[Senate Document 105-34]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress, 2nd Session - - - - - - - - - - Senate Document 105-34
John Glenn
U.S. SENATOR FROM OHIO
TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
S. Doc. 105-34
Tributes
Delivered in Congress
John Glenn
United States Senator
1974-1998
---
Compiled under the direction
of the
Secretary of the Senate
by the
Office of Printing and Document Services
CONTENTS
Biography............................................. vii
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Bond, Christopher S., of Missouri.............. 6
Boxer, Barbara, of California.................. 41
Burns, Conrad, of Montana...................... 20
Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia.............. 6
Daschle, Tom, of South Dakota.................. 26
DeWine, Mike, of Ohio........................ 4, 31
Staff letter................................ 31
Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut........... 38
Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico............... 25
Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin............. 32
Ford, Wendell, of Kentucky..................... 24
Grams, Rod, of Minnesota....................... 1
Johnson, Tim, of South Dakota.................. 19
Kempthorne, Dirk, of Idaho..................... 22
Lautenberg, Frank R., of New Jersey............ 19
Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont.................. 10
Glenn Counts Down to Launch With Complete
Support From Wife and Colleagues--Senator
Set to Repeat History, Roll Call.......... 13
Levin, Carl, of Michigan..................... 1, 17
Lott, Trent, of Mississippi.................... 33
Sessions, Jeff, of Alabama..................... 4
Thurmond, Strom, of South Carolina............. 16
Order for printing of individual Senate documents.. 43
Proceedings in the House:
Tributes by Representatives:
Hall, Tony P., of Ohio......................... 45
Ney, Robert W., of Ohio........................ 45
Articles and Editorials:
`A Genuine American Hero' Says He'll Retire; Glenn
Announcement Made on Anniversary of Historic
Mission, Plain Dealer............................ 51
Age Keeps Glenn From 1998 Run, Columbus Dispatch... 53
Seniority Bites, Roll Call......................... 55
Sunday Profile: John Glenn; Return to Glory,
Atlanta Journal and Constitution................. 56
John Glenn's Mission of Discovery, Cincinnati
Enquirer......................................... 61
Back to the Future, Time Magazine.................. 66
The Last Heroes; John Glenn Flies Us Back to the
Age of Innocence, Life Magazine.................. 72
Glenn Returns to Space: The Overview, New York
Times............................................ 75
Glenn To Slip Bonds of Age in Space, New York Times 77
BIOGRAPHY
For John Glenn, the opportunity to represent Ohioans in
the U.S. Senate marks the summit of a distinguished career
that has included military service, the U.S. space
program, corporate management and national politics.
As Senator, John Glenn has worked to build a legislative
record that reflects the changing needs and growing
concerns of the Nation. In the 105th Congress, he is the
ranking minority member of both the Governmental Affairs
Committee and the subcommittee on AirLand Forces in the
Senate Armed Services Committee. He also serves on the
Select Committee on Intelligence and the special Committee
on Aging.
He is considered one of the Senate's leading experts on
technical and scientific matters, and is widely respected
for his work to prevent the spread of weapons of mass
destruction. He has used his position on the Governmental
Affairs Committee to root out waste in government and to
clean up the Nation's nuclear materials production plants.
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. was born on July 18, 1921, in
Cambridge, OH. Shortly after his birth, his family moved
to nearby New Concord where he later attended New Concord
High School. After graduation he enrolled in Muskingum
College, and began learning to fly at the New Philadelphia
airfield. Directly after Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the
Naval Aviation Cadet Program. He was commissioned in the
Marine Corps in 1943 and served in combat in the South
Pacific and the Korean conflict.
Glenn served several years as a test pilot, setting a
transcontinental speed record in 1957 for the first flight
to average supersonic speeds from Los Angeles to New York.
In 1959 John Glenn was selected to be one of the first
seven NASA astronauts in the U.S. space program. Three
years later, on February 20, 1962, he made history as the
first American to orbit the Earth, completing three orbits
in a 5-hour flight. Throughout both his wartime and
peacetime service he received many honors, including the
Distinguished Flying Cross (6 occasions), the Air Medal
with 18 clusters, and the Space congressional Medal of
Honor.
