win; without whom the President said we would
not have won the Presidency in 1992.
Yet he was a fund raiser extraordinaire on the one hand,
a coalition builder on the other. Any one of those would
have been much.
I thank the New Yorker magazine for its comment on Ron
in an article called ``The Fixer as Statesman.'' Somehow,
this article tries to put together the two parts of this
man that so often are seen as not going together.
The statesman, of course, is the commercial diplomat
that Ron Brown became, and the fixer is the man who fixed
the Commerce Department and the man who fixed the
Democratic Party.
The comment by Sean Willents calls Ron silky, shrewd,
and supremely self-confident. I do think, Madam Leader,
that they capture this man we knew so well. They say he
was not a plaster saint. Would he abhor being remembered
in that way?
And they call him wordly and capable. They remember that
Ron began in the civil rights movement. So many who have
achieved in this country today never would have gotten the
chance to showcase their talents were it not for the civil
rights movement. Having seen what he could do, because of
the opportunity the movement afforded him as the vice
president of the Urban League, ultimately Ron then went on
to become a top staffer in the committee on the Judiciary
of the Senate and leader of his party, where he was
essentially its titular head for between 1988 and 1992,
articulating policies, bringing people together, preparing
the way.
He took the job at the Commerce Department, which was
regarded as nothing so much as a bureaucracy, and
reinvented it into the kind of department European and
Asian countries have long had, a Department that is
aggressive in going out and selling the country and the
country's business.
Finally, let me say of Ron Brown what is so important to
many. Ron simply saw and understood himself to have no
limits. I am not sure all of us understand what an
achievement that is in this country where so many still
feel bound by race, even if in fact if they would fly they
are not bound by race. Ron said let me try to fly, and
then he soared. The great tragedy is that had Ron not been
killed, there is no limit to where he might have flown.
He simply refused to have an assigned place as a black
man. He looked around him, saw other places, and went
wherever his talent and energy could go, and they took him
very far. I said at the Metropolitan Baptist Church that
to many, race is what they believe holds them back. To
Ron, race was a contest that you ran and won. With that
spirit, so many youngsters caught in ghetto environments
today might find the role model for the 1990's.
For my city, the city where Ron was born, the city where
he lived when he died, I have asked my constituents not to
mourn for Ron. Remember Ron was the happy warrior. I have
said to my constituents living in this troubled city, this
seriously troubled city because of its financial crisis,
to remember Ron as the man who looked to impossible
missions and made them possible. It is possible for Ron's
birthplace, for the place where Ron lived, to bloom again,
as Ron always looked to see what was possible and then
went forward. I have said to those I represent: Don't
mourn for Ron, try to be like Ron. Ron came, Ron saw, Ron
conquered. So can we.
I appreciate the time that has been offered me.
Mrs. CLAYTON. I thank the gentlewoman for her very
poignant and personal remarks about Ron.
We have been joined also by one who serves on the PEC,
this is the President's Export Council, and what we want
to do, indeed, is to remember him in a personal way but
also remember him as forging new opportunities for trade,
and those of us who had the unique pleasure of serving on
that feel that certainly there is a particular loss.
I am going to ask if the gentlewoman from Connecticut,
Mrs. Nancy Johnson, who is here, if she would make
comments. And I understand that on her side--I want to say
that this is a bipartisan approach that we were doing, and
I am pleased that the gentlewoman from Connecticut wanted
to join in this effort, which I think is an appropriate
effort.
Our tribute is that Ron served American industries which
gave American jobs, and we as Americans first rather than
you as a Republican and I as a Democrat, we are Americans
trying to foster the interests of that. So I am pleased
that she has come to join us.
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Thank you. I thank my
colleague for yielding to me. The President and the
members of the Cabinet are the President and the members
of the Cabinet for all Americans, and I am privileged to
be here tonight to help you celebrate the life of Ron
Brown and honor him as our former Secretary of Commerce
and recognize the leadership he provided and the quality
of the job he did.
When I was first elected in 1982, I came here from a
district that had been devastated by what we called in
those days unfair foreign competition. Some of it was just
a very strong dollar combined with an American industry
that was not efficient and was not strong. I watched Mac
Baldrige try to develop the Commerce Department into a
fighting partner with American business in a developing
international market. I saw him struggling through, trying
to help us see the importance of developing a department
of trade.
I saw Mac Baldridge and some of his successors build the
capability of the Department of Commerce to help American
business get into the export market, sell abroad, be
present in other markets in the same way foreign producers
were present in our market, provide the same challenge in
the world market that foreign producers were providing in
our market. And that opening of vision that started with
Mac Baldridge culminated in some really remarkable
successes under the leadership of Secretary Brown. He
understood and developed that in a way none of his
predecessors had. Each of them made unique and remarkable
and very valuable contributions to beginning to look
forward to how the American economy could be strong in the
decades ahead and serve our children in the same way it
served us and our grandparents and our great grandparents.
But Ron Brown understood, in a sense, in a more
practical vigorous way than any of the rest of us the need
for the American Government to back, to partner, to
encourage, to lead, to pressure, to force, to incite, to
get American business to understand their own power in the
international market, the quality of their product, the
possibilities for them, and he got right out there with
them. He got right out there with them in China at a time
when, frankly, the State Department was having a little
trouble with China. But he understood if you learn to
produce and you learn to trade, if you force ideas, if you
award intellectual property, if you reward personal
energy, we as a Nation will be OK. We will be economically
strong and we will be peaceful.
I remember him talking about that connection between
prosperity, peace and trade, and in his own way he was as
dynamic and as vigorous and as committed an individual as
the world has ever produced in support of business, trade,
and the economic strength and prosperity that flows from a
dynamic business community in an international market.
He got out there with big companies and small. He got
out there in countries like China. He got out there all
over the world. And it is tragic but, in a sense, not
surprising that he lost his life taking business into what
was a devastated, war-torn area, because that was his idea
of giving hope to a people torn, devastated; their goods,
their economy, their hearts, their minds destroyed by
years and years of war.
He understood that the only real bond; that healing
would only truly take place when there were jobs, when
there was an economy, when there was competitiveness, when
there was strength, and that America could not only offer
goods but we could offer hope through example. We could
offer leadership through guidance.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Would the gentlewoman yield?
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. I would be happy to yield.
Mrs. CLAYTON. I wanted to respond to her very, I think,
appropriate analogy of his going to both big and large
companies. He also, conversely, understood that small and
big companies here in America could also experience the
value of exports and what that meant to the smaller
communities as well as what it meant to the big companies.
As you know, on the export council there are big
businesses there, but there are also smaller businesses.
Maidenform, for example, is small. It is not a big
company, it started small. So it means in my district, its
small subsidiary also expands as their products are sold
abroad, giving jobs to Americans in their communities.
I think Ron Brown knew what the rest of us have come to
understand: that for every $1 million of export we already
create here $9 million of industry. And some of us do not
understand that. I for one, initially, did not have that
same appreciation until I was on the Small Business Export
Subcommittee and had an opportunity to work with you and
others, as well as under the leadership of Ron Brown, who
opened, as you say, the hope, the opportunity. And it was
about vision and excitement, but also it was about the
possibility if people worked together.
And that is why, I think, if we are going to have this
expansion and tribute to Ron Brown, it should be about us
keeping that going. The greatest legacy to any of us as we
leave is for someone to pick up our work and build on it
and see the value of it and continue. I just wanted to
thank the gentlewoman for her pushing that thought in my
mind.
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. One of the things that I
think is wise to remember from the death of a man like Ron
Brown is that he was extraordinarily capable in many ways,
and one of them was that he was an extraordinary mentor.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Yes.
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. I had the privilege to
travel recently over the recess, and I ran into some of
the young people that had worked with Ron. And it was
really interesting to me because you do not see this all
the time. Cabinet members are not necessarily either warm
and fuzzy or mentors. They are important and they do a
great job for America. They serve an important need. But
Ron has inspired many young minds, and they are there and
they will serve us. And they are both parties. Some of
them are lifelong, quote, ``bureaucrats.'' And so he has
passed on and was able to pass on a belief and a faith in
America, in us as a free people, and in us as a governing
democracy, and felt strongly the need for us to be a part
of the international community both as an economic force
and as a force for democracy.
I thought it was so interesting to listen to the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton]
talk about how he never saw himself as a black man. He saw
himself as an American, as a man, as a power, as an
individual, and as a proud black citizen. But he never
felt anything stood in his way. If he wanted to do it, he
had the intellect and resources to do it. And it is that
legacy that inspired those he traveled with, that made a
difference in the countries he went to. And it is that
attitude that he leaves to those whose lives he touched.
I thank my colleague for organizing this recognition of
former Secretary Ron Brown tonight. It is well deserved,
and I appreciate having had the opportunity to join you.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Thank you for your comments. I appreciate
that.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentlewoman for yielding to me. I want to commend her for
having this special order to celebrate the life and the
contributions of a great and patriotic American, our now
deceased Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, who in a tragic
event about 2 weeks ago lost his life with more than 30
others in a tragic air crash in Bosnia.
In the days that followed it became very clear to our
citizens how much Ron Brown had accomplished in a very
short time at the helm of the Commerce Department. To
those of us who serve in the Federal Government, Ron Brown
is a well-known figure, a symbol of what is best in our
Nation. When you work hard and strive for excellence, you
attain it.
I had the privilege of serving with him in matters of
concern when he was at the Commerce Department and when
his agency was answerable to the Committee on Commerce of
which I was at that time chairman and then more recently
ranking member.
He had a distinguished career that included military
service, served at the Urban League, served at the
Democratic National Committee. He was successful in the
practice of law and advising heads of state. And he proved
time and time again that skill, adroitness, energy,
dedication can be an enormous asset in getting the job
done.
I will be inserting into the Record a number of quotes
of distinguished Americans and American businesses about
his contribution to our Government. I also want to make
the observation that he was one who understood what the
Department of Commerce should do. It was his function, as
he saw it, not only to provide extraordinary leadership to
that agency but also to see to it that it functioned to
the fullest and that it dealt with the promotion of trade,
jobs, market openings and expansion of opportunity for
Americans through the business of exports, because that is
where economic success for this country lies.
He was a great human being, a dear friend, and his wife
Alma and he were dear friends of my wife Deborah and I. We
shall miss him. We shall pray for the repose of his soul,
and we shall understand that he brought excellence to the
Department in the great tradition of others who had
preceded him, first the distinguished Secretary Malcolm
Baldrige, who was a great friend of mine and also a
distinguished public servant, as also was Secretary
Mosbacher, who was a leader of great quality in that
agency.
We shall miss Ron. We can dedicate ourselves to carrying
forward the practices and principles in which he believed,
that market opening and trade, that opportunity for
Americans lies in the success of that Department.
I want to thank the distinguished gentlewoman for
yielding to me and for holding this special order.
Over the past year, many working Americans wrote to me
about Ron Brown's work at the Commerce Department to
promote exports, combat unfair trade practices by our
international trade competitors, speed the dissemination
of advanced technologies, and conduct research vital to
understanding our climate, our weather, and the
environment.
Bissell, Inc. in Grand Rapids, MI wrote that his company
frequently used the Commerce Department's export programs,
and that, ``they have proven to increase export sales and
thus help the economy of our country.''
Viatec, Inc. in Hastings, MI said that, ``This
invaluable program is an investment that produces returns
to the American taxpayers with more high-paying jobs,
taxpaying citizens, and USA-purchased materials.''
A research group in Ann Arbor said the Advanced
Technology Program is, ``important in transferring the
results of fundamental research into practical products.''
Monroe Auto Equipment in Monroe, MI, said that Ron Brown's
``aggressive trade promotion policies of our government
add value to my company's efforts to compete in worldwide
markets.'' Perhaps Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer said it
best: ``The Department of Commerce has been a job-creation
machine for the State of Michigan and our cities.''
The last time that Secretary Brown appeared before the
Commerce Committee, he said the following about his
Department: ``I am anxious to work very closely with
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to make
sure we do what is best for the country, to make sure we
do what is best to assure long term economic growth and
creation of high wage, high quality jobs for our people. I
think that no department in government does that more
effectively than the Department of Commerce.'' Mr.
Speaker, today Ron Brown is gone. But his life was one
which touched many people, both here and abroad, and his
work has left a legacy of accomplishment about the
strength of a government that serves its people well. We
will miss Ron Brown greatly. But his was a life that
mattered, and his legacy lives on.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Michigan [Mr. Dingell] also for getting comments from the
business community, because I think that is extremely
important, because sometimes we think only of politicians
or public servants, but Ron Brown also was essential for
the ongoing expansion of business opportunity. For
business persons to make that tribute I think is
appropriate.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as mentioned already with
some examples here, Ron Brown was an extraordinarily
multitalented man who brought great intensity and scope to
his interests and his activities. You heard about his
mentoring activities here and how much he stimulated so
many Americans, especially young Americans, to take an
active role in Government. But I did want to focus my
remarks on the tremendous achievements that Secretary
Brown brought during his tenure at the Commerce Department
to the expansion of our trade and investment opportunities
abroad.
On August 4 of last year, when we held hearings in the
committee on International Relations about the future of
the Department of Commerce, I said during the course of
that debate that I was proud to enthusiastically and
sincerely commend our late Secretary for his hard work and
promotion of American commercial interests. Secretary
Brown correctly realized that if the United States economy
is to remain strong and vibrant in the 21st century, the
U.S. Government must maintain and fund a comprehensive
national export strategy. And he served as a very
competent innovative chairman of the trade promotion
coordinating committee. In that capacity he recognized, of
course, and made it clear to many Americans that the
United States economy is already very dependent on
exports. He clearly understood that during this decade
exports have to account for a much larger part of our
economic growth.
Secretary Brown fought tirelessly for American
commercial interests, both within the cabinet and abroad.
Since taking office, Secretary Brown hit the ground
running and immediately received the wrath of the
Europeans for an important United States commercial
airplane deal with Saudi Arabia, 15 high-level trade and
investment missions. And billions of dollars of U.S.
export and investment later, we bid the honorable Ron
Brown, the former Secretary of Commerce, a fond farewell
and thank him for his unmatched advocacy and dedication to
American commercial interests. I think he set an important
precedent for the Commerce Department and for our Cabinet
members generally in his focus on international trade and
expanding our export base.
As I said, he was a man of multitalented background, a
wonderful man, sincere in his working with Members of
Congress on both sides of the aisle. I look back with
great fondness at the relationship we had in working for
expanding the export base.
I thank the gentlewoman for taking this special order
and for allowing me to say a few words about one aspect of
Secretary Brown's life.
Mrs. CLAYTON. I do appreciate that. I think the
gentleman has experienced a working relationship and
particularly in that area about which he spoke. I want to
note again for the Record that is an effort, the
President's Export Council, to have a bipartisan effort.
Both Republicans and Democrats should be honoring a great
man and that is as it appropriately should be.
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I first met Ron Brown in the
late 1960's, when all of us were all about trying to find
a way to get ourselves and those people that we
represented into the mainstream of American activity. I
grew to admire and respect him, and there was something
about Ron that compelled him to bring along with him all
of the young talent that he could muster in order to
demonstrate to our great Nation the talent that was there
for those who, given the opportunity, could make
significant contribution. That to me is the real legacy of
Ron Brown.
One of these young talents was the granddaughter of my
doctor when I lived in Charleston, Jerry Irving Hoffman,
in the late 1960's and early 1970's. And I want to join
today with everybody in paying homage to that great spirit
that Ron Brown gave to all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday before last, as I sat in the
home of Mr. Brown sharing with his wife Alma, his son
Michael and his daughter Tracey, other family members and
friends, hoping against hope that something, some good
news would come of this event, as we sat there, watching
the television, something occurred that stays with me to
this day. And it is what I would like to share with all
Americans today. There came to the camera a gentleman, I
think he was from northern Virginia, who did not make the
trip, a CEO who spoke to the world on the fact that for
some reason, though he was scheduled to be on the trip, he
did not make the trip. And he asked a very cogent
question, and I think all of us ought to ask ourselves
today, he said that he must now find out why the good Lord
saw fit to keep him here. It is his job now to find out
exactly what it is that the good Lord would have him do.
I think that is something that all of us who call
ourselves public servants ought to be thinking about
today. We are left here; we can speak of Ron Brown's
legacy. We can pay homage to all that his life meant. But
I think throughout it all we ought to ask ourselves the
question now, what it is that the good master would have
us do.
I would hope that as we go about trying to fulfill the
dreams and aspirations of Ron Brown and others like him
that we will keep in mind the hope and the aspirations
that he gave to so many and the hope and aspirations that
so many are still left looking to us to help fulfill for
their futures.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I remember seeing that same
executive. He said he was not sure what God had in store
for him. So part of our hope is what God has in store for
him to help push what Ron Brown started. We are also
pleased to have Congressman Shays from the Great State of
Connecticut join us, and he wants to be a part of this
tribute and we are delighted to have him.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I definitely want to be a part
of this tribute and join with my colleagues from both
sides of the aisle who are here to express their love and
admiration for a truly great American, a truly fine,
outstanding Secretary of the Cabinet, the Secretary of
Commerce.
I would first want to express my love and admiration for
his wife Alma and for his very distinguished son Michael
and distinguished daughter Tracey. I was not able to be at
the funeral for Mr. Brown because I had two constituents
who also died on that plane. And if I could I would like
to just express my love and admiration for Claudio Elia,
who died on that plane, and for his two magnificent
children, Kristin and Marc, who just were real soldiers
during their dealing with their grief, and for his
magnificent wife Susan, and also for Robert Donovan, who
also died, and for his truly outstanding two children,
Kara and Kevin, who just seem to deal with this agony and
grief in a way that I could not help admire, and for his
precious wife Peg, two people from the 4th Congressional
District who died on that plane because they wanted to be
with Ron Brown on this very important and, in fact,
dangerous mission to bring trade and economic growth and
some sense of hope to people in Yugoslavia, to give them a
sense that maybe their day would be a little brighter.
I have admiration for Ron Brown for leading this. I did
not have direct contact with him in my capacity on the
Committee on the Budget or the Committee on Government
Reform and Oversight, but he came to my office twice to
talk about the importance of the Department or Commerce,
and I was just struck by his incredible energy, highly
intelligent man, and just an admiration for realizing that
I was sitting in the same room with an individual who at
the depth, I think, of a party challenge, taking on being
the chairman of a great party, the Democrat Party, taking
on the role of trying to select a Democrat President, a
President, electing a very distinguished Governor and
thinking that the immense task that must have been as he
was talking with me and the incredible talent it must have
taken to bring all the different people he had to bring
together to accomplish that task.
I am here to salute him as a very capable Secretary of
the Department of Commerce, a very capable individual,
someone who I respect as being a joyous warrior, someone
who I felt instantly I could tell him very candidly what I
thought and that he would respect me as another individual
in the same environment he was, a political environment.
I think the real tragedy is that not just one segment of
our society, not just the Democrat Party, not just the
black community, but all of America has the right to truly
grieve that we have lost a young man who in the last 5 to
10 years was a dynamic force in this country, who maybe
one day would have been in fact President of this United
States, who would have been clearly a force in the next
decade or two.
So I thank you for giving me this opportunity to express
my admiration for him and for being part of this very
important tribute. Again, I would close by expressing my
love and affection for the family and say that, while I
was not in Washington to listen to the tribute the night
before, since I was at a funeral service when his service
was taking place, but for hours I watched the tribute and
wished that I could have been there in person to actually
enjoy it even the more. I thank you for this time.
Mrs. CLAYTON. Indeed it was a celebration of his life
that we watched, rather than a tragedy.
Mr. SHAYS. It was a celebration of life, period, and of
this great country.
Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman
for giving me this time and to join my other colleagues in
expressing our sense of loss individually, collectively as
a Nation, and even the world, due to the loss of our
friend, Ron Brown.
Let me say first that I am mourning his loss because he
was my friend. But we as a Nation lost a great American. I
cannot add to the adjectives that have been mentioned or
will be mentioned about Ron Brown, but I only would like
to mention a couple or three of my personal remembrance of
him.
One was that he was a man that no task was too small, no
challenge was too large. He did what he had to do. He did
it in a gracious, eloquent manner also, always without
fault, and I would like to remember also that the most
minute things and the way that he handled items as a
person, all we know as Secretary of Commerce, what he did
and how he did it, and throughout the world and here, but
before the last Democratic Convention, I called over to
the Democratic Committee, and this is when he was chairman
of that committee, that I wanted to be sure that some
mention was made of agriculture in the speeches and at the
convention, and I left it at that.
The next afternoon I had a call from Ron Brown, which I
never expected. I was just speaking with the people that
were organizing the program, and he says, ``Mr. Chairman,
would you think that I would leave agriculture out of this
convention?'' I say, ``No, I wouldn't have thought so,
Ron, but I just wanted to be sure to remind whoever it was
organizing the program.'' He says, ``Well, agriculture
will be addressed, and you will be a speaker.'' And so it
was. And so it was.
How it got from the person I spoke to and much lower
levels to Ron Brown I do not know, but the only
explanation is that he was looking at everything that was
going on. And so I had the great honor of speaking at the
national convention because of the request of Ron Brown.
Again, also when we were working so hard on NAFTA, most
of you, not all of you, remember how he worked on the
Hill, how he worked throughout the United States. But I
wanted to have a joint meeting with our friends from
Mexico, and I appealed to him, if he could be of
assistance. His answer to me was, ``When do you want me?''
So we set a date. We invited his counterpart from Mexico,
and they met in McAllen and Hidalgo, TX, and we had a
great meeting, and there I saw him working, the people
from Mexico and the people from south Texas.
But one of the most interesting things, and it has been
mentioned before, he had a way with young people,
children. At the meeting that we had, open meeting with
several hundred people, it was a young person that walked
up to him and visited with him, and he visited back as if
that young man or that young woman was the most important
person at that event that day. And there we had Secretary
of Commerce from Mexico, the Secretary of Commerce from
the United States, assistants, needless to say, the local
Congressman, but to him at that point was, and I recall
this very vividly, that young lady that was asking him
questions about the Department of Commerce and, I think in
the end, how she could get a job at the Department of
Commerce.
He never flinched or missed a beat, and he says come see
me, I will be happy to talk to you.
That is the kind of individual we personally will miss.
Certainly the country has lost a tremendous American,
the world has lost a tremendous individual, and I think it
has been mentioned before, but the legacy of Ron Brown
should be what we continue doing that he did not have time
to do. And I hope that would be our dedication.
I extend on behalf of my district and myself my
condolences to the family, to all his family, and we share
because it was our loss and we will mourn him. But more
so, we should dedicate ourselves to that which he tried to
do. To him there was no black, no brown, no white, no red.
Everyone was a creature of God from his beginning to the
very end, and that he died on a mission trying to enhance
U.S. commerce, but yet trying to help downtrodden people
was probably the major culmination, the major thing, of
what Ron Brown was.
There was no small, there was no large, there was no one
but the individual before him, and I saw him do that, and
we will forever remember him in that manner. I thank the
gentlewoman.
Mrs. CLAYTON. I thank the gentleman for those very
appropriate and sincere remarks, and I want to insert that
he was indeed a friend of agriculture because North
Carolina understands that very well, in making
opportunities in Russia for turkeys and poultry and other
places that we could have in that area.
Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, he was no longer a warrior, but
he died in a war torn country.
He died not that others might live, but that others,
many others, including Bosnians and Americans as well,
might live better.
He was and, in the inspirational sense, remains an
authentic American hero. ``We shall miss his bright eyes
and sweet smile.'' May God forgive those who were so ready
to bear false witness against him.
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay
special tribute to Secretary Ron Brown and to express my
sincere condolences to his wife, Alma, and to their
family. My heart goes out to them because I understand
full well what they have gone through, having gone through
something like this myself.
Ron was a great man, and we have heard about his
strength, his vision, and his compassion for people.
Tributes have come from the broadest possible range of
people, including the President of the United States and
foreign dignitaries, to the lowest ranking workers of the
Commerce Department. I believe that these statements best
serve as testimonials. They are the very best testimonials
to a man many of us had the honor to know and to admire.
But let me add just a few observations.
Secretary Ron Brown might best be remembered as a man
who saw opportunity where others saw none. He will be
missed as a crucial bridge between the privileged and the
underserved in our society. For Ron Brown believed, above
all else, that the greatest asset America has is the
diversity of its population. Secretary Brown understood
that America's prosperity depends on our ability to become
more competitive in emerging economic markets around the
world.
American exports equal American jobs, and he knew this,
and that is why he was on the mission that he was on. He
knew that developing countries needed real economic
investments and not handouts, economic investment with
which to demonstrate that a market economy works; economic
development, in turn, can lead to real democracy.
And that is what he was all about. He was about building
America, about creating jobs, about making sure that
democracy is all over this world because we all know that
it is a system that has worked and works well, better than
any other in the world.
It seems to me that those of us who knew him well and
have known him for so many years understood that. We
understood that when he smiled, it was a smile of
friendship, when he extended his hand, it was a hand of
welcome from those across the shores to those of the
shores of the United States of America.
When we saw him in office all throughout his many
achievements throughout his short lifespan, we knew that
here was a man of great thought, of great compassion, of
great wisdom.
I stand here because I know that Ron Brown was my
friend, and I know in my heart that this country will miss
him, a man of his dedication and a man of his strength.
While many in the United States are willing to use this
approach in Eastern Europe and Asia, there is a
conspicuous absence of American investment in Africa.
Secretary Brown was especially concerned about the
willingness of many in the United States to concede the
markets of Africa to its former colonizers in Europe.
Unbelievably only 7 percent of exports to Africa come from
the United States while 40 percent come from Europe. This
makes no sense when the return on investment in Africa is
25 percent, outstripping any other region in the world.
Ron Brown was helping American companies change this
equation.
Secretary Brown was also a tenacious fighter and
advocate. As the ranking minority member of the Committee
on Government Reform and Oversight, I worked with
Secretary Brown in opposing efforts to dismantle the
Commerce Department. When many political pundits on
Capitol Hill were predicting the imminent demise of the
Commerce Department because it had become a favorite
target of the new majority, Ron Brown never wavered in his
eloquent defense of the Department and its employees.
Secretary Brown used his considerable skills to clearly
and forcefully articulate the folly of eliminating the
Commerce Department at a time of economic globalization.
When the central governments of countries like France and
Japan are promoting their businesses, the U.S. Government
cannot afford to abandon its efforts to identify and win
export opportunities abroad.
Under Ron Brown's leadership, our Government developed a
national export strategy to help small, minority, women-
owned, and large companies, win export sales abroad. His
efforts paid off in more than $80 billion of foreign sales
for American firms that supported thousands of high-paying
jobs for American workers.
While Secretary Brown was always open to exploring new
export opportunities abroad, he was also never afraid to
stand up for the rights of U.S. business in foreign
markets. When foreign steel producers dumped steel in the
U.S. at below fair market prices, it was the Commerce
Department under Secretary Brown that took the action
which led to the imposition of duties on foreign steel.
Secretary Brown was also one of the strongest defenders
of the United States movie, computer software, and
recording industries rights against intellectual property
rights violation in China. Secretary Brown firmly believed
America's economic strength greatly depends on our ability
to safely and freely market intellectual property in
foreign markets.
Secretary Brown's efforts were not focused on foreign
markets alone. He played an instrumental role in directing
funds so that small town throughout our country could gain
access to the information superhighway. He insisted that
the new telecommunications law, ensure universal service
and open access for all communities in our country,
including inner city areas. For Ron Brown, the information
superhighway represented future social and economic
growth. He was determined that all Americans would benefit
from these historic changes.
Finally, for African-Americans Ron Brown served as an
important role model. His life demonstrated to many young
African-Americans that they can thrive in non-traditional
roles. As the first African-American chairman of the
Democratic National Committee he was the one person most
responsible for the election of President Clinton. As the
first African-American Secretary of Commerce in our
Nation's history, Ron Brown was by any objective standard
the most effective Secretary of Commerce I have ever
witnessed in my 23 years in the Congress. Ron Brown was a
shining example that African-Americans can lead this
Nation and the world into the 21st century.
His life was also a caution to African-Americans that
your efforts to move beyond traditional roles may be met
with resistance. The rules for you will be different than
the rules for anyone else. Therefore, if you are to
succeed, you must be willing to out perform others. You
will need to work harder, and smarter in order to be
successful. But if you stay focused and keep your eyes on
the prize, and are given the opportunity, Ron Brown's
legacy demonstrates that there is nothing that African-
Americans cannot accomplish.
Mrs. MORELLA. Thank you. I do want to thank
Congresswoman Clayton for doing this. I think it is very
important that we pay tribute to a man who has died too
young, who served his country so well, and I know others
will join by memorializing Secretary Ron Brown by virtue
of submitting statements.
I just want to say that there is a vacuum in the world,
there is a vacuum in the country, there is a vacuum in the
hearts of country men and country women because of the
untimely loss of Ron Brown. He is a man who is dedicated
to his country, to his community, to his profession to a
``T'', to his family especially, and certainly to his
friends.
I became acquainted with Ron Brown because as somebody
who is involved with the technology subcommittees, as
chair of it, under our jurisdiction is the National
Institutes of Standards and Technology and the Technology
Administration, and obviously all of this is part of the
Department of Commerce. I have never found anybody who
would work so perseveringly, indefatigably, and with a
tremendous sense of humor and with a tremendous ability
for what he believed.
As a matter of fact, today we were originally to have
had a groundbreaking of a chemistry building on the campus
in Gaithersburg of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology and a field hearing at the same time because of
the passing of Secretary Ron Brown and the high esteem in
which he is held by all of those people who are employed
not only in all of the facets of commerce and especially
the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This
has now been postponed for a later date. People were
grieving so, that they really felt that they could not go
on with another undertaking of that nature. Certainly
there will probably be a dedication in a time when it does
indeed take place.
I found him to be a man who did have a sense of humor
and a sense of commitment, defended his Department very
well and could work on both sides of the aisle. There was
no real aisle when it came to performing what he truly
believed in, and I had the opportunity a week and a half
ago to go to India, and I spoke to Americans who were
engaged in enterprises in India as well as the Indian
nationals who were involved in industry and business.
They mourned, they mourned greatly the passing of Ron
Brown. It occurred at that time, because they had a very
successful trade mission just last year which opened all
kinds of avenues and markets for America to participate in
the great world market.
Mr. Speaker, I simply feel that, as Shakespeare said,
the force of his own merit led his way, and indeed it did.
He will be missed. He will, however, go on, live on in
love, and I hope he will be an inspiration to us. I offer
my condolences, obviously, to his beloved wife Alma, and
to his two children, Michael and Tracy.
Mr. FRAZER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the
distinguished gentlelady from North Carolina for holding
this special order for the late Secretary of Commerce
Ronald H. Brown.
Secretary Brown served our Nation with distinction,
service, and honor. He provided the vision, and the
leadership to promote American business abroad. He
understood that in order for American business to succeed
abroad they needed to have the full support of the U.S.
Government. He used his office to open doors and provide
opportunities for large and small businesses. This support
is characteristic of how Secretary Brown served this
Nation and American business with distinction.
Secretary Brown was accessible and available to the
people of the Virgin Islands. He sent his Assistant
Secretary for Economic Development to assess the rural
economic development needs of the Virgin Islands and to
map out a strategy. It was Secretary Brown who understood
how vital the U.S. tourism business was to the Virgin
Islands and was working with us to help promote tourism
through the international trade administration.
Secretary Brown elevated the Commerce Department to a
new standard of honor--where business and government can
work together for the good of the Nation. Today, the
Commerce Department is at the international vanguard for
American business. This stature is due to Secretary Ronald
H. Brown's vision, leadership, and astute business
intellect.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay
honor and tribute to our late Secretary of Commerce,
Ronald H. Brown. No words I can utter on this House floor
today can do justice to this great man, patriot, and
public servant. I want to personally express my great
sense of loss at the passing of this good and decent man
and extend my condolences to his family: to his wife Alma,
his son Michael, and his daughter Tracy. Their loss, Mr.
Speaker, is our loss, our party's loss, and our Nation's
loss.
I first met Ron Brown more than 30 years ago while
vacationing on Martha's Vineyard. I was immediately struck
by his boundless energy, charisma, sophistication, and
style. Even back then, one only had to spend a little time
with Ron to know that he was a rising star. And so I was
never surprised as I followed Ron's career and watched
this man grow and develop, first as a young lawyer, then
as a leader in the National Urban League in New York and
later here in Washington, as the chief counsel for the
Senate Judiciary Committee and later as a partner in a
prestigious Washington law firm and as the chairman of the
Democratic Party.
Ron Brown was born in Washington, DC, and raised in
Harlem, NY, and though he worked his way to the heights of
the business and political worlds in our Nation, he never
forgot where he came from. He never forgot how to speak
with people. He never forgot who it was that needed help
and hope and opportunity. Ron spent his life and gave his
life creating opportunity for those less fortunate, for
those who had not yet climbed up the economic ladder.
Ron Brown was a bridge-builder. Through his actions and
his words he was working to build what Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. called the beloved community, a community at
peace with itself, where people are not judged by the
color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Ron believed in creating opportunity for all Americans and
he used his position as Secretary of Commerce to promote
American business abroad and economic development in
communities where it was desperately needed.
Robert Kennedy was fond of quoting George Bernard Shaw:
``Some men see things as they are and ask why,'' Shaw
wrote, ``I dream of things that never were and ask why
not.'' Ron Brown did dream of things that never were and
ask why not. He dedicated his life and gave his life to
promote the country that he loved and to better the lives
of the people of this country.
Ron Brown will live in the annals of American history,
not just as the first African-American Secretary of
Commerce, but as perhaps the best, most effective, and
most accomplished Secretary of Commerce in the history of
our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I, like so many others will miss Ron Brown.
His energy could light up a room. His enthusiasm could
inspire people to reach their greatest God-given
potential. His vision and foresight returned the
Presidency to his party. His counsel and guidance and
wisdom will be sorely missed as we tackle the problems
that face our Nation. One of what President John F.
Kennedy called our best and our brightest has been taken
from our midst.
Those of us who knew Ron Brown were more than lucky, we
were blessed.
Again, I want to extend my condolences to the Brown
family and thank you, Mrs. Clayton, for arranging for this
special order.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor
the memory of the late Secretary of Commerce Ronald H.
Brown. A true leader. A successful, fearless man who loved
the big things: his family, his friends, his country, his
work, his African-American heritage. And those are the
important things. He was passionate and devoted to each.
To his wife, Alma and his children, Michael and Tracey,
please know that no man could have lived a more blessed
and successful life. God be with you.
Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late
Ron Brown. Secretary Brown's tragic death on April 3
robbed our Nation of a highly distinguished and talented
leader. Throughout his career, Ron Brown made the most of
every challenge that confronted him. As Secretary of
Commerce and in his other work, he dedicated himself to
creating opportunities for others.
I first met Ron when he ran Senator Edward Kennedy's
1980 Presidential campaign. But I didn't begin to fully
appreciate Ron's talents until 1991, when, as chairman of
the Democratic National Committee, he asked me to join him
as treasurer of the DNC.
In that capacity, I witnessed first hand Ron's vision
and leadership. He had an uncanny ability to bring
disparate factions together and a capacity of persuasion
that was literally unparalleled. I believe it was Ron's
early work on the Presidential campaign of 1992 that
enabled then-candidate Bill Clinton to emerge from the
Democratic Convention with the momentum and resources that
ultimately resulted in his victory.
Another of the many distinguished legacies that Ron
Brown leaves is the dramatic results of his tireless
advocacy on behalf of American businesses in his 3 years
as Secretary of Commerce. Ron worked closely with
businesses large and small to identify new opportunities
and to promote American products. He recognized the
tremendous potential that foreign markets held and knew
that American firms must seize this opportunity if our
Nation was to thrive as it entered the 21st century.
He worked effectively as a peer with the most powerful
business leaders in our Nation, yet Ron Brown never lost
his ability to identify with and related to average
Americans. He was greatly beloved in his boyhood home of
Harlem and left strongly positive impressions among the
people he came into contact with while traveling
throughout the country.
Ron's leadership, keen intelligence, and passion will be
greatly missed by all those who knew him personally and
his loss will continue to be felt by many more whom he
impacted through his work. I am a better person for having
known Ron Brown, and I deeply mourn his passing.
Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, we are all horrified by the
untimely death of the Honorable Ronald Harmon Brown, a man
of incredible ability who was loved and respected across
the globe. In searching for words to appropriately honor
him, I recalled the following tribute, which I had the
privilege of inserting into the Congressional Record on
August 4, 1995.
Tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown
Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to return to our districts
where many of us will be meeting with community and
business leaders concerned about economic development
opportunities in our neighborhoods, I want to use this
occasion to salute the outstanding accomplishments of a
gentleman who has worked tirelessly to promote the cause
of business and economic opportunity throughout the United
States and abroad. The Honorable Ronald H. Brown, our
distinguished Commerce Secretary, is to be applauded and
commended for the outstanding job that he has done in
serving as the administration's enormously adept ``Pied
Piper'' of economic opportunity and empowerment.
Ron Brown is the 30th United States Secretary of
Commerce. In nominating him to this auspicious post,
President Bill Clinton noted that ``American business will
know that the Department of Commerce has a strong and
independent leader and a forceful advocate.'' Those of us
who have been privileged to know Ron can attest to his
outstanding leadership acumen and his tenacity and
considerable powers of persuasion. He is a skillful
negotiator and an indefatigable advocate on behalf of
America's economic interests abroad as he seeks to expand
and open markets for American-made products around the
globe.
Ron's career has been structured around public service
and helping to make America a better place for all of her
citizens. A native Washingtonian, he grew up in New York
where his parents managed Harlem's famous Hotel Theresa.
He attended Middlebury College in Vermont and received his
law degree from St. John's University. He is a member of
the New York Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and is
admitted to practice before the United States Supreme
Court.
A veteran of the United States Army, Ron saw tours of
duty in Germany and Korea.
Secretary Brown has had an eclectic career. He spent 12
years with the National Urban League, serving as Deputy
Executive Director, and General Counsel and Vice President
for the organization's Washington operations. He also
served as Chief Counsel for the Senate Judiciary
Committee. He is a former partner in the Washington, DC,
law firm of Patton, Boggs, and Blow. And who among us does
not remember the brilliant job that he did as the chairman
of the Democratic National Committee and 1993 Inaugural
Committee.
As Secretary of Commerce, Ron has traveled extensively,
promoting the administration's trade policies and forging
sound private/public sector partnerships. Following the
Los Angeles, Northridge earthquake in January 1994, Ron
was one of the first Cabinet officials on the scene,
working with local, State, and Federal officials to
identify and earmark funding sources for businesses
severely damaged and/or destroyed in the quake. He has
since returned to the quake damaged areas on several
occasions to survey the progress made by programs
implemented under this aegis.
Ron maintains a schedule that would tire men half of his
age. Yet he is always prepared to go wherever he is
needed, and he always does it with aplomb and with a
spirit of unyielding optimism that inspires all around him
to achieve the same level of commitment.
In addition to his weighty responsibilities as Commerce
Secretary, Ron served on several Presidential boards and
councils. He is a member of the President's National
Economic Council, the Domestic Policy Council, and the
Task Force on National Health Care Reform. He serves a Co-
Chair of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade, the U.S.-Russia Business Development Committee, and
the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission.
Secretary Brown is also a member of the Board of
Trustees for Middlebury College and is chair of the Senior
Advisory Committee of the Institute of Politics at the
John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud and honored to have this
opportunity to commend my good friend, Secretary Ronald H.
Brown, on the fine job that he is doing as our Secretary
of Commerce. He has led an exemplary career, and I have no
doubt that he will continue to lead and inspire. Please
join me in applauding him on an outstanding career, and in
extending to him, his wife Alma, and their two children,
attorneys Michael and Tracy, continued success in the
future.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise
today to note with appreciation the many achievements and
inspirational life of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. With
his constant good will and hard work, he was able to build
bridges where there once were valleys and hope where there
was once despair. Secretary Brown used the power of the
Commerce Department to find ways to give opportunity to
ordinary Americans, to generate jobs for the American
economy, and to build futures for American citizens.
One could look at Ron's life as a series of firsts. That
would be a disservice, for in fact, his life was a series
of first place and solid accomplishments. Ron Brown always
believed that we would succeed. Whether as a student at
Middlebury, staff person to Senator Kennedy, or top
campaign aide to the Senator, Ron was a success. As
chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ron was a
success. A lawyer, a skillful negotiator, a pragmatic
bridge builder, and past highly successful chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, Secretary Brown strongly
believed in the promise of America and aggressively
advanced policies and programs to accelerate the Nation's
economic growth and create new jobs and opportunities for
all American people.
Under his leadership, the Commerce Department became the
powerhouse envisioned by President Clinton. Secretary
Brown promoted U.S. exports, U.S. technologies,
entrepreneurship, and the economic development of
distressed communities throughout the Nation.
He led trade development missions to five continents,
touting the competitiveness of U.S. goods and services.
During his tenure, U.S. exports reached a record high,
America regained its title as the world's most productive
economy, and exports and technology were key contributors
to the millions of new jobs created during the first 3
years of President Clinton's administration.
Mr. Speaker, my prayers go out to his wife Alma, son
Michael, and daughter Tracy. Their strength and courage
were displayed during Secretary Brown's funeral service
and they should be forever proud of their husband and
father.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor
the memory of former Secretary of Commerce Ronald H.
Brown, an American pioneer, patriot, and hero. Secretary
Brown was also a dear friend. I am sure that my sense of
loss is shared by many who work, or have worked, on
Capitol Hill. In 1979, Secretary Brown became the first
African-American to serve as a chief counsel for a
standing Senate committee when he took over the Senate
Judiciary Committee. As was the case throughout his
career, his service on the Hill helped to chart a new
course of participation for African-Americans within the
corridors of political and public policy decisionmaking.
Being the first, being the only, being a pioneer, was
the former Secretary's calling card. He was the first
African-American to join a social fraternity during his
undergraduate days at Middlebury College. An Army officer,
he was the only African-American officer in his unit
during his tour of duty in Germany. He was the first
African-American partner in the law firm of Patton, Boggs
& Blow. He was the first African-American to head a major
political party. Finally, he was the first African-
American to head the Department of Commerce.
Upon nominating Ron Brown to be the 30th U.S. Secretary
of Commerce, then-President-elect Clinton declared,
``American business will know that the Department of
Commerce has a strong and independent leader and a
forceful advocate.'' The President could not have been
more prescient, nor could have made a more brilliant
appointment.
Under the leadership of Secretary Brown, the Commerce
Department became one of the major success stories of the
Clinton Administration. He launched a national export
strategy predicated on the very basic idea that American
exports translate into jobs and opportunities for American
business and working people. In the pursuit of this
strategy, Secretary Brown conducted trade mission after
trade mission abroad. He traveled most often to what he
liked to call the big emerging markets of Asia, Latin
America, and Africa.