After 23 years of distinguished service to his country,
Glenn retired from the Marine Corps in 1965. He took an
active part in politics and early environmental protection
efforts in Ohio while pursuing a career as an executive
with Royal Crown International. He won his Senate seat in
1974, carrying all 88 counties of Ohio, and was reelected
in 1980 with the largest margin in Ohio history. Ohioans
returned him to the Senate for a third term in 1986, and
in 1992 he again made history by being the first popularly
elected Senator from Ohio to win four consecutive terms.
In 1997 John Glenn returned to Muskingum College in New
Concord, OH, to announce he would retire from the Senate
upon the completion of his fourth term.
John Glenn and Anna Margaret Castor were married in
1943. They have a son, Dave, and a daughter, Lyn, and two
grandchildren. Annie and John Glenn have homes in
Columbus, OH, and Washington, DC.
TRIBUTES
to
JOHN GLENN
Proceedings in the Senate
Thursday, May 14, 1998.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this is also the final defense
authorization bill for three other members of our
committee--Senators Glenn, Coats and Kempthorne. They will
be leaving us this year, also through their choice. We
will miss them keenly. They have all made tremendous
contributions to the work of the Armed Services Committee
and to the national security of our country. Sometimes
their ways were similar and sometimes they were different,
but we are grateful for their contributions. I wanted to
note that as we get to work on the defense authorization
bill.
Monday, July 20, 1998.
Mr. GRAMS. Minnesotans were there at the dawn of the
Space Age, and I look forward to the role our State will
play as the next chapter of America's space history, the
era of the International Space Station, is written.
I believe the Nation's space programs, such as the
International Space Station, represent important
investments in America's future. The scientific and
technological benefits of this ambitious initiative are
impressive and will produce a high rate of return on the
American taxpayers' investment in aeronautical and space
programs. Among these benefits, the space station will
provide new insight into industrial research for air and
water purification, waste management and recycling,
computer technology, and environmental engineering. Most
notable is the progress being made in the biomedical
field.
The promise of a long-term, zero gravity environment has
scientists poised to conduct research into the development
of cures for diabetes, cancer, emphysema, and immune
system disorders. Moreover, the study and eventual
findings of why astronauts who spend extended periods of
time in space often experience weakening of their hearts
and blood vessels may lead to the diagnosis and treatment
of heart disease. It should also be noted that the
International Space Station is supported by many of this
Nation's most prominent medical and research
organizations, including the American Medical Association,
the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, the
American Medical Woman's Association, Bristol-Myers
Squibb, and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Clearly, the space
station promises to make significant contributions to the
study of medicine.
Mr. President, the International Space Station will help
to maintain U.S. leadership in space while promoting
international cooperation. This international laboratory
in orbit will bring American, Russian, European, Japanese,
and Canadian astronauts together in search of a common
goal: to develop further advances in science and
technology that will benefit future generations.
More importantly for the young people of America, the
space station will inspire greater interest in our
Nation's space programs. With this in mind, I would like
to commend some of the colleges and universities in my
home State of Minnesota for their commitment to
encouraging the involvement of our country's future
leaders in our aeronautical and space industry.
Mr. President, since 1989, NASA has administered the
``Space Grant'' program to enhance aerospace research and
education in the United States. This program is an
effective partnership among universities, the aerospace
industry, and Federal, State, and local governments that
assists in the recruitment and training of professionals
in aerospace science, engineering, and technology.
In my home State, the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium
is comprised of nine academic institutions along with the
Minnesota Department of Transportation. Those nine
institutions are: Augsburg College, Bemidji State
University, Bethel College, College of St. Catherine, Fond
du Lac Tribal and Community College, Macalester College,
Normandale Community College, the University of Minnesota-
Twin Cities, and the University of St. Thomas.
For the last several years, these institutions have
worked effectively together to promote aerospace science
through fellowships and scholarships, the development of
new courses in Physics and Geology, the establishment of a
new Space Studies minor among the consortia members, and
public lectures relating to space science and engineering.
I met recently with Emily Eelkema, a native of
Minneapolis and a senior at the University of Minnesota
studying Aerospace Engineering. Emily is a participant in
the NASA Academy on Aeronautics at the Dryden Flight
Research Center in California, and was initially selected
for this honor through the Minnesota Space Grant
Consortium.
Those selected for the NASA Academy are among the
brightest students in the country and have expressed a
deep interest in NASA aeronautical space research. I was
extremely impressed by Emily's grasp of Dryden's flight
research program and her life-long interest in aeronautics
and space activities. I am encouraged to learn of her
goals of becoming an astronaut and playing an important
role in the design of a manned Mars mission. Her
commitment to a career in this exciting field makes me
optimistic about the future of our space program.