The trip on which Secretary Brown and his 34 colleagues
lost their lives was typical of his missions. It was
visionary in the most practical sense of the word. It was
practical in the most visionary sense of the word. He had
the vision to see that beyond the horrors of war wracking
Bosnia and Croatia, lay opportunities for American
business to be of service, as well as to engage in
commerce. He was grounded enough in the realities of that
conflict to understand that the road to peace lay in the
rebuilding of those shattered communities.
When Secretary Brown's plane crashed into that mountain
on the way to Dubrovnik, an American patriot became an
American hero. He is no less a hero because he died in an
accident. He is no less a hero because some persons
serving in this Congress have spent an inordinate amount
of time besieging him and undermining the Department he
led so brilliantly. He is a hero because he died in the
service of this Nation, pursuing its interests at the
cutting edge of diplomacy and peacemaking.
I would be remiss if I did not comment on Secretary
Brown's meaning to me as an African-American public
servant. Secretary Brown could not be mistaken for
anything else than what he was, an African-American. He
did not deny that fact, nor did he allow that fact to
limit his personal or professional horizons. To be sure,
Secretary Brown did everything within his power to help
African-Americans. Beyond that, he did everything he could
to find points of convergence between the interests of
America, African-Americans, and Africa. But he never
allowed himself to be the black Secretary of Commerce,
nor, for that matter, the black head of the Democratic
National Committee, or the black anything else. Ron Brown
was the Secretary of Commerce, in the service of each and
every American, hyphenated and unhyphenated.
It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand
words. I agree, a thousand and sometimes more. The picture
that I have in mind is that of President William Jefferson
Clinton presenting an American flag to Mrs. Alma Brown at
Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, April 10, 1996.
That picture says it all. Secretary Brown's life was a
life of service in the public arena in the pursuit of
justice and opportunity. It was the life of an American
pioneer, patriot, and hero.
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I would like
to take this opportunity to pause with my fellow
colleagues to remember our friend Ron Brown. As many have
already said, Ron Brown was an exceptional person with a
deep love for his family, friends, and country. Today, I
would like to honor his memory by celebrating some of his
achievements as Secretary of Commerce.
Our record in international trade will ultimately define
the future prosperity of our Nation. The ability of our
work force to meet the new challenges of the global
economy and compete for high-skill high-wage jobs of
tomorrow will be critical. No one understood these
principles more than Ron Brown.
As Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown expanded our
international role by reaching out to countries all over
the globe, and by strengthening the foundations of our
domestic economy. His work to improve our trade balance,
increase overseas opportunities, and create domestic jobs
helped to prepare the United States for the next century.
In my State of Rhode Island he genuinely made a
difference.
Last summer, Secretary Brown visited with me in my
office to discuss the many programs at Bryant College that
focused on improving our State's economy by investing our
resources in international business. We talked about
Bryant's existing initiatives like the Rhode Island Export
Assistance Center and their innovative International Trade
Data Network [ITDN]. The purpose of ITDN was to help
create and distribute practical information and data that
will enable businesses to effectively and realistically
target their export efforts to actual opportunities. For
Rhode Island, the programs at Bryant were a way to reduce
the effects of defense downsizing and struggling economy.
Secretary Brown saw the impacts that international trade
could have on local economies and later visited Rhode
Island twice to see Bryant College and various other
initiatives first hand. He took the time to investigate
our latest ideas and offer the support of this Department.
Truly, Ron Brown led by example.
In the end, Ron Brown died as he lived: a dedicated
patriot who selflessly give his all for friends and
country. As a nation we are forced to continue without
him, but his time with us all will be remembered as a time
of progress, learning, and achievement.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my fellow
colleagues to pay tribute to a truly great American, the
late Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown. To many of us, Ron
Brown was not only a Cabinet member with an impressive
record of accomplishment, but he was also a dynamic party
leader, a trailblazer in the business world, a ferocious
advocate for the business community as well as those in
need, a role-model for blacks and whites alike, and a dear
friend.
I will remember Ron for his charming and captivating
persona, for his astute mind, and for his love of country.
Ron Brown was full of energy and enthusiasm in each
endeavor that he undertook. As chair of the Democratic
National Committee, Ron utilized his skills in bringing
people together and motivating them to work toward a
common goal, and that propelled the Democratic Party to
victory in 1992.
In his capacity as Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown was
masterful in seeking out and opening up new markets to
U.S. businesses. I know firsthand of his tremendous talent
in bringing together the public and private sectors in
partnerships. A perfect example of this is in my home
district of Rochester in which Ron displayed his immense
support of Eastman Kodak Corporation's efforts to halt
unfair trade practices that were detrimental to Kodak.
Upon Ron Brown's insistence, the International Trade
Commission concurred and steps were taken to address the
inequities.
Ron was such a wonderful and unique leader because he
recognized his role as Commerce Secretary was broader than
simply promoting American business and trade in foreign
lands. He also used his position to help ensure the peace
and stability that would provide the foundation for a
stable economic base in tormented nations such as Bosnia
and Croatia.
Ron died in the midst of an important mission. And he
died doing what he did best: building bridges between
people and building bridges between nations.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues in
extending my deepest sympathies to Alma Brown, Ron's
children, and all of the family and friends of this
extraordinary man. His presence will be sadly missed by
the entire Nation.
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, in the few days since Ron
Brown's death, it has already become a cliche to speak of
his brilliant political career--of his pioneering role as
party leader, and his efforts to almost single-handedly
redefine the Commerce Department and its influence on the
American economy. For those of us who considered Ron a
friend, it is reassuring to know that the country
remembers him as fondly we do. But when there are so many
tangible achievements to celebrate in a man's life, it
becomes harder to recognize what is less tangible, but
perhaps more important.
To me, there is a reason that Ron Brown broke down so
many barriers in so many aspects of his life, and
shattered so many preconceptions about politics, race, and
America's place in the world. For all his practical and
political talents, Ron Brown was an idealist, pure and
simple. His goals for himself, his party, and his country
were always based on what should be, and not on what
others thought could be. That is a rare quality in a
politician, and a rare quality in a human being. But it is
why people loved and respected Ron Brown, and were so
often willing to abandon their own goals and egos to work
with him for that higher purpose.
I first began to work closely with Ron when he became
chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1989,
around the same time that I became House majority leader.
It may be hard to remember just how bad prospects seemed
for the Democratic Party at that point, and how few people
believed that our party could ever again capture the
hearts and minds of the American people. Ron Brown was not
only an unfailing optimist--often the only voice of
optimism at those early meetings and strategy sessions--
but a man who believed so strongly in the bedrock
principles of the Democratic Party, he refused to accept
any reason why America would not rally around Democratic
ideals and candidates.
There is no question in my mind that Ron Brown was the
driving force behind Democratic victories in both the 1990
midterm elections and the 1992 Presidential election--and
that he worked and sweated for those victories not out of
some desire for narrow political gain, but because of his
unshakable faith in the Democratic Party as the party of
progress for average, working Americans. He never forgot
where he had come from, and who he wanted to help.
Much has been said in recent days about Ron Brown's
ability to heal divisions, to reconcile warring factions,
to focus on what united people as Democrats, or business
leaders, or Americans. He truly believed that you could
always accomplish more by working together--by bringing
others along with you. That may be why he established a
unique precedent in working so closely with congressional
leaders as party chairman. He really did bring the
Democratic Party together--sometimes almost one person at
a time. To see the depth of his empathy and
understanding--to see how far he would go to understand
divergent people and opinions, and then to find the common
ground between them--was to see the very essence of
leadership.
As Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown dramatically expanded
his mandate, reinvigorating the Foreign Commercial
Service, and becoming a booster of U.S. exports on a scale
that had never before been seen. He poured his energy and
passion into his work at Commerce, much the way he had
done so at the DNC. I admired the aggressive manner in
which he led that department, even in the face of partisan
political pressures to play a lower profile.
Our country could use another Ron Brown. For he pushed
boundaries and broke down barriers almost instinctively,
intuitively, as if he simply refused to acknowledge they
were there in the first place. Perhaps, in that sense, we
can find some shred of meaning in Ron's terrible death--
because no risks and no naysayers could ever have kept him
from exploring new terrain, reaching for new challenges,
and trying to redefine the world in which we live. That he
managed to do all those things in so few years is a
powerful legacy indeed.
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join members of
the President's Export Council today in paying tribute to
Secretary Ron Brown. Ron Brown was a personable individual
and a master of the art of politics. He served his country
and his party with distinction. I worked with the
Secretary during his tenure as Secretary of Commerce and
was always impressed with his dedication to economic
growth and jobs. We shared the goal of promoting U.S.
exports, as Ohio has become a leader in the export of
goods to other countries. The objective of his final
mission was again to facilitate the movement of U.S. goods
into overseas markets, thereby working to keep good jobs
here in the U.S. I extend my sympathies to Secretary
Brown's family and friends.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in both sadness
and mourning to extend the condolences of myself and my
family to Mrs. Alma Brown, their two children Michael and
Tracey, and to the entire Brown family. Your husband,
father, and mentor was indeed a unique man who graced the
institutions which he diligently served.
He was a man committed to the service of his country and
to the fulfillment of a promise he had made to himself and
the community that surrounded him in his youth. It was a
promise that compelled him to demonstrate time and time
again that America's diversity was a strength and not a
weakness. It was a promise that elevated him from his
beginnings in Harlem to the position of Secretary of
Commerce where he served with distinction and ultimately
died in that service. And above all, it was a promise that
drove Secretary Brown to tirelessly break down the
barriers that divided people.
Ron Brown was a lawyer and skillful negotiator who
became the first African-American chairman of the
Democratic National Committee. Secretary Brown strongly
believed in the promise of America and aggressively
advanced policies and programs to accelerate the Nation's
economic growth. He also became the first African-American
to hold the office of U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and
through his outstanding inspiration, vision and force of
will, left an indelible stamp upon the Department of
Commerce.
His list of achievements reads longer than the endless
accolades that have adorned his passage from this world
into the next.
Secretary Brown worked endlessly to champion the role of
civilian technology and technological innovation as the
means to ensure American job creation, economic
prosperity, and a higher standard of living. Under his
tenure, he worked to establish a nationwide network to
help small businesses. He led trade development missions
to five continents, touting the competitiveness of U.S.
goods and services. Under his leadership, U.S. exports
reached a record high.
Ron Brown worked vigorously to remove outdated
government-imposed obstacles that hindered U.S. exports,
and he strongly believed in the competitiveness of
American business. His dream was to make America stronger,
and he remained steadfast to this commitment. Under
Secretary Brown, United States exports to Japan increased
by one-third. He advocated for $80 billion in projects and
supported hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs. His vision
and leadership included his understanding of the vital
link between our economy and the integrity of our
environment. He furthermore understood the critical
importance of protecting intellectual property worldwide,
and to this purpose he negotiated with countries around
the world.
There was a purpose to Secretary Brown's commitment that
found fruition in his constant struggle to transcend all
barriers. It is indeed befitting that this dedication will
serve as his legacy; a befitting legacy that will outlive
the demise of its creator. His passing will not detract
from the quality of his achievement, but will rather
inspire us all to achieve more from ourselves.
His premature departure not only leaves a void, it also
leaves a tradition that has taught America how to face and
overcome adversity. His passing compels all of us to take
note of his outstanding determination and pay respects to
his commendable achievements. On this day, I ask my
colleagues to join me in remembering a man who served his
country faithfully in both life and in death.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there is much
that many of us can say about our good friend and public
servant for this Nation, Secretary Ron Brown. I simply
want to say to Alma, Michael, and Tracy and the family, we
loved and respected him; but to America, he was a leader
beyond leaders. He realized that American business meant
American jobs.
As a member of the Committee on Science, I saw his
dynamic leadership in support of advanced technology,
recognizing that was the future of America. So it is my
commitment to his family and to his legacy that I will
continue to work toward creating jobs, and I leave this
tribute to Secretary Ron Brown:
Isn't it strange that kings and queens and clowns that
caper in sawdust rings and common people like you and me
are builders for eternity? For unto each of us is given a
bag of rules and a shapeless mass and each must give or
life is flown as a stumbling block or stepping stone.
It is my belief and the belief of the American people
that Ron Brown was a stepping stone for America, American
business, American jobs. Long live the legacy of the
honorable Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown.
Mr. Speaker, I consider it a great privilege and honor
to participate in this special order in tribute to Ronald
H. Brown, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He had an
outstanding career as a lawyer, National Urban League
executive, Democratic Party chairman, Cabinet Secretary
and close Presidential adviser. I am proud that the city
of Houston paid tribute to Secretary Brown and the others
that perished on April 3, on Friday, April 12, 1996, at
Antioch M.B. Church.
Ron Brown used his many talents to create a better
quality of life for all Americans. This special order's
focus on his impact on the expansion of American-owned
companies into foreign markets is very appropriate. During
his tenure at the Commerce Department, he redefined the
Department's mission to provide economic opportunity for
every American. Moreover, he believed that peace and
prosperity could be strengthened and promoted through
international trade.
Over the past 3 years, he helped develop a national
export strategy to assist American companies in increasing
their exports to foreign nations. Since 1993, American-
owned companies entered into commercial deals with foreign
businesses in the amount of $80 billion.
Most of this expansion was as a result of his tireless
efforts in leading numerous trade missions around the
world. He supported the creation of strong ties with new
markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Brown also helped to streamline regulations that
unnecessarily hindered the exports of our goods and
products.
Brown served on President Clinton's National Economic
Council and the Council on Sustainable Development. He was
also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He
chaired the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, which
was comprised of 19 Government agencies, to strengthen the
American economy through trade.
Ron Brown was a man of great vision and understood the
importance of technology in our growth and development. He
was a strong supporter of the Commerce Department's
advanced technology program, which helped create thousands
of businesses that will lead us into the 21st century.
All of us in public service owe a great debt to Ron
Brown. He inspired us to always remain optimistic, to be
committed to achieving our objectives and work to ensure
that no American is left behind. This is his great legacy.
Let us renew our commitment to public service.
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult
for me to discuss my feelings, my personal feelings, about
Ron Brown. I have known Ron Brown since he was a very
young man. I have seen him come up through the ranks. He
did it the hard way. He worked for it.
I appreciate the kind of commendation that we are giving
Ron Brown today. I want to send my condolences to the
family, especially to my baby, Michael, his son, and to
say to Alma and to her daughter, Tracy, that God will go
with them, as we all know, and that Ron will always be
remembered, and that we will keep his legacy going. He
will not be a forgotten man. I also want to say to Mrs.
Meissner, who lost her husband, to send my condolences to
her.
People were magnetized by Ron Brown. He lived in such a
way that people would gravitate toward him because they
knew he was good. I will tell you one thing, Mr. Speaker,
every youngster in this country who is from a poor or
disadvantaged community, or even more, all over this
country and all over this world, not due to ethnicity,
race, or creed, will pattern themselves after Ron Brown,
because they see an opportunity in him, in what he did, to
make the American dream work. That is going to be his
legacy.
He walked through the streets of Liberty City with me, a
very poor community, and he reached out to every one of
them, yet he got to be a counselor to the President of the
United States. He sat on the Cabinet.
When I think of Ron, I think of a poem which we call,
and I am going to paraphrase it, The Builder:
There was an old man at evening tide who was building a
bridge on the countryside. A young man came to him and
said, ``Old man, why do you try to build this bridge? When
the tide comes in you will be long gone. You won't be
here.'' And the old man lifted his head and said, ``Young
man, let me tell you something. The reason I build this
bridge at evening tide is there will be a young man such
as you who will come after me. Young man, I build this
bridge for thee.''
That is why Ron did what he did, to build bridges for
all of us. I thank the gentleman for sharing his time with
me.
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
gentlewoman for sharing in this special order tribute to
Ron Brown. Mr. Speaker, I want to spend a minute or two in
this final part of the 5-minute period just saying a
couple of things, more from the heart.
First, Mr. Speaker, I want to express my condolences to
Alma Brown and to the entire Brown family, and to the
families of those others who perished so tragically in
this crash. This was a devastating loss for our country
and for me personally.
Second, I cannot help but recall the very last time that
I saw Ron Brown, which was in the hall in the Rayburn
Building. I had been involved in a hearing and was rushing
in one direction. Ron had been called before a committee
of the House to testify at another hearing. He was coming
out of that and was rushing off to another place.
Despite the fact that both of us were in a hurry and
headed in different directions, the characteristic that
always came through from Ron Brown surfaced. That was the
ability, for whatever small period of time he had, to look
at you in the eye and make you feel that you were the most
important person in life at that moment. We spent a few
moments together, and that came through to me. That is the
memory that I will always have of Ron Brown.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my condolences to
Alma and the rest of the Brown family and to the families
of those who perished tragically in the plane crash in
Croatia.
The outpouring of support that we have seen since Ron's
passing is a testament to the life he led and the impact
that he had on people. Since his passing there have been
two things that have been said about Ron most frequently.
They are that Ron Brown had a lot of friends and that he
had a tremendous amount of political acumen. I knew both
of those things were true.
Almost 2 weeks after Secretary Brown's passing I think
it is necessary for us to continue to honor his life and
celebrate his legacy. Ron Brown taught us about the
importance of providing jobs for our citizens through
economic expansion and ensuring equality of opportunity so
that all could share in the fruits of economic expansion.
expanding economic opportunity
Ron Brown knew that the success of the American economy
in the 21st century would depend upon expanding economic
opportunity for all of our people. In a time where the gap
between the rich and the poor is ever-widening, we must
see to it that our economy creates jobs which provide
living wages. We must also see to it that the good which
flows from economic prosperity is shared among all of our
people.
equality of opportunity
Ron Brown knew that our schools and our workplaces
should be a reflection of America and should ensure
equality of opportunity. He saw to it that his Commerce
Department reflected the racial, ethnic and gender
differences of the taxpayers on whose behalf his
department worked. Ron worked to provide opportunities for
others who might not have been given the chance. Ron Brown
knew that there were many more Ron Browns with
intelligence, ambition and the will to succeed. Ron Brown
gave them an opportunity to shine. They were African-
American, white, Latino, Asian-American, they were among
those who accompanied him on the mission to Bosnia. We
must continue to work to see to it that America fulfills
this promise of equality which Ron Brown exemplified.
As we honor our late Secretary of Commerce we must not
forget these things which his life has taught us so well
and we must work to continue his legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for
providing this opportunity to do this special order before
his special order comes forward.
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my voice to
the numerous voices that have been raised to pay tribute
to Ron Brown. Ron Brown, the mentor for all public
servants, he could teach us all a great deal.
I will enter my statement in its entirety into the
Record, but I would like to read the statement and comment
on it.
Ron Brown was a renaissance politician. He was a jack-
of-all-trades who mastered all the trades in politics. He
was a mentor for seasoned professional politicians, and he
was qualified to tutor most of us.
Ron used his considerable influence and charm to become
an extraordinary fund raiser for the Democratic Party.
From the complex job of raising money to the details of
election day engineering, Ron performed with great
enthusiasm.
Ron Brown was the kind of person who could raise funds,
and I admire him most for that. He probably had a problem
like everybody else but he plunged into the process of
raising funds and did a great job of that.
There are some people who do fundraising very well, but
they are not good at strategy. They are not good at
tactics. They do not have certain other qualities. But in
addition to being able to raise funds, which we all
admired him for, Ron Brown had the talents that went
across the entire spectrum in terms of skills that are
needed in public life.
I first met Ron Brown in Chicago while campaigning for
Harold Washington for mayor of Chicago. Former majority
whip Bill Gray, Ron, and I were in a car on a tour through
the public housing projects on Chicago's south side. We
had been assigned that area to campaign. At that time Ron
was working with a well-known, prestigious, and powerful
law firm in Washington.
However, on that day it was simply Ron, the lawyer,
friend, campaigning for a fellow democrat. We went into
huge, tall, cold, concrete buildings and walked on floors
which seemed to be completely out of this world. The
deterioration and the garbage inside the halls were
unbelievable, even to a poor boy like me, whose father has
never earned more than the minimum wage. I had lived in
some of the poorest neighborhoods in Memphis, TN, and I
had worked in some of the poorest neighborhoods in New
York. but never had I seen such despair. The only glimmer
of light I saw in those high-rise urban tunnels that day
were the Harold Washington posters that the residents
waved at us when they saw our familiar signs.
We had connected at that point with the most depressed
among us.
As my eyes met Ron's eyes, he broke into his signature
smile. This is what politics has got to be all about, he
said, as we plunged into the crowd of outstretched hands
and marched through the halls reminding folks that
tomorrow was the day to go out and elect the first
African-American mayor of Chicago.
Ron Brown was the unifying driving force behind the most
successful and conflict-free convention the Democrats have
had in nearly two decades. Ron was a star who kept his
poise. He kept peace among the many party factions and
made the Democratic National Committee an effective force
to be reckoned with in politics.
Ron Brown was a masterful strategist who began his
tenure as party chairman with several special election
victories despite great obstacles. He was a great
communicator, and he was a great cheerleader who also
understood the nuts and bolts of winning campaigns.
Seldom in America does one man so gracefully transcend
the racial chasm as Ron Brown did, and in his journey he
deeply touched the heart and soul of a Nation.
As our Secretary of Commerce, he was our corporate
Ambassador to the world. As the chairman of the
splintered, fractured Democratic Party, he was the glue
that held it together, and in so doing he delivered the
White House and became the most beloved chairman in
history.
Ron Brown was undaunted and unfazed by challenges. Being
a first was not unusual for him. He was the first African-
American in his college fraternity, the first African-
American counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, and
the list goes on and on.
Ron was a trailblazer and an eternal optimist. He saw no
mountain that could not be climbed or moved or conquered.
The Nation has lost a great leader and statesman. I join
Ron's many colleagues and friends, not in mourning his
death, but in celebrating his life, his accomplishments,
his style and spirit. Ron Brown will be missed, but Ron
Brown will never be forgotten.
Ron Brown was an ambassador for corporate America. Ron
Brown was about the business of expanding the markets of
America across the globe. Ron Brown understood that a
prosperous America was an America that would generate the
revenues needed to do the things that had to be done in
our country for all Americans.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, Mr. P. Stuart Tholan was one of
the 32 Americans accompanying Secretary Ron Brown on his
mission to contribute to the rebuilding of Bosnia. He was
aboard the military transport plane which crashed, killing
all abroad. My most sincere condolences go out to his
wife, Marilyn, his children, Scott and Carolyn, and all
his family, as well as to all those whose lives P. Stuart
Tholan touched.
Mr. Tholan had been invited on the humanitarian mission
by Commerce Secretary Ron Brown because of his
distinguished record of overcoming seemingly
insurmountable obstacles and succeeding again and again.
The reconstruction and revival of Bosnia's devastated
economy would have been Mr. Tholan's most significant
challenge. I have the utmost confidence, as did Secretary
Brown, that he would have succeeded at this ultimate
challenge.
Mr. Tholan's outstanding work for the Bechtel group of
companies, based in San Francisco, CA, earned him a
reputation as a demanding project director who tackled the
most daunting tasks with eternal optimism and a can-do
attitude. While his focus on the successful completion of
a project could not be swayed, he never lost sight of the
importance of the people on the project. Mr. Tholan would
always take the time to help a co-worker when they had
personal or family difficulties or to devote his spare
time to coaching little league and girl's softball.
The mission that P. Stuart Tholan was participating in
was perfectly suited to his strengths. Throughout his
career, he had shown an ability to bring together people
and motivate them to accomplish the most difficult tasks.
The strengths of his personality and character shone
through the overwhelming nature of jobs he took on. His
leadership propelled an international work force of 16,000
to put out the Kuwaiti oil fires in a fraction of the time
experts thought possible.
These are the reasons why Secretary Brown chose P.
Stuart Tholan as the perfect candidate to help rebuild the
devastated economy of Bosnia. Mr. Speaker, P. Stuart
Tholan and the others who perished on that plane deserve
our gratitude for their commitment and dedication to bring
peace and stability to Bosnia and for their service to our
Nation.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, for any parent, the
death of a child is surely life's greatest tragedy. I can
personally remember the profound grief and gloom that
swept over my own father and family when my youngest
sister Nancy was tragically killed following a horseback
riding accident in Colombia, where I served in the Peace
Corps more than 30 years ago. Even now, not a day goes by
that my family does not sorely miss Nancy and regret the
fact that she did not live longer, though we all know she
led a magnificent life while she was with us.
The same sentiment, I am sure, will be true for the
family of Santa Cruz resident Adam Darling, who left this
world last week with Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 32
other brave Americans in an ill-fated flight over Bosnia.
Adam died doing precisely what he wanted: Serving his
country, while working to make the world a better place.
The eternal optimist, Adam had once offered to ride his
bike cross-country from his home in Santa Cruz to
Washington, DC for then Governor Bill Clinton because he
felt he could make a difference in the 1992 Presidential
race. After the election, he ended up in Washington
working in the Commerce Department. When I arrived to be
sworn in as a Member of Congress, Adam was there to meet
me. He brought his father, the Reverend Darrell Darling
from Santa Cruz with him to all of our Washington
activities. According to Darrell, ``Adam Darling was a
leader among his peers, his friends, his family and in his
work. His leadership grew from a keen and uncluttered
mind, a character free of shame, given or received, and a
thoroughly generous spirit. He was very realistic about
both public policy and public service, and the limitations
and temptations of both. Adam's realism never became
cynical. When you decide to make a difference where there
is risk, you can't calculate the cost or be guaranteed
delivery from pain or loss. Bosnia is a land of grief and
turmoil and none of us is immune.''
At the Commerce Department, Adam served as staff in the
press office for several months before becoming a personal
assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce for 2 years.
Adam was also instrumental in bringing state-of-the-art
science to Central Coast and the country. Just 1 year ago,
he helped organize the first-ever link between classrooms
across America and marine biologists working in the
Monterey Bay. Ron Brown had recently asked Adam to handle
press relations and advance planning for the economic
development mission in Bosnia. According to his family,
``Adam saw it as an opportunity to make a significant
contribution to a peace effort where it is severely
needed.''
Rather than working hard to gain personal attention,
Adam worked hard for the sheer pleasure of doing a job
well and the satisfaction of knowing he had helped make
someone else's life a little more livable. He was one of
the many invisible government hands working in Bosnia to
ensure the survival of a nation. Amazing acts of heroism,
dedication, and humanitarianism exemplify the work done by
those invisible hands. Without people like those who
served, continue to serve and will serve their country by
helping others, the world would be hard pressed to survive
tragedies such as the Bosnia conflict.
Adam too saw life as an opportunity to serve the world.
Telling his family at the age of five that he would be
President of the United States some day, a young boy made
his commitment to bettering his country at any cost.
During the few years he was afforded, Adam worked with the
dedication and commitment of a President, and accomplished
more for the good of humankind during his lifetime than
many even attempt in 100 years.
The loss of Adam Darling and the 34 others in Bosnia
will be sorely felt by all and will remain in our hearts
as a memorial to all who pay the highest cost possible in
order to help the world by serving their country.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, Mr. I. Donald Terner was one of
the 32 Americans accompanying Secretary Ron Brown on his
mission to contribute to the rebuilding of Bosnia. He was
aboard the military transport plane which crashed, killing
all aboard. My most sincere condolences go out to his
wife, Deirdre English, his children, and to all those
whose lives Donald Terner improved with his many good
works.
Donald Terner was a man of truly extraordinary energy
and commitment, and we are extremely fortunate that he
chose to devote his talents to improving the lives of low-
income families throughout California. As founder and
president of Bridge Housing Corp., Donald Terner created a
low-income housing enterprise which constructed nearly
6,000 homes in the 13 years the organization has been in
business. Both the continuing success of the solid
organization Donald Terner built and the thousands of
families who will have a roof over their heads for years
to come will serve as a lasting testament to the life of
Donald Terner.
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was so impressed with the
remarkable achievements of Donald Terner that he invited
Mr. Terner to accompany him on a humanitarian mission to
restore the housing resources destroyed by years of all-
out war in Bosnia. Donald Terner was not deterred by the
overwhelming difficulty of rebuilding this devastated
region. Secretary Brown recognized in Donald Terner the
same qualities that those who have worked with him have
appreciated for decades. His humanitarian spirit combined
with his unrelenting commitment to success in the face of
adversity has allowed him to succeed in California and it
would have propelled him to success in Bosnia.
Donald Terner was known as a relentless promoter of low-
income housing in California and throughout the world.
Building affordable housing entails not only raising the
necessary funds, but also the often more difficult task of
convincing homeowners to allow the housing to be built in
their neighborhoods. It was impossible, however, to say
``no'' to Donald Terner. He was able to convince lenders
and neighbors to support to projects because he believed
that what he was doing would help people, and that made
his persuasive powers all but irresistible.
Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in
tribute to Donald Terner for his commitment to making the
world more livable for low-income people. His efforts in
behalf of the community should serve as a model for all
Americans. While we cannot all devote the time and energy
that Donald Terner did, we can invoke his memory when our
communities ask something of us.
Wednesday, April 17, 1996.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, last evening our colleague, the
gentlewoman from North Carolina, Representative Eva
Clayton, called a special order to honor the memory of and
celebrate the life of Secretary of Commerce Secretary Ron
Brown. There were so many of us who wanted to participate
that we have some overflow this evening. I am among those.
I want to acknowledge the leadership of the gentlewoman in
calling that special order. She asked us to focus not only
on our personal, but our professional relationships with
Ron Brown in remembering him.
First, I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, that our
country suffered a staggering tragedy with the loss of our
distinguished Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown. How he would
enjoy seeing some of the tributes to him that were written
in the past week. The Washington Post says ``Best in the
Business.'' Another headline, ``Brown, a Pioneer at Home
In Black and White America. Ex-Party Chief Had Key Role in
Clinton Win.'' Indeed he did.
Another headline, ``Builder of Bridges.'' How he would
like to have seen this headline, ``Devoted To Mission
Until the End.'' ``Ron Brown's contribution to his
people,'' ``Changing the face of America's executive
suites, still lily white, is a tribute worthy of Brown.''
And the list goes on and on of Ron Brown's
contributions. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown showed
endearing enthusiasm for whatever task he undertook. How
true that is.
I call these to your attention, Mr. Speaker, and to the
attention of our colleagues, because I know that Ron Brown
would have enjoyed them. I hope that they are a source of
comfort to the Brown family.
Our colleague the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia, Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton, when she made her
presentation last evening mentioned some of the other
people who, unfortunately, also lost their lives in the
tragedy, and I would like to call attention to three
others who I am familiar with. The First Lady attended the
funeral of Adam Darling, an optimistic and interested
person in politics who went on to work at the Commerce
Department under Ron Brown's leadership. I note with
particular sadness the death of Bill Morton, a dynamic and
brilliant young man who devoted his life to advancing
minorities in public service. And in our community in San
Francisco, we are particularly grief stricken by the death
of Don Terner, the Bridge Housing Corporation executive,
who was a member of the delegation.
Don Terner is a great lost to the San Francisco Bay Area
and the affordable housing community nationwide. In his
life, he gave dignity and hope to American families by
providing shelter. Don Terner died as he had lived,
bringing hope to people in need.
Now I would like to return my focus to Secretary Ron
Brown. I had the privilege of working with Ron Brown since
the early eighties, when we worked together putting
together the 1984 Democratic Convention in San Francisco,
but also working on the delegate selection process. In the
convention in 1992, I served as co-chair with Governor
Romer of the Platform Committee. I mention those two
relationships with Ron because in both of those instances,
whether it was participation in the party, in the delegate
selection process, or whether it was policy formation in
putting together a platform, Ron Brown gave no tolerance
to discrimination. Our party would be open and our policy
would be open to all people in our society. Indeed, I
believe that is a hallmark of the Clinton Administration,
and Ron Brown's influence was surely felt there.
I hope it is a comfort to all of the families of all of
the people in the delegation, I hope it is a comfort to
their loved ones that they are mourned by an entire
Nation, that they died in a mission of peace, bringing
humanitarian and economic assistance to the Balkans, and
that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
I want to particularly commend Alma Brown and extend
sympathy to her and to Michael and to Tracy, Ron and
Alma's children. Across the world, people saw Alma Brown
as dignified in her sadness. I happened to be in Indonesia
when we got the news, and even at that distance, the press
was one of great admiration and, of course, sympathy for
Alma. But she led us through this tragic time, through
this sadness, in a way that I know would have made Ron
Brown very, very proud. But, of course, he knew that about
Alma.
So I would say that as we mourn, the leaders of the
delegation, we must also remember the patriotic members of
the military on the flight and the members of the Commerce
Department staff. The prayers of my family I know will
always be with the Brown family, as well as with the
families of this mission of peace.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, later on this evening, the
gentleman from New Jersey, Don Payne, and other Members of
Congress will continue to pay tribute to my fallen buddy,
Ron Brown, but I just want to share some views as I saw
Ron and 33 other coffins arrive in Dover, these flag-
draped coffins covering the bodies of people that were in
the business of selling the United States of America, and
then heard the tributes that were paid to all of them, as
well as attending at Arlington cemetery.
As the bands were playing and the flags were unfurled
and the cannons were blasting, I could only think what a
great country we live in and how many things we just take
for granted; that here a young American who comes from one
of the poorest communities can, in such a short period of
time, capture the love and gain the respect of not only
the President of the United States but so many Americans
from seashore to seashore, and, at the same time, to know
that in so many foreign countries, some not as friendly as
we wish that they would be, that they lowered their flags
at half mast for this great American, Ron Brown.
I think that when we start thinking about loving
America, we have to think about what kind of person could
love his country so much that he would try to climb
mountains that other people would not even attempt, not
only to show how great America was and what products we
wanted to sell, and not how superior we were, but to
actually talk with trade ministers and prime ministers and
presidents in terms of the needs of their country. The
poverty, the disease, the sickness, the hunger, the
unemployment, the joblessness, and to be able to say to
that country that America was there as a friend that
wanted to help.
This was a part of the world that we never spent that
much time in. This was the part of the world that we had
to develop markets in. This was the part of the world that
we had to increase their ability to have disposable income
so that as we had once done in Europe under the Marshall
plan, that we could regain the leadership that we have
possessed since World War II. And how they loved him,
because it was not just selling America, it was the
interest he had in them.
I saw at the funeral Ambassadors that had flown in from
Mexico, India, South Africa. They spoke, they talked, they
loved, they cared. And I said what a wonderful country it
is that we have in the United States of America, people
that come from every country in the world.
Unlike other countries where you just look at the
country and you can feel just the narrow culture interest
that they have, there is no country in the world that we
cannot reach and show that Americans come from all over.
To see what investing in the education of a Ron Brown, or
Ron Gonzalez, or Ron Lee, or the women that have been
denied the opportunity to show, to be given the
opportunity to show that they are Americans, this is a
great country, and go abroad and find out that they are
making friends for us, as well as creating trade.
Mr. Speaker, I have received notices, as well as
telephone calls, from Senator Dole and from Haley Barbor,
who is the chair of the Republican Party, to say to me, as
they have said to others, this issue is too big to look at
party labels. It is too big to look at the color of
American skins. It is American to be able to say that we
can make our country a greater place, create more jobs if
only we cared enough to train our people for these type of
opportunities and to share our talents with so many other
countries in the world.
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the
Congressional Black Caucus, I wanted to take some time
this evening to pay tribute to a man so many of us knew as
a great friend and a real true patriot. Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown was a person we all knew and loved. So
many people across this Nation have been inspired by Ron
Brown, it is fitting that we celebrated his remarkable
life and legacy.
Even in the midst of our grief over his untimely
passing, we recognize that Ron was the kind of person who
would want to be remembered for how he lived his life
rather than how he died. It has been said that a man's
reach should exceed his grasp. Throughout Ron Brown's
wonderful life he kept reaching, seizing each challenge
with boundless confidence, with enthusiasm, with energy,
with vision. Both in the private sector and in the public
life he displayed that all-American can-do attitude,
refusing even to entertain the thought that any obstacles
would be insurmountable.
It was this spirit that won him so many firsts. First
black fraternity member at Middlebury College. First black
to hold the position of Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate.
First black partner at Patton, Boggs & Blow, and then on
to becoming the first black chairman of the Democratic
Party before being appointed by President Clinton as the
first black Secretary of Commerce.
Yet it was typical of Ron Brown that even as he built
racial coalitions, he downplayed the significance of race
as he sought to take on new challenges in his life. He
said that race was not important as an obstacle. He simply
said he can continue to move on up a little higher.
I remember back in 1988, when I was a member of the
Newark City Council and seeking election to the House of
Representatives, Ron Brown was campaigning at that time to
become chairman of the Democratic National Committee. I
traveled to Washington with the New Jersey Chamber of
Commerce early in February 1988 to their annual
legislative visit, when we talked to legislators here and
talked about policies for our State. During my stay I
introduced our State Democratic chairman, Ray Durkin, to
Ron Brown, knowing that Ron was seeking the office of
chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
After hearing Ron's ideas and observing his enthusiasm
and his approach to problem solving and his enthusiasm and
his approach to problem solving and his vision, the State
Democratic chairman, Ray Durkin, made a decision right on
the spot to support Ron Brown. He said this is the man we
need to lead our party.
I was pleased when our New Jersey U.S. Senator, Bill
Bradley, immediately came on board to join in for the
backing of Ron Brown to become the chairman of the
Democratic National Committee. In fact, New Jersey was the
first State to endorse Secretary Brown when he made his
run for the chairmanship of the Democratic National
Committee.
Ron Brown did not run a narrow campaign based on race,
he reached out to a wide range of Americans, as he always
did in his life, ultimately convincing the electorate to
return the White House to the Democratic Party for the
first time in over a decade. As a matter of fact, our
State of New Jersey went overwhelmingly for President
Clinton for the first time in almost three decades. It was
because of Ron Brown and his vision, his imagination, his
creativity, his gumption, his stick-to-itiveness. He
embodied the power of positive thinking, always looking
ahead, assuredness, and optimistic.
Secretary Brown became involved in politics in 1971,
when he was a district leader in Mount Vernon, NY, in the
Democrat Party there. He made a name for himself in the
Urban League with his innovative ideas and creative
approaches. He loved both public service and politics.
Before working for Senator Kennedy on the Committee on the
Judiciary, he served as director of the California for
Kennedy committee and later organized for Jesse Jackson's
run for President.
Another point that needs to be made, in this era when it
is popular in some quarters to bash those who work for the
Federal Government, that Ron Brown and those who perished
with him out there, risking their lives under very
dangerous conditions on a mission to improve the lives of
people in Bosnia and to promote American products,
American business opportunities in order to create
American jobs.
Secretary Brown and his staff worked tirelessly over the
years bringing in billions and billions of dollars of
contracts to Americans. Let us hope that out of respect
for the victims and their families this unfair debasing of
Federal employees for cheap political mileage will cease.
Let me take a moment to pay tribute to the victims of
the tragedy who were connected to my home State of New
Jersey who were on that ill-fated trip that day. We are
proud of their service and extend deepest sympathies to
their families.
Lee Jackson, who was born in Montclair, NJ, part of my
district, was executive director of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development at the Treasury Department.
He was a young, bright African-American fellow whose
father was a former newspaper person, who, as a matter of
fact, was a very close friend of my Newark district office
manager. We sat, Rick Thigpen and myself, watching the
television, very saddened, awaiting the news from over in
Croatia.
Another person on that flight from New Jersey, Claudio
Elia, was chairman and chief executive of Air and Water
Technologies Corp. in Branchburg, NJ.
Walter Murphy was vice president of global sales at AT&T
Submarine Systems in Morristown, NJ.
Our State also lost two young people who were serving
our country in the military, as Secretary Ron Brown had
done as a young U.S. Army captain early in his life. S.
Sgt. Robert Farrington, Jr., was from Brierfield, NJ; and
T. Sgt. Cheryl Turnage lived in Lakehurst before she
joined the Air Force.
Ron Brown left us too soon. He had so many gifts and yet
he was not to have the gift of long life. We do not
understand how life is given out, it is beyond us. Yet we
can take comfort in the fact that his spirit, his zest for
living, and his monumental achievements will definitely
live on.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to his loving family,
his wife, Alma, his son, Michael, his daughter Tracey, and
his grandchildren. We will keep them in our thoughts and
in our prayers.
Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
from New Jersey for having this special order. I rise to
add my voice to the multitude of voices singing the
praises of Ron Brown. With all that has been said about
him in the last 12 days, some may feel that all that needs
to be said has already been said; but as we frequently
say, all that need to say it have not already said it.
The fact is that we have all been affected by Ron
Brown's life in general and in unique ways, and feel the
need to ensure that the record of his life and his good
works reflects some of those unique contributions.
For example, Mr. Speaker, the Newport News Shipyard in
the Third Congressional District of Virginia, which I
represent, was a beneficiary of his good works. Even
before the collapse of the cold war, the shipyard knew it
needed to diversify its business portfolio beyond just
military shipbuilding, so it began to revive its
commercial shipbuilding program.
Ron Brown stood ready when called upon to help the
Newport News Shipyard, just as he had helped so many other
businesses before. For the Newport News Shipyard, he took
Pat Phillips, the former president of the shipyard, to the
Middle East to meet with business and government leaders
in Israel, Egypt, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates to
market the frigate ship program, and they were very
successful. Bill Fricks, the current president of the
shipyard, stated upon the news of Ron's death that, and I
quote:
Ron Brown was a great advocate of our yard and voiced
his support for Newport News Shipyard and other Tenneco
subsidiaries during numerous trade missions overseas. Not
only an advocate of stronger international ties, Brown was
also a friend of Newport News Shipyard. He will truly be
missed.
Mr. Speaker, there have been a lot of words used to
describe Ron Brown and his life: trailblazer,
bridgebuilder, fence mender, power broker, coalition
builder, energizer, visionary, humanitarian, public
servant, crusader, lawyer, businessman, politician,
husband, father, friend; all extraordinaire. And to this
descriptive list I have to add shipbuilder and a friend of
the Third Congressional District of Virginia. We are all
grateful for his life and his contributions and for the
lives and contributions of those who were with him on that
fateful trade mission.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown will truly be missed.
Mrs. CLAYTON. I am indeed grateful to Mr. Payne for
organizing this special order. I wanted to participate in
this special order under the guidance of the Black Caucus,
because I think it is appropriate in this leadership that
we also have an opportunity to have a special order.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a bridgebuilder, a
peacemaker, a soldier for souls, a fisher for young men
and young women.
Out of the ashes and wreckage of that faraway mountain
in Bosnia--something remains--a blade of grass, an idea.
The idea--Ron Brown's living legacy--is that you can
grow up in Harlem, and progress in Washington.
He left with us a prototype to follow, a style, a
design, a mold, a model that we may never duplicate, but
we can certainly replicate.
Under the careful counsel of his father and mother, he
learned that it is far better to build bridges than to
burn them. He knew that a bridge could arch a flood.
And so, he built bridges between the rich and poor,
between people of every hue, between cherished views and
fresh beliefs. Perhaps that is why his motorcade journey
to his resting place in Arlington was as appropriate on U
Street as it was on Constitution Avenue.
Ron Brown was a bridgebuilder.
His time spent in service to America, as an officer of
the U.S. Army, apparently taught him that the best way to
preserve world peace and avoid war is by doing business.
That is why he traveled to China, journeyed to India,
took a trip to Turkey, and voyaged to Africa. And, that is
why he risked a rainstorm to get to Tuzla.
He was opening doors, cementing relationships, serving
his country, and promoting peace, even in a region torn by
war.
Ron Brown was a peacemaker.
His rapid rise to the top was by measured steps from the
bottom.
He worked by day and attended law school by night. He
was a welfare social worker, a leader with the Urban
League, a brilliant political strategist, a lawyer, the
pilot of the Democratic Party and the architect of one of
the greatest Presidential campaign victories in history.
Through it all, he never lost the common touch.
He was as comfortable playing pick-up basketball in the
Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC as he was conversing
with Kings and Queens and Prime Ministers.
Ron Brown was a soldier of souls.
But, perhaps the mark that he made that is most worthy
of note is his mentoring, wherever he went, he took others
with him, especially young men and women.
Ron knew how tough it was for an African-American to
move from 125th Street in the heart of Harlem to the
Commerce Building at the center of power in Washington.
With each career step he took, he embraced young people,
forming and fashioning the Ron Brown's of the future.
They are there, at the Department of Commerce, at
Democratic National Headquarters, in the public sector and
in the private sector--the next Ron Browns.
He was a fisher of young men and young women.
Whether he was building bridges or closing divides,
fighting the good fight or making peace, reaching with a
helping hand or bringing others along--he always did his
duty with dignity, pride, graciousness, vision and
boundless energy. He filled each unforgiving minute with
60 seconds of long distance run.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his lovely wife Alma,
his loyal son Michael and his darling daughter Tracey.
They have every reason to be proud.
Ron was a trailblazer, a tireless champion for all, a
role model for role models. He has left his permanent
imprint on the sands of time. God's finger has touched
him, and he now sleeps.
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Thank you for those remarks.
As you know, we are talking about the life of Ron Brown,
but there were a number of people. I mentioned several of
those who lived in my great State of New Jersey who lost
their lives on that mountainside in Croatia and return
flight from Bosnia. There were other people who worked for
the government.
As we talked about the fact that all too often it is
made trite about working for the government, we hear
people saying that Americans should not have to pay taxes.
Why should we be involved in such things? What right do we
have to take their money? We heard some of that dialog
earlier here tonight.
Well, because we live in a country that is great. We
live in a country where you can get on a road and the road
will take you where you need to go, with pavement, with
utilities, with lights. We live in a place where you can
drink clear water and not worry about having bacteria in
it. We live in a place that you can call the authorities
or go to a courtroom and find that you can have your cases
heard. And that is why it is a responsibility of Americans
to have a responsibility.
As a matter of fact, at some other time we will get on
to this subject, but people make it seem that here in
America we are overtaxed. We pay about 29 percent. Japan
used to pay 19 percent; they paid 29 percent. In the
Western Europe countries, most pay 38 to 39 percent. We
should take a look at the global situation, and I say that
to say that Ron Brown was a person who had to take this
unnecessary bashing. People in government took unnecessary
bashing. We heard people criticize the Department of
Commerce, but billions of dollars worth of business have
been brought back to this country.
There were other people who gave their life for this
country.
Bill Morton was a fellow who was always at Ron Brown's
side. Bill was a deputy assistant secretary for
international trade. He was a long time aide of Ron Brown.
He graduated from Georgetown University, a native of
Colorado, was always there when Ron Brown had to go. Did
not like to fly at all, did not like travel at all, but he
felt that it was his responsibility to his boss, Ron
Brown. It was the responsibility to his country, and he
went when called and did not want to go on that trip to
Bosnia, but he was there.
These are the types of Americans who are the unsung
heroes, people who dedicate their time, their life, their
energy, time away from their family. The Bill Mortons of
the world are the type that makes this country run, that
make it as great as it is.
There were a number of people on that flight. Duane
Christian, who was Ron Brown's chief security officer, a
person who had been in this government for many years,
used to work for the Office of Personnel Management, a
former school teacher.
On that trip was Adam Darling, just a 29-year-old
person, a confidential assistant for the Deputy Secretary
of Commerce. He worked in international trade, wanted to
make America strong, wanted to increase our balance of
trade, wanted to reduce the balance of trade deficit, a
young 29-year-old person was there serving our country.
Gail Dobert, acting director of the office of business
liaison, a person who had worked many years on the Hill,
who was there serving our country.
Carol Hamilton, the press secretary for Ron Brown, who
was a person who had worked in business and industry,
worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, but decided to give her
time, her talents to the United States Government and came
to work in the Commerce Department so that the work that
great department was doing could be better told.
We have Kathryn Hoffman, a special assistant to Ron
Brown who was a person who was interested in politics,
worked in the Clinton campaign during 1992, and actually
was the person that produced the first African-American
inaugural gala and leadership forum at the inauguration of
the inaugural committee for President Clinton, a person
who worked for Sony Pictures and in the past for Senator
Biden and Julian Bond. A person with tremendous amount of
ability, also lost her life.
We have Stephen Kaminski, who was a senior commercial
officer who traveled a great deal, who tried to see that
the market access of American companies could be enlarged
in places like Japan, and worked in capitals of Hamburg
and Dusseldorf and Vienna, and was a person, a real world
leader.
Kathryn Kellogg, a confidential assistant, office of
business liaison, who came to that office from a
background with the Jay Rockefeller office and did a
tremendous amount.
And we had a very senior person with us on that trip
with Ron Brown, Charles F. Meissner who was the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for International Affairs, has been
very active in government, and his wife was the
Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner, Mrs.
Doris Meissner, and certainly our heart goes out to her, a
person who is still contributing to our Government.
Also a part of our Government team was Lawrence Payne, a
special assistant, office of domestic operations. He was a
person who added a great deal to the mission.
Naomi P. Warbasse, who was a deputy director of Central
and East Europe Business Information Center.
We had James M. Lewek, who was an intelligence analyst
who worked on European economic issues. He was a person
who was an analyst, a very bright individual who served
very well.
So these were people who worked for our government who
felt it was important, who felt they had a contribution to
make, who felt that this great Nation of ours could do
better. They never accepted enough was enough. They went
on to move to higher heights.
Ron Brown had gone on a mission to India. No one ever
looked at India as a place where we should take trade
missions. It was never on the radar screen. But Ron Brown
looked at the population, a population of over 900 million
people, a country that in the next 20 years will have a
population in excess of the population of the People's
Republic of China.
It is estimated by the year 2020 the population of India
will exceed 1 billion 250 million people--1 billion 300
million people. This is awesome.
The People's Republic of China currently has 1 billion
100 million people. The population of the United States is
250 million.
Ron Brown looked at India and said, after analysis, that
India has as many middle-income people as the entire
population of the United States of America. He was one
that looked around and saw the poverty and saw the
problems, but he also looked at the aggregate number, 900
million people, and found out that 250 million were
middle-income people in India. And so he took a trade
mission and, in less than a week, did over $7 billion
worth of business on that trip. It was Ron Brown
conceiving that there is opportunity in that great country
of India.
He took trade missions to South Africa, worked with Mr.
Mandela. As a matter of fact, Ron Brown was one of
President Nelson Mandela's favorite persons. Mr. Mandela,
who, as you know, is probably one of the greatest leaders
in this world, has tremendous insight, and he was a person
that opened his doors to his personal home to Ron Brown
because of the camaraderie between the two. Of course,
President Mandela, being much older than Ron Brown, Ron
just looked up to him and went to South Africa, and
through Ron Brown's creativity the Mbeke-Gore Bilateral
Commission for Trade, directly the deputy president, Tabo
Mbeke, Vice President Al Gore cochaired this trade
development that will increase imports and exports from
these two great countries.
Ron Brown went to Asia and was very popular.
The Japanese trade officials enjoyed working with Ron
Brown. They felt that he was very astute, and he did
outstanding business in Japan. He was one, and we heard of
Mickey Kantor and his debates in Geneva with the auto
parts, but Ron Brown would go over to Japan, and it was,
they call it, the ``bad cop, good cop,'' Mickey Kantor
being the bad cop, tough guy, mean guy, never smiled, and
Ron Brown would come with his smile. He was a good cop.
But Ron would always get the signature on the dotted line.
So, as we have recently heard, the tremendous increase in
the amount of autos and auto parts being sold to Japan, a
record for this country. Part of that success for our big
three auto makers is because of Ron Brown and the work
that he has done.
He went to the People's Republic of China and was ready
to do business all over the place. It was just that it was
so large, Ron just took a little piece of it, but billions
of dollars' worth of People's Republic of China.
And so I mentioned these various missions that he took.
He was interested in the whole relationship between Mexico
and the United States. He felt that Mexico has tremendous
potential, but that the human rights of people in Mexico
must be observed better. He talked about changing over the
type of government, making it more people oriented, and he
was a person that saw that one way that we could stop
illegal immigration is that Mexico itself becomes a place
that people feel they should stay, their country. Most
people prefer living in their own country. They do not
like traveling to other countries. They do not want to
learn a foreign language. They do not want to be put in
substandard jobs. They do not want to be pointed out as
the problem. So most people, wherever they live in the
world, prefer to stay where their home country is.
Ron Brown felt that, with Mexico developing, with
opportunities in Mexico for Mexicans, that would be the
biggest way to slow down and eventually stop illegal
immigration and actually have people emigrate back to
Mexico once opportunities developed there. But he also
said that, as Mexico developed, that there would be
markets for the United States, there would be trade
opportunities, that it would not be a one-way street, but
we would be able to solve a tremendous social problem in
our country of illegal immigration.
So Ron Brown's policies really affected the world,
whether it was in the Far East, the Pacific rim, whether
it was in the new independent States, or in Africa. He was
a person who felt that we could do things best in this
country, we make the best products, once we put our minds
to it. He felt that all we had to do was to get an
opportunity to introduce our business people to foreign
markets, and that they would really jump on board on
getting our products.
So as we wind down on our commemoration of Ron Brown,
the man, Ron Brown, the leader, Ron Brown, the father, Ron
Brown was a person that even when he was under attack, and
I sat at a hearing of the committee on International
Relations where there was the move to abolish and
eliminate the Department of Commerce. Some mean-spirited
questions were asked, and the manner in which some of the
questioners on the other side of the aisle were lashing
out at the Secretary of Commerce. He answered every
question. He answered the questions well. He had the
facts.
As a matter of fact, when the hearing ended, most of the
Members who started out with this mean-spirited slash and
burn type of philosophy had to admit that the Department
of Commerce had done an outstanding job; had to admit
that, truly, this is the first Department of Commerce
Secretary that the American people can say the name of the
person. This is a Commerce Department person that people
felt was doing the job. But in their fallacy, their
preconceived notion was to eliminate the Department of
Commerce. I think that that started to sort of slow down
once Ron Brown really gave the facts to people.
We are here to say, Mr. Speaker, that we hope that we
will remember Ron. We will once again say that he was a
great American. We will once again say that he is the type
of person that we can have young men and women, African-
American, Caucasian, native American, whatever, point to
and say that he is the measure of a man. Anyone can
succeed if you try hard enough, that all you have to do is
to have a vision, have creativity, and be ready to step up
to the plate.
Once again, I would like to thank the Speaker for this
time, and to express to my colleagues who came out tonight
that I appreciate their participation this evening. I also
appreciate the participation of many, many Members who
have expressed their views during the past week that we
have been back here, Monday, Tuesday, and today.
As a matter of fact, concluding, it was going to be on a
week from today that he was going to visit the
Congressional Black Caucus' weekly meeting. We talked
before his trip, and April 24 was the date that he was
scheduled to come to talk about women's opportunities,
small business, the census. So we will certainly even more
remember him next week when we meet in our weekly
Wednesday meeting. He is a true American, a real American
hero.
Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the American
chorus of praise for Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and to
join my colleagues in expressing our profound sorrow at
the loss of his life in the plan crash in Croatia. And I
also take this time to let the Nation know that a
constituent of mine, Air Force Staff Sgt. Gerald V.
Aldrich, of Louisville, IL, was a member of the crew and
also perished in that terrible crash.
Because of that, the 19th District of Illinois was
touched as much as any other in the Nation by the news
from that rugged mountainside in a nation torn apart by
civil war and cultural strife.
Unexplainable tragedies inevitably take with them
outstanding people who are a credit to their families,
friends, and communities. Certainly that is true with
Sergeant Aldrich and Secretary Brown.
I have talked with the Aldrich family at length, and
know that they are extraordinarily proud of their fine
son. He entered the military shortly after graduating from
high school and fashioned a career that was clearly taking
him to leadership positions in the Air Force. On behalf of
everyone in the 19th district, I send my deepest
sympathies to his entire family.
As I comprehended Secretary Brown's death, I knew that
most people would remember him for his efforts in the
Democratic Party and for his global approach to supporting
American economic interests. And while he must certainly
be commended for those things, I knew that I would
remember him much more for two very simple, relatively
small projects which were extremely important to me and
the people in my district. There are two major
construction projects underway in my district right now
because the communities made their case to the Commerce
Department, and Secretary Brown made sure their needs were
addressed. He was personally interested in how these
projects would create jobs and improve the lives of
working people, and I will always be thankful for that.
Mr. Speaker, two fine Americans were taken from us on
that mountain in Croatia. I thank the Aldrich and Brown
families for sharing their precious gifts with us for as
long as they did, and commend their careers of public
service to the rest of us to emulate and admire.
Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay
tribute to the late Secretary Ron Brown, an American who
distinguished himself as a leader in the Democratic Party
and an outspoken supporter of free trade while serving as
Commerce Secretary.
During his youth, Mr. Brown excelled in school. His
success led him to Middlebury College in Vermont, which he
attended on a ROTC scholarship. After graduating in 1962,
Mr. Brown entered the Army and rose to the rank of
captain.
Throughout his life he held many important positions in
both the private and public sectors. Secretary Brown ably
assisted Senator Kennedy on his staff and with the
Judiciary Committee. In addition, he was a highly sought
lobbyist with Patton, Boggs & Blow.
Mr. Brown impressively unified the Jesse Jackson and
Michael Dukakis supporters at the 1988 Democratic National
Convention. His efforts propelled him to chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, where he ably served for 4
years, culminating in Bill Clinton's 1992 election. Ron
Brown deservedly received much of the credit for his work
with the Clinton campaign.
Over the past 3 years, Mr. Brown had directed his
efforts toward improving trade and commerce for the United
States. He served as a proud emissary for American
interests.
Mr. Brown was a talented and tireless adversary on the
campaign trail as well as a distinguished member of the
Clinton Administration serving on behalf of the American
people. I offer my condolences to the family and friends
of Secretary Ron Brown.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with great
sadness that I rise today to salute a man who did more to
advance U.S. economic interests at home and abroad than
any other in our nation's distinguished history. Ron
Brown, whose other accomplishments include revitalizing
the Democratic party and advancing race relations in
America, died tragically 2 weeks ago on a trade mission in
Bosnia.
As Commerce Secretary, Brown was accompanied by 34 other
brave Americans, one of whom was my constituent. Adam
Darling, a 29-year Commerce Department assistant who
offered to bike cross-country from his Santa Cruz,
California home to promote Bill Clinton's 1992
presidential campaign, also lost his life on that terrible
flight. I had the honor of saluting Adam's life last
Friday, along with the First Lady, his family and friends
at a touching memorial service. He will be sorely missed
by all.
Adam was on board, because as President Clinton put it,
Ron Brown could see in him and the others ``the promise of
a new tomorrow and he knew they needed someone to reach
down and give them the opportunity to serve.'' Ron Brown
was truly one of a kind.
The son of a hotel manager, Ron Brown grew up in black
America but bridged the gap between white and black from
the earliest years of his life. Attending white private
schools, Brown went on to be the only African-American in
his class at Middlebury College, where he forged the
desegregation of his fraternity. He later attended St.
John's University Law School and subsequently worked as a
prominent attorney in the largely white world of law.
After that, Ron Brown became the first African-American
chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As former
National Urban League chief John Jacob said, ``Ron could
accomplish anything, because he didn't believe he couldn't
do it.
As Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown worked tirelessly to
promote our economic interests both here an around the
globe. He firmly believed that free, but fair trade was
one of the best ways of advancing our country's national
interests as we move into the 21st century. It was for
this reason that Ron Brown enthusiastically led his
mission to Bosnia. He believed that the untapped
possibilities of the war-torn region held untold
possibilities for the United States.
I personally have had the pleasure of working with Ron
Brown on a number of occasions. Before his untimely death,
he and I had been developing a unique initiative of
sustainable development for my congressional district. We
both eagerly looked forward to harnessing the creative
energy of public and private enterprise to forget this new
national model.
I don't believe a day has gone by since the tragic
accident that I have not mourned what this country will
miss without Ron Brown, and the others aboard his plane.
While the important work of the Commerce Department will
surely continue, America will never recapture the
potential that traveled aboard that flight. We can never
replace the enormous possibilities that traveled with Ron
Brown.
Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a
dear friend, a visionary, a dream-maker, and trailblazer;
the Honorable Ronald H. Brown. Although I am deeply
saddened by his sudden passing, I am inspired and
encouraged by the legacy Ron has left for all citizens of
the United States. Ron Brown was not only a personal
friend, but a friend of our country.
Elected the first African American Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, he utilized his experience
and successes, in reuniting the Democratic Party and
ensuring a victory for President Clinton.
As the first African American Secretary of Commerce, Ron
not only pursued the expansion of American trade
opportunities, but also sought to extend the American
Dream to improve the quality of life for all people
throughout the world. His vision for the Department of
Commerce included providing economic opportunities for all
Americans, opening and expanding markets globally, and
generating jobs through his national export strategy which
allows U.S. companies--big and small--to maximize their
export potential. In addition, he wanted to ensure an
enhanced technology base and infrastructure and
utilization and growth for the Information Superhighway.
In doing so, he transformed America into an export
superpower, creating over $80 billion in foreign
agreements for U.S. businesses. A champion of civil
rights, he fought for diversity within the Department, as
well as increased opportunities for minority-owned
businesses.
Ron was a trailblazer. The list of accomplishments which
inspires not only African Americans, but all working men,
women, and minorities is commendable. He, as Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., was an effective communicator, a
passionate civil rights advocate, keen political
strategist, skilled negotiator, and compassionate bridge
builder. A man of action, Ron Brown not only dreamt, but
more importantly, realized his dreams for himself and
others.
I will personally miss our heart to heart conversations
and political discussions, Ron's enthusiasm for life, and
most of all, his infectious smile.
As my friend, the Reverend Jesse Jackson so eloquently
described him, ``We must remember Ron Brown--freedom
fighter, social servant, patriot, dream-maker. . . . A
monument to his success is opening the door for coming
generations.'' We must always hold a special place in our
hearts for Ron Brown. Ron was truly a man for all seasons
who we will sorely miss. Thank you, Ron, for all you've
done. We love you, brother.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, people from all walks of life,
professional, personal, religious--friends, colleagues and
strangers alike--found themselves binding together over
the past 2 weeks in mourning the loss of Ron Brown, U.S.
Secretary of Commerce, who died tragically in a plane
crash in Bosnia. As could be expected, Ron was lost to us
while on a mission of peace as he sought to repair the
fabric of war-torn Bosnia.
Today, in honor of his memory, I would like to add my
voice to those of hundreds of thousands--perhaps
millions--of others who spoke of Ron Brown the man, the
husband, the father, the friend of Democrats, the beloved
adviser to President Clinton.
I begin by extending my personal condolences to his
wife, Alma and their children, and to the families and
friends of all others who gave their lives as well, and to
assure them that they are in my thoughts and my prayers;
may they be comforted by God's love and the outpouring of
grief, love, and the many tributes coming from people
throughout the world.
I also convey condolences to the family and friends of
William Morton, a native of Huntington, WV, located in the
district I represent, who was also aboard the doomed plane
over Croatia. To them I extend my deepest sympathies and
offer my prayers on their behalf that will always be
comforted knowing that William died on a mission of peace,
as a patriot of his country, doing the job he was
committed to doing and doing well, at the side of his
mentor, Secretary Brown.
I pay particular tribute to Ron Brown, Secretary of
Commerce, for while he excelled in all aspects of every
endeavor or job or position he ever held in public life,
it was as Secretary of Commerce that he won my everlasting
admiration and esteem.
As the Representative in the House of the people of the
third district in West Virginia, one of my major goals is
to do all that is possible to increase economic
development opportunities and the job creation that
follows such incentives, for my people. We live in the
heart of Appalachia where unemployment in some areas still
remains in double-digits, and where economic development
is integral to our effort to create a stronger, stable
economic base for all West Virginians.
Ron Brown won my heart by requiring his entire
department staff to memorize a one-sentence mission
statement that ought to be the mission statement of every
person in government, and that sentence was: ``Our mission
is to ensure economic opportunity for every American.''
Ron Brown, having achieved the American dream for
himself, spent the rest of his life seeking to make it a
reality for those bound over by poverty and despair. His
life stands as a testament to the power of educating our
people, to a sound work ethic meaning a willingness to
work hard, and a dedication of ourselves to work for the
common good of all.
In West Virginia, Ron will be remembered more for local
economic development projects through the Economic
Development Administration [EDA], and the Office of
Economic Adjustment perhaps, then for his global view on
trade initiatives between the United States and the rest
of the world. He was a friend of towns and cities large
and small throughout the Nation, and became the catalyst
for change in social and economic circles that were long
overdue, by reminding American capitalists that their
prosperity was inextricably linked to the prosperity of
all Americans.
Whether Ron was in an American city, the Middle East, or
Bosnia, he believed that participation in economic success
would go a long way in healing racial, ethnic, and
religious differences.
Secretary Brown ran the Commerce Committee like no other
Secretary before him--by actively involving businesses in
securing jobs for Americans. He took a page from the
investment strategy book of the Japanese Government whose
economic growth excelled for many years because of the
direct involvement of government in the Japanese business
community, issuing a challenge to America's economic
thinking.
Ron Brown learned from that, and he acknowledged the
power and importance of businesses great and small in the
United States, and encouraged greater investment in
business and industry, rather than ignoring them as his
predecessors had done. Under his stewardship, the American
economy rebounded over the past 3 years, largely due to
his personal involvement and the involvement of his
department staff who had memorized the one-sentence
mission statement: ``Our mission is to ensure economic
opportunity for every American.''
Ron Brown was many things to many people, and he was
remembered as having great charisma, of being able to walk
into a room and energize it, drawing people to his side.
He was known for his sense of compassion, his willingness
to listen to both sides. He was also known for his sense
of humor and, needless to say, for his outstanding
political acumen, and his ability to make friends anywhere
and everywhere he went, working on behalf of the America
he loved.
That is Secretary Brown's legacy to us all, and we must
not forget.
THURSDAY, April 18, 1996.
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for
the immediate consideration in the House of the resolution
(H. Res. 406) in tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ronald
H. Brown and other Americans who lost their lives on April
3, 1996, while in service to their country on a mission to
Bosnia.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). Is there objection
to the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The clerk will report the
resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 406
Whereas Ronald H. Brown served the United States of
America with patriotism and skill as a soldier, a civil
rights leader, and attorney;
Whereas Ronald H. Brown devoted his life to opening
doors, building bridges, and helping those in need;
Whereas Ronald H. Brown lost his life in a tragic
airplane accident on April 3, 1996, while in service to
his country on a mission in Bosnia; and
Whereas thirty-two other Americans from government and
industry who served the Nation with great courage,
achievement, and dedication also lost their lives in the
accident: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives pays tribute
to the remarkable life and career of Ronald H. Brown, and
it extends condolences to his family.
Be it further resolved, That the House of
Representatives also pays tribute to the contributions of
all those who perished, and that we extend our condolences
to the families of: Staff Sergeant Gerald Aldrich, Duane
Christian, Barry Conrad, Paul Cushman III, Adam Darling,
Captain Ashley James Davis, Gail Dobert, Robert Donovan,
Claudio Elia, Staff Sergeant Robert Farrington, Jr., David
Ford, Carol Hamilton, Kathryn Hoffman, Lee Jackson, Steven
Kaminiski, Kathryn Kellogg, Technical Sergeant Shelley
Kelly, James Lewek, Frank Maier, Charles Meissner, William
Morton, Walter Murphy, Nathaniel Nash, Lawrence Payne,
Leonard Pieroni, Captain Timothy Shafer, John Scoville, I.
Donald Terner, P. Stuart Tholan, Technical Sergeant Cheryl
Ann Turnage, Naomi Warbasse, and Robert Whittaker.
Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House shall transmit a copy of
the resolution to each of the families.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning with great sadness to
offer a resolution in tribute to Commerce Secretary Ron
Brown and all of the Americans who lost their lives in
that awful tragedy on April 3 while they were all serving
their country on a mission to Bosnia. I am pleased that we
are able to make this a bipartisan resolution, in fact, a
resolution of all the Members of the House. For when a
highly and distinguished member of the U.S. Cabinet is
killed overseas for the first time in American history,
when we lose an individual, and individuals of such
extraordinary ability and achievement, when we lose so
many other dedicated business leaders and public servants,
members of the Commerce Department, members of the U.S.
Air Force, it is not a partisan tragedy, it is truly a
tragedy for all of our citizens and all of our country.
In the week since Ron Brown's death, it has already
become a cliche to speak of his brilliant political and
public service career. Of his pioneering role as chairman
of the Democratic Party and his efforts to almost single-
handedly redefine the Commerce Department and its mandate.
For those of us who considered Ron a friend, as I did, it
is reassuring to know that the country remembers him as
fondly as we do. But when there are so many tangible
achievements to celebrate in a man's life, it becomes
harder to recognize what is less tangible but perhaps as
more important.
To me, there is a simple reason why Ron Brown broke down
so many barriers in so many areas and shattered so many
preconceptions, about politics, race, and America's place
in the world. For all of his practical and political
talents, Ron Brown was an idealist, pure and simple. His
goals for himself, his party and his country were always
based on what should be and not on what others thought
could be. This is a rare quality in any of us, in a
politician, a rate quality in a human being. But it is why
so many people loved and respected Ron Brown and were so
often willing to abandon their own goals and egos to work
with him for a higher purpose.
Mr. Speaker, much has been said in recent days about Ron
Brown's ability to heal divisions, to reconcile views, to
focus on what unite people rather than on what divide
them. He truly believed that you could always accomplish
more by working together, by bringing others along with
you. That is one reason why he nurtured so much talent in
so many other people throughout his career. As party
chairman, he really did bring the Democratic Party
together, something that is hard to do, sometimes almost
one person at a time.
To see the depth of his empathy and understanding, to
see how far he would go to understand people who disagreed
with him and opinions and then to find the common ground
between them was to see the very essence of leadership.
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown dramatically expanded his
mandate, reinvigorating the foreign commercial service and
becoming a real booster of U.S. exports on a scale that we
have never seen before. He poured all of his passion and
energy in his work at Commerce, as he had at the
Democratic Committee, and I always admired the aggressive
way in which he led that department, even in the face of
criticism.
Mr. Speaker, our country could use more Ron Browns, for
he pushed boundaries, broke down barriers almost
instinctively, intuitively as if he simply refused to
acknowledge that they were there in the first place.
Perhaps in that sense, we can find a shred of meaning in
Ron Brown's death, because no risk, no naysayers could
ever have kept him from exploring new terrain, for
reaching new challenges, and from trying to redefine the
world in which we live.
That he managed to do all of these things in so few
years is a powerful legacy indeed. I also want to reach
out on behalf of all of us to the families not only of Ron
Brown but all of the Americans who died in this terrible
tragedy. All of them together, in their own way, were
trying to do something very important for the United
States and for the world. The business people who were out
there were out there to help rebuild an economy torn by
war and strife.
Mr. Speaker, the truth is there was no real profit to be
made by these companies. They were there on a mission of
the United States to help the people of Bosnia. Unlike
maybe many of the other trade missions that Ron Brown
asked them to be on, this one was truly a mission of help.
This was a mission of altruism in the highest sense of the
business community and the people of this country.
So to the families of all of these people, whether it
was business leaders, whether it is Ron Brown, whether it
was the Air Force people who were trying to take them
there, whether it was the staff people at Commerce, I want
to reach out and deliver in as heartfelt a way as we can
the deep sympathy and the feeling of gratitude and
appreciation that all of us have for all of these people
and their families.
There is no way that any of us can bring these lives
back, but we can at least stand here today and on behalf
of the American people give a heartfelt condolence of
sympathy and heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the
sacrifice of all of the people who died in this terrible
tragedy.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished Speaker of the House, the gentleman from
Georgia [Mr. Gingrich].
Mr. GINGRICH. Let me thank my colleague for yielding and
let me thank the minority leader for proposing this
resolution which I think every Member of the House will
support and which I think every Member of the House wishes
to reach each family touched by this tragedy.
The House, I believe, will want to extend condolences to
every member of every family to realize that there were a
number of Americans serving their country, serving the
cause of freedom, seeking to help a war-torn region who
found themselves willing to take real risks. This tragedy
is a reminder that service in our armed services and at
times service to our country is potentially dangerous and
requires of our citizens a willingness to put duty above
pleasure and to put country above self.
Mr. Speaker, Secretary Ron Brown is the first Cabinet
Secretary killed on duty in over 150 years. I think it was
an enormous shock to all of us to be reminded of the
dangers traveling around the world that can affect those
who serve even in civilian posts. I knew Ron Brown as a
competitor. We did not meet in the same planning meetings.
We were not involved in the same things when he was
chairman of the Democratic National Committee, but I got
to know him as somebody who was brilliant, who was
charming, who was energetic and, maybe more important, who
had a kind of creativity with a remarkable resilience.
Whatever angle you came at Ron from, he came back with a
new idea, a new approach, new intensity. He was a great
competitor. I think that both Lee Atwater before his death
and Haley Barbour since have found in Ron Brown a personal
friend and somebody who shared their passion for democracy
and shared their zest for partisan competition.
It is true that Ron Brown was at times very
controversial and a lot of questions were raised, a lot of
charges were made. Certainly, of all the Members of the
House, I may be the most able to identify with being at
the center of controversy at times. And I can say that
every time we would meet and we would talk, there was a
positiveness to his approach. There was an intensity and a
willingness to live out whatever happened and whatever
fights he was in, a willingness to move forward, to focus
on getting things done that was quite remarkable.
At the Commerce Department, he traveled across the
world, worked with senior executives, did, I thought,
remarkably creative things to create American jobs through
world sales. And again and again he would put together a
team, they would go to a country and he would achieve
breakthroughs for American workers and for American sales
that had not occurred before. In his last mission, as my
good friend from Missouri was pointing out, Ron Brown was
on a selfless venture to help those who needed help, to
help those who sought peace, recognizing that as Commerce
Secretary, if he could help them begin to rebuild their
economies, he might be able to begin to rebuild their
cultures, and they might be able to find a way to seek
prosperity together rather than to destroy their region in
war.
I think we in the House want Ron Brown's family and the
families of all of those who died in this accident to know
that we are deeply grateful for the commitment they made
to freedom, to the willingness they had to serve their
country, and that our offices and our doors are open, both
to Secretary Brown's family, but equally important, to the
family of every American who was on that airplane, to the
family of every person who died in service to their
country.
Again, I thank my friend for offering this resolution
which I so strongly support and which I would hope the
House will pass unanimously in just a few minutes.
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker for that
fine statement and urge all the Members to vote for this
resolution.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I first want to commend our
distinguished minority leader and the Speaker for
introducing this important resolution and for bringing it
to the floor in this expeditious manner.
I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which
pays tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the
other 33 Americans who lost their lives in the tragic
airplane crash on April 3.
In the past 2 weeks, we all have heard the tremendous
accolades paid to Secretary Brown for his numerous
contributions to this Nation. He was a great public
servant, a loving husband and father, and a man who
brought tremendous enthusiasm, vision, humor, and
intelligence to every challenge he accepted.
The country is much better off because of Ron Brown. We
have all heard the many tributes from American business
leaders who have called him the best Secretary of Commerce
in our Nation's history. These statements were made well
before his tragic death. As Secretary of Commerce, Ron
worked tirelessly and aggressively to create and protect
American jobs. Under his leadership, the Department
delivered more for less by making sensible investments in
our communities, protecting intellectual property rights,
stimulating advances in technology and telecommunications,
increasing our competitiveness and exports, and providing
essential weather forecasting, research, and environmental
services.
I know many other Members with to speak this morning, so
I will end by simply saying farewell and thank you to my
dear friend Ron Brown and by extending my deepest
condolences to his wife Alma, to his wonderful children,
and to the families and friends of the other Americans who
lost their lives in service to their country on April 3.
The loss of their collective talents will be felt for
years to come.
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all I would
like to thank, as a representative of the Congressional
Black Caucus, to thank the leader, the gentleman from
Georgia [Mr. Gingrich], to thank our Speaker, and to say
to our Speaker we thank him for bringing in the bipartisan
part of this resolution, and I thank him very much,
Speaker Gingrich, for adding this dimension to this
resolution.
Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the other Americans
who lost their lives on April 3 while in service to our
country, they were true patriots, and they deserve the
honor which patriots should receive.
The Congressional Black Caucus thanks all of this House
for representing and paying a tribute to Secretary Brown.
We also want to thank Senator Bob Dole, who cosponsored
the resolution in the Senate, and 98 of his colleagues
properly and officially honored, just as we are doing,
Secretary Brown and the other great Americans who died in
the service of their country.
We pay tribute to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and the
others. He was the 30th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He had
been a strong and forceful advocate for not only American
business, but Ron Brown stretched all out to the byways
and the ghettos of this country, and they all had a model
to follow, regardless of race, color, or creed. He was a
beacon of hope for the divergent messages that make up
this country.
Under Secretary Brown's leadership, the Commerce
Department became one of the major success stories in the
Clinton administration. He launched a national export
strategy predicated on the very basic idea that American
exports translate into jobs and opportunities for American
business and working people. In the pursuit of this
strategy, Secretary Brown conducted trade mission after
trade mission.
He was a tireless worker or soldier in the American
Army. He had the vision to see that beyond the horrors of
war, behind the horrors of war-torn Bosnia lay
opportunities, not only for American business, but for the
Bosnian people. To be of service, he wanted to be, and he
did it as well as to engage in commerce.
Ron Brown was a common man with an uncommon touch who,
while fighting against this Nation's injustices, also
believed he could be bettering this Nation and that all
people could be lifted up to reach their highest
potential. Because of Ron Brown, doors have been opened
for many Americans that were never even cracked before.
The Congressional Black Caucus is grateful for Secretary
Ron Brown's legacy, which he left to all of us. He came
from humble roots, but he did not internalize his race or
his color or his creed. He did not internalize his humble
beginnings. He made something out of each one. He did not
relate himself to the roles which society had defined for
him and others like him.
He was an unifying and driving force to indicate to all
of us what a public servant should be like. He knew what
it meant to be one. He put the needs of the American
people ahead of his own. He lived for America, and
ultimately, Mr. Speaker, he gave his life for America.
So I want to thank this House for bestowing this tribute
on Ron Brown, and on behalf of the Congressional Black
Caucus I would like to say, ``Thank you to all of you.''
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this
resolution, and most importantly I rise in support to
celebrate the life of the man that we knew as Ron Brown.
I am a new Member of this body, going on my 15th month,
and early in my tenure Ron Brown reached out to me as one
of those new freshmen Members, those Republican freshmen
Members of the Congress, because Ron Brown, above all
else, was the kind of man that built bridges, and, yes, we
know his service as a great politician, and I say that in
the most reverent and decent sense because he understood
good politics, he understood the art of compromise and
building bridges.
Ron Brown was a people person, he was a good and decent
man, and I am so very honored to stand in this well with
so many others who have come to revere and respect Ron
Brown and to have called him my friend.
Mr. Speaker, over the last 15 months we spent many
moments together, some of his more difficult personal
moments. I was honored to have spent some time over in his
office with him, and, Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown, as I said,
was a tremendous individual, and he was a tremendous
public servant. He built the Commerce Department in a way
that I think few on either side of the aisle would
dispute. It said that the work of Ron Brown has sowed the
seeds for about $44 billion in new economic opportunity
for American businesses as a result of his travels around
the globe to build partnerships with other nations.
As I said, he was a good and decent man, and we shared
something else in common: our love for a place on eastern
Long Island called Sag Harbor, and he spent many wonderful
private moments there with his dear wife, Alma, and with
his children.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown, as I say, will be sorely missed.
He was a man of good humor, good decency, and we reached
out and spoke with each other many, many times over the
last 15 months.
I disagree with some who think that, for example, we
should change the way the Commerce Department is set up. I
disagree with that, and Ron understood that, and we talked
at great length about that.
I shared his interest in the National Marine Fishery
Service, which was one of the many agencies under his
charge at the Department of Commerce, and they did
tremendous things, the National Marine Fishery Service,
something again that we had in common with my eastern Long
Island district, and, as I have acknowledge, he has built
tremendous bridges across the world on behalf of all
Americans in the area of international trade particularly,
and during my last 15 months in this body I have heard
repeatedly, long before the tragedy, of the tremendous
accomplishments of the Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown,
in the area of exporting.
So I rise today in support of the resolution. I extend
to the family of Ron Brown, to his dear wife, Alma, and
his children, Tracy and Michael, and to all of the
families of the 33 others whom we lost in the tragedy
earlier this month, I extend our condolences, our
heartfelt sympathies, and our prayers and thoughts are
with all of you.
I stood in this well several evenings ago and made note
of another individual whom we lost in this tragedy from my
district, young Gail Dobert, who served with Ron Brown in
his chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, and
with excitement and great promise went with him over to
the Department of Commerce and served so ably to help
build this international presence that Ron made possible.
So I rise in support of this resolution, and I
appreciate the House taking this time today to celebrate
the life of Ron Brown. He was a good and decent man.
Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, today we honor a dear friend
and a great leader, the late Commerce Secretary, Ron
Brown.
Every so often, fortunately, our country produces
someone who reminds us of the hope, energy, and optimism
that are the very essence of being an American. Ron Brown
was such a person. He was a vital man--vital in his love
of life, and vital in the energy that he brought to his
work.
Those of us who had the joy of working with Ron Brown
know the total dedication he brought to any job. Verve,
style, and sheer energy were his hallmarks.
But beyond that dazzling surface lay an intellect of
great depth in understanding the forces at work in the
world today. He knew that in an increasingly complex and
competitive world, Government officials must fight to gain
a fair share of foreign projects and markets for U.S.
goods. So Ron Brown pioneered commercial diplomacy. From
his first day at the Commerce Department to his last
tragic flight, Ron Brown proved himself to be the best
advocate American business ever had. Against the world's
toughest competition, he championed our country's
industries, workers, and products. He pioneered commercial
diplomacy from his first day at Commerce to his last,
tragic flight.
Ron Brown proved himself to be a strong voice for
American business and for all Americans. Against the
world's toughest competition, he championed our country.
His knowledge, his good will, and his commitment to this
country will all be missed deeply. With my colleagues, I
send my deepest sympathy to his family.
But, Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, I just want to
speak about Ron Brown as I knew him. He had something that
always had me in awe. When Ron Brown talked to you, you
thought he cared about you.
The last time I talked to Ron Brown was a week before he
went on his trip. My colleagues would have thought this
terribly busy man was waiting for my call. And my call was
a request, another request of so many requests, to take up
part of his very important time.
My sympathy to his family, my sympathy to the United
States of America, because he is gone.
Ron, your thousands of friends are going to miss you.
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise as a
conservative to pay tribute and give my sympathy to the
family of Ron Brown.
Ron Brown was a liberal. We rarely shared the same
philosophical views. But let me say to my colleagues there
was no more trusted man in politics, in my opinion, than
Ron Brown because he really believed what he said. He was
truly genuine. I think we really need to learn from Ron
Brown's spirit. Even though he was a partisan Democrat and
I am a partisan Republican, we all could meet with him,
and when that meeting was finished and when I was walking
out of the room, it felt like walking out after having met
with a friend even though we might have disagreed.
That is the kind of man that Ron Brown was. We need more
people like that in Government, we need more people like
that in this House of Representatives. We all, those of us
who show emotion from time to time, could take a lesson
from Ron Brown because he was truly a decent human being,
liked by so many people, including me.
Our condolences also go out to all of the families of
those who lost their lives in the terrible tragedy
including the families from Glens Falls, NY, my hometown,
Claudio Elia, the husband of Susan Day, who grew up next
door, and to Walter J. Murphy, who also grew up in Glens
Falls.
They and Ron Brown were just 2 of the 33 decent human
beings who were doing their part in trying to bring peace
and stability to that troubled part of the world.
May God Bless them all.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding this time to me, and I thank him for his
leadership and his tribute to Ron Brown.
Seven Americans, seven public servants, went down on
that fated plane in Bosnia. One of them was Ronald H.
Brown. He was my friend of 30 years and my constituent.
This was the city in which he was born, it is the city
where he lived out his life, it was the city where he
became known as both a public man and a public servant.
Many of us will remember him also as a family man. The
most poignant photograph of Ron is the one with his twin
grandsons.
What Ron meant to his son Michael and his daughter Tracy
is itself a model for how to be a parent in these days
when so many have lost that art. Yet, this most busy of
men was a wonderful parent to his children.
Ron will be remembered as a breaker of barriers on one
hand, and as an extraordinary innovator on the other. He
broke barriers that no man or woman before him had even
attempted. This was, I have to say, my colleagues, a black
man who simply did not know his place and refused to
accept the notion that there was one for him. So when it
came time to resurrect the Democratic Party, it was Ron
Brown who stepped forward and said not ``Not me,'' but
``It must be me.'' When he went to the Commerce Department
he said not ``How do you do this job?'' but ``I will do
this job in a way it has never been done before.'' So
after he broke the barriers, he did something much more
important. He was a pioneer in turning around each of
those institutions.
It was Ron Brown who engineered the comeback of the
Democratic Party in 1992, and it was Ron Brown who
perfected the art of diplomacy, of commercial diplomacy at
the Commerce Department. Either one of these
breakthroughs, either one of these pioneering efforts,
would have left Ron's name written in the book of American
history. He wrote new pages wherever he went. He wrote
them in part because he had it all. He was an
extraordinarily talented man, and because he understood
the expanse of his talents, he gave it all.
Ron exemplified the best of our country, the American
spirit of optimism, the refusal to recognize any limits.
May our country also make that same refusal.
Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute
today to a great America, Ron Brown, who was an
outstanding father to Tracy and Michael, a loving husband
to Alma, a fine Cabinet secretary, a trusted adviser to
President Clinton, a champion of business. He helped
increase the growth of this country's companies and, as
well, increased jobs; a goodwill Ambassador for the United
States; a positive spirit; a modern-day Will Rogers. He
never lost his cool.
The world gave him lemons and he made lemonade; a role
model for our young people; for those who want to get
involved in government, work for a good candidate, work
for a good cause, and work for your country, just like Ron
Brown did, a great American who we tribute today, and who
will be greatly missed.
Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I proudly sponsor this
resolution because Ron Brown was a friend and a rare
American. He was African-American, but he transcended race
and color. He was a party leader, and one of the best
because he resurrected our party, but there was nothing
ever small or petty or partisan about him. He had this
enormous affinity for people, and he led by bringing
people together, not by splitting us apart.