Mr. President, the commemoration of ``Space Week'' would
not be complete without paying tribute to a true American
hero, our colleague Senator John Glenn. On October 29,
Senator Glenn will embark on a second journey into space,
this time aboard the space shuttle Discovery, as a payload
specialist responsible for conducting space-based research
on aging. His work may lead to further understanding by
scientists about the process of aging, and help reduce the
number of individuals requiring long-term medical care in
their later years.
Many deserving accolades have been placed upon Senator
Glenn for his accomplishments throughout his career as a
marine, the first American to orbit the Earth, and a U.S.
Senator. I believe no commendation has captured the
essence of John Glenn's commitment to public service than
that bestowed upon him more than 35 years ago by President
Kennedy during a visit to Cape Canaveral, FL.
Upon presentation of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal
to Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, President Kennedy spoke of
Glenn's historic orbital flight when he said, ``His
performance was marked by his great professional
knowledge, his skill as a test pilot, his unflinching
courage, and his extraordinary ability to perform the most
difficult tasks under conditions of great physical stress
and personal danger. His performance in fulfillment of
this most dangerous assignment reflects the highest credit
upon himself and the United States.''
Mr. President, I encourage all Americans to reflect upon
the benefits of our Nation's space programs during this
Space Week. As we approach the 21st century, Americans can
share a sense of national pride as we move forward in our
epic journey--a journey filled with uncertainty, yet with
great promise--into the space frontier.
Thursday, October 1, 1998.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from
Texas. We both share a keen interest in space. I will also
be speaking on the topic of the 40th anniversary of NASA,
which is today.
Mr. President, next month, from launch pad 39B at Cape
Canaveral, the space shuttle's main engines will fire up,
the solid rocket motors will ignite, and the crew of seven
will be sent off into orbit around our home planet. One of
those seven will be the distinguished Senator from Ohio.
More than 36 years after his first flight, John Glenn will
again orbit the Earth in a United States spacecraft.
I have here a picture of Senator Glenn taken 36 years
ago with Dr. Wernher von Braun in Huntsville, AL, my home
State. They are shown here discussing a proposed lunar
landing craft. What an imagination, what a vision, what an
exploring capacity they had. Shortly after that first
orbital flight, they were already planning a trip to the
Moon--a vision that many thought could never be achieved
and was achieved so successfully.
Senator Glenn's remarkable story is a subplot to the
remarkable story of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. On October 1, 1958, just 6 months before
the distinguished Senator from Ohio was named as one of
the original Mercury astronauts, NASA was born. Today,
NASA marks its 40th anniversary of service to this Nation.
Thursday, October 8, 1998.
Mr. DeWINE. I thank my colleague.
Mr. President, I rise today to discuss two important
provisions in this bill--provisions that honor two
distinguished Ohioans who are retiring from public service
this year--Lou Stokes and John Glenn.
Mr. President, the bill before us would name the
Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cleveland, OH,
the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. That is a fitting
tribute for a number of reasons.
First, Lou Stokes is a veteran, serving our country in
the U.S. Army during the Second World War.
Second, as ranking member of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Lou Stokes has
demonstrated that he is a true champion on behalf of his
fellow veterans.
Third, Lou Stokes in recent years has dedicated his
attention to improving the quality of care at the facility
that will bear his name. He has been working tirelessly
with me to provide funds to improve this facility for our
veterans in northeast Ohio. This bill in fact contains
$20.8 million to improve the ambulatory care unit at the
Stokes Medical Center. This is the latest of a lifetime of
examples of how Lou Stokes has made a difference--a
difference for veterans and for all his constituents.
I also am pleased and proud that the bill before us
contains a provision that, in my view, represents the
deepest feelings of the people of Ohio regarding our
senior Senator John Glenn.
Mr. President, it would be fair to say that the
imagination of Ohio, and indeed of all America, has been
captured by Senator Glenn's impending space voyage. It is
an inspiring odyssey. It is exiciting--it reminds us of
the spirit of American possibility we all thrilled to when
John Glenn made his first orbit back in 1962.
Senator Glenn's return to space as a member of the crew
of the space shuttle Discovery marks the culmination of an
incredible public career.
This is a man who flew 149 heroic combat missions as a
marine pilot in World War II and the Korean war--facing
death from enemy fighters and antiaircraft fire.
And none of us who were alive back in 1962 can forget
his historic space flight. I was in Mr. Ed Wingard's
science class, at Yellow Springs High School in Yellow
Springs, OH--we were glued to the TV. Our hearts, and the
hearts of all Americans, were with him that day.
John Glenn reassured us all that America didn't just
have a place in space. At the height of the cold war, he
reassured us that we have a place--in the future.
And that, Mr. President, brings me to the purpose of the
legislation I am introducing. Even as we speak, in
Cleveland, OH, there are some hardworking men and women of
science who are keeping America strong, who are keeping us
on the frontier of the human adventure. They are the
brilliant, persevering, and dedicated workers of the NASA-
Lewis Space Research Center.
People who understand aviation know how crucially
important the cutting-edge work of the NASA-Lewis
scientists is, for America's economic and technological
future.
Mr. President, what more fitting tribute could there be
to our distinguished colleague, Senator Glenn, than to
rename this facility--in his honor.
That, Mr. President, is the purpose of this legislation.
It recognizes not just a man's physical accomplishments--
but his spirit. It inspired us in 1962. It inspires us
this year. And it will remain strong in the work of all
those who expand America's frontiers.
The facility would be renamed the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration John H. Glenn Research Center at
Lewis Field--to honor our distinguished colleague, and
also the aviation pioneer for whom it is currently named.
George Lewis became Director of Aeronautical Research at
the precursor to NASA in 1919. It was then called the
National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, or NACA.
Lewis visited Germany prior to World War II. When he saw
their commitment to aeronautic research, he championed
American investment in aeronautic improvements--and
created the center which eventually bore his name.
He and John Glenn are pioneers on the same American
odyssey. Ohio looks to both of them with pride--and with
immense gratitude for their leadership.
And I am proud, today, that we were able to include this
in the bill. I thank my colleagues for that, and I also
want to thank our good friend, Louis Stokes, who has been
instrumental in shepherding this measure honoring Senator
Glenn in the other body.
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Ohio.
I, too, join with him in expressing appreciation for the
services of our colleague, Senator Glenn, and our
colleague on the House side, Congressman Stokes. I believe
it is very important that we recognize them in this bill.
I thank him for his comments.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the Random House College
Dictionary defines the term ``hero'' first as ``a man of
distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave
deeds and noble qualities,'' and second as ``a small loaf
of Italian bread.''
There is, of course, a wide disparity in these two
definitions. I think I shall appropriately use the initial
definition to describe the hero of whom I am about to
speak, Senator John Herschel Glenn, Jr. I have had the
honor of serving with him in the Senate for the last 24
years.
He is a gentleman. He is a great public servant to all
the Ohioans whose beliefs and values he has so ably
represented in this body.
As Senator Glenn prepares to officially retire from the
Senate and take up his wings of flight once again, I shall
take a few minutes to thank this distinguished Senator
from Ohio for all that he has done for our Republic as a
U.S. Senator and as a hero.
I thank him for his achievements as a Senator. I thank
him for his dedication to the Senate Governmental Affairs
Committee, on which he has served since 1975.
Following his personal motto: ``You Keep Climbing,''
Senator Glenn has moved up in the ranks.
From 1987 to 1995 he served as the chairman of the
committee, and then as the ranking Democratic Member until
the present time.
As a member of the committee, Senator Glenn has worked
to protect our Nation and its people, using his expert
knowledge to combat the issue of nuclear proliferation, to
protect our fellow Americans from all the environmental
dangers that are associated with the byproducts of nuclear
weapons, and is making the Government more accountable for
waste and fraud.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services,
on which I am pleased to serve with him, Senator Glenn has
worked to ensure that the United States military remained
ready and strong in the perilous aftermath of the cold
war.
He has shared a concern over the dangers of chemical
weapons. He has joined with others of us in attempting to
ensure that our military has absorbed the lessons of the
gulf war and is prepared to protect our troops from low
levels of chemical weapons.
On these two committees, Senator Glenn has served as a
voice of reason and common sense.
Senator Glenn is a hero for all of us to emulate as a
result of his honor and dedication to his country, his
family, and his own high standards.
I have asked this question in the Senate before: ``Where
have all the heroes gone?''
To this question I have no definitive answer, but I do
know where this hero is going to go * * * again.
Senator John Glenn is a steam engine in britches; he is
atomic energy in the flesh.
The senior Senator from Ohio has been a daredevil
virtually all of his life.