When he came before our committee to defend his
embattled Commerce Department, he was a forceful advocate
with the facts at his command, but he made his case
without a trace of rancor or resentment. He could do that
because he sat there as the single best argument for that
embattled department.
Ron Brown was a bridge-builder at a time when so many of
our differences seem unbridgeable. His goodness and his
decency and his energy and charm are assets we sorely need
in the public life of this country. We can ill afford to
lose leaders like him, before his time, still in his
prime.
But in the broadest sense, we have not lost Ron Brown,
for he remains a lasting symbol of what America at its
best can be. I extend to his family, and to the families
of all those who perished in this tragic accident, my
sympathy and our gratitude for the selfless service
rendered our country in the cause of peace in a forlorn
place.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding
time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to extend on behalf of my
district and, obviously, all the Members of the House,
condolences to the family of Ron Brown and all those who
were aboard the airplane that crashed in Bosnia.
Also, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to point out that one of my
constituents who was originally from Zanesville, OH,
Shelly McPeck Kelly, was aboard that plane. She leaves
behind a loving family in Zanesville, OH. That would be
her mother, Shirley Clark, and also her stepfather, Sam
Clark, and several siblings. She also leaves behind a
loving husband, Dennis, and two children, Sean and
Courtney.
Shelly McPeck Kelly was to retire in 2 years from the
Air Force. She achieved the rank of technical sergeant.
She was a loyal and devoted wife and a loving mother. She
served faithfully her Government aboard a U.S. Air Force
plane, and also had previously served for the President
aboard Air Force One during the Bush administration.
I recognize her service to the country, and rise on
behalf of the residents of eastern Ohio to say that we
want to commend Shelly McPeck Kelly for her service to the
United States of America during the Bosnia peacekeeping
mission, and just also say that the residents of eastern
Ohio join me in honoring the memory of Shelly McPeck Kelly
and send condolences to her family, as we also send to the
family of Ron Brown and the other devoted and loyal
Americans aboard that plane.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
distinguished gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] for
yielding this time to me, and for his forthright vision in
honoring the late Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to join my colleagues
in sponsoring this resolution in honor of Secretary Ron
Brown and the others who lost their lives on Wednesday,
April 3. The tragic plane crash and death of Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown is a personal loss, as well as a
national loss of a great public servant. In addition to
being a professional colleague, I was a close personal
friend, not only of Ron Brown, but of his entire family,
his wife Alma, his two children, Tracey and Michael, and
his brother Chip Brown.
Our prayers are with Ron Brown's family and with all of
the families who lost loved ones in this terrible
tragedy--Bill Morton, Carol Hamilton, Duane Christian,
Kathryn Hoffman, and the others. It is a reminder to all
of us to be good stewards of the time and talent that God
has given us on this Earth, and to use it to serve others
to the best of our abilities.
I was with Secretary Ron Brown just a couple of weeks
ago at a breakfast meeting. He came up to me and
congratulated me on my election to Congress. He said, ``I
am so proud of you.'' The feeling was mutual, I was also
proud of him.
I was appointed to the Democratic National Committee
[DNC] by Paul Kirk, largely at the behest of Ron Brown,
who shortly thereafter was chosen as the chairman of the
DNC. As Chair of the DNC, he is credited with running a
coordinated campaign, which not only elected Democrats to
the Senate and House, but helped to elect Bill Clinton
President of the United States. Shortly, thereafter, he
was appointed Secretary of Commerce, where he did a
splendid job for the President and for the country.
Ron Brown was the convention manager for my father's
Presidential campaign in 1988, where he used his bridge-
building skills to close the gap between progressives and
the more conservative members of our party. In many ways,
even more than business development, that is Ron Brown's
legacy. He was a gifted bridge builder--bridging the gaps
of human misunderstanding and fear; and building human
trust and understanding.
Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I got to know Ron Brown because I
serve on the International Relations Committee, and
because I also serve as Chairman of the Congressional
Travel and Tourism Caucus. Ron Brown had a great sense of
humor. He was also a fellow that helped Republicans. I
hold an exports conference every year, and over 1,000
people come to that conference each year. Ron Brown was
one of the keynote speakers at the conference 2 years ago.
As I said, he had a great sense of humor. When I spoke
with him at the White House Conference on Travel and
Tourism, he said to me, ``You know, you are my favorite
Republican.'' I was really proud of that until someone
told me, Ron tells all the Republicans they are his
`Favorite Republican'.'' We have a travel and tourism bill
developed from the recommendations of the White House
conference. The success of that bill is a testimonial to
Ron Brown, because we have 225 cosponsors of that
legislation.
Ron and I also worked together on another bill, the
Export Administration Act. For 17 years, Congress was
unable to put together an export administration act. Then,
I want to Ron Brown and said, ``I have to talk to the
President about this.'' Thanks to Ron Brown, I did have a
chance to talk to President Clinton three times on the
legislation. That bill has been reported out of our full
committee, and it is waiting for a full House vote in May.
Ron Brown was a great Democrat, and he worked hard for
the party. I think the loss of Ron Brown to Clinton is
comparable to the loss of Lee Atwater to President Bush.
That is my opinion. That is how much I thought of Ron
Brown.
Yes, he was the loyal opposition, but he knew when to
put aside partisan politics. He went out of his way to
help make my Exports Conference a success, and I happen to
be a Republican. His help with the Export Administration
Act was invaluable. That bill will increase our exports by
$30 billion.
Mr. Speaker, I just want the people of this body to know
that when Ron Brown went overseas, he worked hard. When he
went down with a number of CEO's to Brazil, Chile, and
Argentina, he worked as many as 35 hours in a row briefing
people, talking to people, and trying to create jobs. Ron
Brown did a lot for the economy of this country, and we
are going to miss him. I thank the gentleman for yielding
me the time.
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] for handling this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, last night we held a special orders session
to honor our friend and a great American hero, Ron Brown.
I rise now to join my colleagues in supporting this
resolution paying tribute to this remarkable public
servant.
As Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown was known around the
world as a tireless crusader for fair and free trade. A
skilled negotiator, he kept America's interests in the
forefront while winning the respect of our foreign
competitors. Although Ron Brown's life was cut short, it
was filled with extraordinary achievements: U.S. Army
captain, vice president of the National Urban League,
chief counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee, partner in the
law firm Patton, Boggs & Blow; chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, and his crowning achievement,
Secretary of Commerce.
His dynamic energy was the force that propelled the
Commerce Department forward. He and his energetic young
staff brought billions of dollars of business home to the
United States, transforming a lackluster Federal agency
into a whirlwind of productive activity. We take a moment
now to say thank you, Secretary Brown, for being both a
dreamer and a doer. Your candle has not been extinguished;
its light continues to burn.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his loving family--his
wife, Alma and children Michael and Tracey and to the
families of all of those dedicated Americans who died on
that fateful mission.
We will miss Ron. He was a true American. He was an
American who said that we can do it. He opened the eyes of
this world to what can be done with dedication. Thank you
very much for your service.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay my solemn and deep
respects for Mr. Brown, who was an outstanding chairman of
a major political party, the Democrat Party, and an
outstanding Secretary of Commerce. He was someone who was
extraordinarily energetic. I never met with him when he
was not upbeat and excited and very dynamic. I wish to
express my condolences to his wife, Alma, and to his two
magnificent children, Michael and Tracy.
This resolution also honors the others who died in this
tragic plane crash in the former Yugoslavia, and I want to
pay particular respect to Robert Donovan, who was the
president and chairman of ABB, and, a resident of
Fairfield, CT. I also want to pay respect to his
magnificent wife Peg, and his two children, Kara and
Kevin. I learned a lot from meeting with them after the
death of their husband and father about the resilience of
a great American family and how proud he could be of his
family. I want to pay respect for his service to West
Point and to his country. He was a true great American
patriot.
At this time I also want to pay my respect to Claudio
Elia, who was president and chairman of Air and Water
Technology. He was a recent citizen of the United States,
and I am told by his wife Susan and his children Mark and
Christine that their father would have taken extraordinary
joy, pleasure, and admiration--they would have been so
proud to have heard the President of the United States
call him and the others who went on this dangerous mission
great American patriots. I was in awe of this family, the
Elia family, in terms of my conversation and dialog with
them, on how they dealt with the death of their husband
and father.
My respects to Mr. Brown and to these two great
families.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my friend from
Michigan for managing this bill for my dear friend Ron
Brown.
One of the questions that I have found most difficult to
answer was what made Ron Brown so different. I have to
admit that I do not really have the answer, but one of the
things that I think that made him different was the depth
of which he loved this country and the fact that the
country gave him an opportunity to show just how good he
was.
When you think about that, you have to take a look at
the history of our country, where we were and where we are
going, and was Ron Brown not the right guy at the right
time.
Everything that we have been taught in this country in
our history deals with our relationship with England and
with Europe. But now that they have their Common Market,
we have to find other places to sell our goods: Central
America, South America, Africa, China, all of these
markets. And we have to do it in a way that we are not so
hung up with our European connection as much as we are
with our human being connection, and that was what Ron
Brown was all about.
Ron Brown saw despair. He saw the need for economic
development. He knew what a job would do for a person in
terms of family values and dignity and planning a family
and having a place to live. When he went to these
countries, he did not just see a place to sell airplanes.
He saw the pain and the misery and the opportunity to help
build their economy, build friendships and, of course,
while doing that, to create the jobs and the dignity and
the disposable income that would be necessary for trade.
That is why when I have had the opportunity and the
honor to travel with him, that he never just stayed with
the big shots. He always went out there with the
beneficiaries, the poor, those that sometimes seemed to be
without hope. Even in South Africa, where he went to
Soweto and spent more time than I would normally spend to
see the people in Soweto, to sing their national anthem in
his honor and his presence, meant that he did more than
just sell goods to these people. He was selling the United
States of America.
I hope those that have targeted the Commerce Department
would realize that Ron Brown electrified everybody in
Commerce. They love their country and they love what they
are going. Whenever Ron Brown went overseas, our embassies
turned overnight into being satellites of the Commerce
Department, and our business people, instead of seeing
staid diplomats and Ambassadors, they saw those people
that were there making deals for them.
I hope as this Congress moves forward and we have to go
to the North American free trade countries and we have to
go to China and Japan, that we really give other Americans
the opportunities and change the complexion literally of
the State Department, as Commerce has changed, and give
America a better chance to show how good we really are.
Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I would like to
read a letter that I sent to Alma Brown, Michael, and
Tracy and the other members of the Brown family:
It is with great sorrow that I write this letter of
condolence to all the members of your extended family.
Losing a family member is always difficult, particularly
when it is someone who has been so vibrant and been so
wonderful to this country, as well as one who would have
such a great future that was taken away from him so
abruptly.
Secretary Brown dedicated his life to his country and,
ultimately, died in service of it. There is no greater
love that one can have for one's country than to die for
it.
Even though he died at a relatively young age, Secretary
Brown's accomplishments were far greater than most people
ever achieve at any age.
I realize the feelings of grief that you must feel at
this tragic time. However, the love of your family and the
warmth and sincerity of neighbors, friends and the many
people of our great country who are mourning the loss of
Secretary Brown, will help sustain you in the days to
come.
I know that Secretary Brown's memory will be cherished
by the many people whose lives he touched and affected.
My prayers are also being sent, Mr. Speaker, to the
other passengers who died in the crash, including the two
families from my State of Connecticut.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, on April 3 of this year, 33
bright and shining stars of America lost their lives on a
mission for their Government. Whether they came from the
private sector, the armed services, or public service as
Ron Brown and his colleagues from Commerce, they were all
serving America and serving as a shining example to us,
all of the best that is within us.
I, and a number of my colleagues, went to Dover Air
Force Base to welcome back the 33 caskets containing those
bodies. Their souls, of course, had gone to God. But as we
paid tribute to them as human beings and expressed our
sorrow along with their families at their leaving, we
listened to the President's eulogy which was appropriate
and, I thought, compelling. He said that these 33 lives
show us the best of America, and indeed they did. And as
this resolution does, the President named each and every
one of those 33.
Ron Brown was, as he was to so many, my friend. I
particularly remember an incident where we were going to
Los Angeles to speak, and he had arrived at Dulles on an
airplane, and I had gone there from here, and he had a
very short connection. We got on the plane and we were
flying to Los Angeles, and he had to speak that night at 5
o'clock and, lo and behold, his bags had not followed him
and he was in casual clothes.
Now, Ron Brown was not one to speak in casual clothes,
as we will recall. Luckily, I had two suits in my bag, so
we went in the men's room at the Denver Airport, and there
we were, a black man and white man exchanging suits and
dressing to speak that night. I am sure a lot of people
said, ``What's going on here?'' Ron Brown spoke that
night, and he said, ``I'm Ron Brown, but this is Steny
Hoyer's suit.'' He was so elegant, I am sure that he
thought my suit was not quite up to his standards.
Ron Brown contributed greatly to this country in so many
different ways. Yes, he was as shining an example of what
a Secretary of Commerce ought to be as any in history, but
he was much more than that. He was, as so many of my
colleagues have indicated, a representation of what
America is all about and what its best instincts produce.
Ron Brown was indeed a happy warrior. He was the
embodiment of the joy of politics. Ron Brown, for all the
young people of America, ought to be an example that there
are no barriers too high, no mountains too hard to climb
that should preclude you from accomplishing all that your
character and your energy and your commitment will allow
you to accomplish.
The President of the United States, as he closed the
eulogy in Dover on April 6, said this:
Today we bring their bodies back home to America, but
their souls are surely at home with God. We welcome them
home. We miss them. We ask God to be with them and their
families.
The President said that we ought to pray that God bless
America. And God did bless America. He did so through the
lives of these 33 shining examples of the best of America.
Mr. Speaker, I include the remarks of the President on
April 6 at this point in the Record.
Remarks by the President and Brigadier General William J.
Dedinger, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, at Ceremony Honoring
the Americans Who Accompanied Secretary of Commerce Ron
Brown
brigadier general dedinger
Let us pray. Almighty God, source of all comfort and
consolation, we ask your blessing as we receive the
victims of this tragic accident. Though we walk through
the valley of death and grief, we fear no evil, for you
are with us with your comfort and consolation. You always
prepare a table of refreshment for us, and surely your
goodness and mercy will uphold us in our grief and sorrow
in these days.
Help us always to remember these public servants, ever
mindful of their willingness to share their talents and
wisdom, not only with their own nation, but also with
people seeking to recover from the ravages of war. May
their example renew our personal vision of public service.
Lord, give us this day a new hope, as we feel despair; new
light, as we sense darkness; deeper compassion, as we
experience loss. May this hope, this light, this
compassion heal the brokenness of our hearts and minds.
This we ask in you holy name. Amen.
the president
My fellow Americans, today we come to a place that has
seen too many sad, silent homecomings. For this is where
we in America bring home our own--those who have given
their lives in the service of their country.
The 33 fine Americans we meet today, on their last
journey home, ended their lives on a hard mountain a long
way from home. But in a way they never left America. On
their mission of peace and hope, they carried with them
America's spirit, what our greatest martyr. Abraham
Lincoln, called ``the last, best hope of earth.'' Our
loved ones and friends loved their country and they loved
serving their country. They believed that America, through
their efforts, could help to restore a broken land, help
to heal a people of their hatreds, help to bring a better
tomorrow through honest work and shared enterprise. They
know what their country had given them and they gave it
back with a force, an energy, an optimism that every one
of us can be proud of.
They were outstanding business leaders who gave their
employees and their customers their very best. They were
brave members of our military, dedicated to preserving our
freedom and advancing America's cause.
There was a brilliant correspondent, committed to
helping Americans better understand this complicated new
world we live in. And there were public servants, some of
them still in the fresh springtime of their years, who
gave nothing less than everything they had, because they
believed in the nobility of public service.
And there was a noble Secretary of Commerce who never
saw a mountain he couldn't climb or a river he couldn't
build a bridge across.
All of them were so full of possibility. Even as we
grieve for what their lives might have been, let us
celebrate what their lives were, for their public
achievements and their private victories of love and
kindness and devotion are things that no one--no one--
could do anything but treasure.
These 33 lives show us the best of America. They are a
stern rebuke to the cynicism that is all too familiar
today. For as family after family after family told the
Vice President and Hillary and me today, their loved ones
were proud of what they were doing, they believed in what
they were doing, they believed in this country, they
believed we could make a difference. How silly they make
cynicism seem. And, more important, they were a glowing
testimonial to the power of individuals who improved their
own lives and elevate the lives of others and make a
better future for others. These 33 people loved America
enough to use what is best about it in their own lives, to
try to help solve a problem a long, long way from home.
At the first of this interminable week, Ron Brown came
to the White House to visit with me and the Vice President
and a few others. And at the end of the visit he was
bubbling with enthusiasm about this mission. And he went
through all the people from the Commerce Department who
were going. And then he went through every single business
leader that was going. And he said, you know, I've taken
so many of these missions to advance America's economic
interest and to generate jobs for Americans; these
business people are going on this mission because they
want to use the power of the American economy to save the
peace in the Balkans.
That is a noble thing. Nearly 5,000 miles from home,
they went to help people build their own homes and roads,
to turn on the lights in cities darkened by war, to
restore the everyday interchange of people working and
living together with something to Look forward to and a
dream to raise their own children by. You know, we can say
a lot of things, because these people were many things to
those who loved them. But I say to all of you, to every
American, they were all patriots, whether soldiers or
civil servants or committed citizens, they were patriots.
In their memory and in their honor, let us rededicate
our lives to our country and to our fellow citizens; in
their memory and in their honor, let us resolve to
continue their mission of peace and healing and progress.
We must not let their mission fail. And we will not let
their mission fail.
The sun is going down on this day. The next time it
rises it will be Easter morning, a day that marks the
passage from loss and despair to hope and redemption, a
day that more than any other reminds us that life is more
than what we know, life is more than what we can
understand, life is more than, sometimes, even we can
bear. But life is also eternal. For each of these 33 of
our fellow Americans and the two fine Croatians that fell
with them, their day on Earth was too short, but for our
country men and women we must remember that what they did
while the sun was out will last with us forever.
If I may now, I would like to read the names of all of
them, in honor of their lives, their service and their
families: Staff Sergeant Gerald Aldrich, Ronald Brown,
Duane Christian, Barry Conrad, Paul Cushman III, Adam
Darling, Captain Ashley James Davis, Gail Dobert, Robert
Donovan, Claudio Elia, Staff Sergeant Robert Farrington,
Jr., David Ford, Carol Hamilton, Kathryn Hoffman, Lee
Jackson, Stephen Kaminski, Kathryn Kellogg, Technical
Sergeant Shelly Kelly, James Lewek, Frank Maier, Charles
Meissner, William Morton, Walter Murphy, Lawrence Payne,
Nathaniel Nash, Leonard Pieroni, Captain Timothy Schafer,
John Scoville, I. Donald Terner, P. Stuart Tholan,
Technical Sergeant Cheryl Ann Turnage, Naomi Warbasse,
Robert Al Whittaker.
Today we bring their bodies back home to America, but
their souls are surely at home with God. We welcome them
home. We miss them. We ask God to be with them and their
families.
God bless you all, and God bless our beloved nation.
Amen.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I did not have the honor of
personally knowing Ron Brown, but I knew him by reputation
and by watching him work with flair and gusto in a very
important job. He was a great role model for everybody. He
was indeed a marvel.
One searches tragedies for some meaning or for some
glimmer of good. Out of Ron Brown's tragic end and out of
the deaths of his passengers, it seems to me we can take
comfort in the fact that he died as a public servant and
elevated the category of public service through his
sacrifice and through his example. And those of us who are
very concerned about the low estate and esteem that public
service has in people's minds, it seems to me can take
some consolation.
God bless Ron Brown and his family and all of those on
the plane.
Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to support the
resolution that is before the House today in tribute to
Secretary Ron Brown and other Americans who met their
untimely death.
Ron Brown, and I really associate myself first with all
of the remarks that have been made so far on this
resolution before the House, and we all were saddened with
the death of Ron Brown and others, for this Nation to know
that Ron Brown was a good public servant, that Ron Brown
not only served his Nation well, but I was a neighbor of
Ron Brown's. That is true for Alma and Tracy, along with
Mike and the two grandchildren.
Being a neighbor, I guess for the past 15 years here in
the D.C. area, to know Ron Brown and his family, and to
see and to watch how he was able to develop such a great
family and a good support system for that family, and he
was a good neighbor. Ron kept the neighborhood upbeat. He
was one who was always available and had time for young
people.
I can say that, because I have three sons myself, and my
three sons have been somewhat raised in the presence of
Ron Brown, and to know of his leadership and to know of
his character and to know of his smartness. He was
extremely bright while he was there at the law firm here
in the District.
He went on to become the chairman of the Democratic
National Committee. Then I was on the plane with him going
to my hometown in Memphis back in 1992, the end of 1992,
when he was called by the President-elect Clinton to be
offered a Cabinet slot in the administration. We had that
2-hour flight. He left Memphis and went to the Little Rock
area.
But to hear him and listen to him, and to know he was
about serving this Nation, and to see Ron Brown as a
corporate giant, leading corporate American into other
ventures throughout the world, and to create jobs and to
bring huge dollar amounts into this country, as a neighbor
and as a friend and as a Member of this body, I would say
that he made a great contribution to mankind, he made a
great contribution to America, and Ron Brown will be
missed.We are certainly praying for the family and other
family members of the other deceased persons.
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
giving me the opportunity to speak.
I was over at my office and I heard this, and I wanted
to be here. Twelve years ago, fresh out of law school, I
worked with Ron Brown as an international trade lawyer. At
the time I was doing volunteer work for then Vice
President Bush. So clearly we were on opposite sides of
the political aisle. Yet Ron reached out to me and
befriended me, and for the past 12 years that friendship
continued.
Most recently at home on a Sunday he called me to talk
about preserving the international trade functions at the
Department of Commerce, a function that he exercised as
well as any Secretary of Commerce in history, I think
better than any Secretary of Commerce in history.
As Ron was so good at doing, he reached out to me again
and found common ground, in this case our mutual back
problems we were experiencing. Unfortunately, my back
surgery kept me away from his funeral last week.
Toby Roth said he called him his favorite Republican,
and apparently he called some other Republicans that. He
never called me that, but he did call me his friend, and I
cherish that, and will cherish that forever.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
this resolution, and I would like to thank the Democratic
leader and the Speaker for bringing this measure to the
floor today.
First, I wish to extend my condolences to the Brown
family and to the families of all those who went down on
that fateful flight. Their loss is our loss, and America
mourns the passing of some of our best and brightest.
Mr. Speaker, I personally admired Ron Brown as a role
model and as a public servant. Moreover, his work touched
the lives of my constituents who benefited from his vision
of improving the lives of working families through
investments and exports.
Ron Brown exemplified everything we as Democrats believe
in and stand for. His belief in the human spirit and the
American dream permeated every aspect of his life. His
unwavering compassion and concern for the less fortunate
was the moral compass by which he guided his work. As
Democrats, we have lost one of our party's finest.
Mr. Speaker, it is not often that I get to meet the
likes of a Ron Brown. Moreover, I am proud to have known
him and appreciate what he has done for my constituents,
for my party, and for my country.
A young woman from Atlanta was also on that plane,
Kathryn Hoffman. My condolences are extended to her family
and to her friends.
I was recently asked by a journalist about the loss of
Ron Brown, a black leader. I corrected that journalist.
Ron Brown was an American leader.
Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, all of those of
us who were friends of Ron Brown certainly have their own
personal stories, and I have mine, but I will not take the
time to dwell in personal stories.
I simply wanted to be one of the Members who rose in
support of this resolution and to express my condolences
to the Brown family and the families of all the other
brave Americans who lost their lives in this tragic
accident.
Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, history will remember Ron Brown
as one of the most dynamic, creative and brilliant leaders
to ever serve in a Presidential Cabinet.
These characteristics stand out strong and clear in the
many articles reviewing his career that were published
after the plane crash that took his life and the lives of
the staff Members and business leaders accompanying him on
that fatal trip to the former Yugoslavia.
One national magazine, Jet, featured a number of
photographs of Ron Brown at work. They showed Ron Brown in
China, in Japan, in South Africa, in Egypt, in Saudi
Arabia, in Israel, in Gaza, in Russia, in Germany, in
Chile, in Indonesia, and in Bosnia, just hours before the
crash on the mountain top.
He seemed to be everywhere during those few busy years
he served as Secretary of Commerce, the first African-
American to hold that office, even coming to the Second
District of Georgia to deliver the commencement address at
Albany State College.
In a span of less than 3 years, he made 15 trade
missions to more than 25 countries. These trips produced a
record 80 billion dollars' worth of new business contracts
for U.S. made goods and services. His work in foreign
trade led to a 26-percent increase in U.S. exports. But he
also worked to enhance minority business enterprise in
America and abroad.
Vice President Gore called him the greatest Commerce
Secretary in history. But it was not just political allies
who recognized his extraordinary ability. Senator Dole
described him as a tireless advocate for American business
and a gifted leader.
Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Harlem, Ron Brown
was gifted at everything he did, as a student at
Middlebury College and St. John's University, as an Army
officer in Germany and Korea, as an official and social
worker with the National Urban League, as a senatorial
aide and chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee,
as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as an
attorney in a leading law firm, and as Secretary of
Commerce, and as a friend.
Many of the articles about Ron Brown's career referred
to him as a trailblazer. This was certainly true, and the
trails he blazed brought jobs and a more secure economy
for all Americans. He will be sorely missed.
Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the
resolution and thank the gentleman for bringing it forth.
We have lost a dear friend.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, the outpouring of feeling after
Ron Brown's death was unique. It was a tribute to Ron, to
his capacity for friendship, to his verve, his zest for
life, his intelligence, his caring. It was also a tribute
to Ron Brown's America.
Ron Brown's life showed that there are almost no limits
to opportunity in America. You have to work for it. But we
often talk about the limitlessness of opportunity, It is
not always quite true. Ron tried so hard to make it true.
Like so many other dear friends of Ron Brown, I have
mourned his death. I miss of him every day.
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown, who was a good
friend of many years, and I appeared on a program about 3
weeks into his position as Secretary of Commerce, and I
was somewhat nervous for my friend, because the breadth
and depth of areas covered by the Commerce Department are
so vast. Within 3 weeks he had mastered the area of high-
technology licensing and exports to a degree which most
secretaries had not at the completion of their term, his
interest length was such and his intensity and commitment
to the areas he was in charge of. He knew his job, he
executed it with dignity and grace and with an energy that
ought to inspire everyone in both the public and private
sector.
He fought for the economic strength of this country from
every working man and woman's point of view. He wanted to
make sure there were jobs so that each American would have
the kind of opportunity he had made for himself.
He was a friend, he was incredibly capable. I cannot
imagine that there is anyone who will serve in that
capacity who will have the energy and intellect that Ron
Brown had.
Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank
the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a very personal friend of
mine. I had an opportunity to meet him on a Presidential
campaign in 1988, where he and I shared many platforms
together. There is not another American that I have ever
met in my lifetime who has worked as hard, who has had
such a strong commitment to country, than Ron Brown.
Mr. Speaker, I stand before the House today to say that
Ron Brown was indeed a scholar, a leader, and a role
model, for people all across this country.
The last time Ron Brown and I had an opportunity to sit
down and talk was actually in the Fourth Congressional
District. I called him at the Department of Commerce and
said, Mr. Secretary, I want you to come to Louisiana and
talk about economic development. And right off the cuff he
just said, I will be there. And in about 30 minutes, he
called back and said, I will be there in about 3 weeks.
So I want to thank the Ron Brown family. I also want to
give a special tribute to a family from Louisiana. The
pilot of that plane was from my home State of Louisiana,
Ashley Davis. To his wife and to his two little children,
we want to say that we offer our condolences to them and
to all of the families of those who lost their lives in
this tragic accident. To them we say God bless you, and we
will pray for you.
Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is possible for everyone
to fully comprehend what a loss the Nation will suffer
without the late Commerce Secretary Ron H. Brown. Not only
was he a champion for the domestic and international
development of American business, but also, and more
importantly, his extraordinary character was an invaluable
asset to the U.S. Government. Every project he touched was
approached with a tireless devotion and a profound
understanding of the initiative's impact on the Nation's
economy. He led by example, urging others to work as
partners instead of competitors to maximize opportunities.
Truly, this man was in the business of building bridges
and reinforcing existing relationships to ensure
opportunities for advancement of large and small business
interests alike. Under his leadership, all facets of the
Commerce Department flourished and enjoyed the benefits of
innovative policies. He was instrumental in developing a
comprehensive and coordinated plan for bringing together
the many elements of the U.S. Travel and Tourism
Administration; he sought to improve patent and trademark
protection of U.S. interests in intellectual property; he
worked diligently for telecommunications reform to create
a competitive marketplace and to illuminate how technology
can alleviate geographic barriers and enhance education;
he instituted a long-term plan to assist the New England
fishing industry--the list goes on and on.
A man of firsts, Ron Brown was the first African-
American chairman of the Democratic National Committee and
the first African-American to hold the office of U.S.
Secretary of Commerce. He worked tirelessly to promote the
Commerce Department's mission of long-term economic
growth--to him we owe a debt of gratitude for our Nation's
prosperity. At a time when diversity seems to be a
dividing force in this country, Ron Brown demonstrated
that diversity is our Nation's greatest asset. It is in
this spirit that I offer these words of tribute.
During this time of remembrance, I would like to pay
tribute to an Air Force pilot who lost his life serving
our country, Capt. Ashley J. Davis. Captain Davis was from
my hometown, Baton Rouge, LA. A victim of the tragic plane
crash which ended the lives of 33 Americans who were
serving their country, Captain Davis' mission was to pilot
the dignitaries who visited Europe. He was chosen for the
job just 18 months ago, over 38 other pilots. I offer my
condolences to Captain Davis' family. He is survived by
his wife Debra, and two children. A man of great spirit
and patriotism, I know his family and friends will miss
him. The Air Force has also suffered a great loss in his
untimely death during his dedicated service to our
country. Today, I extend my prayers to this family as well
as the families of all the persons who lost their lives in
Croatia.
Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
commemorate former Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown.
Throughout the past several days I have heard the
accomplishments of Ron Brown extolled by my colleagues.
Americans everywhere, and especially those who were close
to Ron are deeply affected by this tragedy. Ron was much
more than a great chairman of the Democratic Party and
Secretary of Commerce, he was a true pioneer and an
inspirational human being.
I feel extremely fortunate to have known Ron as a
personal friend. Ron began to serve as chair of the
Democratic Party around the time I became chair of the
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Ron exhibited
unwavering optimism in the face of adversity and inspired
others to do the same. Through his tireless efforts, Ron
Brown restored the Democratic Party to greatness and
brought a Democrat back to the White House.
Ron was the type of person who consistently exceeded
people's expectations. As Commerce Secretary, Ron single-
handedly defined his role. He succeeded in promoting
American business and boosting exports to new heights.
Ron Brown was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He
spent his life overcoming obstacles and opening up new
doors for others to follow. His death occurred while he
was cultivating the seeds of economic growth and creating
greater opportunities for a country ravaged by war.
Ron Brown will be long remembered for the tremendous
service he provided to his country. However, I will miss
him as a close friend.
Adam Darling, a 29-year-old Commerce Department employee
was also among those who perished in the crash. Darling
had worked at the Department since 1993 and had helped
plan the trip to the region. A former Davis, CA resident
and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Darling
had a promising future ahead of him. My deepest sympathy
goes out to Adam's family.
Tim Schaefer, a Sacramento native, was among the six Air
Force crew members who perished in the accident. Schaefer,
the plane's copilot, had earned a degree in mechanical
engineering from California State University, Sacramento.
Also among the crew was Capt. Ashley J. Davis. Both men
had been stationed at Beale AFB. I salute these members of
the armed services who paid the ultimate price to serve
their country.
Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ron
Brown, the United States Secretary of Commerce who was
killed in a tragic accident on April 3, 1996. He and 35
other victims died when their plane went down on a stormy
evening in Croatia. He was serving as a diplomat in the
war-torn area, analyzing the economy and what actions
needed to be taken in the former Yugoslavia in order to
spur economic growth to secure the peace.
Ron Brown was indeed an asset to the United States. He
was one of the ambitious, special people who is capable of
performing multiple roles in their lives while at the same
time succeeding in all arenas and remaining true to their
ideology.
Ron Brown was a vocal and successful civil rights
advocate, political strategist, corporate lawyer, and
propagator of American business interests.
He tirelessly campaigned to make the interests of
American businesses a foreign policy goal. He certainly
deserves credit and thanks for market expansion.
It is because of his success in multiple arenas and in
the international community that the United States and the
world mourn together. Today we should all take a moment to
remember the career and the man we lost.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, on April 3, 1996 the United
States lost a leader. Secretary of Commerce Ronald H.
Brown inspired us all with his ability to bring together
people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures
to find and achieve a goal for the common good.
He inspired us by his commitment to finding
opportunities for U.S. businesses overseas, recognizing
that our country's trade deficit is harmful to our
domestic economy and the jobs Americans want and need.
Because of his leadership, many California technology
firms have increased their sales to foreign countries,
which has increased employment and a rebounding California
economy. According to the Joint Venture's Index of Silicon
Valley, 46,000 jobs have been added to our region since
1992. The semiconductor industry, which has endured years
of job loss due to a trade deficit with Japan, showed a
gain of 4,300 jobs between 1994 and 1995. Business
confidence of Santa Clara County companies reached an all-
time high of 73 percent in 1995.
Secretary Brown advocated effectively for economic and
employment improvements in Silicon Valley, and this is
just part of his legacy. Members of Congress, the
administration, business leaders, and citizens must work
to preserve this legacy of proactive work on behalf of the
people of our country.
America will miss his leadership. I will miss his
friendship of almost two decades. Secretary Brown gave his
life while serving his country. God rest his good soul.
Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay
tribute to Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and the 32
other Americans who lost their lives when their plane
crash near Dubrovnik, Croatia, on April 3, 1996.
Throughout his tenure as Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown
successfully worked on behalf of American companies and
their workers in opening doors to the global market. For
many companies in my home State of Washington, Secretary
Brown was instrumental in promoting our products and
cultivating new and/or improved business relationships
with our international neighbors.
The most important role of any Commerce Secretary is the
promotion of American companies and the workers they
employ. Ron Brown will forever be remembered as being a
success at this task.
The people who died aboard that plane gave the ultimate
sacrifice in the name of democracy and a global free
market. Prosperity and economic hope are essential in
bringing long-term peace and security to that region of
the world. Ron Brown and the other individuals on that
plane knew this and recognized their role in spreading our
Nation's democratic and free-market beliefs around the
globe.
My heart goes out to each and every family member of
those who died in that tragic crash. In this time of great
sadness, these families should know that as Americans
their loved ones will be missed, as patriots they will
never be forgotten.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, ``Fanfare to the Common
Man'' was played triumphantly at the funeral of the late
Commerce Secretary, Ronald H. Brown. His family could have
played some horn tooting type music, in view of the facts
that Mr. Brown was truly a successful, high stakes
Washington player and an overachiever in many respects.
However, they know Ron would not have wanted it any other
way.
Ron Brown did not see himself as a Democratic power
broker or jet setter or trailblazer like we did. He saw
himself as a middle-class kid who grew up in Harlem that
loved the basic things in life: family, friends, work, and
country. He was passionate about each. He was also
passionately devoted to ensuring that everyone got an
opportunity, a chance to do better. He believed in
opportunity so much that he insisted that his Commerce
Department staff memorize a one-sentence mission
statement. It reads: ``The mission of the Department of
Commerce is to ensure economic opportunity for every
American.'' We should all agree that this is still a noble
cause.
Mr. Brown set several honorable examples for people from
different walks in life. He encouraged young people to
strive and reach for the gold. And indeed, he practiced
what he preached, he had several raising stars on that
ill-fated plane with him. He encouraged CEO's and business
leaders to lend their expertise for the improvement of
cities in our country and in foreign lands. On that plane
were business leaders from across the country. Ron Brown
always did what he could to provide an opportunity for
everyone, everywhere.
We each will remember Ronald Brown, in our own way, but
collectively we will remember him as a great, inspiring
American.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ron
Brown and to express my deep sorrow and sincerest
condolences to his wonderful family. Ron Brown was my
friend, and he was a great American.
As Secretary of the Commerce Department, Ron Brown
played an instrument role in implementing the
administration's economic plan that has created 8.4
million jobs nationwide since taking office. He was a
major force behind job creation efforts and the chief
architect of high-technology initiatives to provide
greater employment opportunities for working Americans.
Previously, Ron Brown served as chairman of the
Democratic National Committee. He was the first African-
American in history to head a major national political
party. At the DNC, Ron Brown rebuilt the party and laid
the groundwork for the Democrats to win back the White
House after losing three straight national elections.
Last summer, Ron Brown traveled to my congressional
district to attend the closing ceremony of the Special
Olympics in New Haven. We spent the glorious Connecticut
morning touring events and had a great time with those
wonderful Special Olympians who shared Ron's never-give-up
spirit.
Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown lived the American dream and
served as an inspirational role model for America's youth.
Our country has lost a great leader.
I also want to convey my condolences to the friends and
families of Robert Donovan, the chief executive officer of
ABB, Inc., headquartered in Norwalk, CT, and Claudio Elia,
the chairman and chief executive officer of Air and Water
Technologies Corp. in Branchburg, NJ, who lived in
Greenwich, CT. In addition, the Nation lost many fine,
dedicated people in this tragedy who gave their lives in
an attempt to heal a nation and a world ravaged by war.
Connecticut and the Nation mourn the loss.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my
colleagues in tribute to a truly remarkable man, the late
Honorable Ron Brown. Ron Brown was a prominent black
American who dedicated his life to building a better world
for all people. Blessed with many talents and
opportunities, Ron used them wisely and he shared his
gifts generously.
Ron Brown was a compassionate man who thrived on
challenge. He blazed new trails and often was the first
black American in his field. Ron was the first black
member of his college fraternity, the first black counsel
for the Senate Judiciary Committee, the first black
chairman of the Democratic Party, and the first black
Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
Ron had a charming manner and a graceful style. He
showed a deftness for overcoming the odds and doing some
impossible things. When many experts and political pundits
said it could not be done, Ron rejuvenated the Democratic
Party and spearheaded the campaign that elected Bill
Clinton President, and when Ron did these things he made
it look easy.
Ron Brown had the courage of convictions that inspired
others to join in his crusades. He shared his vision and
his faith in a brighter future. He was a force for
unification of diverse groups and the resolution of
conflict among them. His last mission was dedicated to
rebuilding a war torn land and I am sure he would have
made a great contribution to the rebuilding of Bosnia if
only he had lived a little longer.
Ron lived his life sowing the seeds of peace and hope.
He left this world way too soon, but he left it better
than he found it. We will long feel the force of Ron
Brown's smiling spirit and long celebrate the legacy of
good will he left behind.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory
of a very special man, Ronald H. Brown. Most Americans
will remember him as the Secretary of Commerce. However,
he was much more. He was the personification of the
concept of a bridgebuilder.
In his role as the Secretary of Commerce, Ron constantly
promoted American trade. His zeal was premised upon the
notion that if the commerce of the United States thrived
it would directly translate to increased economic vitality
for our Nation. Ron, who never forgot where he came from,
knew that his efforts would result in jobs for the common
man.
As chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ron
Brown set the stage for a resurgence of the Democratic
Party. This is a resounding testament to his ability, for
it was under his leadership that the Democratic Party was
able to elect Bill Clinton as President. Ron accomplished
this task on the heels of three consecutive Presidential
defeats of Democratic candidates.
His memory deserves more than the mere recognition of
his official position. For his title was but a small
reflection of what he was. Drive, tenacity, compassion,
and loyalty were his trademarks. Most of us hope to attain
all of these attributes. Few of us attain them with the
proper balance. And even fewer attain these attributes and
are able to parlay them into avenues for even greater
achievement. Ronald H. Brown was one of these rare
individuals.
Whitney Young once said, ``We can't * * * sit and wait
for somebody else. We must go ahead--alone if necessary.''
Ron Brown was a trailblazer and a visionary. He never
waited for opportunities, he created them. Because of
this, all American people have benefited.
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, Ron Brown was a renaissance
politician, a jack of all trades who mastered them all. He
was a mentor for seasoned professional politicians and he
was qualified to tutor most of us. Ron used his
considerable influence and charm to become an
extraordinary fundraiser for the Democratic Party. From
the complex job of raising money to the details of
election day engineering, Ron performed with great
enthusiasm.
I first met Ron Brown in Chicago while campaigning for
Harold Washington for mayor of Chicago. Former Majority
Whip Bill Gray, Ron, and I were on a campaign swing
through the public housing projects on Chicago's
Southside. At that time, Ron was working with a well-
known, prestigious, and powerful law firm in Washington.
However, on that day, he was simply Ron the loyal friend,
campaigning for a fellow Democrat. We went into huge,
tall, cold concrete buildings and walked on floors which
seemed to be completely out of this world.
The deterioration and garbage inside the halls were
unbelievable even to a poor boy like me whose father had
never earned more than the minimum wage. I had lived in
some of the poorest neighborhoods of Memphis and worked in
some of the poorest neighborhoods in New York, but never
had I seen such despair. The only glimmer of light we saw
in those highrise urban tunnels were the Harold Washington
posters that the residents waved at us when they saw our
familiar signs. We had connected with the most oppressed
among us. As my eyes met Ron's he broke into his signature
smile: ``This is what politics has got to be all about,''
he said as we plunged into the crowd of outstretched hands
and marched through the halls reminding folks that
tomorrow was the day to go out and elect the first
African-American mayor of Chicago.
Ron Brown was the unifying force behind the most
successful and conflict-free convention the Democrats have
had in nearly two decades. Ron was a star who kept his
poise, kept peace among the many party factions, and made
the Democratic National Committee an effective force to be
reckoned with in politics. Ron Brown was a masterful
strategist who began his tenure as party chairman with
several special election victories despite great
obstacles. He was a great communicator and a great
cheerleader who also understood the nuts and bolts of
winning campaigns.
Seldom in America does one man so gracefully transcend
the racial chasm. Ronald H. Brown did, and in his journey,
he deeply touched the heart and soul of a nation. As our
Secretary of Commerce, he was our corporate Ambassador to
the world. As the chairman of the splintered, fractious
Democratic Party, he was the glue that held it together,
and in so doing, delivered the White House and became the
most beloved chairman in history.
Ron Brown was undaunted and unfazed by challenges. Being
a first was not unusual for him. He was the first African-
American in his college fraternity, the first African-
American counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, and
the list goes on. Ron was a trailblazer and an eternal
optimist. He saw no mountain that couldn't be climbed or
moved or conquered.
The Nation has lost a great leader and statesman. I join
Ron's many colleagues and friends not in mourning his
death, but in celebrating his life, his accomplishments,
his style, and his spirit. Ronald H. Brown will be missed,
but never forgotten.