Not one to know when to slow down, Senator Glenn has
risked life and limb, both on the Earth's surface and in
the vastness of space which encompasses it, for one thing,
and one thing only--the United States of America.
John Glenn has been uniquely blessed to have had the
opportunity to soar above this Earth of ours, soar like an
eagle, surveying the beauty of creation that is God's
Green Earth.
To quote William Shakespeare in ``twelfth night,''
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon them.
Senator Glenn is one who has achieved greatness through
his service to his country; he is truly a great American
hero.
Not only a veteran of World War II, having served in
combat in the South Pacific after he was commissioned in
the Marine Corps in 1943, John Glenn is also a veteran of
the Korean war.
Having survived 149 combat missions as a marine, our
hero--our hero, my hero, your hero--our hero wanted to
move on to a more challenging career as a test pilot of
fighter and attack aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps.
And then, looking for new and extreme ways to test his
mortality, on February 20, 1962, Astronaut John Glenn
gently squeezed his body into the Friendship 7 rocket and
became the first American to orbit the Earth at almost
18,000 miles per hour.
Think of that. When I was young, I read a book by Jules
Verne titled, ``Around the World in 80 Days.'' John Glenn
went around the world in 89 minutes.
This may well have been the pinnacle of John Glenn's
life and career.
On that fateful Tuesday in 1962, not only was America
waiting with nervously clenched fists for news on
Lieutenant Colonel. John Glenn's condition after his
return to Earth, but the whole world was watching.
People from all nations prayed for the safe return of
this brave man.
Mr. President, I quote from an article entitled ``Man's
`Finest Hour.' '' I have been saving this article, now,
for almost 37 years--``Man's `Finest Hour','' by the late
David Lawrence, which was originally published in the
March 5, 1962, edition of U.S. News and World Report:
Miracles do happen when the world shows its humility in
prayer.
The voices that besought Almighty God to save the life
of Colonel Glenn can speak again, as even more of us
petition him to save humanity from nuclear war.
For those prolonged minutes of prayer on Tuesday,
February 20, constituted man's ``finest hour''.
Now, if the Good Lord is willing, on October 29, our
friend and colleague--and hero--John Glenn, still brimming
with vital energy, will be leaving the relative comfort of
Mother Earth far behind.
It is always a melancholy time when the institution of
the U.S. Senate has one of its finest Members move on. But
it is a glad time when one of its Members moves on to
something greater.
``Excelsior, ever upward.'' That is the motto of John
Glenn. He has bigger fish to fry, so he is ready to get
away from Washington, DC--far, far away.
Senator Glenn's return to space aboard shuttle Discovery
will add another significant page to the annals of
history.
The capacity in which Senator Glenn will be operating on
the Discovery is representative of the way in which he had
lived the last three decades of his life, despite his
global fame--modestly and without great fanfare.
I am certain that he will perform his mission on
Discovery with the same diligence and sense of duty that
he has shown in serving his great State of Ohio in the
U.S. Senate.
The world in 1998 is a lot different from that world of
1962, when John Glenn was first catapulted into space.
Similarly, the space shuttle Discovery is about as close
in design to the Friendship 7 rocket as an old Oliver
typewriter--I was trying to remember the name of an old
typewriter I had around the house when I was a boy--about
as close in design to the Friendship 7 rocket as an old
Oliver typewriter is to a home computer.
The one thing that shall remain constant in this most
recent launch is that the world will once again be
watching, gripping chairs, biting fingernails, and saying
its prayers for the Glenn family. For John Glenn, and for
all the crew members of Discovery, and for Annie, that
sweet little wife of John's.
It is hard to relate, to those Americans who were not
yet born in 1962, the thoughts and emotions of the world
on Tuesday, February 20, of that year.
Technology has become so advanced that flights into
space are routine.
Men and women are able to live for months at a time in
floating space stations.
America tends to take for granted the risks that our
Nation's astronauts take to perform scientific
experiments, carefully placing communications satellites
into orbit, and repairing important instruments of
observation--all of which make life on Earth much more
enjoyable.
In 1962, the risks were greater and there were many
unknown factors that experience has now brought to light
and revealed and smoothed over.
Senator Glenn's return to space brings that all back,
and reminds us of the tremendous changes wrought by
Americans within the career of one man.
So, this evening I take this opportunity to wish the
best of luck to John Glenn and to Annie and to others of
his family.