Mr. McDADE. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues
from both sides of the aisle today in paying tribute to
former Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and the 34
others who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash on
April 3 in Croatia.
I had the privilege of personally knowing Ron Brown. I
respected and liked him as a dedicated public servant, an
individual of the highest caliber, and a man of great
intellectual ability. A man of his abilities and
experience, who possessed such tremendous personal
characteristics, will be greatly missed.
Ron Brown leaves behind a legacy of achievement in the
military, political, government, and business arenas that
few people can match. He led an extraordinary life and we
are all saddened by the loss of this talented,
exceptional, and energetic man.
My sympathy and condolences go to his wife and two
children and to all of the families of those who died in
this tragic accident. As Americans, we all mourn the loss
of life and note the sacrifice of these individuals who
died in the service to their country.
Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I wish to
join my colleagues, Mr. Gephardt and Ms. Meek, in support
of the resolution in tribute to Secretary of Commerce Ron
Brown and the 32 other patriotic Americans, including
several from my State of Massachusetts, who lost their
lives on St. John's Hill outside of Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Ron Brown was truly a living American hero, and his loss
will be sorely missed--and my heart goes out to his lovely
wife Alma and his loving children, Michael and Tracy. I
will miss Ron dearly. He was a colleague and a friend of
more than 20 years, and his loss is a personal one.
In an era where cynicism too often wins out over
optimism, where fear too often conquers hope, and where
the art of politics is seen by most in a less-than-
admirable light, Ron Brown showed that public service is
indeed an honorable profession.
Whether in his service to his country in the U.S. Army,
as a leader in the civil rights movement, as a public and
private sector lawyer, as a political party professional,
or as an advocate of business and job creation for all
Americans, Ron Brown was a leader, a visionary, and a
dreamer of what America could and should be. But most
importantly, was a passionate advocate for expanding equal
opportunity to all Americans.
In a world with too few heroes, we have lost a true
American hero.
Ron Brown was truly a man who viewed politics as the art
of the possible. Ron Brown's legacy will far outlast most
of us--his unique and enviable ability to bring people
together to find a common goal.
You had to know Ron Brown on a personal level to
understand his unique ability--his intelligence, his
boundless energy, his strong will, his resilience, his
ability to grasp complex ideas and to advocate them in a
way that always brought people together.
But you also had to appreciate how Ron Brown took on
each and every opportunity with a spring in his step, a
twinkle in his eye, and a smile on his face. It's been
said before, but Ron Brown was Will Rogers in reverse: you
never met anyone who didn't like Ron Brown.
Ron Brown had a passion for achievement that you rarely
see in individuals, and he was an extraordinarily gifted
man. I will always consider myself fortunate to have known
Ron Brown as a friend.
He will indeed be remembered as a patriot and a friend,
and we will miss him dearly.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is a sad responsibility to
rise to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to an
outstanding public servant who has been lost to us all too
prematurely and in support of House Resolution 406.
Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, throughout his many
years of public service--and let there be no mistake that
he did indeed contribute many years of public service--was
well known for his outstanding personality, his determined
professionalism, and perhaps, most importantly of all, his
charming sense of humor which won him the admiration of
political allies and adversaries alike.
Ron Brown, before entering the public limelight, was
well known as political mover and shaker behind the scenes
here on Capitol Hill. While serving on the staff of
Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, he learned the
importance of compassion in legislation, the importance of
compromise, and the importance of consensus.
As Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown was an inspiration
to us all. He genuinely cared about the business community
of this Nation, and understood that a strong economy is
the cornerstone of national strength.
It was in pursuit of expanding trade opportunities in
that part of the world which used to be called Yugoslavia
that Ron gave his life. The tragic and untimely death of
Ron Brown is a reminder that those who devote their lives
to public service are in just as much jeopardy as are
those who volunteer for the battlefield.
The fact that 33 young public servants also gave their
lives with Ron Brown only underscores his ability to
inspire others, especially young people, to public
service. These devoted young people deserve our
admiration.
It is with deep regret that I learned that one of those
33 victims was a constituent in my 20th Congressional
District of New York. Lee Jackson, a 37-year-old native of
the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, was the son
of Luther Jackson, Jr., a highly respected journalism
professor at Columbia University, and Mrs. Nettie Lee
Jackson, a long time community activist.
Lee was inspired to go into public service by Secretary
Brown, under whom he served in the Department of Commerce.
As we extend our condolences to the Jackson family--and to
the families of the other victims--the bereaved families
should be assured that many Americans share their loss.
Ron Brown, and his courageous coworkers, will long be
remembered and will long be missed.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, it was with great
sadness that I learned of the tragic accident that took
the life of Ron Brown and 34 dynamic young Americans who
were on a journey of hope to a dangerous part of the
world.
I had never had the pleasure to meet Ron Brown until I
came to Washington last year, but I knew long before that,
that he was a crusader, an energetic advocate, and a
dedicated public servant. In politics he was a more than
worthy opponent to his Republican counterparts, and in
Government he was clearly a most valued member of the
President's Cabinet and an effective Ambassador for
America around the world.
Our country was well served by Ron Brown's enthusiasm,
competence, and determination. His work as a member of the
Cabinet earned him well-deserved praise, especially from
the Nation's business community.
My heart and prayers go out to Ron Brown's family at
this difficult time, and also to the families of all those
who lost their lives on this mission of hope. They all
shared in that great American gift of optimism and that
great American belief that we can make the future better
than today. They went to the Balkans to share that great
American gift with a people whose history has stolen their
hope and their optimism and their dreams for their
children.
Our greatest tribute to these dedicated Americans would
be to renew their journey of hope and to share their great
dream of a better future with those who suffer around the
world.
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay
tribute to a great American, the late Secretary of
Commerce, Ron Brown. I am pleased to be a part of this
resolution for tributes to distinguished leaders of our
great Nation. Ron Brown's life work is a true American
success story. It is that American agenda opportunity that
I alluded to when I was sworn in; that gives an
opportunity to every American, that hope that is embodied
in our creed. They will soar to high of this Cosmos.
The loss of the Secretary of Commerce is tragic which is
underscored by his commitment to jobs, social justice, and
economic security. During the times that we met at several
official occasions, I found him to be a charming, warm,
intelligent, and always a gentleman. I have fond memories
of my discussions with Ron Brown.
I remember watching the news in the immediate aftermath
of the civil unrest in Los Angeles in 1992 following the
Rodney King beating trial verdict, when he met with the
angry and frustrated youth of south central Los Angeles.
He and the President played basketball, demonstrating his
ability to relate intergenerationally and across the
socio-economic spectrum. That was perhaps his greatest
attribute. He understood that we must work to help others,
and he did that.
Ron Brown perished in Bosnia trying to acquaint a
delegation of business people with the market conditions
there and to bring peace to a war-torn region. Speaks to
his humanitarian efforts and as a parallel--he also worked
to bring jobs to south central Los Angeles and improve the
lives of the people, and finally bring peace to people who
have desired it for so long. Ron Brown knew the value of a
job to people and to a community. He worked to improve
people's lives by bringing jobs to those who wanted to
work.
I want to offer my condolences to Alma Brown, a woman of
courage and strength, the Brown family and the families of
the people whose lives were lost that day.
I am pleased to participate in this tribute to a
wonderful American.
Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with great
sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to the late
Commerce Secretary, Ron Brown, and his colleagues who lost
their lives while serving our country in Bosnia. Secretary
Ron Brown, through his eloquence and determination,
contributed greatly to our Nation. Even before his days at
the Commerce Department, Ron Brown's capability and many
successes advanced racial equality in America. His
commitment to fostering relations between foreign
governments and U.S. business is evident in America
recovering its leadership role in world trade.
Mr. Speaker, one can never be prepared for such a sad
and unexpected event. Secretary Brown and his colleagues
brought hopes of prosperity to a war-torn region. Those of
us from Long Island were especially saddened to find that
Gail Dobert of the Commerce Department was among those who
lost their lives in this tragic end to a mission of peace.
We have witnessed a great loss, not only to friends and
family, but to the Nation. I join with my colleagues today
in offering my deepest sympathy.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, earlier today there was a
resolution that was passed by this Congress honoring
former Secretary Ron Brown. I was unable to attend that
because I was in a hearing of a subcommittee on which I am
the ranking member, but I did want to do this then, and I
take the time now to do it.
Mr. Speaker, one or 2 days after the tragic death of Ron
Brown, I was traveling to an event in my district and
listening to KNX news station. Dave Ross, reporting for
CBS news radio, came on the air and gave what I consider
to be a tremendous eulogy for Ron Brown.
I would like to share it with the Members of the House.
Mr. Ross entitled his tribute, ``death of a salesman.''
A tragedy freezes time. Events you would otherwise
ignore become significant.
Pictures of a Cabinet official eating breakfast in a
tent end up on the front page. And the story of a trade
mission which otherwise couldn't compete with the FBI's
latest unabomber suspect or the standoff in Montana
becomes the center of attention.
Before now the only time you heard of Ron Brown was when
some new piece of evidence surfaced in his Justice
Department investigation.
He was suspected of spending too much on travel and
using international junkets to reward campaign
contributors.
Some junket. Breakfast in a tent and travel in a plane
so poorly equipped no passenger airline could legally fly
it. But a salesman can't stop to wonder whether the plane
is safe or what his critics are saying--there's a product
to move.
Instead of gun boat diplomacy, Brown's philosophy was
MacDonalds diplomacy. If you want to spread democracy,
sell American products. Sell a way of life where people
spend their time making money instead of making enemies.
The old Yugoslavia, which had a healthy economy, then
killed it, seemed to defy that philosophy. But a good
salesman keeps trying.
My boss used to have a plaque on his desk which said,
nothing happens until something is sold. It was there to
remind us that those people in the sales department, the
one's who got their hands dirty closing deals, were the
people who kept our paychecks from bouncing.
Trade missions, and I've attended a few, are pretty
boring. Business executives talk about exchange rates,
ownership rights, local taxes. It's nothing newsworthy. It
just creates thousands of jobs.
A toast then, to the salesman. Traveling on a shoe shine
and a smile. Sometimes, on a wing and a prayer.
Thank you, Mr. Ross. I know that the family of Mr. Brown
thanks you as well.
Mr. DORNAN. I want to take care of three housekeeping
things here. One is the crash of Ron Brown's Air Force
aircraft on my birthday, April 3. We had a unanimous vote
for Mr. Brown, Secretary Brown, expressing our deep sorrow
at losing for the first time in the line of duty a Cabinet
officer in over almost a century and a half.
I said yesterday that I thought the majority of the crew
was the crew that had flown me and five other Members, led
by Sonny Callahan of Alabama, to Tuzla and Sarajevo and
Hungary, two of the bases in Hungary and to Zagreb,
Croatia, and to our major air base, Aviano, in Italy. I
was mercifully wrong, not for the four other crewmen that
died, but of the six crewmen on that airplane, the pilot
was the same as our pilot, Ashley J. Davis; that is a
man's Ashley as in Ashley Wilkes. Ashley was the co-
commander on our flight, on that C-43, used to be called a
T-43, a civilian 737, and I was correct that T. Sgt.
Shelly A. Kelly, who was the principal cabin steward for
all of us in the congressional section up front and got to
know her at Aviano, going through the PX to get some
shaving gear. She told me a story about how on each trip
she buys two bottles of wine, her husband is also assigned
to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and that he would do the
same when he was on a cross-country, they would drink one
in celebration of reuniting with their two children, and
then they would save one. And she said, ``We have quite a
collection of wine from around the world''.
Well, Shelly Kelly died serving her country, as did
Capt. Ashley Davis, and I am going to fly flags on the
Capitol next week for them, get every one of the
Congressmen who were on CODEL Callahan, and fly flags for
the other four crew members who were on the ill-fated
Secretary Ron Brown delegation.
I will just briefly give their names now. On our
aircraft on March 1, 2, 3, and again on my birthday, April
3, when 35 people were killed: 35-year-old Capt. Ashley J.
Davis of Baton Rouge, LA, also married with two children;
again, T. Sgt. Kelly, Shelly A. Kelly, 36, Zanesville, OH,
husband, two children; and the other four crew members,
Timothy Schafer, captain, 33 years of age, just outside my
own district, Costa Mesa, CA, 33 I said. T.Sgt. Cheryl
Turnage 37, Lakehurst, NJ; Sgt. Robert Farrington, 34,
Briarfield, AL; and the youngest, 29-year-old S. Sgt.
Gerald B. Adlrich, from Louisiana--excuse me, Louisville,
IL; all six of them assigned to Ramstein.
Much has been talked about across the country,
justifiably so, about Mr. Brown's service to country,
captain in Europe and in Korea, and all of the CEO's who
will be so grievously missed by their families and their
children.
Friday, April 19, 1996.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, 33 Americans were taken from
us far too early in the plane that crashed April 3 near
Dubrovnik. This morning, we paid tribute to our good
friend, Secretary Ron Brown. At this time, I want to
commemorate one of those brave souls traveling with the
Secretary, Mr. David L. Ford.
David Ford was one of 12 American business executives
accompanying Secretary Brown on a mission with the most
noble goal of helping the people of Bosnia and Croatia to
rebuild their war-ravaged countries. An executive with
Guardian Industries, headquartered in Michigan, David was
to donate 23 metric tons of flat glass to Sarajevo, enough
to produce about 8,000 windows for use in rebuilding the
Bosnia capital. After the trade mission ended in tragedy,
the glass was delivered to Sarajevo as planned and donated
to the people by the U.S. Embassy.
David Ford's career at Guardian began in 1971, and he
spent time at its facilities around the country, including
several years at the Guardian plant in Carleton, MI, in my
congressional district. He helped lead his company's
expansion into the European market, and at the time he was
taken from us he headed Guardian's European operations.
We will remember David Ford as a successful businessman,
but more importantly, his wife and two children will
remember him as a loving husband and devoted father. He
was a deeply religious man, who before his passing was
able to provide some desperately needed relief to the
people of Sarajevo. There, his final effort will be
honored by a plaque.
I know that my colleagues join me in sending our
thoughts and prayers to his family.
Thursday, April 25, 1996.
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer some
thoughts on the tragic passing of Commerce Secretary Ron
Brown. I would first like to convey my sincere condolences
to his family: his wife Alma, and his children Tracey and
Michael.
As I survey his life it is difficult not to be impressed
by the richness and breadth of Ron Brown's
accomplishments. It is the quintessential American story.
He rose from modest beginnings in Harlem to the pinnacles
of law, politics and government. Secretary Brown's life
was an affirmation that in America a man of imagination,
talent and determination could succeed.
His joy in serving as Secretary of Commerce was
infectious. His dedication to helping young Americans
aspire and succeed was genuine. And his commitment to
serve his country was a constant throughout his life.
His smile, hopefulness and generosity will be missed.
Thursday, June 6, 1996.
Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, tragedy never occurs softly.
It has not been 2 months since that CT-43 airplane crashed
on the outskirts of Dubrovnik, Croatia, simultaneously
reintroducing us to all that is painful in this world, and
all of its greatest promise. This was a national calamity,
touching our highest leaders, reaching into every
industry, every community, leaving an indelible imprint on
the parchment that is our collective soul. Youth lost is
painful. Youth lost in the service of a noble cause, while
no less a shame, is at the same time liberating. By
remembering those that are never to return is to give
their lives meaning beyond their death. To hold their
standard in front of us is the only fitting way to mourn
their loss. It is the least we can do.
While rarely as dramatic as death, life occurs with
equal regularity. March 10, 1967 was no exception,
bringing Gerald ``Jerry'' Aldrich II into this world. A
large baby at 10 pounds, he had an equal appetite for
knowledge. Jerry was reading by kindergarten and, auguring
the future, was already disassembling and reassembling his
train engines, just to see how they worked. A quiet yet
thoughtful young man, he knew the sting of loss
intimately. His father succumbed to cancer in the spring
of 1983 while Jerry was still at North Clay High School.
Two years later he graduated in the top 10 of his class,
and bypassed a science scholarship to enlist in the U.S.
Air Force where he was trained as an aircraft mechanic.
``Jake,'' as his military friends knew him, enjoyed his
new career. He completed his initial training at Lackland
Air Force Base near San Antonio, TX, and soon moved to
Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. His next
assignment took him to England. The year was 1991, and
Jake served as the crew chief aboard an MC130E Combat
Talon I aircraft out of Royal Air Force Base Alconbury. In
July, Jake was promoted to staff sergeant. Germany was his
next destination, first to Rhein-Main Base in Frankfort,
and finally joining the 76th at Ramstein Base. While
abroad, he courageously served in Operation Desert Storm.
It was in Germany that Jake met his wife, Petra
Shoemaker. They were married on January 11, 1991, in
Germany, and also celebrated with an American ceremony
that summer. This loving union was blessed with two sons,
Timothy, three and Joshua, almost two. Jake was a devoted
family man who spent every possible moment with his wife
and children. They are joined in their grief by Jerry's
mother, Hazel Wattles, of Louisville, brother, Mike
Aldrich of Oak Harbor, WA, and sisters, Carolyn McKnelly
and Sherry Roley of Effingham, IL, as well as the rest of
his extended family.
Mr. Speaker, words often sound hollow in the face of
such gravity, but those of his sister, Sherry, resonate.
She remembers that Jerry was able to lead a life full of
opportunity and new experiences. He saw both good and bad,
and met many influential people in the many countries he
visited. Yet he remained a down to earth person who lived
for his family, work, and country. As she reminds us, let
us never forget the six Air Force crew members who gave
their lives on this seemingly uneventful flight. Let us
never forget any other service person who has fought for
our country and the freedom it represents. S. Sgt. Gerald
Aldrich was laid to rest on April 19, 1996. He had an
Honor Guard military funeral with family members and
friends present in Frankfurt, Germany. I charge us all to
raise his standard high, so that we may remember not only
the circumstances of his death, but a life valiantly
lived.
Tuesday, June 18, 1996.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise on
the third anniversary of the day on which I took the oath
of office 3 years ago in this Chamber to replace then-
Congressman Leon Panetta, who had gone to work in the
White House as head of OMB.
Standing in the well before me, I thanked the California
State legislature, which I had left the night before, for
the good work they were doing in guiding the State of
California. At the same time I paid tribute to my mother,
who had died of cancer while I was in the Peace Corps; and
to my sister, who was killed while visiting me in the
Peace Corps.
In the gallery at the time was my father, Fred Farr, and
my sister, Francesca Farr. Also in the gallery from my
district was Rev. Darrell Darling and his son Adam
Darling, who grew up in Santa Cruz, part of the district I
now represent.
Tonight, on the third anniversary, I want to pay tribute
to that beautiful young man, Adam Darling, who lost his
life in the plane crash with Secretary Ron Brown in
Bosnia.
Adam Darling died doing precisely what he wanted:
serving his country while working to make the world a
better place. He was an eternal optimist. Adam had once
offered to ride his bike across this country from his home
State of California to Washington, DC for then-Governor
Bill Clinton because he felt that he could make a
difference in the 1992 presidential race just by riding a
bicycle across the Nation. After the election he ended up
in Washington working for the Commerce Department.
When I arrived to be sworn into Congress, Adam was there
to meet me. He brought his father, Rev. Darrell Darling,
with him from Santa Cruz all the way here to Washington,
DC. According to his father, Adam Darling was a leader
among his peers, his friends, his family and in his work.
His leadership grew from a keen and uncluttered mind, a
character free of shame, given or received, and thoroughly
generous in spirit.
He was very realistic about both public policy and
public service and the limitations and temptations of
both. Adam's realism never was cynical. ``When you decide
to make a difference where there is risk, you cannot
calculate the cost or be guaranteed delivery from pain or
loss. Bosnia is a land of grief and turmoil and none of us
are immune from it.'' Those were the words of his father
upon learning of his son's death.
Adam was working for the Commerce Department when I
arrived. He served on the staff of the press office for
several months before becoming a personal assistant to the
Deputy Secretary for 2 years. Adam was also instrumental
in bringing state-of-the-art science to the central coast
and to the country. Just 1 year ago he helped organize the
first-ever link between the classrooms across America and
marine biologists working in the Monterey Bay.
Ron Brown had asked Adam to handle press relations and
advance planning for the economic development mission in
Bosnia. According to Adam's family, Adam saw it as an
opportunity to make a significant contribution to the
peace effort where it was severely needed.
Rather than working hard to gain personal attention,
Adam worked hard for the sheer pleasure of doing well and
the satisfaction of knowing he had helped make someone
else's life a little more livable.
Adam saw life as an opportunity to serve the world,
telling his family at the age of 5 that he would be
President of the United States someday; a young boy made
his commitment to bettering the country at any cost.
During the few years that he was afforded, Adam worked
with the dedication and commitment of a President and
accomplished more for the good of humankind during his
lifetime than many even attempt in 100 years.
The loss of Adam Darling and 34 others in Bosnia will be
sorely felt by all and will remain in our hearts as a
memorial to all who pay the highest cost possible in order
to keep the world by serving their country. I want to
thank the Darlings for being here on this day of my
anniversary of being sworn into Congress, and I want to
pay tribute to Adam Darling who was here to greet me when
I first arrived, and wish that he was still here today.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me this time to pay
tribute to this great young American.
Friday, August 2, 1996.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be
discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R.
3560) to designate the Federal building located at 290
Broadway in New York, NY, as the ``Ronald H. Brown Federal
Building,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the
House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastert). Is there
objection to the request of the gentleman from Maryland?
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to
object, I will not object, and I yield to the
distinguished gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] for
an explanation.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, the bill designates the
Federal building located at 290 Broadway in New York City
as the Ronald H. Brown Federal Building.
Ronald H. Brown was the first African-American Secretary
of Commerce where he was influential in promoting U.S.
trade abroad. He was a champion for expanded markets for
U.S. goods and services abroad and opportunities at home.
Ronald H. Brown was a civil rights advocate with a
distinguished record of service and commitment to his
country. It is unfortunate that he lost his life in the
Balkans on April 3, 1996.
I urge my colleagues to support this fitting tribute to
this distinguished American. We all here hope today that
even though this tragic loss has denied the family of Mr.
Brown's presence, as they walk past the courthouse and see
his name there, some of the friendly presence that he left
with us will be felt by them.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster] could not
be here for this, but he concurs strongly with the naming
of this Federal building after the distinguished life and
service of Mr. Brown.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of
objection, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr.
Oberstar].
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding to me, and I thank the gentleman from Maryland
for bringing this resolution to the House floor.
I think it is very appropriate and fitting for us to
name a building in New York in Secretary Brown's hometown
for him to carry on the name and the memory of the very
distinguished service that he provided to this country in
so many arenas, but particularly as a most distinguished
Secretary of Commerce whose focus was jobs, tourism,
economic growth, expansion of trade, protecting American
interests at home and abroad. He was a truly great
American, and naming of this building is a modest way in
which we can perpetuate his memory.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the
gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel], the sponsor of this
bill, for the work that he has done to bring it up in such
a timely fashion. I want to thank Mr. Gilchrest and the
majority for being considerate of Mr. Rangel and our
concerns.
I also have great concerns that Mr. Brown's legacy
should be reflected here with a presence in Washington and
would like to place on notice to our committee that we
will look into those regards.
I would also like to say that Ron Brown did something
else that was quite unusual. He helped to put the Democrat
party together and to elect a Democrat President. And I
believe without Ron Brown, the Democrats in the White
House would not quite be there.
In addition to that, I echo the words of our
distinguished ranking member, Mr. Oberstar. I think Ron
Brown was a fighter. He was concerned with people. He was
always willing to take our calls and work with us on
projects.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand today to designate
the Federal building on Broadway in New York City, as does
its sponsor, Mr. Rangel, and designate that building as
the Ronald H. Brown Federal Building. It is absolutely
deserving.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection and
I urge support of H.R. 3560.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 3560
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Ronald H. Brown, the first African-American
Secretary of Commerce, was an extraordinary statesman and
an effective and influential force in promoting United
States trade abroad;
(2) Ronald H. Brown efficaciously championed expanded
markets for United States goods and services abroad, and
jobs and opportunities at home;
(3) Ronald H. Brown was a passionate civil rights
advocate with a distinguished record of service and
commitment to his country and community; and
(4) Ronald H. Brown lost his life in exceptional service
to his country on April 3, 1996, in the Balkans.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION.
The Federal building located at 290 Broadway in New
York, New York, shall be known and designated as the
``Ronald H. Brown Federal Building''.
SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document,
paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal
building referred to in section 2 shall be deemed to be a
reference to the ``Ronald H. Brown Federal Building''.
amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by mr.
gilchrest
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the
nature of a substitute.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr.
Gilchrest:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The Federal building located at 290 Broadway in New
York, New York, shall be known and designated as the
``Ronald H. Brown Federal Building''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document,
paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal
building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a
reference to the ``Ronald H. Brown Federal Building''.
Mr. GILCHREST (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a
substitute be considered as read and printed in the
Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILCHREST. This amendment, Mr. Speaker, simply
strikes the finding from the bill. This is to conform the
bill to the style used by the committee.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the
amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by the
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed
to.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to
reconsider was laid on the table.
Condolences and Tributes
Ronald H. Brown, 30th U.S. Secretary
of Commerce
[From Business America, April 1996]
Ron Brown used the power of the Commerce Department to
find ways to give opportunity to ordinary Americans, to
generate jobs for the American economy and to build better
futures for American citizens. With those words, President
Clinton eulogized Ronald H. Brown, his longtime friend and
confidant, a passionate civil rights advocate, a keen
political strategist, and one of America's most effective
Secretaries of Commerce.
Nominated by President-elect Clinton on December 12,
1992, Secretary Brown was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on
January 21, 1993, and sworn into office as the 30th U.S.
Secretary of Commerce on January 22.
A lawyer, a skillful negotiator, a pragmatic bridge
builder, and past highly successful chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, Secretary Brown strongly
believed in the promise of America and aggressively
advanced policies and programs to accelerate the Nation's
economic growth and create new jobs and opportunities for
all the American people.
Under his leadership, the Commerce Department became the
powerhouse envisioned by President Clinton. Secretary
Brown promoted U.S. exports, U.S. technologies,
entrepreneurship, and the economic development of
distressed communities throughout the Nation.
He led trade development missions to five continents,
touting the competitiveness of U.S. goods and services.
During his tenure, U.S. exports reached a record high,
America regained its title as the world's most productive
economy, and exports and technology were key contributors
to the millions of new jobs created during the first 3
years of President Clinton's administration.
``I have the great honor of serving my Nation and
President at a time of profound change and growing hope--a
moment when my position as U.S. Secretary of Commerce
allows me to serve America's families and industries by
serving the cause of peace and prosperity around the
world,'' said Secretary Brown on his business development
missions to South Africa, the Middle East, Northern
Ireland, and other areas seeking to rebuild economies and
create a stable foundation for peace.
Brown was a forceful advocate for the Commerce
Department, its mission to ensure economic opportunity for
all Americans and provide a voice for business in the
Cabinet, and its dedicated staff.
Secretary Brown served on President Clinton's National
Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council, Task Force on
National Health Care Reform and Council on Sustainable
Development. He chaired the 19-agency Trade Promotion
Coordinating Committee and the National Information
Infrastructure Task Force, President Clinton's initiative
to build a national information superhighway.
Secretary Brown also co-chaired the U.S.-China Joint
Commission on Commerce and Trade, the U.S.-Russia Business
Development Committee and the U.S.-Israel Science and
Technology Commission.
Formerly a partner in the Washington, DC law firm
Patton, Boggs, and Blow, Secretary Brown was a member of
the New York Bar, the District of Columbia Bar and the
United States Supreme Court Bar. He served as chief
counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee under the
chairmanship of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. For 12 years he
championed civil rights as deputy executive director,
general counsel, and vice president for Washington
operations for the National Urban League. Secretary Brown
was the first chairman of the board for the University of
the District of Columbia and legislative chairman of the
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
The first African-American Secretary of Commerce, Brown
was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in New York City.
He graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont. After
serving for 4 years in the Army in both Germany and Korea,
he earned a law degree from St. John's University, which
he attended at night, while working as a welfare
caseworker for the city of New York.
Secretary Brown served on the board of trustees for
Middlebury College and was chairman of the Senior Advisory
Committee at Harvard's John F. Kennedy Institute of
Politics. He also was an elected member of the Council on
Foreign Relations.
Secretary Brown resided in Washington, DC, with his wife
Alma, a media executive. Their son Michael and daughter
Tracy are lawyers.
Other Commerce Department Officials
Duane Christian, Security Officer
Duane was Secretary Brown's chief security officer, who
traveled with him on many of the Secretary's overseas and
domestic trips. Duane was solidly prepared for this
position of trust, after spending a decade on the
Department's security force, carrying out his vital
mandate of protecting the physical well-being of Commerce
secretaries and their staffs. Before coming to the
Commerce Department in 1985, he worked as a background
investigator in the career civil service at the Office of
Personnel Management. Duane attended DeMatha Catholic High
School in Maryland, and graduated from Howard University.
He loved sports, especially football, and had been a
teacher and coach at Ballou High School before coming to
Commerce. He leaves behind his wife, Sheila, and their
three children.
Adam N. Darling, Confidential Assistant,
Office of the Deputy Secretary
President Clinton, in his comments at the Commerce
Department, said that among those Commerce employees on
the plane, was a young man who wanted to ride his bicycle
across the country handing out campaign literature to
elect the Clinton/Gore ticket in 1992. That young man was
Adam Darling, hardworking, loyal, and dedicated special
assistant to Commerce's Deputy Secretary. Before working
for Deputy Secretary David Barram, Adam served as Deputy
Public Affairs Director for Commerce's International Trade
Administration. Though young, his political
accomplishments were many. Adam worked on many facets of
the 1992 Clinton for President campaign. A proud graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania, he lived and worked in
England and Germany, and traveled extensively throughout
Asia during his career.
Gail E. Dobert, Deputy Director, Acting Director,
Office of Business Liaison
Gail tirelessly worked as an advocate for U.S.
businesses, and their expanding role in the global
economy. Prior to her post at the Commerce Department, she
served as an integral member of Ron Brown's advance and
fundraising team at the Democratic National Committee.
Before that, Gail worked for 5 years as a senior
legislative assistant for former Pennsylvania Democratic
Representative Gus Yatron. A native Long Islander, Gail
participated in a summer jobs program in which she
designed programs to aid economically disadvantaged youth
seeking employment opportunities in New York City.
Throughout her career she supported the cause of women's
equality and opportunity. She graduated in 1984 from
Bucknell University and studied at the London Polytechnic
Institute in England.
Carol L. Hamilton, Press Secretary and Acting Director of
the Office of Public Affairs
Carol Hamilton was one of Secretary Brown's closest
advisers. As his press secretary, she traveled at his
side, ensuring that the important work of the Department
was featured prominently in the media. Before serving
Commerce, she was the press secretary for the Clinton/Gore
statewide effort in New York, where years before she also
worked for New Yorkers for Jesse Jackson in 1988. Prior to
these efforts, she held the post of vice president for
Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of New York City and
founded and managed her own full service communications
agency. Carol and her staff of five developed and executed
several key public affairs campaigns for national and
social policy issues. She worked in a variety of private
sector companies, including the Chase Manhattan Bank,
Howard J. Rubenstein Associates, Inc., and Kekst and Co.
An advocate for African-American issues, most notably she
was a special correspondent for Black News We Speak at the
1988 Democratic National Convention. A graduate of Boston
College and native of New York City, in her spare time,
she pursued diverse interests, such as competitive
swimming, silver smithing, and auto restoration.
Kathryn E. Hoffman, Special Assistant to the Secretary
Kathryn Hoffman was a trusted aide to Secretary Ron
Brown and member of the Management Team of the Department
of Commerce. Kathryn was instrumental in helping the
Secretary to effect his vision for the Department--its
mission of promoting international trade, civilian
technology, and economic development. Prior to serving
Commerce, Kathryn was the Assistant Director of the Office
of Public Liaison for the Presidential Inaugural
Committee, producing the first African-American Inaugural
Gala and Leadership Forum. During the Clinton/Gore
Campaign, she served as Deputy Political Director in
California. Her professional career included jobs with
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. in Los Angeles, Time in
New York, and the staffs of U.S. Senator Joseph Biden from
Delaware and State Senator Julian Bond from Georgia. A
Wellesley College honors graduate who had also spent a
year studying at Spelman College in Atlanta as a visiting
student, Kathryn was a valued colleague.
Stephen C. Kaminski, Senior Commercial Service Officer,
U.S. Commercial Service
Stephen was a valued civil servant with a long and
distinguished career in Commerce's Commercial Service,
serving in overseas posts in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Tokyo,
and Vienna, as well as in Washington, DC. During his time
in Tokyo, Stephen received the Department's Gold Medal
Award for his work in ensuring U.S. companies' access to
Japanese major projects markets. Most recently, as the
senior commercial officer in Austria, Stephen was accorded
the increased responsibility of developing the
Department's strategy for Croatia and Bosnia. He first
joined the Department of Commerce in 1975 with the
Maritime Administration, serving as an international
economist. A native of Baltimore, MD, Stephen was a
graduate of Georgetown University's prestigious School of
Foreign Service. He leaves his wife, Kathleen, and their
12-year-old daughter, Christina.
Kathryn E. Kellogg, Confidential Assistant, Office of
Business Liaison
``Kathy'' Kellogg became an advocate for the U.S.
business community in markets abroad when she joined the
Commerce Department at the start of the Clinton
Administration in 1993. She participated in numerous
overseas trade missions championing U.S. economic
interests abroad. Kathy worked on the Clinton/Gore
campaign, as well as the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
She served on the staff of Senator John D. Rockefeller for
3 years, and held several positions in the government of
her home state of California. In 1988, she worked to ``get
out the vote'' for Dukakis/Bentsen for President. A
graduate of Biola University in La Mirada, CA, Kathy gave
100 percent always to all of her pursuits.
Charles F. Meissner, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
International Economic Policy
``Chuck'' Meissner was responsible for international
commercial policy development in the Department's
International Trade Administration. Chuck's effectiveness
ranged from his chairmanship of the Commerce Department's
U.S./Mexico Border Economic Task Force to his leadership
for the Secretary of Economic Development Initiatives in
Northern Ireland and its border counties. As the key
policy adviser to the Secretary on this mission, Chuck
concentrated the Department's efforts and resources to
promote economic stability to this war-torn region. He
spent the 20 years prior to his appointment to the
Commerce Department in the fields of international
financial, monetary, and trade policy, in both the private
and public sectors. He began his government career in
1971, at the Treasury Department's Office of International
Affairs as the Japan Desk Officer and Special Assistant to
the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs. Next,
he spent many years working on the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations, as an economist and as the staff
director for its Foreign Assistance Subcommittee. From
1977 to 1983, Chuck held several senior positions at the
U.S. Department of State, including Deputy Assistant
Secretary for International Finance and Development in the
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and Ambassador/
U.S. Special Negotiator for Economic Matters, in which he
negotiated all U.S. Government international debt
rescheduling with the Paris Club. He represented the
United States on the Economic Committee of NATO and served
as the U.S. negotiator on North-South issues in the United
Nations. Chuck had many distinguished accomplishments in
the banking industry as well, first at Chemical Bank and
then during a most impressive tenure at the World Bank. A
native of Wisconsin, Chuck was a three-time graduate of
the University of Wisconsin. He served in the Vietnam War
as a Captain in the U.S. Army in 1969 and 1970, and
received a number of decorations. A resident of Maryland,
he leaves his wife, Doris, the Commissioner of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service, and two children.
William Morton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International
Economic Development
``Bill'' Morton served as one of Secretary Brown's most
trusted aides for more than 7 years, most recently at the
Department of Commerce, and before that, at the Democratic
National Committee. He was responsible for coordinating
all aspects of the Secretary's extensive domestic and
international travel, helping develop, manage, and
implement Secretary Brown's trade missions and
conferences. In his earlier position in the Department as
Assistant Director for Operations and Regional Management
at the Minority Business Development Agency, he was
responsible for the oversight and operations of five
regional offices and four district offices, as well as the
MBDA staff in Washington, DC. Before serving at Commerce,
Bill served as executive assistant to then-chairman Ron
Brown of the Democratic National Committee for 4 years and
worked in the Presidential campaigns of Jesse Jackson and
Gary Hart. A graduate in International Politics from
Georgetown University, Bill was a Colorado native. He
consistently helped to shape the purpose, tone, message,
and logistics for much of Ron Brown's public career and
was a constant and recognized presence at his side.
Lawrence M. Payne, Special Assistant, Office of Domestic
Operations, U.S. Commercial Service
Just before serving with Secretary Brown at the Commerce
Department, ``Lawry'' Payne was the owner and operator of
an independent chain of homemade gourmet ice cream and
yogurt shops in his home state of Massachusetts and its
neighbor, New Hampshire. Lawry came to the Department with
an extensive background in both the public and private
sectors. He spent 6 years on the staff of former Senator
Paul Tsongas, first as a legislative assistant working on
a variety of trade and foreign policy issues, then helping
to advance Tsongas' bid for the Presidency in 1992, as he
had for former Governor Michael Dukakis during his run for
President in 1988. Preceding this, Lawry spent several
years on Wall Street, where he focused on public finance,
and mergers and acquisitions, while working for two
investment firms, Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc. and
Quadrex Securities. He earned his bachelor's degree from
the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and masters in
Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
An avid bicyclist and budding photographer, Lawry also
enjoyed squash, and relished collecting artifacts during
his frequent travels around the globe.
Naomi P. Warbasse, Deputy Director, Central and Eastern
Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC)
Naomi Warbasse served as the deputy director of the
Central and Eastern Europe Business Information Center
(CEEBIC), managing domestic staff and contractors located
in 11 countries, as well as overseeing CEEBIC's two
publications, its Internet Home Page, automated fax
document retrieval system, Small Business Support
Facility, and specialized in Poland and Bosnia programs.
CEEBIC is a clearinghouse for information on U.S.
Government programs and market information, and a provider
of business counseling to U.S. companies interested in
exporting to or investing in Central and Eastern European
countries. Naomi also served the International Trade
Administration as desk officer for Croatia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, and the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia. She worked on numerous special projects at
Commerce, including the creation of an automated fax
retrieval service for the Uruguay Round, White House
conferences for trade and investment in Central and
Eastern Europe and in Ireland, and the Fourth West-East
Conference of Ministers of Economy, Industry and Trade of
the G-7 and Reforming Countries. Honing expertise in
international relations, she received her master's degree
from George Washington University and her bachelor's
degree from Johns Hopkins University. She received a
Department of Education Foreign Language Area Studies
Fellowship to study Czech. In addition to her proficiency
in Czech, Naomi was fluent in German.
Other Agencies
Lee F. Jackson, Executive Director, European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), U.S. Department of
Treasury
Lee was recently appointed to serve the Treasury
Department's European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development as its Executive Director, a position in which
he represented the U.S. Government, EBRD's largest
shareholder, on the board of directors, and successfully
advocated significant institutional change at EBRD. During
his tenure, the Bank significantly increased investment
activity while reducing administrative costs, at the same
time broadening program implementation to reach small- and
medium-sized businesses and increase investments that
support environmental infrastructure and energy efficiency
in various parts of the world, most notably, throughout
the former Soviet Union. Prior to joining the EBRD, he
served as treasurer of the City of Boston, where he was
responsible for collecting and investing $1.3 billion of
annual revenue and financing a $1.1 billion capital plan.
Before government service, he worked in a number of
investment firms in San Francisco and in his home state of
New York, including First Boston, Salomon Brothers, and
Kidder, Peabody. After earning a bachelor's degree cum
laude in economics from Williams College and a masters in
Business Administration from Stanford University, he began
his career as an economist at the U.S. Department of
Energy.
a
James M. Lewek, Economic Reconstruction Expert,
Interagency Balkan Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency
``Jim'' Lewek was born in Buffalo, NY. He received a
Ph.D. in economics from Vanderbilt University. An analyst
in the CIA's Office of European Analysis, he was assigned
to the Interagency Balkan Task Force as an economic
reconstruction expert. He worked for more than 20 years at
the CIA, analyzing international economic issues and
providing analytic support to U.S. policy makers. For 5
years, he was the team chief of the overnight production
staff of the daily intelligence publication that the CIA
produces for the President. Jim was married, with one son
and one daughter.
Corporate Executives
Barry L. Conrad, Chairman and Chief Executive of the
Barrington Group, Miami
Mr. Conrad was president of worldwide operations and
sales for Burger King before leaving in October 1994 to
start his own hotel and restaurant firm, the Barrington
Group. He had been chief executive for Trusthouse Forte
Hotels for 5 years. He also led Quality Inns from 1982 to
1986. He had a degree from the University of Maryland. He
was married and had three children.
Paul Cushman III, Chairman and Chief Executive of Riggs
International Banking Corp., Washington, DC
Mr. Cushman joined Riggs in 1983 as a commercial loan
trainee. He became a senior vice president in 1989 and was
appointed chairman of the bank's international and embassy
banking operations in 1993. He was single and lived in the
District.
Robert E. Donovan, President and Chief Executive of ABB
Inc., Norwalk, CT
Mr. Donovan headed the U.S. arm of the Zurich-based ABB
Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., a global manufacturer of power-
generating equipment. A 1963 graduate of the U.S. Military
Academy and a Vietnam veteran with the Army Corps of
Engineers, Donovan earned advanced degrees from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Fairleigh-
Dickinson University. He was married and had two children.
Claudio Elia, Chairman and Chief Executive of Air & Water
Technologies Corp., Branchburg, NJ
Mr. Elia was tapped in 1994 to run the company, which
builds and manages air and water pollution control
equipment. Born in Italy, he started his business career
in 1968 at the Boston Consulting Group and also worked at
General Electric Co. He was married and had two children.
David Ford, President and Chief Executive of InterGuard
Corp., the Luxembourg Subsidiary of Guardian Industries,
Auburn Hills, MI
Mr. Ford was born in Washington and had worked at
Guardian, a flat glass manufacturer, for more than 25
years, the last 15 in its Luxembourg office. He was to
donate 23 metric tons of glass to a Sarajevo hospital. The
glass has been delivered and a plaque commemorating Mr.
Ford will be displayed in the hospital. He was married and
had two children.
Frank Maier, President of Enserch International Ltd.,
Dallas
Mr. Maier was tapped this year to head the international
arm of Enserch Corp., a natural gas company, and was
responsible for developing international power projects.
Originally from New York, Mr. Maier graduated from
Manhattan College and received a master's degree in
business from Loyola. He was married and had two children.
Walter J. Murphy, Vice President of Global Sales at AT&T
Submarine Systems, Morristown, NJ
Mr. Murphy joined AT&T in 1970 and had just begun
selling undersea fiber optic connections abroad. Born in
Glens Falls, NY, he received a bachelor's degree from the
State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a master's
degree from Pace University. He lived in Fanwood, NJ, was
married, and had three sons.
Leonard J. Pieroni, Chairman and Chief Executive of
Parsons Corp., Pasadena, CA
Mr. Pieroni joined the international engineering firm
Parsons in 1972, and was named to the top job in 1990. His
firm worked on reconstruction in Kuwait after the Persian
Gulf War. He was married and had two grown children.