I anxiously anticipate Discovery's safe return to Earth,
and I extend my best wishes, and those of my wife Erma, to
Senator Glenn and to Annie for many years of health and
happiness after he returns to Earth and leaves the Halls
of the Capitol behind.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Senator Glenn.
Friday, October 9, 1998.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is a time when Senators say
goodbye to Senators who are leaving, and I was privileged,
in 1974, to be elected with a very special class of
Senators, a very large class of Senators--nearly a dozen--
who came to this body. We developed personal friendships.
Of that class, there are only four left: The distinguished
senior Senator from Ohio, Mr. Glenn; the distinguished
senior Senator from Kentucky, Mr. Ford; the distinguished
senior Senator from Arkansas, Mr. Bumpers; and myself.
Each of the other three have announced their plans to
retire this year. In some ways I feel like the lonely
person who is given the chore to turn out the lights after
everybody else leaves, because I will be the last of the
class of 1974.
I am going to speak of each of them, but I wish to speak
now and to give tribute to a great statesman, a person who
is recognized as a true American hero and a very good
friend of mine, John Hershel Glenn, Jr.
As I said, we both arrived in the Senate at the same
time in 1974. There was a big difference, however. I came
here as a 34-year-old unknown county prosecutor from rural
Vermont. John Glenn arrived here as a living American
legend. We have served together now for 24 years and it is
with the fondest memories that I recollect his time here.
I remember the very first day I met him. The two of us had
gone over to see the legendary Jim Eastland, President pro
tempore of the Senate. That is probably the only time,
then or since, I have ever seen John Glenn look at all
nervous, was going in to see Senator Eastland. Senator
Glenn was nervous. I was terrified. There is a big
difference.
But John Glenn will be remembered here in the Senate as
a man who advocated a role for Government in daily life,
but he never stopped trying to make Government more
efficient. He is one of our leading experts on science and
technology. He has always been a tireless advocate for
government-sponsored scientific and health research. He
brought tremendous intellect and dedication to the task of
preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. I
remember when the United States and the Soviet Union were
locked in a wasteful nuclear arms race, John Glenn was a
voice of reason and moderation.
He has used his seat on the Armed Services Committee to
advocate for our men and women in uniform, while at the
same time looking out for wasteful spending. I remember,
when I and others began to have doubts about the costly B-
2 bomber--$2 billion a plane--that I read papers and memos
about it. John Glenn went out and flew it, then came back
and said its cost outweighed its benefits. I credit him
for saving the taxpayers a lot of money.
He used his position in the Governmental Affairs
Committee to expose waste in Government and to clean up
the Nation's nuclear materials production plants.
In his conduct here in the Senate, John has always been
nonpartisan, polite, accommodating, but always true to his
beliefs. His personality reminds me of Longfellow's words,
``A tender heart; a will inflexible.''
It is hard for us to think of John Glenn before he was a
national hero, but not so long ago he was a smalltown boy
like many of us. He was born on July 18, 1921, in
Cambridge, OH. He grew up in the tiny town of New Concord,
OH. But, like millions of Americans, his life was forever
changed by World War II.
Many of us know the details of what makes John Glenn a
hero, but I want to repeat them for my colleagues. Shortly
after Pearl Harbor, he was commissioned in the Marines
Corps. He served as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific.
He stayed in the marines, and when the Korean war started,
John Glenn requested combat duty. He ended up flying 149
combat missions in both wars. How good a pilot is our
colleague from Ohio? In the last 9 days of fighting in
Korea, he downed three Chinese MiG fighters in combat
along the Yalu River.
In July 1957, he set a speed record from Los Angeles to
New York, the first transcontinental flight to average
supersonic speed.
An avid pilot to this day, John has over 9,000 hours of
flight time in a variety of aircraft. To put that
statistic in perspective, to equal that mark you would
have to fly 8 hours a day, every day of the year, for 3
years.
Probably the flight that I remember the best, the one I
enjoyed as much as any, was when John Glenn and I flew to
the northeast kingdom of Vermont in a small float plane at
the height of glorious fall foliage. John and Annie Glenn
were staying with Marcelle and I at our farm in Middlesex,
VT. John had borrowed the plane from a friend of mine in
Vermont. We flew up and set down in one of those little
Vermont ponds with the fall foliage around it. There
happened to be a trapper's convention there. Some of the
people there were calling him Colonel Glenn, not Senator
Glenn. They kind of put up with me being there, but he was
the hero.