John Scoville, Chairman of Harza Engineering Co., Chicago
Mr. Scoville, an engineer by training who had worked on
projects in 17 countries, headed the international
consulting engineering firm Harza, which specializes in
building dams and hydroelectric plants. It has 700
employees worldwide. He was married, with four children
and four grandchildren.
I. Donald Terner, President of Bridge Housing Corp., San
Francisco
Mr. Terner was well known as a successful builder of
low-income housing. A Harvard University graduate with a
doctorate in urban and regional economics, he worked as a
California housing official under then-Governor Jerry
Brown and taught at Harvard University and the University
of California's architecture school. He launched Bridge
Housing in 1981. Mr. Terner was married and had four
children.
P. Stuart Tholan, Senior Vice President of Bechtel
Enterprises, San Francisco
Mr. Tholan was based in London and headed the Bechtel
unit overseeing Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and
Southwest Asia. He had spent 33 years at Bechtel. He
oversaw Bechtel's work in reconstructing Kuwait's oil
production facilities after the Persian Gulf War. A
Philadelphia native, Mr. Tholan graduated from Penn State
University. He was married and had two grown children.
Robert A. Whittaker, Vice President of Foster Wheeler
Corp., Clinton, NJ
Mr. Whittaker also served as chairman and chief
executive of Foster Wheeler Energy International Inc. He
joined the company in December 1992 and worked to expand
Foster Wheeler's operations abroad, particularly in China
and Pacific Rim countries. Before joining Foster Wheeler,
Mr. Whittaker had held numerous managerial positions with
General Electric. He held a bachelor's degree in nuclear
engineering from the State University of New York Maritime
College and earned his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute. He was also a U.S. merchant marine licensed
engineering officer and had served as a lieutenant in the
U.S. Navy. He was married with two grown children.
a
MEDIA
Nathaniel C. Nash, New York Times Frankfurt Bureau Chief
Before moving to Frankfurt to cover European economies
in 1994, Mr. Nash was chief of the Times' Buenos Aires
bureau for 3 years. He reported on Capitol Hill in 1990
and before that worked in the paper's financial section.
He joined the Times in 1973 as a copy aide. A native of
Lawrence, MA, Mr. Nash received a bachelor's degree from
Harvard in 1973. He was the first Times reporter to be
killed while covering a story since Word War II. He was
married and had three children.
a
CREW
Captain Ashley J. Davis, Pilot
Captain Davis joined the Air Force in 1986 and had been
assigned to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany since
August 1994. Captain Davis, of Baton Rouge, was a graduate
of Southeastern Louisiana University. He was married and
had two children.
Captain Timothy W. Schafer, Co-Pilot
Captain Schafer was a graduate of California State
University at Sacramento who joined the Air Force in 1988.
He had been assigned to Ramstein since November 1995.
Captain Schafer, of Costa Mesa, CA, was married.
Staff Sgt. Gerald Aldrich, Crew Chief and Flight Mechanic
He joined the Air Force in 1985 and had been at Ramstein
since 1994. Sgt. Aldrich, of Louisville, KY, was married
and had two children.
Staff Sgt. Robert Farrington Jr., Steward
Sgt. Farrington, of Brierfield, NJ, was single. He
joined the Air Force in 1986.
Technical Sgt. Shelly A. Kelly, Steward
Sgt. Kelly, of Zanesville, OH, was married and had two
children. She joined the Air Force in 1983 and had been at
Ramstein since 1994.
Technical Sgt. Cheryl A. Turnage, Steward
Sgt. Turnage, of Lakehurst, NJ, was single. She joined
the Air Force in 1979 and had been at Ramstein since 1989.
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CROATIANS
Niksa Antonini, Photographer.
Dragica Lendic Bebek, Interpreter.
Ronald H. Brown, the Commerce Department's Powerhouse
Ronald Brown made the Commerce Department what it was
meant to be--an instrument for realizing the potential of
every American by generating good jobs for the American
economy. As Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown fulfilled
President Clinton's promise, giving Commerce a powerful
role in revitalizing the American economy. But he went
beyond that, to forge public-private partnerships, helping
create millions of American jobs. Since January 1993, Ron
Brown worked tirelessly, shoulder-to-shoulder with
American business, to eliminate barriers and open new
markets for American businesses around the world.
During his 3 years as Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown:
Led the transformation of America into an export
superpower, leading the creation of the first-ever
National Export Strategy to help U.S. companies--small,
medium, and large--realize their export potential;
translating that strategy into results by winning over $80
billion of foreign deals for U.S. business, supporting
hundreds of thousands of high-paying American jobs; and
leading trade missions with small and large American
businesses to the world's big emerging markets, to our
traditional economic allies, as well as to new markets
across the globe that need commercial development to
overcome years of conflict;
As the Nation's first African-American Secretary of
Commerce, demonstrated again and again that America's
diversity is America's strength, by fighting for resources
to help minority businesses expand, by promoting diversity
at the Department of Commerce, and by solidifying the
trade ties between a diverse America and new, emerging
markets in South Africa, the Middle East, Ireland, Latin
America, Asia, and Central Europe;
Championed the role of civilian technology as a critical
ingredient of U.S. success in the global marketplace by
entering into more than 220 public-private partnerships
through the Advanced Technology Program, joining more than
$1.5 billion of federal and private funds in the
development of new, high-risk civilian technologies to
ensure that America remains the world's technology leader;
by expanding the Nation's network of manufacturing
extension centers from 7 to 60; and by streamlining export
controls, freeing over $32 billion in exports from
unnecessary regulation;
Spurred the growth of the emerging information
superhighway, while ensuring that it reaches schools and
hospitals, cities and farms, haves and have-nots alike, by
leading the Administration's Information Infrastructure
Task Force, and by joining with more than 200 communities
to provide more than $160 million of Federal, State,
local, and private funds through the new
Telecommunications Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program (TIIAP);
Promoted sustainable development, encouraging both
economic growth and environmental protection by rebuilding
depleted fisheries, boosting the export of environmental
technologies and modernizing our Nation's weather service.
Ron Brown, through his inspiration, action, and vision,
underscored again and again that the mission of the
Department of Commerce is to ensure and enhance economic
opportunity for all Americans. That was the goal he set
for himself and his Department and--as the President has
said--the goal he never stopped working to achieve.
Highlights of Secretary Brown's Business Development
Missions
Saudi Arabia--June 1993--Secretary Brown visited Saudi
Arabia, where he advocated for $10 billion in contracts.
He was the first Commerce Department Secretary to visit
Saudi Arabia since 1982.
South Africa--December 1993--Secretary Brown led an
historic trade and investment mission to South Africa with
31 U.S. businesses, laying the groundwork for economic
ties with post-apartheid South Africa.
Mexico--December 1993--Secretary Brown led 39 minority
firms in a matchmaker trade mission to Mexico City, where
$14.4 million in sales resulted from contacts made during
the trip.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, Israel, West Bank, and
Gaza--January 1994--Secretary Brown led an interagency
delegation and advocated for $13.8 billion in projects,
about $10 billion of which were signed. Secretary Brown
was the first Commerce Department Secretary to visit
Jordan, and the only one to visit Israel and Egypt in 15
years.
Russia--March 1994--Secretary Brown led a delegation of
29 CEOs of U.S. firms and government officials from 12
agencies, by request of President Clinton. The Secretary
witnessed the signing of numerous contracts in excess of
$400 million.
Germany--June 1994--Secretary Brown officially reopened
the American Consulate office in Dusseldorf.
Poland--May 1994--Secretary Brown opened the Commerce
Department's Foreign Commercial Office in Warsaw, Poland.
Brazil, Argentina, and Chile--June 1994--Secretary Brown
led a mission with 22 U.S. CEOs, resulting in the signing
of $1.4 billion in contracts, while advocating for an
additional $9.8 billion in projects.
China--August 1994--Secretary Brown led a Presidential
Trade Mission, including 25 U.S. CEOs, and U.S. Government
officials from many agencies. Agreements totaling $6
billion were signed, with an additional $1.6 billion
signed afterwards. Secretary Brown advocated for an
additional $23.7 billion in projects.
Indonesia and Malaysia--August 1994--Secretary Brown led
a mission and witnessed signings of agreements totaling $6
billion. He advocated for an additional $9.2 billion.
Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland--December
1994--Secretary Brown led a Presidential Development
Mission to Ireland, with 10 U.S. CEOs, two Members of
Congress, and representatives from the White House and
other agencies. The mission encouraged the peace process
through commercial engagement.
Russia and Belgium--January 1995--Secretary Brown signed
a joint statement on taxes with Russia, and formed a group
to expand cooperation between the United States and
Russia. In Belgium, he initiated the Trans-Atlantic
Business Dialogue, a major initiative to introduce
business priorities into government policy.
India--January 1995--Secretary Brown led a mission with
25 U.S. CEOs and witnessed agreements totaling $7 billion.
He advocated for an additional $7.3 billion in projects.
Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar,
and UAE--February 1995--Secretary Brown led a trade and
investment mission, witnessing $200 million in agreements,
and advocating for an additional $23.9 billion. He was the
first Clinton administration trade official to visit
Kuwait, and the first Commerce Secretary to visit Qatar
and the United Arab Emirates.
Belgium and Spain--February 1995--Secretary Brown led a
business development mission and the U.S. private and
public delegation to the first G-7 Telecom Ministerial
meeting.
Brazil, Argentina, and Chile--March 1995--Secretary
Brown led a mission with U.S. CEOs to South America,
witnessing agreements totaling $180 million, and
advocating for an additional $15 billion.
Senegal--May 1995--Secretary Brown witnessed the signing
of an MOU for an irrigation project, valued at $5 million.
China--October 1995--Secretary Brown advocated for $20
billion in projects during the trip.
Spain--November 1995--Secretary Brown led U.S.
businesses on a dialogue between business and government,
making recommendations to reduce trade barriers and
increase business with Europe.
Northern Ireland--November 1995--Secretary Brown signed
several initiatives to promote the peace through economic
development and cooperation.
Japan--November 1995--Secretary Brown attended an APEC
Ministerial meeting with three other Clinton Cabinet
members--Christopher, Pena, and Kantor.
Africa--February 1996--Secretary Brown led a mission to
five Sub-Sahara African countries with American CEOs,
witnessed $500 million in agreements, and advocated for an
additional $6.2 billion. He was the first Commerce
Secretary to visit Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana.
Colombia, Panama, and Nicaragua--March 1996--Secretary
Brown furthered economic integration, and laid the
groundwork for the Free Trade Area.
These successful transactions reflect significant
progress achieved by Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, working
in partnership with other U.S. Government agencies and
companies in the private sector. These transactions
included contracts, business agreements, joint-venture
arrangements, Memoranda of Understanding, financing
agreements, etc.
Accomplishments of the International
Trade Administration Under
Secretary Brown
Secretary Brown advocated for $80 billion in projects
during his tenure, supporting hundreds of thousands of
U.S. jobs. Some of his successes include:
Westinghouse participated in a Presidential Business
Development and Trade Mission in China, led by Secretary
Brown in August 1994. While there, Westinghouse signed a
contract to provide two 350-megawatt steam turbine
generators, valued at $140 million. Secretary Brown stated
``[This] proves we can overcome any obstacles that stand
in the way of progress and partnership. A partnership in
peace, in power, and in a future that is bright with the
prospects of cooperation and commitment.''
During his visit to Korea in September 1994, Secretary
Brown met with Kim Chulsu, Korea's Minister of Trade,
Industry and Energy. During the meeting, he hand-delivered
his own letter in support of the two American firms
bidding for a $100 million satellite project. Three days
after the Secretary's meeting, the South Korean Government
announced that it had awarded the contract to TRW. The TRW
spokesperson commented that, ``The Secretary played an
important role in this win.''
Hughes Network Systems accompanied Secretary Brown to
India in January 1995. While there, Hughes signed an
agreement for a new $700 million satellite project, and
also won a $5 million contract with the Indian Ministry of
Telecommunications, to build and operate a
telecommunications system to provide communication
services to dispersed locales. Jack Shaw of Hughes
commented ``For the first time in my 30-year career, the
U.S. Government and business are working as a partnership
to make American business the most competitive in the
world.''
Ellicott Machine Corp. International, a small Maryland
firm, accompanied Secretary Brown to Indonesia in November
1994. While there, Ellicott won a $21.5 million agreement
to supply dredging equipment to Indonesia, and the
Secretary witnessed the signing of the deal.
Enron accompanied Secretary Brown to India in January
1995. Immediately prior to the Secretary's visit, Enron
signed a $1.1 billion contract for offshore oil and gas
production.
Pitney Bowes participated in a Presidential Business
Development and Trade Mission in China, led by Secretary
Brown in August 1994. While there, Pitney Bowes signed a
$20 million agreement to provide postal meters and related
equipment to the Zhongyu Postal Code.
In November 1995, Black & Veatch International was
awarded a $21.9 million contract to provide engineering
and consulting services for the Rio Reconquista sanitation
and flood control project in Argentina. Visits to
Argentina by Secretary Brown helped secure the project,
worth $300 million.
promoting u.s. exports through secretarial trade missions
Under the leadership of Secretary Brown, who worked
tirelessly on behalf of American firms, U.S. merchandise
exports increased 26 percent from 1993 to 1995.
While serving as Secretary of Commerce, Secretary Brown
did more than any other Commerce Secretary to promote U.S.
business interests abroad. He participated in 19 trade
missions to more than 25 countries. These missions
involved officials representing more than 200 U.S.
companies of all sizes who either traveled with the
Secretary as part of a delegation or met with him in the
host countries.
south africa/africa achievements
Secretary Brown was a pivotal player in the development
and articulation of the Clinton administration's policy
toward South Africa. Even as South Africa was courageously
entering the final delicate stages of its negotiated
transition, President Clinton asked Ron Brown to lead a
trade and investment mission to that country in November
1993. With the goals of a multiracial democracy and
market-driven economy, Brown fashioned a high profile
South Africa initiative that continues to guide the
Department's activities--an initiative that has seen
nearly 130 U.S. firms invest in that market and two-way
trade rapidly recover.
The Secretary this year played a key role in giving
substance to the President's trade and development policy
toward Africa with the historic 5-country commercial
development mission to Africa that concluded on February
25. Both his presence and his message were historic--only
one other Commerce Secretary had ever visited Africa, but
Brown was the first to visit four of the countries on this
trip. Emblematic of the Administration's commitment to
Africa, the Secretary was the highest U.S. Government
official to visit that continent since the 1950's. The
follow-up to that trip--the implementation of that
commitment--will continue as part of Brown's historic and
committed legacy.
secretary brown and the national export strategy
In 1992, President Clinton asked Secretary Brown to
chair the interagency Trade Promotion Coordinating
Committee, tasking him to develop a long-term strategic
plan to ensure that the Federal Government was using its
resources to help U.S. firms compete in the global
marketplace. In response, Secretary Brown created the
National Export Strategy--our Nation's first blueprint to
increase jobs for American workers through exports.
Working closely with his colleagues at the Departments of
State, Treasury, Energy, Transportation, the Export-Import
Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the
Trade and Development Agency, and others, Brown headed the
Administration's trade promotion team.
As a result of his leadership, America is well on its
way toward achieving President Clinton's goal of
increasing U.S. exports to $1.2 trillion by the year 2000.
He worked to establish a nationwide network to help small
businesses, and a governmentwide network to advocate on
behalf of American companies competing overseas. He worked
vigorously to remove outdated government-imposed obstacles
to exporting and he was deeply committed to the success of
small- and medium-sized firms--ensuring that the
Government was doing all that it could to help them
compete and win in the global economy. He strongly
believed in the competitiveness of American businesses,
and his vision was to address their key concerns, such as
questionable foreign competitive practices.
japan achievements
During Secretary Brown's tenure, U.S. exports to Japan
increased by one-third. Last year alone, U.S. exports rose
by 20 percent, while the U.S. trade deficit with Japan
declined by 10 percent. Much of this success can be
attributed to a series of market access agreements
concluded with Japan in which Secretary Brown played a
major role, including:
The U.S.-Japan Auto Agreement helped sales of U.S. cars
in Japan grow by 30 percent in 1995, increased the number
of Big Three dealerships in Japan, and resulted in
expanded sales of American auto parts.
Major U.S. success in sales of medical products,
including a 60 percent increase in exports in the past 3
years, and the signing by Secretary Brown of a Medical
Technologies Framework Arrangement. Since the agreement
was signed in 1994, U.S. exports of medical instruments
have grown about 25 percent, exceeding $1.5 billion in
1995.
Secretary Brown signed the 1994 U.S.-Japan Public Works
Agreement, resulting in millions of dollars in contracts
to U.S. architectural, construction, design, and
engineering firms.
accomplishments of the technology administration under
secretary brown
Secretary Brown worked tirelessly to champion the role
of civilian technology and technological innovation as the
means to ensure American job creation, economic prosperity
and a higher standard of living for all Americans through
technological innovation.
The same philosophy of bringing the peacetime tools of
economic development to a war zone that took Secretary
Brown to Bosnia was not the first time he demonstrated
that leadership. The same blueprint was already underway
in the Middle East with the 1993 formation of the U.S.-
Israel Science and Technology Commission. As the U.S.
chairman, the Secretary challenged the American private
sector to work with Israel, Palestine and Egypt to achieve
the goals of economic growth and regional peace. The
Commission is a unique bi-national program seeking to
promote economic and technological collaboration between
the two countries to create technology-based jobs for the
21st century.
Secretary Brown also led the transformation of the
Advanced Technology Program (ATP) from a pilot effort to
the centerpiece of the Clinton administration's civilian
technology strategy. Under Secretary Brown, 220 awards
were made to support industry-proposed and industry-led,
cost-shared projects to develop high-risk civilian
technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs
and widespread benefits for the American economy. The
awards involved 579 firms, 196 of which are small
businesses. The total Federal investment in these projects
is $783 million; another $802 million has been committed
by the private sector.
Secretary Brown also dramatically expanded manufacturing
extension services available to small- and medium-sized
firms through the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a
nationwide network of locally operated and NIST co-funded
extension centers offering hands-on technology and
business assistance to the Nation's 381,000 smaller
manufacturers. Through Secretary Brown's leadership, the
number of centers in the network increased from 7 to 60,
with over 200 offices nationwide.
Under Secretary Brown's leadership, funding for NIST's
laboratories were given a major boost, enabling NIST to
provide the often invisible, but absolutely essential
measurement infrastructure needed for modern society to
flourish economically. NIST's laboratory programs have
increased the number of productive partnerships with U.S.
industry. Through the Secretary's leadership, NIST has
begun construction of a new world-class advanced chemical
science laboratory and designed a new advanced technology
laboratory to replace existing decaying, outdated labs.
Under Secretary Brown's leadership, NTIS has been
transformed from an old-fashioned seller of paper reports
to a modern provider of electronic products and services.
The Secretary instinctively understood that technology is
bringing about dramatic changes in the way people acquire
and use information and he urged NTIS to be innovative.
accomplishments of the bureau of export administration
under secretary brown
When Secretary Ron Brown arrived at the Commerce
Department in 1993, he inherited an export control system
designed to counter the threats posed by the cold war.
Through his leadership and understanding of the new
security and economic threats facing the country, he
transformed an outdated export control system, which
merely frustrated U.S. businesses and future U.S. exports,
into an efficient and effective system which balanced the
need to promote U.S. exports with the growing threat of
the spread of weapons of mass destruction. His personal
commitment to numerous reforms increased U.S. jobs and
returned the United States to the position of being the
world's No. 1 exporting country. These better-focused
export controls also enable the Nation to better counter
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Some of the highlights of Secretary Brown's tenure
during the past 3 years include:
Increased U.S. exports and U.S. jobs by releasing
approximately $42 billion worth of computer and
telecommunications equipment from outdated export
licensing requirements.
Decreased burdens on U.S. businesses by implementing
major reductions in licensing loads--from 50,000 per year
when Ron Brown began his role as the Secretary of
Commerce, to less than 10,000 licenses per year today. In
order for U.S. businesses to compete effectively and
efficiently in this global economy, he reformed the
interagency license review process, and concurrently
strengthened this same review process to reflect new
concerns in the proliferation areas.
Championed the small- and medium-sized U.S. exporter by
reforming the Export Administration Regulations to make
them easy to use by first-time exporters and by
simplifying their provision. He was the first Secretary to
be able to accomplish this feat in over 40 years.
Assisted U.S. defense firms in both converting to
commercial products and in exporting their products
overseas.
Strengthened enforcement of export controls to prevent
the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological
weaponry; in working to dismantle the Arab boycott, Ron
Brown contributed greatly to the Middle East peace
process.
In encouraging, and vigorously working for U.S. exports
and balancing U.S. national security, Ron Brown has made
this world safer for all our people and one in which U.S.
exporters and the U.S. workers can better compete.
accomplishments of the economic development administration
under secretary brown
Under the direction of Secretary Brown the Economic
Development Administration (EDA) worked to enhance local
communities' ability to achieve their long-term
competitive economic potential through the strategic
investment of economic development assistance, bringing
local leadership together with community and business
leadership to create jobs and build a strong economic
foundation for the future. Particular focus has been on
revitalizing those communities impacted by defense
downsizing, industrial and economic distress, or the
depletion of natural resources.
It is through the programs of the Economic Development
Administration that Secretary Brown's goal of making
change an ally of America's distressed communities,
bringing local leadership together with community and
business leadership for the good of the community, was
effectively realized.
accomplishments of the economics and statistics
administration under secretary brown
Secretary Brown saw the nation's statistical system as a
vital component of a larger partnership between government
and business, an aspect of the nation's commercial
infrastructure, and a service provided by Government to
aid in sound business decisionmaking as part of the
process of economic growth and job creation.
Secretary Brown oversaw a fundamental redirection of the
nation's leading statistical agencies, by setting new
priorities, establishing redefined and clearer missions,
and championing the effort to secure adequate resources.
He presided over the re-engineering of the decennial
Census. The planning for the Census in the year 2000 is
for a national Census that is faster, cheaper, and more
accurate. New technology will speed processing of the
Census while reducing human error. The most modern
statistical techniques will ensure the most accurate
Census ever. At the same time, the design of the Census
will mean savings of a billion dollars over taking the
Census the same way as in the past.
He led the first comprehensive review of the quality of
our economic statistics in 40 years. Secretary Brown
defended at every instance the integrity, independence,
and objectivity of the statistical agencies, establishing
these as their first priority. Secretary Brown
consistently approved new programs that would improve the
quality of economic measurements regardless of their
short-term effects.
He brought the statistical agencies into the Information
Age, introducing them to the Internet, providing
independent capitalization for STAT-USA, introducing
cutting-edge technology into CPS and other Census surveys.
Under his leadership, Commerce statistical agencies are
now an active player in the information superhighway,
pioneering in the use of the Internet to distribute
statistical data far faster than in printed reports. The
Bureau's Internet site, designed for easy access by a wide
range of data users, now averages 70,000 contacts a day.
Under Secretary Brown's leadership, ESA has made major
strides in reducing the amount of paperwork--and hence,
time--asked of its respondents in the gathering of data.
The important monthly Current Population Survey has moved
to electronic data gathering, doing away with paper forms
entirely. Telephone- and computer-assisted surveys have
become increasingly important tools in gathering
information from people and businesses across the Nation.
accomplishments of the minority business development
agency under secretary brown
As the nation's first African American Secretary of
Commerce, Ron Brown demonstrated again and again that
diversity is America's advantage in the world economy.
Under his tenure, minority businesses grew in quantity,
size and sophistication and increased the quality of their
contribution to our nation's economy.
Under Ron Brown's leadership, the Minority Business
Development Agency (MBDA) reinvented the way it does
business--improving the technical and management
assistance services traditionally provided to startup
companies by the Agency while better serving a new
generation of existing ``ready-to-grow'' companies.
Secretary Brown also directed the Agency to help assure
that minority Americans have the tools to participate in
the American economy, not just as workers but as
entrepreneurs. The Agency developed the following major
national initiatives to create these tools:
1. International Trade--The Agency has co-sponsored 12
international trade missions that introduced 194 minority
businesses to existing and emerging markets in 16
countries and regions including South Africa, Mexico,
Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and South America. In 1995
alone, participants project that their export sales from
these missions exceeded $100 million;
2. Capital Formation--The Agency has entered into
numerous agreements with financial institutions including
NationsBank, the Money Store, AMWEST, Chemical Bank, and
Bank of America to provide increased access to capital for
minority businesses. The Agency is also pioneering pilot
programs in equity and venture capital which are sorely
lacking among minority businesses;
3. Minority Advocacy--The Agency has taken a leadership
role with the Affirmative Action debate, especially with
its impact on minority business initiatives. Secretary
Brown's leadership on behalf of the Administration proved
to be the key factor for the ``mend not end'' solution
proposed by the Clinton administration and for the
increased understanding of the vital role minority
business can and will play in our economy.
The legacy left by Secretary Ron Brown for minority
business is the importance of preparing to become a
competitive participant in domestic and international
markets. The assurance of participation in the economic
mainstream of this Nation represented for Secretary Brown
the attainment of true social equity for all Americans.
Secretary Brown profoundly understood that if America is
to retain its competitive position in the global economy
it must fully utilize all of its entrepreneurial talent.
His vision brought minority businesses to the economic
table of American business as true and full partners.
accomplishments of the national oceanic and atmospheric
administration under secretary brown
Secretary Brown's vision and leadership included his
understanding that economic growth must be accompanied by
a healthy and protected environment. His vision helped
people understand the vital link between our economy and
our environment, and the important role the Department of
Commerce--and NOAA--play in making that connection.
As a member of the President's Council on Sustainable
Development, the Secretary took a visible and public role
in crafting far-reaching policy recommendations to ensure
that future economic growth does not occur at the expense
of environmental stewardship and social justice.
The Secretary acted boldly and decisively to help
rebuild depleted fish stocks--as when NOAA's National
Marine Fisheries Service found it necessary to close New
England groundfish fisheries. Secretary Brown recognized
the impact such closures would have on fishing families in
these communities and developed a first of its kind
assistance package for fishing families.
The Secretary also had the vision to realize that the
longterm health of New England's fisheries depended on
reducing the number of boats fishing there. He instituted
a pilot boat buyback program to reduce fishing capacity,
to be followed by a full-scale buyout initiative designed
to reduce capacity by nearly 25 percent.
Additionally, the Secretary recognized the need to
provide assistance for salmon fishers in the Pacific
Northwest. He successfully implemented a fishing permit
buyback and jobs programs to provide environment-related
employment to fishers displaced by the decline in salmon
stocks.
In total, these programs initiated by Secretary Brown
provided nearly $100 million in assistance to fishing
families from coast to coast.
Secretary Brown championed NOAA's National Weather
Service modernization that has resulted in a significant
increase in warning lead times for severe weather. He
listened carefully to the concerns of Members of Congress
and requested an independent study to examine the adequacy
of NEXRAD radar coverage and associated weather services.
Based upon the experts' recommendations, the Secretary
decided that a ``mid-course correction'' in the National
Weather Service modernization was needed. These
adjustments include the addition of several NEXRAD radars
and another Weather Forecast Office in order to provide
vital weather and flood warnings, forecasts, and
advisories for the protection of life and property.
Secretary Brown was an untiring advocate for the
incorporation of environmental technology into mainstream
business. He was the first Secretary of Commerce to
inaugurate a series of roundtable meetings with CEOs of
major corporations to discuss the role of these
technologies. He was particularly interested in ensuring
that vital environmental information, such as climate
change data, was available to the insurance industry for
incorporation in their business practices. He also
encouraged science-based solutions for the many challenges
faced by the Commerce Department and NOAA, and encouraged
NOAA's many preeminent scientists to contribute their
knowledge and skills toward achieving these solutions.
Ron Brown was one of the first to recognize the need for
right-sizing Government. He was a leader in the Clinton
administration effort to ensure that streamlining
accomplished the goals of efficiency without sacrificing
effectiveness. An excellent example of his leadership in
this arena is the convergence of the nation's civilian and
military polar satellites, operated by NOAA's National
Environmental Satellite Data Information Service. The
combination of these systems is estimated to save up to $1
billion over the lifetime of the program.
The Secretary's personal interest in NOAA and its
employees was evident in the visits he made to NOAA
facilities and the constant line of communication he
established with employees. His enthusiasm and vigor were
evident in all his undertakings.
accomplishments of the national telecommunications and
information administration under secretary brown
Commerce Secretary Brown was a champion for the work and
programs of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA). Under his leadership,
NTIA worked to empower communities and help all people
realize their fullest potential through the use of
telecommunications and information technologies.
Secretary Brown led the Administration's vision for a
National Information Infrastructure (NII), serving as the
chair of the interagency Information Infrastructure Task
Force. He worked diligently to achieve the NII vision--
ensuring that all Americans would have access to the
benefits of the Information Age. He also worked diligently
for telecommunications reform, to create a truly
competitive telecommunications marketplace.
While pursuing the NII vision, Secretary Brown never
lost sight of the importance of getting telecommunications
technologies into underserved rural and low-income urban
areas. Just last year, Secretary Brown launched the first
public education campaign to encourage all Americans to
``Get Connected'' to the Information Age.
Secretary Brown was committed to the goals and continued
existence of the Administration's NII grant program, which
is administered by the Commerce Department's NTIA. He took
several occasions to underscore this commitment to
ensuring that we don't create a nation divided among
information haves and have-nots. He personally awarded the
209 NII grants at two press conferences during which he
expressed his sincere admiration for those endeavoring to
demonstrate the power of telecommunications technology to
improve lives.
Secretary Brown took a particular interest in projects
involving children. On several occasions, Secretary Brown
visited schools that have received NII grant funds from
NTIA. During visits to the Ralph Bunche Elementary School
in Harlem, Roper Middle School in northeast Washington,
DC, and Mt. Vernon Community School in Alexandria, VA, he
touched the lives of hundreds of children--urging them to
use computers to learn and to improve their lives.
Secretary Brown realized that the NII initiative was
part of the emerging Global Information Infrastructure.
During his domestic and international travels, he often
took time to demonstrate how telecommunications and
information technologies can dramatically change and
improve lives. In Santiago, Chile last year, he
participated in a tele-medicine demonstration that
involved linking doctors in Chile with a patient in
Texas--showing how technology can bridge geographic
barriers and make it possible for all people to benefit
from the best medical care available.
accomplishments of the patent and trademark office under
secretary brown
Secretary Brown understood the critical importance of
protecting intellectual property worldwide--and led the
charge to seek improvements that expanded and strengthened
the protection of U.S. interests in intellectual property
domestically and internationally.
Secretary Brown enhanced the recognition and importance
of the American inventor with the establishment of the
American Innovator Award.
Under his leadership, the Patent and Trademark Office
played a lead role in the negotiations of the Agreement on
the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (the
Trips Agreement), a fundamental agreement that will raise
the standards of protection given copyrights, trademarks,
patents, industrial designs, semiconductor chip layout
designs, and trade secrets in all of the countries that
become members of the World Trade Organization.
Secretary Brown saw to it that the Japanese market
became more accessible to American inventors. Under
Secretary Brown's leadership, the Commerce Department
signed an agreement with Japan ensuring that the Japanese
Patent Office grants exclusive patent rights to U.S.
applicants in a timely manner. The PTO plays a key role in
monitoring the implementation of this agreement.
The Secretary saw the importance of developing standards
for intellectual property on the Internet. ``Rules for the
road'' for intellectual property and the National
Information Infrastructure (NII) were established with the
release of the Lehman Report by the Secretary in September
1995.
A streamlined and customer-responsive government was one
of the Secretary's key goals. As part of his strategy, the
PTO was selected as one of the government's first
performance-based agencies, and was restructured and
reorganized to reduce patent and trademark dependency and
become a more customer-focused agency.
accomplishments of the u.s. travel and tourism
administration under secretary brown
Ron Brown's contributions to the U.S. travel and tourism
industry were innumerable. His interest in travel and
tourism was as personal as it was professional. Reared at
the Hotel Theresa, Secretary Brown understood firsthand
the power and potential of travel and tourism . . . and
significantly raised the awareness of the considerable
job-creating influence the industry affords.
The Secretary helped the industry develop a
comprehensive and coordinated plan that is bringing
together all of its diverse elements--hotel chains, travel
agents, airlines, rental car companies, and the rest. He
established the industry as an economic priority within
the Clinton administration and was the force that
delivered the first-ever White House Conference on Travel
and Tourism in October 1995.
In July 1995, Brown released the first coordinated
strategy for U.S. tourism development to harness
government resources to meet tourism's economic potential.
Under his direction, the Tourism Policy Council brings
together 13 Federal agencies and Amtrak in a concerted
effort to grow jobs and increase exports, not government.
Secretary Ron Brown made multicultural tourism a top
priority and saw it as a way to build new tourism products
for our country and to expand opportunities within the
industry for all Americans.
As a prelude to the Summit of the Americas in 1994,
Secretary Brown hosted tourism ministers from 30 countries
in the Western Hemisphere at a meeting in Orlando, FL to
stress the important role travel and tourism will play in
the integration of regional economies. He urged the
ministers to work not as competitors but as partners to
maximize emerging opportunities.
Secretary Brown also fought hard to create a specific
data collection classification to more accurately account
for travel and tourism's significant contributions to the
American economy.
Ron Brown's tireless devotion to travel-related issues
brought the industry the respect it never before enjoyed.
President Clinton's Remarks at Ron Brown's Funeral
Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Americans, citizens of
the world who have come here, to Alma and Tracey and
Monica and Tammy, to Chip and to Ron's mother and the
other members of the family who are here, this has been a
long week for all of us who loved Ron Brown, cared for his
work, cherished the brilliant young people who worked with
him, honored the business executives who took the mission
of peace to Bosnia and the members of our United States
military who were taking them on that mission.
But this has been the longest week for the Brown family.
You have grieved and wept. You have comforted others whose
loved ones were lost. You have remembered and smiled, and
last evening you got to celebrate and laugh at the life
that you shared each in your own way with Ron.
I begin by saying to all of you on behalf of all of us,
we thank you for the strength you have given to others,
even as you have borne your own grief. For we can see Ron
in your eyes and hear him in your voices and feel his
strength in yours. Indeed, I was confident as I heard
Michael speak that from heaven Ron had written the words.
So today and in all of our tomorrows as we remember and
love him, we will remember and love you. We hope on this
day amidst all the grief you will also feel gratitude for
his magnificent life, determination to carry on his legacy
and keep it alive, and the peace of God which takes us to
a place beyond all our understanding.
The Bible tells us though we weep through the night, joy
will come in the morning. Ron Brown's incredible life
force brought us all joy in the morning. No dark night
could ever defeat him. And as we remember him, may we
always be able to recover his joy. For this man loved life
and all the things in it. He loved the big things--his
family, his friends, his country, his work, his African-
American heritage. He loved the difference he was making
in the world, this new and exciting world after the Cold
War. And he loved life's little things--the Redskins, and
basketball, and golf even when it was bad, and McDonald's,
and clothes.
And I'm telling you, folks, he would have loved this
deal today.
I mean, here we are for Ron Brown in the National
Cathedral with full military honors, filled with the
distinguished citizenry of this country and leaders from
around the world, in a tribute to him. And as I look
around, I see that all of us are dressed almost as well as
he would be today.
But let us remember also that he loved success, but not
so much he wanted to succeed at the wrong things or in the
wrong way. And he always remembered that worldly success
doesn't take us too very far from all the rest of our
fellow human beings who don't enjoy as much of it. That
accounts for why he was always so kind to people without
regard to their station in life. Ron Brown enjoyed a lot
of success. He proved you could do well and do good. He
also proved you could do good and have a good time. And he
also proved that you could do all that and at the same
time still take time to help other people.
With his passion and determination, his loves and his
joys, his going beyond the stereotypes of his time, he
lived a truly American life.
He lived his life for America, and when the time came,
he was found laying down his life for America.
What a life it was, with his remarkable enthusiasm that
infected everything it did. As long as I live, I will
remember the time Ron Brown and I were walking the streets
of the neighborhood in Los Angeles, and we went to this
sporting goods store that had been owned by people who
were trying to help young folks stay out of gangs.
And in the back of the sporting goods store there was a
basketball court. And all these little kids had gathered
around and they asked Ron and they asked me if we'd like
to play basketball. So we divided up sides; he took a few
kids, I took a few kids. All of sudden he forgot who was
President and how he got his day job.
He was totally caught up in the drama of the game. This
was an important trip we took. But afterward, whenever
anyone asked him about that trip, all he could remember to
say was, ``The President was in my face from 20 feet out,
but when I shot, nothing but net.''
Ron Brown was very clever. Even as a young boy, at the
Hotel Theresa, `Little Brown,' as Joe Lewis called him,
was always trying to think of what else could be done. He
met all kinds of celebrities, as has been widely
chronicled--men like Louis Armstrong and Sugar Ray
Robinson and women like Lena Horne and Dinah Washington.
And he did what most kids do, even today--he got their
autographs. But unlike most kids, he sold them to his
friends. According to Michael, he sold two to a page, 5
bucks a pop until Joe Lewis found out and shut down his
act. But it was too late, he was well on his way to
becoming the Secretary of Commerce.
He was daring. We all know that. He was daring when he
announced he wanted to be the chairman of the Democratic
Party after we had lost three Presidential elections. And
no one thought he had a chance to win. Then when he won,
he announced that in 1992, the world's oldest political
party would win the White House again--and nobody thought
he was right, including the Governor of a small southern
State.
But as with so many other things, he was right, and the
rest of us were wrong.
On a personal note, I want to say to my friend, just one
last time, thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be
here.
Ron Brown was a true leader, and he knew that in his
mind that meant you could never show doubt, even if you
had to kind of make it up as you went along.
I later learned this story about his acceptance of the
job I offered him. I sent for Ron, he came to see me, and
I said, ``You know, this is a big new world out there, and
you ought to be Secretary of Commerce. You could change
the future of America and millions of other people around
the world. You can make a real difference.'' And he said,
'`That sounds good. I want to think about it.''
I later learned that he walked out and went to see our
mutual friend Harold Ickes and said, ``Harold, what does
the Secretary of Commerce do?'' By the time he arrived, he
knew. He knew better than anyone else. He came on like a
force of nature.
Yesterday I received a letter from one of the many
business executives that Ron Brown helped to open new
markets around the world. He's on our Export Council, and
he said in this letter, ``You know, Mr. President, Ron
Brown really is the finest Secretary of Commerce the
United States ever had.''
He also remembered what it was he was leading toward.
Ron Brown made his staff memorize a one-sentence mission
statement about their job at Commerce. Here it is: ``The
mission of the Department of Commerce is to ensure
economic opportunity for every American.'' That was Ron.
He wanted to give other people a chance to live a good
life and live the American dream. He wanted to do it in a
way that helped people around the world to lift their
aspirations. He went after it with everything he had.
He used to say to me if what we have to do means getting
the Government out of the way, let's lead the charge; and
if what we have to do means working together to find some
new solution, let's lead the charge--but let's get it
done, let's fulfill the mission.
He also never forgot that there are always some people
who are left behind. I want to tell you this story because
to me it captures so much the essence of what made him
very special.
When we first came into office, we only had about a
month to put our first budget together. And we knew we had
to do some pretty tough things to get the deficit way
down. Day after day, the Cabinet would gather in the
Roosevelt Room and Ron was always there. And on one of
those days we talked about the need not only to cut the
budget but to do some really symbolic things that would
show the American people we were different and we stood
for the right things. And we were all, frankly, being just
a little sanctimonious and looking for symbolic gestures.
And so we were talking about the need to cut the perks
that had previously been provided to top officials--things
like chefs and the Secretary's dining room and chauffeurs
for a lot of high-ranking officials. And we talked about
them, frankly, all of us--nonchalantly and fairly
sanctimoniously. Until Ron turned to me and said, ``You
know, these cuts are the right thing to do Mr. President.
It is the right thing to do. But I'd just like to remind
people that there are really human beings in those jobs as
chefs and chauffeurs. A lot of those folks are my age.
Many are black men. Most of them never had the
opportunities you and I did. So let's go on and do the
right things and make the cuts, but let's not forget about
those people and let's try to help them go on with their
lives in dignity.''
No one else said that but Ron Brown. He could see where
we had to go, he knew it was the right thing to do, but he
had enough peripheral vision to know how other people were
being affected.
The last thing I'd like to say about his remarkable
public life is that while he was often determined to be
first, he was equally determined that he would never be
the last. And so he exerted more extraordinary effort than
virtually anybody I've ever known to develop the talents
of other people, to reach out to the young, to give them a
chance to serve. How much of the weeping we have done this
last week because there were so many brilliant, young
people on that plane with him, from different backgrounds
and different racial groups.
Why? Because Ron Brown could see in them the promise of
a new tomorrow. And he knew they needed someone to reach
down and give them the opportunity to serve. And I hope
that is something that none of us will ever forget, for
his legacy burns brightly not only in the lives of his
wife and children and other family members, but also all
of those brilliant young men and women, many of whom are
with us today, who walked through the doors that he opened
and crossed over the bridges that he built.
I received a lot of letters and calls, like many of you
have, since Ron died. I got this letter from Michael
Armstrong, the chairman of Hughes Electronics, who was one
of the people Ron worked with, and I wanted to read this
to you because so often we think government operates in a
vacuum.
Listen to this:
``While the demands of business and pressures of the
Commerce Department and the politics of Washington can
often mask the spirit and character of the dedicated
people who try so hard to make a difference for America,
the business at hand, the pressures on the department and
the politics of the moment never dimmed the smile, the
energy, the commitment and the leadership of the man who
made such a big difference in the direction and destiny of
our country.
``He led his party to the Presidency. He led the
Commerce Department with imagination and distinction. He
led American business to new global opportunity. He led
his race as an unassuming but forceful role model. He led
us all in being what he believed in. He was truly a
leader.
``Ron Brown--a trailblazer, a builder, a patriot; a
husband, a father; a wonderful friend; and a great
American.''
Let us remember these things about Ron. Let us always
have our joy in the morning. Let us be determined to carry
on his legacy. Let us always be vigilant, as he was, in
fighting against any shred of racism and prejudice. Let us
always be vigilant, as he was, in remembering that we
cannot lift ourselves up by tearing other people down,
that we have to go forward together.
Let us always remember, as he did, that Alexis de
Tocqueville was right when he said so many years ago,
``America is great because America is good.'' He knew we
had to keep working and striving to be better.
In his last sermon from the pulpit, Martin Luther King
asked God to grant us all a chance to be participants in
the newness and magnificent development of America. That
is the cause for which Ron Brown gave his life and the
cause for which he gave up his life.
In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul said, ``Let us
not grow weary in doing good. Or, in due season, we shall
reap if we do not lose heart.''
Our friend never grew weary; he never lost heart. He did
so much good, and he is now reaping his reward. He left us
sooner than we wanted him to leave, but what a legacy of
love and life he left behind.
Now, he's in a place where he doesn't even have to worry
about how good he looks; he always will look good. He's in
a place where there's always joy in the morning. He's in a
place where every good quality he ever had has been
rendered perfect. He's in a place he deserves to be,
because of the way he lived and what he left to those of
us who loved him.
Let there always be joy in the morning for Ron Brown.
Amen.
A Moment of Sharing
Remarks by Jim Desler, Director, Office of Public Affairs,
ITA
How does one start discussing and sharing the impact my
friends' lives had on me personally, on this Department as
a whole and on this country.
It has to start with the man we all knew. I worked for
Ron Brown for the past 6 years, and his qualities, vision
and personality have been well documented. What amazed me
about him was his ability to create a world of hope and
optimism wherever he went. I was privileged to see it in
the Middle East when he met with Yasser Arafat, the late
Yitzak Rabin, Egyptian President Mubarek, and the Saudi
King. I saw it in China in meetings with President Jiang
Zemin and other top officials, and how he captivated his
counterpart, the normally tough and humorless Madam Wu Yi.
His was a charisma and drive that transcended language
and cultural barriers. He was able to control these
meetings with his characteristic grace, elegance and focus
that filled the room with optimism--that made all
participants, even adversaries, open to all possibilities.
This was Ron Brown's world.
One of my most poignant memories of the Secretary was in
Ireland. We had just completed 2 grueling days with
President Clinton and after a morning of speeches,
interviews and events, the Secretary had 5 hours of
downtime before he was off to South Africa for another
important mission. As we stood in the hotel lobby, the
Secretary asked the group assembled what was next on the
schedule. After being given several less than appealing
options, he turned to me and asked, ``Jimmy, what are we
going to do?'' I replied, ``Mr. Secretary, we're going to
an Irish pub.''
And there, in the heart of white, Catholic Dublin City,
Ireland, in a dingy Irish tavern named Kitty O'Shea's,
this neat, immaculately dressed black man transformed the
bar into Ron Brown's world. I swear, after the second
Guinness, the Secretary was speaking with an Irish brogue
and conversed with the locals like a regular patron.
We are all part of Ron Brown's world--a world of hope
and optimism, a world of possibilities. And those who lost
their lives were not only part of this world, but helped
create it.
There was the communicator.
With an infectious laugh and a focused determination,
Carol Hamilton understood how the media worked and how to
convey our activities and achievements into strategically
placed stories that not only helped the Department, but
enabled the American public to understand the importance
of our mission. Also working full-time keeping the wolves
(the press) at bay, Carol did not move through life, she
dominated it.
There was the adviser.
With good sense and political savvy, Kathryn Hoffman was
able to transform a shared vision into a practical course
that fit in with the needs and capabilities of the
organization. No easy task, but Kathryn accomplished it
with thorough professionalism and an admirable style.
There was the planner.
All the details, the logistics, the nuts and bolts that
created this world were made possible by Bill Morton. With
a determination tempered by kindness and cooperation, Bill
was the most selfless person I have ever worked with. If
he was carrying six bags in the airport, and you were only
carrying two, he would always offer to give you a hand. I
will sorely miss his loyalty and friendship.
There was the implementor.
Whether it be for the White House or for the Secretary,
Lawry Payne would suspend his busy schedule and be ready,
at a moment's notice, to help out. This is planning in
Washington, and there is the effort to make sure those
plans are implemented on the ground. That's what Lawry
brought--an ability to bring substantive initiatives
together with a workable and productive schedule. Lawry
was masterful at bringing the different elements of a trip
together, with his affable personality and friendly
demeanor. He was the man who got things done.
There was the idealist.
From a cynical and detached generation came Adam
Darling. A man who, with steady determination, would
participate in any cause that provided hope. Dedicated to
improving lives, particularly in America's cities, Adam's
kindness and generosity were not confined to our borders,
as is evident in his participation in this mission.
There was the protector.
Duane Christian was so much more than a security
officer. Just one look at him and you knew that all
arrangements had been taken care of--that we were all
secure. But unlike the stereotype of a security officer,
Duane was flexible and could work around obstacles and
solve problems. Blessed with a pleasant demeanor and
engaging personality, Duane was a joy to be around.
There was the facilitator.
These trips were made possible by the miraculous work of
the Office of Business Liaison, and nobody worked harder
or was more productive than Gail Dobert. Gail would stride
into meetings, carrying briefing binders and numerous
folders, and be the only one with all the answers.
Thoroughly professional and focused, Gail never let the
pressure of deadlines or demands get to her--she was
reliably consistent and a real team player who always made
things happen.
There was the happy pragmatist.
While planning at this Department often seemed to exist
in a dream world, Kathy Kellogg always brought reason and
practicality to the table. For someone so young, she was a
forceful and effective advocate for the interest of the
business delegation--and a key to the success of these
trips. But with this stridency came a smile and sparkle in
her eyes that filled a room with joy.
There was the upstart.
Young but talented and assured, Naomi Warbasse was a
flower in the process of full bloom. She was just hitting
her stride--no longer a silent observer, but an active and
productive participant who earned her seat at the table--
who was to be a force to be reckoned with.
The careerist.
But so much more can be said of Steve Kaminski. The
person on the ground who knew the players, understood the
issues and was able to transform this practical knowledge
into the world of hope and possibility. A dedicated public
servant, Steve represented all the career people whose
life work is the foundation upon which we succeed.
And there was the overseer.
To Chuck Meissner, these trips were so much more than
commercial missions--they were missions of hope. In the
Balkans and in Northern Ireland, Chuck was the central
figure in developing practical programs that would create
peace and prosperity through economic growth. The missions
never ended once the trip was complete; Chuck would always
be there for follow-up visits to make certain that success
and progress would take root.
All of these talented, creative and giving people were
contributors to Ron Brown's world. All dedicated their
lives to this shared vision--to this shared world.
And what is Ron Brown's world? It is a world where hope
springs eternal, where possibilities are endless, where
progress is made and where things get done.
It is a world where the dream of Martin Luther King is
fulfilled, where the promise of John and Robert Kennedy is
met, where racial barriers are shattered and where we all
stride with a bounce in our step and a smile on our face
that says not only are we fighting the good fight, but we
are winning.
Ron Brown's world did not end on that mountainside
outside of Dubrovnik. It lives in each and every one of
us. We must keep this world alive in our hearts, in our
memories, in our work and in our accomplishments. Not
because it is what each of these twelve would have wanted,
but because it is what they would have demanded.
United States Department of Commerce,
International Trade Administration,
Washington, DC 20230,
April 9, 1996.
Dear District Export Council Member:
We have lost the most effective Commerce Secretary this
country has ever seen. His legacy is a rich and varied
one. I do not need to tell you that Secretary Brown
believed creating jobs through exporting was key to our
national economic security. The Secretary knew that
District Export Councils (DECs) were on the front line of
this fight. The Secretary maintained that the U.S.
Government should be aggressive on behalf of U.S. business
interests overseas. A small consolation is that Ron Brown
and his traveling colleagues died doing what he thoroughly
enjoyed and believed in.
No other Commerce Secretary had a closer relationship to
his DECs. Ron Brown praised the individual commitment and
collective contribution you make as DEC members. I know he
was looking forward to participating in the upcoming
National DEC Conference in Cleveland--as he has with all
of your annual conferences since becoming Secretary. Under
Ron Brown's leadership, the 51 DECs nationwide have earned
a reputation of excellence in support of the U.S. exporter
and the Commerce Department mission. As Secretary Brown
stated, ``Working together, we [Commerce and the DECs]
have expanded the value and breadth of the export programs
available to American business, and I look forward to
continuing that productive relationship for many years to
come.'' To honor his passing, I ask you to continue
realizing the visible legacy left by Secretary Brown.
Many of you also worked with two members of the
Commercial Service family we lost in this tragedy:
Lawrence Payne and Stephen C. Kaminski. My Special
Assistant Lawrence ``Lawry'' Payne, was participating in
the Secretary's economic reconstruction mission to Bosnia
to help realize a vision for peace through economic
development. Since 1993, Lawry carried out key program
priorities of the Administration--translating vision into
day-to-day operations. Stephen C. Kaminski, Senior
Commercial Service Officer in Vienna, Austria, had a long
and distinguished career in the Commercial Service. During
his tour in Tokyo, Stephen received the Department's Gold
Medal Award for his work in ensuring U.S. companies'
access to Japanese markets. Most recently, Stephen worked
to develop the Department's strategy for trade with
Croatia and Bosnia.
Along with all of the dedicated men and women lost in
this mission, Lawry and Stephen are missed. As we continue
healing the wounds of this tragedy, we must look to the
future and work to ensure what Secretary Brown started is
finished. I ask you, as one of the 1,600 DEC members
nationwide, to reflect on your accomplishments over the
past 3 years, and to dedicate your continued hard work to
the memory of the victims of the April 3rd crash.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. McLaughlin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary,
The Commercial Service.
Newspaper Articles and Editorials
[From the New York Times, April 3, 1996]
A Role as Nation's Chief Salesman Abroad
(By Richard W. Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, April 3--Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown
was in the Balkans in his self-assigned role as the
nation's salesman in chief, seeking profitable
opportunities for American businesses abroad and making
the case that economic power should be a cornerstone of
American foreign policy.
It was a generally successful strategy that allowed Mr.
Brown to portray himself as a champion of American
business interests the world over, and provided him a
potent defense against Republicans in Congress who sought
to eliminate his department on the grounds that it cost
too much and gave Government too active a role in the
economy.
But at times, the strategy also put Mr. Brown in
conflict with the State Department, which sometimes took a
dim view of his faith in economic power as a lever on
other issues, especially in China.
His trip to Bosnia and Croatia was intended to introduce
a dozen big American companies to opportunities likely to
grow out of the $5 billion international plan being drawn
up to repair power plants, water treatment facilities, oil
and gas pipelines, buildings, roads and bridges in the
Balkans.
With an eye to protecting American jobs, Mr. Brown also
planned to press the Croatian Government to reconsider its
decision last month to buy 18 jetliners from the European
Airbus consortium, and to buy the planes instead from the
Boeing Company of Seattle.
The head of Boeing's aircraft group, Ronald Woodward,
was among those accompanying Mr. Brown on part of his
trip, although he was not on the Boeing-built plane that
crashed with Mr. Brown and 32 other people on board.
Acting as a door-opener for corporations and using
American clout to their benefit became Mr. Brown's
hallmark.
Within the Administration, he was the prime supporter of
adopting a role long played by other big industrial
nations on behalf of their companies, that of using
political influence to help corporations win public
contracts or the right to invest, especially in fast-
growing emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.
But Mr. Brown's vision of his job went beyond helping
American business. In China Mr. Brown championed the much-
debated idea that ``commercial engagement'' would
influence Beijing on human rights and nuclear
proliferation, among other issues.
From South Africa to Northern Ireland and the Middle
East, Mr. Brown asserted that helping American business
contribute to economic reform and growth would help foster
peace, social stability and democracy.
Speaking about Bosnia on Tuesday in Paris, Mr. Brown
said, ``Peace and stability will only be assured through
economic development.''
C. Fred Bergsten, the director of the Institute for
International Economics, a research group in Washington,
said Mr. Brown had given the Commerce Department a more
influential role in foreign policy than any time except
perhaps during the Nixon administration, when the United
States adopted a policy of increasing its trade with the
Soviet Union.
``Under the policies that Ron Brown pursued, no one felt
that the economic payoff would come immediately or would
keep anyone from shooting at each other this year,'' Mr.
Bergsten said. ``But it was seen as an important factor in
the long run in keeping these troubled spots from
festering and coming back to haunt you again and again
while at the same time having a payoff for American
business.''
Mr. Brown's policies won him widespread support in the
business community, which traditionally viewed Democratic
administrations with suspicion. A few critics accused Mr.
Brown of giving preference to companies that supported the
Democratic Party when he put together delegations to visit
foreign countries, a suggestion he denied.
The business community applauded Mr. Brown's focus on
helping provide entree for American companies to fast-
growing developing markets, where the competition among
industrial nations and their industries is particularly
intense but where permission to invest and conduct trade
requires political backing as well as business acumen.
``He appreciated the need for the Federal Government to
play a very aggressive role in breaking down formal and
informal trade barriers abroad,'' said Rob Liberatore, the
vice president for Washington affairs at the Chrysler
Corporation, whose chief executive, Robert Eaton, has
traveled with Mr. Brown to China in an attempt to
establish a foothold in that market. ``It's a refreshing
change in the U.S. Government because everyone else in the
world does it, and it makes a difference.''
Business executives said Mr. Brown worked hard to put
them in contact with high-level officials in foreign
governments, to clear away red tape, and to impress
foreign governments that the United States was putting its
political influence to work on behalf of its business
interests.
``This Administration, mostly driven by the initiatives
of Ron Brown, has been focused on making American industry
a more successful source of high-technology business to
the world than in the past,'' said Bernard Schwartz, the
chairman of the Loral Corporation, a military electronics
and telecommunications company.
``I'm sure the President will continue the policy,''
said Mr. Schwartz, who is a big financial supporter of the
Democratic Party. ``But a large part of the success of the
policy has been attributable to Brown, and I hope the
President will be able to find a replacement who will be
as forceful and effective as Brown was.
a
[From USA Today, April 4, 1996]
Parting Gift to Troops: A Little Taste of Home
(By Richard Benedetto)
Ron Brown was a guy known for his love of hardball
politics and skill in closing a tough business deal.
But his last act on behalf of his government was to
bring a little bit of home Wednesday to U.S. troops at
Camp Alicia, near Tuzla, in northeastern Bosnia.
He surprised soldiers with hundreds of McDonald's
hamburgers and videos of pro and college basketball and
football games.
``We know how tough it is being away from home,'' he
said after lunching with the troops. ``Being a former Army
man myself, I know what being away from home is like.''
Grainy film aired on TV showed Brown, an Army captain in
Korea and Germany in the 1960s, sipping coffee and posing
for pictures with camouflage-clad soldiers serving with
NATO peacekeeping forces.
He seemed to be having a grand old time. So did the GIs.
The merriment captured by the camera made it that much
more difficult to believe that only an hour or so later
the globe-trotting Commerce Secretary's plane would slam
into a rocky hillside near Dubrovnik, Croatia. All 33
aboard were believed killed.
Brown had gone to the former Yugoslavia on a trade
mission. He brought along top executives from nearly a
dozen U.S. companies to lay the groundwork for American
firms to participate in the war-torn region's
reconstruction.
Earlier in the day, Brown and U.S. business leaders
discussed infrastructure projects with mayors of Tuzla and
Zvornik. Brown, wearing a plaid shirt rather than his
trademark French cuffs, stressed the need for regional
cooperation.
``I'm really exhilarated by what we've seen,'' he said
afterward. ``This is really a historic visit, moving from
peacekeeping . . . to being in the vanguard of the effort
to reconstruct and to develop Bosnia-Herzegovina.
``We know that as peace takes hold, ordinary citizens
expect significant change in their lives. They want their
standard of living improved. They want economic
opportunity for themselves and their children.''
He and his party then trudged across snow-covered mud
and headed for their fateful plane ride.
a
[From the Washington Post, April 4, 1996]
A Lot of Us Had Friends on This Mission
(By Judith Evans)
commerce employees react with shock, grief to deaths of
secretary brown and colleagues
Shocked and grieving employees at the Commerce
Department yesterday described Secretary Ron Brown as an
inspirational leader who motivated them to promote
business opportunities even when congressional pressure
mounted to abolish the Department.
Nearly 500 employees crammed into the agency's
auditorium in mid-afternoon to listen as President Clinton
paid tribute to Brown, whose plane crashed outside
Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Clinton, who arrived at the Department after a visit to
Brown's family in upper Northwest, said: ``Ron Brown
walked and ran and flew through life. And he was a
magnificent life force. And those of us who love him will
always be grateful for his friendship and warmth.''
Clinton also brought a message from Brown's wife, Alma:
``She said, `Tell them Ron was proud of them, fought for
them and believed in them. And tell them that you're going
to do that now.' ''
Some employees cried or buried their heads in their
hands as the President spoke. Several employees hugged
each other in an effort to ease the pain that lingered the
rest of the day.
``Everybody is in a daze,'' said Mary Jenkins, who has
worked at the department for 33 years and is an
international trade specialist. ``He was such a people
person, always offering support to employees.''
Richard Brace, an economist for the department's
Economic Statistical Administration, said employees
shocked by the news couldn't work and the offices ``were
quiet and solemn.''
Erran F. Persley, an international trade specialist,
said he was asked to go on the Bosnian mission, but
instead decided to wait for a trip to Japan. ``The whole
tone of the building has changed . . .'' he said. ``A lot
of us had friends on this mission.''
Persley and other employees also mourned the loss of
their colleagues. Charles F. Meissner, assistant secretary
for international trade, William Morton, deputy assistant
secretary for international trade, and press secretary
Carol Hamilton were reportedly on the plane with Brown,
among other department staffers.
``We called them our friends. They were young and bright
with their whole future ahead of them,'' said Mike Myron,
a trade specialist in the department's Advocacy Center.
Minyon Moore, national political director for the
Democratic National Committee, said Morton and Hamilton
were members of a new generation of African American
political activists born from the marriage of the
Democratic Party and Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition.
A solemn gathering of a different kind was taking place
at the red-brick town home of the Browns on Unicorn Lane
NW near Rock Creek Park. By early afternoon, neighbors,
family, personal and political friends had begun the
grieving process by remembering Brown. Many of his friends
stayed several hours. Some wiped away tears or carried
crumpled white tissues as they came and went.
``There is a lot of reminiscing going on,'' said Roscoe
Dellums, a neighbor and wife of Representative Ronald V.
Dellums (D-CA). ``People are piecing together the legacy
of the man.''
``People were remembering Ron and laughing about Ron,''
said Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). ``They were
full of memories,'' said Norton, who has been friends with
the Browns since they were young parents living in New
York.
Norton said Alma Brown was ``holding up very well''
given the circumstances. The people who came by to console
Alma Brown and their children included everybody from
Brown's ``basketball buddies to the President of the
United States,'' Norton said.
Mayor Marion Barry and his wife Cora, also visited for
about half an hour. Barry emerged in a somber state and
briefly talked about his 25 year friendship with Brown.
``Ron was not just the Commerce Secretary to me. He was
a close friend. He was a good friend,'' Barry said.
The department will be led by acting Commerce Secretary
Mary Good, who was undersecretary for technology.
a
[From the New York Times, April 4, 1996]
Plane Crash in Croatia Silences A Big Player in Capital
Debates
(By David E. Sanger)
WASHINGTON, April 4--When Ronald H. Brown died on a
hillside near Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Wednesday, he was in
the thick of three battles here that touched the divergent
roles he played in Washington.
The first was a continuing struggle within the
Administration--sometimes still heated 3 years after it
began--over the degree to which the nation's commercial
interests should drive its foreign policy agenda.
As Commerce Secretary Mr. Brown often argued fiercely
for what he called ``commercial diplomacy,'' the use of
America's clout abroad to create jobs at home, a stark
counterpoint to the ``high diplomacy'' of the cold war.
But there was always resistance, and many wonder whether,
without Mr. Brown's high-profile circuiting of the globe,
that approach will prove a permanent legacy of the Clinton
administration, or whether it could slowly dissolve.
The second battle was to save the Commerce Department
itself from a Republican-dominated Congress that viewed it
as a ripe target for disassembly or outright abolition.
With his trademark passion, Mr. Brown called this
``unilateral disarmament'' in the face of Japanese and
European competition, and was winning the argument. But
without him, many in the Administration said today, the
battle will be harder.
And the third battle centered on Mr. Brown's true
passion in life: politics. His death deprives the Clinton
administration of its most visible black Cabinet member
and its bridge to black voters, even though some prominent
blacks were concerned that Mr. Brown was a bit too much of
an insider too interested in compromise. And at the weekly
strategy sessions in the White House, Mr. Brown was just
beginning to try again to work the magic that he performed
as chairman of the Democratic National Committee: To
energize both the left wing of the party, which has often
been disillusioned by the Clinton administration, and the
conservative, largely white middle class that has its own,
very different reservations.
``You just don't find people who have feet planted so
firmly in different camps the way Ron did, and who can
bridge such yawning chasms,'' said Mickey Kantor, who
worked side-by-side with Mr. Brown managing the 1992
campaign, and then again negotiating the intricacies of a
new world of international trade as the United States
trade representative. ``There are some things in this
world you just can't replace,'' he said.
In the weeks before his death, Mr. Brown was playing
down his behind-the-scenes role in preparations for the
coming campaign, in part because the financial dealings
that were under investigation until his death effectively
precluded him from any formal role in the campaign. But it
was hardly a secret that he had begun showing up at the
small, weekly meetings at the White House of the
President's closest political advisers.
``I'm really not a political strategist these days,''
the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee,
said a few weeks ago, with the broad smile he used to
suggest that he didn't believe a word of what he just
uttered, and didn't expect anyone else to, either.
``This is a man who had the campaign in his blood,''
Carl R. Wagner, a Washington consultant and one of Mr.
Brown's closest confidantes, said today. ``And just as he
knew that the problem in 1992 was how to focus entirely on
the economy, this year he knew that the question was how
to energize a re-election campaign and how to get people
out of the stands. That's what he was worrying about.''
But for Mr. Brown, the campaign and his job at the
Commerce Department merged into one. And that was
particularly evident in the symbolism of his 15 trips
abroad with corporate executives, many of whom would never
think of voting for a Democrat for President.
For Mr. Brown, the trade mission was the message, and
the message was that the United States would no longer
divorce its relationships around the world from the
creation of jobs for Americans.
``We are the bridge between domestic and foreign
policy,'' he said of the Commerce Department in December.
``And what that means is that commercial interests are now
on an equal par with security in the world of foreign
policy.''
But it was never quite that simple, as Mr. Brown
acknowledged in his more candid moments. While Secretary
of State Warren Christopher, Defense Secretary William J.
Perry and Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin all uttered
similar sentiments when the discussion was abstract, their
institutions often fought back when the issue boiled down
to hard cases.
During last year's face-off with Japan over automobile
trade, the Pentagon and some in the State Department
feared that threatening trade sanctions against an ally
was an invitation to disaster.
And when President Clinton goes to Tokyo later this
month, it will be to emphasize the security relationship
between the two countries and the common threats they
face. Of course there will be the usual menu of trade
complaints--restrictions on American air routes across the
Pacific and on the distribution of Kodak film--but they
are being carefully managed so that they do not overwhelm
the message of alliance.
And on China, Mr. Brown would readily acknowledge that
the United States had far broader interests than simply
selling airplanes or telephone systems.
But often he argued for toning down or delaying
criticism of Beijing that might be likely to result in
nothing but retaliation against American business
interest.
It was a pragmatic, jobs-in-America-first attitude. In
the mid-levels of the State Department and the Pentagon,
Mr. Brown's position was frequently characterized as
mercantilist and some feared it would undercut America's
moral authority around the world. Mr. Brown and his
defenders portrayed themselves as realists in the ongoing
argument.
``There are a thousand issues that can arise in a post-
cold war world--human rights, the environment, corruption,
overseas military bases--that if they are handled wrong
will create great handicaps for the American economy,''
said Jeffrey Garten, his undersecretary for nearly 3
years. ``And I think that if the result of his death is
that the scales tip back to the way it was when the
Clinton administration came into office, that would be a
setback.''
Both Mr. Kantor and Laura D'Andrea Tyson, the head of
the National Economic Council, said today that would not
happen. ``There are larger forces at work here and the
reality is that no nation can back away from making these
kinds of concerns as important as `high diplomacy,' '' Ms.
Tyson said today. ``But I'm sure it won't be a smooth path
in that direction, and I don't know of anyone who can
articulate the need for this kind of change in public the
way Ron could.''
Congress discovered that power of articulation this
fall, as the Republicans heated up their campaign to slice
the Commerce Department to shreds, spreading its vital
functions all over the Government and eliminating anything
that was left. Mr. Brown, colleagues recall, did not at
first consider their threat to be serious. He later
decided he was wrong, and began a full-force campaign in
which he enlisted corporate executives he knew from his
travels to press their Republican friends to back off.
``There wasn't much support for his position,'' one
colleague recalled today. ``So he created the ground swell
himself.''
Surprised at the reach of Mr. Brown's Rolodex and the
success of his gentle arm-twisting, the Republicans backed
off. But without him in charge, they have another chance
as the 1997 budget is debated.
Meanwhile, even the White House was a bit stunned today
by the outpouring of condolences and cables from foreign
leaders. Many of them had been on the receiving end of
that mix of smooth charm and stiff persuasion he used to
close a deal for American goods.
``They had seen American diplomats before,'' one of Mr.
Clinton's economic advisers said today. ``They had seen
canny politicians, and African-Americans with power. They
had seen businessmen with order books in their hands. But
they had never seen all of that in one package.''
a
[From the Associated Press, April 4, 1996]
Ronald H. Brown
(Editorial)
Wednesday's remarks by President Clinton about Commerce
Secretary Ron Brown, whose Air Force jetliner crashed near
Dubrovnik, Croatia: Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice
President and the First Lady and the members of the
Cabinet and I wanted to come here to be with the employees
of the Commerce Department at this very difficult hour.
Hillary and I have just come from Ron Brown's home,
visiting with Alma and Michael and their family and
friends who are there, and we wanted to come and spend a
few moments with you.
As all of you know, the plane carrying Secretary Brown
and his delegation, including a number of your colleagues,
business leaders and members of the United States
military, went down today near Dubrovnik in Croatia. We do
not know for sure what happened there.
But I wanted to come here today--it is almost Passover
for American Jews, I know a lot of you will want to be
leaving soon--just to have the chance to say a few words
to you.
The first thing I want to say is, before I left I asked
Alma, I said, Alma, what do you want me to say when I go
to the Commerce Department? She said, tell them Ron was
proud of them, that he liked them, that he believed in
them and that he fought for the Commerce Department, and
tell them that you're going to do that now.
I've known Ron Brown a long time. I was always amazed at
the way he was continually reaching out trying to bridge
the differences between people, always trying to get the
best out of people, always believing that we could do more
than we have done. In a way this job was sort of ready-
made for him at this moment in history. And he loved it
very much.
Most of the time Ron Brown spent using the power of the
Commerce Department to find ways to give opportunity to
ordinary Americans, to generate jobs for the American
economy and build better futures for American citizens.
But when we met earlier this week right before he left
for the Balkans he was so excited because he thought that
along with these business leaders and the other very able
people from the Commerce Department on this mission that
they would be able to use the power of the American
economy to help the peace take hold in the Balkans, to
help people in that troubled place have the kind of
decent, honorable and wonderfully ordinary lives that we
Americans too often take for granted.
And he was so excited by it. If you saw any of the clips
the television had been showing--showing today, about his
meetings yesterday, you could--you could see that.
And I just want to say, on a very personal note, that I
hope all Americans today will be grateful for what all the
people who were on that plane did, for the military
personnel, for the business leaders, who didn't have to go
on that mission, who did it not out of a sense of their
own profit, but out of a sense of what they could do to
help America bring peace.
To all the wonderful people in the Commerce Department
that were on that plane, some of them very young, one of
them who came to our campaign in 1992, thinking the most
important thing he could do was to ride a bicycle across
the country, asking people to vote for the Vice President
and me, wound up a trusted employee at the Commerce
Department; and to all of their loved ones and their
families and their friends, I want to say I am very
grateful for their lives and their service.
I also want to say just one last thing about Ron Brown.
He was one of the best advisers and ablest people I ever
knew. And he was very, very good at everything he ever
did.
Whether he was the Commerce Secretary or a civil rights
leader or something else, he was always out there just
giving it his all. And he always believed that his mission
in life was to put people's dreams within their reach if
they were willing to work for it and believe in
themselves.
When we were over at his home a few moments ago, Alexis
Herman, who, as you know, used to work with Ron at the
Democratic Committee, and they've been friends a long
time, told me that his favorite scripture verse was that
wonderful verse from Isaiah: ``They who wait upon the Lord
shall have their strength renewed. They shall mount up
with wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and faint not.''
Well, Ron Brown walked and ran and flew through life,
and he was a magnificent life force. And those of us who
loved him will always be grateful for his friendship and
his warmth, but every American should be grateful that at
a very difficult moment in our nation's history, he made
this Commerce Department what it was meant to be, an
instrument for realizing the potential of every American.
For all of you who played a role in that, I ask for your
prayers for Secretary Brown and his family, for your
colleagues and their families, for the business leaders
and their families, and for our beloved military officers
and their families. And I ask you always, always to be
fiercely proud for what you have done, and very grateful
for the opportunity to have done it.
I'd like to ask now that we bow for a moment of silence.
(Period of silence.) Amen.
a
[From the New York Times, April 5, 1996]
Harlem Remembers the Heart That Never Left
(By Rachel L. Swarns)
In Washington, Ron Brown will be mourned as the master
politician who helped propel Bill Clinton to the
Presidency, as the savvy salesman who hawked American
goods abroad and as the barrier bounder who soared to
national prominence as the first black chairman of the
Democratic National Committee and as the nation's first
black Secretary of Commerce.
But in Harlem, he will be remembered as the skinny
little boy who grew up in an apartment atop the Hotel
Theresa, New York's premier black hotel in the 1950's, and
begged autographs from New York's black glitterati. He
will be remembered as the young lawyer who ran an Urban
League youth program in the 1970's, counseling poor
children in classrooms and on the basketball court. And he
will be remembered as the Washington bigwig who schmoozed
with foreign ministers and chief executives but still
managed to slip home for salmon cakes and fried chicken at
Sylvia's restaurant.
Ron Brown may have made his mark in Washington, but his
old friends say his heart never left Harlem.
``We have a saying in the black community: `Don't ever
get so big that you forget where home is,' '' said Percy
Sutton, a former Manhattan borough president and chairman
of the Queens Cable Television System who has known Mr.
Brown since he was a boy. ``Ron Brown never forgot. And we
loved him for that.''
Mr. Brown was killed along with 32 others when the
military plane carrying them to a business conference in
Croatia crashed into a mountain during a violent storm on
Wednesday.
While acknowledging the ethical questions that
periodically dogged Mr. Brown's efforts to straddle the
line between public service and private enterprise, those
who knew him from his early days had nothing but praise
for him yesterday, eulogizing him as a man who soared to
great heights without ever losing touch with his roots.
Mr. Brown was born in Washington, DC, but he grew up in
Harlem, where his father worked as the manager of the
Theresa Hotel. It was in New York that he quickly learned
to straddle two worlds.
At home he lived in the heart of black New York. The
singer Dinah Washington lived in the apartment across the
hall and a dizzying array of stars stayed in the hotel
rooms below, bringing with them their furs, their fame and
their luxury cars.
At school, he studied in overwhelmingly white
classrooms, in a series of exclusive academies including
Hunter College Elementary School and the Rhodes and Walden
prep schools. At Middlebury College in Vermont, he became
the first black to join a white fraternity.
But after earning his law degree at St. John's
University in Queens in 1970, Mr. Brown returned to
Harlem, where he ran an Urban League program for
underprivileged young people.
``He could communicate with those kids,'' said Andrew
Adair, an attorney who worked with Mr. Brown at the Urban
League in the 1970's. ``He was one of the guys. He wore
the afro. He had a pick in his pocket, but he knew the
dictionary, too. He told them: `You can get out of this
mess. I'm going to help you.' ''
By the 1990's, after he had moved to Washington and
established himself there, working for a time as the head
of the local Urban League, as an aide to Senator Edward M.
Kennedy, as a political strategist for the Jesse Jackson
campaign and the first black partner at Patton, Boggs &
Blow, Mr. Brown's list of friends and colleagues read like
a Who's Who of prominent Americans, both black and white.
Among the New Yorkers was Hal Jackson, the Harlem disc
jockey who gave Mr. Brown his first job carrying records
and reading public service announcements at the radio
station WLIB-AM. ``This little devil was so neat,'' Mr.
Jackson recalled. ``Even as young as he was then, he would
always wear his little shirt and tie and jacket in the
studio.''
The list also included Mario M. Cuomo, the former
Governor of New York, who was also one of Mr. Brown's law
professors at St. John's, who said, ``I remember telling
him, `You have the capacity to persuade people you're
right, even when you're wrong, which means you'll be a
terrific lawyer.' ''
And it also included David N. Dinkins, the long-time
friend Mr. Brown supported during Mr. Dinkin's successful
attempt to become the first black mayor of New York City.
``If there was ever a guy who had the capability to walk
with kings and queens and not lose the common touch, Ron
was the guy,'' Mr. Dinkins said.
When Mr. Brown became chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, he persuaded the then Presidential
candidate Bill Clinton to go to Harlem to meet with the
editorial board of the Armsterdam News. And he convinced
Hillary Rodham Clinton to appear on WLIB.
``He was instrumental in getting them to go where most
white politicians would not go,'' said Wilbert Tatum,
publisher of the Amsterdam News. ``He helped them
understand that the black media was important if they were
to win the election.''
While Mr. Brown will be remembered by some as a power
broker and globe trotter, Mr. Dinkins said he believes his
friend would like most to be recognized for his commitment
to his community.
``My guess, knowing Ron, is that he would like to be
remembered as a kid from Harlem who went on to excel and
never forgot where he came from, who didn't forget his
roots,'' Mr. Dinkins said.
a
[From the San Francisco Examiner, April 5, 1996]
Ron Brown's Contribution
(Editorial)
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown showed endearing enthusiasm
for whatever task he undertook, and his campaign to
advance U.S. trade and investment around the world was one
of them. He thought this contributed to peace. That is why
he led a business delegation to the Balkans looking into
reconstruction needs in the aftermath of the Bosnian war.
He visited with American peacekeeping troops in Tuzla
hours before he and 34 others were killed in the crash of
a military plane near Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was the first
death of a Cabinet member on an overseas mission. Other
victims included Donald Terner of San Francisco,
innovative president of Bridge Housing Corp.
Brown's career was crowded with other distinctions. He
was the most prominent African-American in President
Clinton's administration. When he won the contested
chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee in 1989,
he became the first black to head one of the major
political parties. His 4-year tenure in that post was a
demonstrable success: It led to Clinton's victory in 1992,
after the Democrats had lost five of the six previous
Presidential elections.
Brown had the charm to rebound from daunting situations.
His work as the Reverend Jesse Jackson's convention
manager in 1988 did not, as some friends feared, blight
Brown's mainstream future, partly because he advised
Jackson to stay in the Democratic tent for the Dukakis
fall campaign. As Commerce Secretary, Brown did not take
cover as congressional Republicans sought to dismantle the
department, or as he faced investigation for alleged
conflict of interest in his personal finances. He pushed
hard his policy of ``commercial engagement'' with other
countries--hard enough to step on State Department toes.
The Balkans weren't the only quasi war zone where Brown
tried to promote peace and the nation's business. He was
the first Cabinet member to visit Northern Ireland on such
a mission in 1994, and did similar work in the Middle East
and South Africa.
Clinton spoke movingly about how he will miss Brown's
``life force.'' So will we.
a
[From the Washington Post, April 5, 1996]
It Is Sinking In Today
(By Kevin Merida and Ann Devroy)
a sorrowful city grieves for comrades lost in plane crash
in croatia
The men and women of official Washington paused from the
business of government yesterday to pray and hug and cry
and comfort one another in an anguished day of mourning.
From the White House to the Commerce Department, from
Capitol Hill to Democratic National Committee
headquarters, people joined together to reminisce and pay
tribute to Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and at least
32 others whose plane crashed into a Croatian hillside
Wednesday.
The sense of grief seemed especially overwhelming in
Washington's power corridors, where Brown and many of the
others were familiar figures, if not good friends, to the
political players here.
Throughout the day, tearful scenes were replayed over
and over again, all across this usually stiff town.
``It is sinking in today,'' said Presidential adviser
George Stephanopoulos, emerging from a morning prayer
service at St. John's Church for those killed in the
crash. ``And these young people [on the flight], they were
all our friends.
He meant the unheralded of the Clinton-Gore political
family--people like Adam Darling, a Commerce aide who
worked in the infamous 1992 campaign War Room. And Carol
Hamilton, the Commerce press secretary who had been the
chief campaign spokesman in New York in 1992.
Stephanopoulos just broke down and cried.
The day began sadly at 9 a.m., when President Clinton
telephoned Alma Brown and told her that U.S. Army Gen.
Michael Canavan, commander of a special military
operations team in Croatia, had identified the body of her
husband. The identification removed the last, irrational
hope among some inside--and outside--the White House that
Brown has escaped death.
Within an hour of the call, sorrowful colleagues and
friends of Brown watched silently from their windows in
the White House and Old Executive Office Building as the
American flag that flies from the roof of the White House
was lowered to half staff. Clinton, in a proclamation
honoring Brown and his fallen colleagues, ordered the
flags lowered for 5 days at all government buildings and
military facilities and aboard naval vessels.
The grieving will likely reach an emotional climax next
week after the bodies of the crash victims are returned to
the United States. White House officials and family
friends are anticipating a large Washington funeral for
Brown on Tuesday or Wednesday.
White House press secretary Michael McCurry said Clinton
spent much of yesterday and the night before on the
telephone talking to friends and colleagues of Brown and
reflecting about his life. And then he worked his way
``one by one'' aides said, talking to wives, husbands,
mothers, fathers and children of the victims. McCurry said
the experience seemed to be ``very therapeutic'' for the
President.
Much of the same sort of reminiscing and consoling went
on throughout the White House. The several hundred people
who worked in the complex got an e-mail message yesterday
inviting them to the prayer service at St. John's. During
that hour, the usually frenetic White House effectively
stood in quiet.
President and Mrs. Clinton arrived at the Episcopal
church by motorcade at 11:22 a.m., long after most of the
somber mourners had walked past rows of blossoming cherry
trees to enter the sanctuary. H Street NW was blocked by
police and passersby gathered around the fringes of
Lafayette Square.
Inside, a choir from Lane College in Jackson, TN, belted
out spirituals. And when Clinton spoke, recalling that 28
years ago to the day, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.,
had been assassinated in Memphis, his voice cracked.
Like those who died on that hillside, he said, King was
working for a cause.
``Dr. King said the ultimate measure of a person comes
not during moments of comfort and convenience,'' Clinton
said, ``but where he or she stands during a time of
challenge.''
Those who died serving their country and their world, he
continued, were ``answering a very important challenge of
our time. . . . As we grieve for them, we should also
thank God for their lives.''
As the church bells tolled, the dignitaries filed out--
Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, attorney Vernon
Jordan, U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor and on and
on. The Clintons and Vice President Gore formed a line to
greet attendees, hugging and kissing most, exchanging warm
words. When it was over, the Presidential party ditched
the motorcade, going by foot across the park back to the
White House. But some of those who had been in the church
lingered on the sidewalks outside. They just couldn't pull
themselves together to return to work right away.
``Sometimes, this is a city you think of only in terms
of politics,'' said Shirley Watkins, a deputy assistant
secretary of agriculture and one of those lingerers.
``Sometimes, you don't think about the heart and soul of
things, you're so wrapped up in the daily business. But
when something like this happens, you realize how short
life is and that you really better get busy and do some
things quickly.''
Not much got done quickly, if at all, in official
Washington yesterday. The White House had planned to make
a big deal out of the President's signing of the line-item
veto legislation, but decided that was inappropriate.
McCurry said Clinton had canceled virtually all of his
appointments until next week, leaving priority time open
for memorial services for Brown and the others killed.
In one nod to politics, however, Clinton did attend a
private dinner last night for majority Democratic campaign
contributors, deciding after some hand-wringing, according
to one aide, that ``Ron Brown [a voracious fund-raiser for
Democrats] would have kicked our butts if we hadn't
gone.''
At Patton Boggs, the high-powered lobbying law firm at
which Brown became the first black partner in 1981, there
was a spontaneous tribute. Someone, maybe a secretary,
said managing partner Timothy May, put up in the lobby a
large framed picture of Brown wreathed in black.
Accompanying the photo were the words: ``We mourn the loss
of our friend and colleague. Ron Brown, we will miss you
very much.''
At DNC headquarters, another stop on Brown's rise,
national party chairman Donald L. Fowler called a staff
meeting yesterday morning of various Democratic committees
and organizations to recall Brown's contributions and
gather in prayer.
At the Commerce Department, the mood was particularly
gloomy--as hundreds gathered for a memorial service under
a warming noon sun.
For these people, it wasn't just a well-liked Cabinet
secretary who had died, but 11 other friends and
colleagues.
It was young Naomi Warbasse, who would have been 25 next
week, who people said looked like Princess Grace. It was
Duane Christian, a security officer, and Chuck Meissner,
who as assistant secretary for international economic
policy was the highest ranking Commerce official after
Brown on the trip.
Mary Simon, who works in the U.S. Customs Service, met
Christian in 1987. ``He did my background check,'' she
said. ``We just hit it off. He knew my family, and I knew
his. I spoke to him just last Friday--we said we should
get together at Red Lobster and have some dinner. Guess we
won't be doing that.''
Her eyes filled with tears.
The crowd that gathered at noon was large and diverse,
not organized with any official Commerce sponsorship but
through e-mail messages and bulletin board fliers put up
by Graham Whately and friend Errin Persley.
``We're coming together here as a family,'' said
Whately, adding later: ``This was for the average working
person.''
The Reverend Beecher Hicks led the mourners in prayer.
``We come together . . . in the dark midnight of the
soul,'' he said. ``With tears more rapid than any flowing
stream.'' After Good Friday, there is Easter, he reminded
the mourners, and they will one day ``meet in a better
place.''
a
[From the New York Daily News, April 5, 1996]
Peace Has Its Heroes
(Editorial)
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, a son of Harlem and the
most prominent African-American in the Clinton
administration, gave his life trying to bring peace to the
war-torn Balkans. In that, he and the other Americans who
went down with him over Croatia, died as heroes.
Brown's mission was thoroughly American: To bring about
peace through trade and economic development. A shaken
President Clinton put it best:
``Our colleagues in the Commerce Department and the
other federal agencies, United States military and the
business leaders who died outside Dubrovnik were answering
a very important challenge. . . . And as we grieve for
them we should thank God for their lives, and that there
are still people like them willing to answer the
challenge.''
Brown was the nation's chief salesman abroad, a champion
of economic power as the cornerstone of American policy.
Helping American business contribute to growth overseas
was his way of fostering democracy.
He had planned to spend 3 days in Bosnia and Croatia,
meeting with American troops, government figures and local
business leaders. The purpose: To whet American business
appetites for the opportunities likely to spring from a $5
billion international plan to rebuild the shell-shocked
region.
A one-time U.S. soldier, Brown took deserved pride in
his nonmilitary role in trade missions to some of the
world's most troubled spots: Northern Ireland, South
Africa, the Palestinian territories. He knew that the
Balkans mission was fraught with risk. But, as he said the
day before the tragedy, ``Peace and stability will only be
insured through economic development.''
Thirty-four others were with Brown when the plane went
down; a mix of government officials, business executives,
a New York Times reporter, six crew, one Bosnian and one
Croat. All perished. But their mission must not die with
them.
Economic development is America's most potent tool for
peace. And the only hope for stability in the former
Yugoslavia. Achieving it would be a lasting memorial to
these fallen heroes.
a
[From the Boston Globe, April 5, 1996]
Ron Brown's Mission
(Editorial)
Ron Brown carried the Democratic Party flag to Wall
Street and planted it among the Republican banners there
with unmistakable assurance.
An entrepreneur himself, Brown succeeded where other
Democrats had failed because he never saw corporate
America as alien territory. In his view, thriving business
investments were not only a key path to personal success,
which he enjoyed in healthy measure, but also to a strong
national economy, political power and even an aggressive
foreign policy.
Brown described his many overseas trade missions as
Secretary of Commerce in terms far beyond mere economics.
When a plane bearing the words ``The United States of
America'' lands in a foreign city and unloads a Cabinet
secretary and a group of corporate CEO's, Brown said
recently, ``it conveys the power of this Nation to turn
commerce into the infrastructure of democracy.''
This was exactly Brown's mission when his plane went
down short of Dubrovnik on Wednesday, a mission made
especially critical because of the fragility of the peace
process there. The loss of Brown and of so many business
leaders interested in helping to restore a vibrant economy
to that war-ravaged land is a serious setback.
Brown's loss is also a reversal for U.S. trade policy
around the world; for instance, with Chinese officials,
who rely heavily on personal relationships. Brown had
developed communication links and a level of trust that
will not be easily restored.
That a Democrat should have achieved so much in the way
of corporate boosterism in so short a period from such a
vulnerable position--congressional Republicans once
targeted his office for elimination--would have been
remarkable in any event. That it was done by a black man
from Harlem gives an indication of Brown's extraordinary
life.
He was an insurgent and a breaker of barriers: He worked
for Senator Edward Kennedy's challenge against President
Carter in 1980 and for Jesse Jackson in 1988; he was the
first black chief counsel of a Senate committee, one of
the first blacks to be a leading lobbyist and the first
black chairman of a national party.
But more than this he was a builder of bridges, one who
wanted to get beyond the divisions and move on. He was the
chief negotiator of the Jackson-Michael Dukakis coming-
together in 1988. He rebuilt the national party to give
candidate Bill Clinton a strong sendoff in 1992. And as
Commerce Secretary he traveled to a thousand corporate
boardrooms to reclaim at least a part of the nation's
economic engine for his political party. This left some
Republicans in the odd position of suggesting that the
Democrat was too cozy with big business.
Brown enjoyed the irony. He was ``a magnificent life
force,'' as Clinton said, a man who will be missed by all
who knew him, and a great many who didn't.
a
[From the Houston Chronicle, April 5, 1996]
Ron Brown
(Editorial)
tragic news in deaths of cabinet officer, his party
It is certainly with a shared sense of shock and sadness
that Americans greet the deaths of U.S. Commerce Secretary
Ron Brown, the other members of his party and the Air
Force crew of the plane that crashed killing all aboard
near Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The group was on a high-level trade trip that quite
correctly was called a mission of hope and opportunity for
American business to participate in the economic
reconstruction of the war-ravaged former Yugoslavia.
President Clinton said they were attempting to ``use the
power of the American economy to help the peace take hold
in the Balkans.''
It is indeed tragic that these Americans have lost their
lives, but it is noble that they did so in pursuit of such
a goal.
Brown, 54, has been remembered as a tireless,
hardworking, dedicated public servant, and that is
certainly true. In the rough-and-tumble world of national
politics, his prowess as a bridge-builder was renowned.
And regardless of political controversy that sometimes
surrounded him or of the ideological lenses through which
many may have viewed him, Brown engendered respect across
the spectrum.
His many travels abroad on behalf of U.S. business also
earned respect around the globe both for him and his
country.
He rose admirably from humble beginnings to serve with
the National Urban League, to become chief counsel with
the Senate Judiciary Committee, to be named chairman of
the National Democratic Committee and to be appointed to
the Cabinet. In his Democratic Party role, he had a great
deal to do with the election of Clinton to the White
House.
Americans' heartfelt thanks and soul-felt prayers should
go to Brown's family and those of the 34 others who lost
their lives with him.
a
[From the Washington Post, April 7, 1996]
Let Us Resolve to Continue Their Mission of Peace and
Healing
(From the Federal Document Clearing House)
Following are remarks by President Clinton yesterday at
a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to honor
those killed in a plane crash in Croatia last Wednesday.
My fellow Americans, today we come to a place that has
seen too many sad, silent homecomings, for this is where
we in America bring home our own--those who have given
their lives in the service of their country.
The 33 fine Americans we meet today, on their last
journey home, ended their lives on a hard mountain a long
way from home, but in a way they never left America.
On their mission of peace and hope, they carried with
them America's spirit--what our greatest martyr, Abraham
Lincoln, called the `last best hope of Earth.'
Our loved ones and friends loved their country, and they
loved serving their country. They believed that America,
through their efforts, could help to restore a broken
land, help to heal a people of their hatreds, honest work
and shared enterprise.
They knew what their country had given them, and they
gave it back with a force, an energy, an optimism that
every one of us can be proud of.
They were outstanding business leaders who gave their
employees and their customers their very best. They were
brave members of our military, dedicated to preserving our
freedom and advancing America's cause.
There was a brilliant correspondent committed to helping
Americans better understand this complicated new world we
live in. And there were public servants, some of them
still in the fresh springtime of their years, who gave
nothing less than everything they had because they
believed in the nobility of public service.
And there was a noble Secretary of Commerce who never
saw a mountain he couldn't climb or a river he couldn't
build a bridge across. All of them were so full of
possibility, even as we grieve for what their lives might
have been, let us celebrate what their lives were.
For their public achievements and their private
victories of love and kindness and devotion are things
that no one--no one could do anything but treasure.
These 33 lives show us the best of America. They are a
stern rebuke to the cynicism that is all too familiar
today.
For as family after family told the Vice President and
Hillary and me today, their loved ones were proud of what
they were doing. They believed in what they were doing.
They believed in this country. They believed we could make
a difference. How silly they make cynicism seem.
And more important, they were a glowing testimonial to
the power of individuals to improve their own lives and
elevate the lives of others and make a better future for
others.
These 33 people loved America enough to use what is best
about it in their own lives to try to help solve a problem
a long, long way from home.
At the first of this interminable week, [Commerce
Secretary] Ron Brown came to the White House to visit with
me and the Vice President and a few others, and at the end
of the visit, he was bubbling with enthusiasm about this
mission.
And he went through all the people from the Commerce
Department who were going, and then he went through every
single business leader that was going. And he said, ``You
know, I've taken so many of these missions to advance
America's economic interest and to generate jobs for
Americans, these business people are going on this mission
because they want to use the power of the American economy
to save the peace in the Balkans.
That is a noble thing. Nearly 5,000 miles from home,
they went to help people build their own homes and roads,
to turn on the lights in cities darkened by war, to
restore the everyday interchange of people working and
living together with something to look forward to and a
dream to raise their own children by.
You know, we can say a lot of things because these
people were many things to those who love them. But I say
to all of you, to every American, they were all patriots.
Whether soldiers or civil servants or committed citizens,
they were patriots.
In their memory and in their honor, let us rededicate
our lives to our country and to our fellow citizens. In
their memory and in their honor, let us resolve to
continue their mission of peace and healing and progress.
We must not let their mission fail, and we will not let
their mission fail. The sun is going down on this day. The
next time it rises, it will be Easter morning--a morning
that marks the passage from loss and despair to hope and
redemption.
A day that more than any other reminds us that life is
more than what we know, life is more than what we can
understand, life is more than sometimes even we can bear.
But life is also eternal.
For each of these 33 of our fellow Americans and the 2
fine Croatians that fell with them, their day on Earth was
too short. But for our countrymen and women, we must
remember that what they did while the sun was out will
last with us forever.
If I may now, I would like to read the names of all of
them in honor of their lives, their service, and their
families.
Staff Sergeant Gerald Aldrich, Ronald Brown, Duane
Christian, Barry Conrad, Paul Cushman III, Adam Darling,
Captain Ashley James Davis, Gail Dobert, Robert Donovan,
Claudio Elia, Staff Sergeant Robert Farrington Jr., David
Ford, Carol Hamilton, Kathryn Hoffman, Lee Jackson, Steven
Kaminski, Kathryn Kellogg, Technical Sergeant Shelly
Kelly, James Lewek, Frank Maier, Charles Meissner, William
Morton, Walter Murphy, Lawrence Payne, Nathaniel Nash,
Leonard Pieroni, Captain Timothy Schafer, John Scoville, I
Donald Terner, P. Stuart Tholan, Technical Sergeant Cheryl
Ann Turnage, Naomi Warbasse, Robert Al Whittaker.
Today we bring their bodies back home to America, but
their souls are surely at home with God. We welcome them
home. We miss them. We ask God to be with them and their
families.
God bless you all, and God bless our beloved Nation.
Amen.
a
[From the Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1996]
Brown Made a World of Difference in Commerce
(By James Flanigan)
``I've been with him on trips to China and India. I've
seen him tell government officials point blank: `Here's an
American company offering you the best possible deal. If
they don't get the contract, it's because the playing
field isn't level.' ''
Thus did a U.S. businessman recall Ron Brown, the
Secretary of Commerce who died last week in a plane crash
in Croatia.
Brown's toughness was recalled not only as an epitaph
but as an object lesson for what the next Commerce
Secretary and any future holder of the office must do to
be effective in a complex and competitive world.
Brown made a difference because he understood that
government officials must fight to get U.S. companies a
fair share of projects and markets in foreign lands. Those
increasingly are the source of jobs and investments in the
United States. And it's important that Americans feel the
global system is working fairly.
Official figures stating that exports directly support
13 million U.S. workers or account for one-third of U.S.
economic growth understate the reality. International
business today is a matrix of contacts in which work
overseas begets work at home and vice versa.
Yet until Brown's time and that of Secretary of State
Warren Christopher, the U.S. Government often adopted a
stance of indifference to business abroad. Either it
didn't fight or didn't have to. During 45 years of the
Cold War, a lot of business came to American firms simply
because the U.S. armed forces were protecting other
countries.
But that advantage receded in recent years. Not only did
military prowess offer less leverage, but the world's
economies began a historic shift.
Newly industrializing countries became the growth
markets, especially as they installed electricity and
telephone systems and built factories and office
buildings. The countries of Asia, which already account
for more U.S. trade than Western Europe, will spend $2
trillion in infrastructure before 2000; Latin America will
spend $500 billion.
In such economies--particularly on matters of
infrastructure--governments make decisions. And U.S.
companies depend more than ever on backing from their own
government. ``The commercial diplomacy begun by Ron Brown
must be accelerated. We cannot afford to backslide in this
changing world,'' says Jeffrey Garten, dean of Yale School
of Management, who served with Brown as Undersecretary of
Commerce from 1993 to late 1995.
Many of the companies represented on Brown's fateful
flight last week are in engineering and construction of
infrastructure projects--Parsons, Bechtel, Foster Wheeler,
ABB, Harza Engineering.
Those companies are good examples of the value of
services--really of brainpower as a valuable commodity
with tremendous ripple effects in the world economy. The
engineering contractor can specify suppliers and call
forth support systems from computer analysis to
transportation and communications.
The big contractors do half or more of their business
overseas, competing against government-backed firms from
other countries.
To be sure, the focus is on business, not nationalism,
Joseph Jacobs, founder of Jacobs Engineering in Pasadena,
recalls receiving help from the British Embassy in Amman,
Jordan--after being cold-shouldered by the U.S. Embassy--
on a project in which Jacobs had a British partner.
Such indifference has changed, thanks to Brown and
Christopher. ``Every U.S. Embassy now has skilled people
who really want to help,'' says Edward Muller, president
of Edison Mission Energy, which builds power plants
overseas.
Support work in Washington is better, too, since Brown
created a war room at the Commerce Department to track
competition for worldwide projects--including the
widespread bribes that characterize the shadier side of
global competition. U.S. companies are prohibited by law
from paying bribes, and that can sometimes be a
disadvantage.
Brown's counter to bribery was typical. He'd do his
homework, have his facts and confront the other
government's officials. He learned early about business
and confronting the unexpected. His parents owned Harlem's
famed Hotel Theresa, where Fidel Castro's aides lit open
fires in the rooms to cook chickens during an early 1960s
visit to the United Nations.
``He had tremendous energy,'' Muller said. Brown's
successor will have to be energetic, too, and tenacious.
Paradoxically, given the demands of the times, there
continues to be support in Congress for eliminating the
Commerce Department as a budget-cutting move and because
Brown's ideas of helping U.S. companies run counter to
beliefs of some members of Congress that government
shouldn't help business. The controversy is part of an
underlying division of opinion as to whether the global
economy benefits or threatens U.S. living standards.
But the threat to Commerce ignores the facts of a
rapidly changing world--and fears of the global economy
are beside the point. A new study by the Australian
Department of Foreign Affairs predicts that trade between
China and Japan alone will account for 28 percent of world
commerce in 2015, compared with 13 percent today.
That's not a threat, it's a reality to be dealt with.
``Our fastest-growing customers and competitors are the
same people,'' Yale's Garten explains. ``The Brazils and
Chinas and Indias compete now in low- and medium-
technology areas. Ultimately they'll compete and exchange
high-tech goods and services with us.
``I'm confident we can do well if we concentrate on
educating and helping our work force at home and on
commercial diplomacy abroad.''
Ron Brown understood that competition is fine with
Americans as long as they're convinced we're getting a
fair shake in world trade. That's what he worked for. And
that's what all his successors at Commerce and other
departments will have to understand and work for from now
on.
a
[From the Washington Post, April 7, 1996]
Amid Ceremony of Tears Is a Sharing of Strength
(By Marianne Kyriakos)
families come together for mourning and celebration
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Delaware--``So many hearses.''
Between the sobs, the hugs, the tears, the same words
came out, over and over again.
``So many hearses.''
Even those too young to count the 33 hearses on the
airport tarmac understood that a profound tragedy had
brought so many people, with so many stories, to this
place, this place that was so silent. The birds that flew
overhead, in formation, were silent, too, not even the
flapping of their wings was heard.
Then the silence was pierced by the sharp wails of 8-
year-old Nathaniel Nash, who wore his Boy Scout uniform
and wire-rimmed glasses: ``I want my daddy! I need my
daddy now!''
He didn't know which flag-draped casket held his
father--New York Times reporter Nathaniel Nash. No one in
the audience of friends and family knew, because many
remains have yet to be identified. It didn't matter. They
tried to watch, though it was hard at first, as the giant
C-17 cargo plane brought its dead.
One by one, silver caskets containing the remains of the
Americans killed in Croatia were carried out by somber
honor guards.
It was a ceremony in which sadness and strength were
shared, mixed really, transfused from one person to
another in the long, long hugs between family members,
between friends, between strangers, even.
For Karen Darling, whose son, Adam, perished in the
crash, all it took was one glance at the Nash family.
``It's something no child should go through, to lose his
daddy,'' she said after the ceremony. ``But watching their
mom standing there, it gave me special strength.''
She paused; someone else came up to hug her, to tell her
what a special person her son was. She was thinking of the
Nash children, still, and of her own loss: ``We're not
going to see them anymore.''
Maureen Dobert, mother of Gail, who also died in the
crash, drew special strength from a stuffed rabbit with
long, floppy ears.
She held the rabbit tightly as the caskets were
unloaded, and she asked, ``Where's my daughter, is she
here yet?''
The Long Island schoolteacher buried her father 1 month
ago and her mother 3 months ago.
Now her daughter.
Yesterday, the rabbit seemed to help. It was a reminder
of her only daughter's favorite children's book, ``Guess
How Much I Love You?'' And this was Gail's favorite
passage: ``The little nut-brown hare told the big nut-
brown hare, `I love you all the way to the moon.' ''
Gail's brother, Ray, recited the passage out loud, to
explain just how much he loved his sister, ``all the way
to the moon.''
Right next to the pain, there was an another
unmistakable visitor at the ceremony--a sense of
celebration.
It was as obvious as the fluffy blue blankets passed
around to keep everyone warm in the chilly airplane
hangar.
There is mourning, said Michael Payne, brother of crash
victim Lawry Payne. ``On the other hand, it's an
absolutely wonderful feeling. We are just overcome with
the outpouring of love. . . . I mean, literally, I want to
thank the Nation.''
The outpouring came from so many directions--not just
from friends, but from the President and First Lady, too,
who met privately with each family before the event.
``It was wonderful to have them there, to have them put
their arms around us,'' said Darrell Darling, the father
of Adam. ``We felt their love.''
And they felt a form of happiness, being reminded at
every turn of what their lost ones had done, and what
others thought of them. There were not just shared tears
during the private Presidential meetings. Said Darling,
whose son worked on the Clinton Presidential campaign
before joining the Commerce Department: ``We laughed, too.
That's part of our loving.''
In the end, as the hearses disappeared into the
gathering darkness, and as a few drops of rain began to
fall, everyone headed off to come to terms, in their own
way, with what had happened.
The Dobert family, along with a number of their
daughter's best friends, were going to Rehoboth, DE, where
Gail loved to spend summer weekends with friends. Her
friends were reminiscing about those weekends, about Gail,
how she would lounge in the sun, getting a good tan--and
read papers from the Congressional Research Service. After
the ceremony, they were planning to go for a walk on the
beach, Gail's beach.
The Darling family--Kareen, Darrell and their daughter,
Denise--would be surrounded by their son's many comrades
who came out here, who wouldn't have thought of not
coming. ``It's like being with Adam and his friends, with
Adam not yet arrived,'' Darrell said.
During his speech, President Clinton reminded the
audience that when the sun dawned again, it would be
Easter. The Darling family heard the President--and was a
step ahead of him.
``Adam believed in the Resurrection,'' Darrell said. ``I
believe in the Resurrection. The man is alive.''
a
[From the Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1996]
A Man Beyond Race
(By Susan Estrich)
Among the tributes that poured in to Commerce Secretary
Ronald H. Brown last week, few mentioned race relations as
the area where his loss would be most greatly felt. Asian
leaders wondered where they would next find such a strong
ally to balance his friend U.S. Trade Representative
Mickey Kantor's hard line on trade. Corporate America
mourned the most vigorous advocate for U.S. business ever
to serve as Commerce Secretary. In Bosnia, there was
concern that his loss might doom prospects for economic
development to secure peace.
By the time of his death, Brown had moved well beyond
the issues of black politics that defined his early
career. But he never left them behind. In his life, Brown
did what our country must do: He bridged the racial
divide.
Brown spent 12 years at the Urban League before joining
Senator Edward M. Kennedy's Presidential campaign in 1979,
as a deputy campaign manager. There was also a deputy
campaign manager who happened to be a woman, and one who
happened to be Latino. If they looked like tokens, it
should be said that three tokens were three more than many
campaigns had, then or now. Still, there were the deputy
campaign managers, and there were the guys who ran the
campaign--initially known as the ``little white boys.''
Brown began as a member of one group, and ended as a
member of both. He integrated the white boys. He started
out running black politics, and ended up running
California and the Democratic National Convention--and
still ran black politics, but with more clout. That's how
he did it.
He succeeded because he was so good he could not be
denied. When he ran for party chairman in 1989, the
conventional wisdom was that the last thing the Democratic
Party needed was a liberal, black, Kennedy-Jackson
loyalist as chair. He would have had a far easier time
winning if, like most of his predecessors, he were a
white, Washington lawyer.
Some of Brown's own supporters sold his candidacy to
concerned Southerners with one of those ``Nixon goes to
China'' approaches--as if Brown would someday repudiate
his friends on the left or in the black community. Absurd.
What he did do was find a way to put a coalition together
that included them--and that could elect a President.
After he was elected party chairman, Brown told Democratic
National Committee members, ``The story of my chairmanship
will not be about race, it will be about the races we
win.'' It was. Brown set out to be the party chairman who
recaptured the White House--and was. He was also the first
and only black to chair a major party.
After Bill Clinton was elected President, Brown had
choices. ``I had a couple of options in the
Administration,'' he told a reporter, ``and the one I
chose to pursue was the one that I thought would make the
most difference as far as removing old ceilings and
barriers and stereotypes and obstacles.'' He went to head
the Commerce Department. Liberalism can't win, and can't
work, if it's perceived as anti-business. In Brown's
version, liberals are the ones who help provide more and
better jobs for ordinary Americans, and international
trade and exports were his answer. In the man from the
Urban League, American business found its most powerful
advocate.
To succeed on others terms without losing yourself,
without beginning to think you're different from the rest,
is no small accomplishment. In a speech last January,
Brown attacked Republicans who were trying to use
affirmative action as a wedge issue. ``We know the
truth,'' he said, ``that discrimination is alive and well
in America. What makes me angriest of all is the right
wing's sanctimonious embrace of colorblindness and
meritocracy to defend the rights of white men. About three
decades too late, they've discovered fairness and equal
opportunity. Where were these people during our struggle?
Do any of you remember Phil Gramm coming along on the
Freedom Rides? Was Newt Gingrich going door-to-door to
register black voters in Mississippi?'' It was how Brown
used his anger, not its absence, that made him different.
Ron and I got to be friends in that 1980 Kennedy
campaign. We traveled together, went to endless meetings
together. I, often the only woman in the room, would watch
him, often the only black, looking for clues as to how to
maintain balance, how to cross bridges, how to do it with
dignity and integrity.
In 1988, Jesse Jackson found out from a reporter, not
Governor Michael S. Dukakis, that he had not been chosen
as Dukakis' running mate. I was off arranging Senator
Lloyd Bentsen's arrival in town when an emergency call
came in from Ron, who was Jackson's campaign manager. He
was furious. Jackson felt he'd been insulted, and that was
all he needed to do what many of us feared he wanted to
do; tear the convention apart, producing a picture for the
Nation of a party that couldn't govern--the sort of
convention we'd had in 1980, with race tossed in to make
it even worse. I couldn't explain to Ron how it was that
the phone number he'd given me--and that I'd given the
secretary to make sure something like this didn't happen--
somehow hadn't gotten dialed. They had called a different
number. All I could do was ask for his help. That was it.
Don't let it get torn apart. ``All right, sweetie,'' he
said to me, ``let's see how we can put this back together.
It will be harder without him.
a
[From the Boston Globe, April 7, 1996]
A Devastating Loss
(By Thomas Oliphant)
One of the first, devastated mourners to emerge from
Thursday's memorial service at St. John's Church was a
spectacular, brilliant woman named Melissa Moss.
She made it to where President and Hillary Rodham
Clinton were standing near the church steps before she
almost literally fell into the President's arms.
Clinton held her a very long time, as did his sobbing
wife--a fitting as well as indescribably painful metaphor
for the horrifying tragedy of last week's plane crash on a
hill outside Dubrovnik in Croatia.
Sometimes an event is so unrelievedly hideous that its
dimensions can only be glimpsed from the outside via
vignette.
Melissa Moss was a close adviser to Ron Brown. She was
at the core of his intricate relations with America's
corporate community, helping implement strategies not just
to weave a new, cooperative relationship between
government and business, but to run a post-Cold War,
economics-based foreign policy as well.
Last Friday was her final day on the job. But for the
accident of a career change's timing, she would have been
on that airplane.
But there's more. When I met her several years ago, she
was a senior staff member of the Democratic Leadership
Council, the organization formed in the wake of the 1984
Reagan reelection landslide to nudge (and sometimes push)
the party more to the center. Then-Governor Bill Clinton
had just finished a stretch as its chairman when he
launched his Presidential candidacy.
Moss would then move over to the Democratic National
Committee under Brown's chairmanship. She was an integral
part of the fund-raising that helped give Clinton the
extra support after his success in the primaries without
which he could not have been elected.
This mixture of shared experience, shared grief and
immediate irony made the moment at the church too
heartbreaking for words, which would at any rate have been
superfluous.
This moderate, New Ideas Democrat, moreover, worked with
Secretary Brown in a microcosm of the Clinton coalition.
Moss' office was just down a hall from Brown's press
secretary, Carol Hamilton. She had been the campaign's
spokesman in New York, but she had known Brown since he
spotted her talent back when she worked for the Reverend
Jesse Jackson in the 1988 Presidential campaign. Today,
Carol Hamilton is dead.
Brown and his senior staff also enjoyed the company of a
promising, 29-year-old named Adam Darling, who was pure
Clinton, having toiled in the famous War Room in Little
Rock. Darling's great promise was also cruelly denied on
that Croatian hillside.
The Brown party, though, was not killed on a campaign
trip. In addition to the military crew, two Croatians and
a highly regarded journalist from The New York Times, the
crash also cost the lives of a dozen business executives
from highly specialized firms that had been assembled to
meet the needs of the war-torn economies of Bosnia and
Croatia for infrastructure construction--a huge loss.
One reason Brown loved his job was that it gave him a
chance to apply the stunning skill he developed as a
politician to high-stack governance.
Above all, he was an organizer and coalition-builder
without equal. In many surface-scratching reactions to his
death, Ron Brown was simplistically placed at the places
where the often competing forces and institutions of
American life meet.
That, however, would make him simply a power-broker and
deal-maker; they exist by the dozen around this town.
What set Brown apart was his commitment and unique
ability to put political skills to work for a larger
purpose than mere political victory and power. In Bosnia,
diplomacy and even peace-keeping troops will not produce a
lasting peace; that will only have a chance if a renewed
economy is providing reasonable hope for the future.
To help jump-start the development process with risky,
outside private investment, financed multilaterally, is a
Herculean task. At the time he died, Brown had assembled
nascent operations not only in the Balkans, but also in
South Africa, the West Bank and Northern Ireland.
His death, compounded by the loss of those with him,
causes pain beyond description for those of us who were
his friends. That is personal.
But the shining example of his life--mocking bigotry,
giving progressivism a fresh chance to govern effectively
and showing how new ideas can make a difference in a new
world--commands, as only he can, that the work go on--
which it will.
a
[From the Washington Post, April 9, 1996]
Homecoming at Dover
(Editorial)
There are moments when only the President of the United
States can speak for the Nation. Last Saturday afternoon
at Dover Air Force Base--when 33 flag-draped caskets
returned home to a grieving Nation--was just such an
occasion. In the presence of family members, friends and
Washington officials gathered in the makeshift hangar
memorial site to welcome the return of Commerce Secretary
Ronald Brown and his ill-fated trade delegation, Bill
Clinton gave perhaps the best speech of his Presidency and
one of the finest commemorative remarks by a chief
executive in memory.
The men and women who left Washington several days ago
for the Balkans spanned the spectrum in rank, experience,
occupations and age. They consisted of a Cabinet officer,
a senior government official, civil servants, business
executives, members of the armed forces and a journalist.
They returned home on Saturday, however, side-by-side,
departing the aircraft in no special order,
indistinguishable from one another, and were received with
great dignity by a military honor guard and the President
who paid tribute to each with identical care and grace.
The salute bestowed upon them was deserving. ``They were
a glowing testimonial to the power of individuals to
improve their own lives and elevate the lives of others
and make a better future for others,'' President Clinton
said. ``For each of these 33 of our fellow Americans'' who
died on the Croatian mountainside, Mr. Clinton observed
``their day on Earth was too short.'' ``But,'' he observed
``for our countrymen and women, we must remember that what
they did while the sun was out will last with us
forever.''
In the President's brief but moving eulogy, the tragic
and stunning loss was transformed into a celebration of
both the lives of the men and women killed in the place
crash and their mission. What they were seeking to do--
that is, advance American interests by reconstructing and
bringing peace to a badly fractured nation--was not
unique. There have been many other such American missions
on other occasions to many other parts of the world. The
business of solving problems, or at least attempting to
find answers to great and complex questions in distant
lands, is an American tradition and obligation, if not a
special gift. That these 33 Americans died, however, while
trying to deliver American hope and enterprise makes their
return home to shiny black hearses all the more poignant.
It fell to the President to put into words what many in
the Nation might have been feeling about the victims,
their grief-stricken families and friends, and the purpose
of their mission. Speaking to the Nation, Bill Clinton
said, ``I say to all of you, to every American, they were
all patriots. Whether soldiers or civil servants or
committed citizens, they were patriots.'' Well said.
[From the New York Times, April 9, 1996]
Mourners Flock to Pay Respects to Brown
(By David E. Sanger)
WASHINGTON, April 9--Ronald H. Brown came back to the
Commerce Department today in a flag-draped coffin with
military honors, and thousands of mourners stood for hours
in a driving rain to pay their respects to a man who in
the last decade had stood at the center of American
politics, trade and diplomacy.
Mr. Brown, who was killed last Wednesday in a plane
crash in Croatia that took the lives of 32 other
Americans--including Commerce Department employees,
business executives and a correspondent for The New York
Times--was the first Cabinet member in more than 150 years
to die while carrying out his duties.
But what caught this usually hard-edged city by surprise
today was the outpouring of public emotion from Government
employees, residents of the city and visitors who flocked
to the headquarters of the Commerce Department for the
first of two days of public remembrances.
``He was an incredible role model for blacks and for
anyone in public service,'' said Dwayne Reevey, a
corrections officer from Red Bank, NJ, who waited with his
family of six this afternoon for a glimpse of Mr. Brown's
coffin, which rested on the catafalque constructed in
April 1865 for President Abraham Lincoln's coffin.
``Standing here for 2 hours doesn't seem like much when
you think of what he did for all of us.''
Tonight, Mr. Brown's family is holding a memorial
service, to be led by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, whose
campaign for President Mr. Brown once managed. Senator
Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, and the
United States Trade Representative, Mickey Kantor, were
also scheduled to speak at the service.
On Wednesday, President Clinton will deliver a eulogy at
the National Cathedral, and Mr. Brown will be buried later
in the day in Arlington National Cemetery.
For many in the Commerce Department, which Mr. Brown had
in the last year fought to save from dismantlement, work
has been carried out from habit since the plane carrying
the Secretary's delegation was first reported missing last
Wednesday morning. Now, even though the initial shock is
over, the hallways are still filled with workers who are
embracing each other and recalling the lives and hopes of
the eleven other Commerce officials who died during the
mission.
``She had just fallen in love,'' one worker said today,
shaking her head as she looked at the photograph of Carol
Hamilton, Mr. Brown's press secretary. Ms. Hamilton's
picture was displayed along with those of her colleagues
on a table inside the Commerce Department's ornate foyer
today where Mr. Brown's body was watched by a six-man
honor guard.
The use of the Lincoln catafalque was a measure of the
Administration's decision to turn the services for Mr.
Brown into something just short of a state funeral. The
Commerce Department said that the antique platform had
never before been used for a Cabinet secretary who died in
office, though it served as the platform for the coffins
of President John F. Kennedy, General Douglas MacArthur
and Chief Justice Earl Warren.
There is, in fact, little precedent for how to honor a
Cabinet member who died performing his duties. The last
instance was in February 1844, when the world's largest
naval gun at the time, called The Peacemaker, was
demonstrated for President John Tyler and his Cabinet on
the U.S.S. Princeton. The gun exploded, killing Secretary
of State Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas W.
Gilmer and four others. Their coffins lay in state in the
East Room of the White House, where the funeral services
were also conducted.
Many of those who came to the Commerce Department today
had no particular connection to Mr. Brown or even to the
Government. They came, they said, because Mr. Brown was a
rare example of a black American who rose to the top of
the Washington power structure while retaining deep ties
to his roots.
``He was a good man and he made the African-American
community proud,'' said Lisa Caraway, a systems engineer
from Atlanta who was visiting family members here and took
the better part of the day to pay her respects. ``He came
from Harlem and really rose through the ranks.''
Many in the line were among the 38,000 employees of the
Commerce Department, most of whom knew Mr. Brown only
distantly, as the endlessly ebullient political operator
who turned the Department from a sleepy backwater into a
central player in international trade issues and who saved
their jobs from Congressional budget-cutters.
``I only saw him twice, but he had this vibrant
personality that made you feel good about coming to work
every day,'' said Tony Perry, a 40-year-old official at
the Census Bureau, which falls under the Commerce
Department's broad purview. ``That makes such a huge
difference.''
a
[From USA Today, April 10, 1996]
Brown Mourned on Dreary Day
(By Carol Comegno)
public pays last respects
Pat Rodriguez stood in a bone-chilling rain for 4 hours
Tuesday, the first of hundreds in line to say a final
farewell to Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.
Like so many who waited to walk silently past the coffin
in the stone and marble lobby of the building where Brown
worked for 3 years, she had never met him.
``I watched Secretary Brown's rise for many years,''
said Rodriguez, 49, a telecommunications consultant from
Lanham, MD, who had seen Brown at conferences when he was
a lawyer.
``We in the African-American community are proud of him.
He was trying to do good things and bring things together
in a country that had been torn by war.''
Since Brown and 34 others died on a trade mission when
their plane crashed in Croatia last Wednesday, Rodriguez
had been thinking of Brown's family. So she did what she
could do to offer comfort. She made a gift for Brown's
wife, Alma--a quilt of red, white and blue with the
Presidential seal.
``I thought the seal would be appropriate because he was
one of the architects of the Clinton election,'' she said.
Inside the Commerce building Tuesday, Brown's family was
joined by Vice President Gore for private time before the
public entered.
Rodriguez gave the quilt to a Commerce staffer and then,
unable to wait any longer, left the line without going
inside.
``I did what I came to do,'' she said.
The Commerce Department lobby remained open through the
night for the public to view the flag-covered casket,
which lay closed on a velvet-draped bier that has held the
remains of President Lincoln and others, but never before
a Cabinet secretary. A military honor guard representing
each of the five services stood watch.
Cabinet members and other dignitaries, including Bosnian
ambassador Sven Alkalaj, added their signatures to the
lesser-known names in the guest books.
Nearly 60 children and adults from Elizabethtown, NC,
skipped a White House tour for the visitation.
``I thought it would be an experience for us all, and I
thought his work as chairman of the Democratic Party was
quite remarkable,'' said Margaret Lawrence, 51, director
of the pre-college Outward Bound program in Elizabethtown.
Other tourists such as Arnold Sanderson of Sanford, MI
and his family took time out to honor Brown. He called
Brown a ``patriotic fellow doing good things for our
country.''
Among the local residents was Annie Hart, a retired
hospital worker. ``I'm here today for what he stood for--
peace and unity. And he was for everyone, black and
white.''
Dennis Williams, a sales contractor from Upper Marlboro,
MD, said Brown was his role model. ``They talk about
athletes being role models, but he was a decent person who
was in touch with people.''
As rain alternated with snow, Williams stood for hours
in the line around the Commerce building.
``I don't mind waiting,'' Williams said. ``He perished
in conditions 10 times worse than this. You see, it's all
about sacrifice.''
a
[From the Washington Post, April 11, 1996]
This Man Loved Life and All the Things in It
(By Cindy Loose)
a fond farewell from the people
They were ordinary people. More than a thousand of them.
Without the connections needed to get advance tickets,
they stood shivering in line for as long as 6 hours to say
goodbye to a man most had never met.
A retired tool and die maker from Baltimore--a white
man--chatted with a retired black maid from Washington as
he waited outside Washington National Cathedral for the
funeral of Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown.
Behind them two ministers--one black, the other white--
discovered that they shared not only a profession but also
similar families, including children almost the same ages.
``It's like we're long-lost soul mates,'' said the
Reverend Robert Hundley, referring to his new friend, the
Reverend Leslie Taylor.
In short, Ron Brown continued to do, even in death, what
he'd done best in life--bring people together.
People gathered not only around the cathedral, where
Brown's funeral drew 4,700 mourners, but also along the
streets, standing in a cold rain to catch a glimpse of his
hearse passing by.
Cesar Navas took cover under the awning of a Dupont
Circle strip joint, taking ``a few minutes out of my
workday to pay my respects.'' On U Street NW, a restaurant
owner Virginia Ali remembered how Brown liked heaps of
chili on his hot dogs. At Arlington National Cemetery, in
a section a quarter-mile from the dignitaries, people
wept.
They came, some said, because of his accomplishments--
what he had done for the Democratic Party, or the Urban
League, or the Commerce Department. But most quite simply
were responding to a person they perceived as a kind man
who cared about people.
``I came because he was a decent human being trying to
show all people of all nationalities to show love,'' said
Abbrial Seagle, a financial assistant at the Dumbarton
Oaks museum. ``Although he was a wealthy and successful
man, he tried reaching back to bring others along the
way.''
Asked if she came because Brown meant something to her,
Selestine Jeter answered: ``I hope he meant something to
everybody. He was a positive black man, and it's a
terrible loss for a lot of people, not just blacks.''
Jeter and Hannah Lewis didn't have time to attend the
funeral, but they came by during their break as aides at a
nearby nursing home, hoping to get a program.
``We also wanted, in a funny kind of way, I suppose, to
pay our respects,'' Jeter said.
Two blocks down Wisconsin Avenue NW, where limousines
were parked three deep, chauffeurs talked about Brown and
wished they could be inside the cathedral for his funeral.
``From a chauffeur's viewpoint, Ron Brown is the best
customer in the world,'' said Rodney R. Ross, who had
Brown in his car a number of times. ``He's the type of guy
who goes to dinner, and he makes sure you have something
to eat as well.''
The first person in line at the cathedral was Shirley
Pitts, who left her home in Harlem the night before to
catch Greyhound's red-eye to Washington, arriving at the
cathedral at 6 a.m. When tickets were finally passed out,
she took two.
She had met Ron Brown in Harlem back in 1992, and he got
her and an 89-year-old friend VIP tickets to the
Democratic National Convention. Her friend was too frail
to make the trip yesterday, but she would want a ticket as
a souvenir of the important man who took the time to know
them.
Behind her, Shannon Freshour marveled at the line.
``Just look at it,'' Freshour said. ``There are people
of all races and ages and economic status, and we are all
talking. It's the greatest tribute to his life.''
For hours, she said, those around her ``talked about
what Ron Brown meant to them, about how cold they are,
about what the loss is like.''
Gerald Brown got the idea to drive from Steelton, PA, to
Washington during the middle of his 13-hour shift as a
computer programmer. At 2 a.m., he called his sister to
invite her along. ``It's my 39th birthday today,'' she
told her brother sleepily, then agreed to make the trip.
A few had personal favors to return. Nancy Hatamiya,
from Southern California, recalled when her husband, Lon
Hatamiya needed a boost for his campaign for the State
legislature--an unsuccessful run as it turned out. Brown
flew into Los Angeles to organize a campaign event.
``He didn't know us before. We've never forgotten
that,'' she said.
Donald Becker, of New Jersey, happened to be in Harlem
on business, he said, the day news arrived that Brown, 54,
and 34 others died in a plane crash in the mountains of
Croatia.
``It was amazing to see everyone, white and black, show
the same feelings of loss,'' Becker said. ``Women were
openly crying.''
Becker, who brought his two children and wife to the
funeral, was a young congressional aide in the 1970s. It
was there he saw Brown in action.
``He's one of those guys the media calls a crossover
politician. To me, he was just a great man,'' Becker said.
``He had a way of bringing all types together to make them
understand we had more in common than we had
differences.''
Brown's body was taken from the cathedral to the hearse,
which then circled around a large part of the city--south
on Massachusetts Avenue NW, east on Florida, then onto U
Street, once the black Broadway of Washington, before
circling the Commerce Department on the way to Arlington
National Cemetery.
Thirty-two adults and one toddler lined up in front of
Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street NW, to watch as the hearse
and three black limousines with darkened windows rolled
rapidly through the Shaw neighborhood.
Richard Swales removed his stained blue baseball cap as
the hearse passed, then picked up his squeegee and bucket
of water and went back to work washing the restaurant
windows. His boss, Virginia Ali, said she flew back early
from a vacation in Nevada because of Brown's death. ``I
had to do something,'' she said. ``It was such a nice
gesture for the family to come to Shaw today.''
Brown ``was a great symbol of what we could be,'' said
Roscoe Ellis, an independent researcher who was standing
in front of the historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street. ``.
. . When he got into the mainstream, he never forgot about
the side stream.''
Stanley Mayes, a contractor, walked from his house a few
blocks away, carrying his 2-year-old son, Justin, to see
the cortege.
Mayes said he often saw Brown at Wilson's restaurant a
few block away. ``He'd wave and I'd wave. . . . I always
felt he would be available to talk,'' Mayes said. ``He was
a person with that comfort level. He was one of us.''
a
[From Manufacturing News, April 15, 1996]
In Honor of the Late, Great Ronald Brown
(By Richard McCormack)
I remember the day when Ron Brown was selected by Bill
Clinton to be his Commerce Secretary. Sitting at my desk
overlooking the newsroom, the appointment took me by
surprise. Having covered the Commerce Department closely
for the previous 6 years, I was once again seeing the old
system of political patronage taking hold in the
backwater, but potentially powerful, agency. Commerce was
a dumping ground for those who donated a lot of money or
volunteered to get their men elected.
Having known some of the people who had successfully put
together Clinton's strategy to win the high-tech business
vote, Ron Brown's selection didn't seem right. Clinton
said repeatedly during the campaign that he was going to
spend most of his energy turning around the business
environment in the country. The Commerce Department was
going to play a central role in the Clinton strategy.
But with Ron Brown at the helm?
It was Ken Kay, executive director of the Computer
Systems Policy Project, who presented the first argument
to me in favor of the appointment. He said Brown had the
ear of the President, that he was a quick study, that he
was articulate, that he would raise the stature of the
Commerce Department and that as a consummate fundraiser he
had worked extremely well with business.
As time went on, I began to get to know Ron Brown, not
personally, but from news conferences and roundtables and
speeches that I covered. I soon realized that Ken Kay was
right.
One of the striking things about living in the
Washington area that people elsewhere in the country may
not appreciate is the sense of patriotism that pervades
much of the federal workforce. No doubt, there are many
thousands of bureaucrats who treat their jobs solely as a
means to achieve a wonderful retirement, but there are
many thousands more who truly feel they are servants of
the public and who wear American flags underneath their
suits.
Ron Brown was like that. But more important, he made the
people working for him, many of whom he never met or knew
remotely, feel the same way. Ron Brown and his entourage
who died near the Adriatic Sea were American casualties of
the Balkan war.
When Brown's body was lying in repose in the Herbert
Hoover building in which he worked, the 100-year-old
Department had never experienced such grief. Grief seemed
to be funneling into the cavernous building. It was Easter
week and the weather was cold, gray and wet. There was not
a hint of spring. How could it be possible for a man who
brought so much life and vigor into the building to be
there lying in state?
There are horror stories about previous Commerce
Department secretaries who installed security systems and
special entrances for themselves and never ate lunch in
the building's cafeteria or walked the halls.
Ron Brown was far different, and he will be sorely
missed on a number of different levels.
Most importantly, the United States lost its most
important African-American leader. Where most other black
leaders lead from the grass roots, Ron Brown was a leader
of the leaders. He died in a plane of employers not
employees.
I have interviewed a lot of Cabinet secretaries. I've
heard them tell lies. I've seen them try to use the press
and others to their political advantage in a way that was
spurious and disingenuous.
Not Ron Brown. He was refreshingly honest and sincere.
It has been great to see that after his death, people
have not had to try to make him look better than he was.
Not a bad word was said--or felt. This is the ultimate
compliment.