Of course I do remember also the look on John and
Marcelle's and Annie's faces when we landed in Montpelier
Airport in a heavy crosswind. John turned to me after he
taxied up and said, ``You know, I have never been so
frightened landing anything in my life,'' which almost
stopped my heart to hear him tell it. But when we got out
of the plane, John was wearing--this is accurate now--a
skunk-skin cap which the trappers had given him.
He stepped out of the airplane with me shaking and
quivering behind him. Annie turned to Marcelle and says,
``Marcelle, I told you we never should have let those boys
go off by themselves.''
We all know what happened in a far more dramatic time
when John strapped himself into a tiny capsule on top a
gigantic tube of volatile fuel on February 20, 1962. When
he landed 4 hours 55 minutes later, John Glenn not only
became the first American to orbit the Earth, but he
boosted the psyche of our Nation in a way not seen equaled
before or since.
Cicero said a man of courage is also full of faith. It
should be said that John Glenn is a man who puts all his
faith in God.
All his accomplishments here in the Senate, in the
cockpit, in the capsule, all pale before the one true
constant in John Glenn's life, and that is the love he
shares with his beautiful wife Annie. They are truly a
couple for the ages and role models for all of us. Married
for 55 years, they have two wonderful children, John David
and Carolyn Ann, whom we all know as Lyn.
When the space shuttle Discovery surges into space later
this month, the cabin will be cramped with the seven
astronauts aboard. But sitting with John in spirit, as she
has for so many years, will be Annie. They are truly
inseparable. No matter how fast or far he travels, she is
always with him.
Mr. President, later this month the eyes of the Nation
and the world will focus on Cape Canaveral, FL. We will
watch as a marvelous machine, built by Americans, flown by
an international crew, roars into the heavens in the name
of science, and on board will be our colleague from Ohio,
a great Senator, an expert pilot and extraordinary
American hero, my friend, John Glenn. I intend to be there
to cheer him on.
Once again, as he has done in so many ways over the
years, John Glenn will make us turn our eyes toward the
heavens, and like all who will be there, I will say,
``Godspeed, John Glenn, and thank you.''
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article
from Roll Call about Senator Glenn be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
[From Roll Call, October 5, 1998]
Glenn Counts Down to Launch With Complete Support From
Wife and Colleagues--Senator Set to Repeat History
(By Ed Henry)
He's survived 149 combat missions as a marine, orbited
the Earth three times at 17,544 miles per hour as an
astronaut and endured 24 years of partisan battles as a
Senator.
But John Glenn says that one of the toughest missions of
his life came as a husband: convincing his wife, Annie,
that it was a good idea for him to be shot into space
again at the end of this month.
``Let's say she was a little cool with this whole idea
to begin with--that's the understatement,'' Glenn said in
an interview about the October 29 space mission. ``She
didn't react too kindly when I first started talking about
this some time ago.''
The 77-year-old Ohio Democrat said that while the
couple's two children were not excited about the Discovery
launch either, ``Annie was the main one to convince.''
Slipping into the lingo of an old marine, Glenn noted
that based on all of the dangers he's already faced, he
could have gotten ``bagged'' long ago.
``There were lots of times that things could have gone a
little bit different way, but they didn't,'' he said.
``But I think all my life, I guess, you don't look back
and think what might have been or where you might have
gotten bagged or whatever. You look forward. There are
risks in everything you do.''
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), one of the couple's
closest friends, said Annie was ``apprehensive'' about the
fact that her husband was heading into space so close to
his retirement from the Senate.
``She had some reluctance because he was coming to a
time in his life when they were going to have more time
together,'' said Leahy. ``They are an extraordinarily
close couple--they're sort of the role model for all of us
in our own marriages.''
Nobody underestimates the strength of Annie Glenn, who
toughed her way through her husband's February 20, 1962,
Mercury mission, when he flirted with death in the 36-
cubic-foot Friendship 7. She also had the guts to stand up
to then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson by refusing to let
him come into her home for a photo-op, out of fear for how
her stutter would look in front of Johnson and so many
network TV correspondents.
She was sitting up in the House gallery on that day in
1962 when Glenn jubilantly told a joint session of
Congress, ``I want you to meet my wife, Annie * * *. Annie
* * * the rock!''
And Glenn was there for Annie, Leahy recalled, when she
conquered her stuttering problem 20 years ago. ``We don't
think of them as John or Annie,'' he said. ``We think of
them as JohnandAnnie--it's just one word.''
In finally deciding to hop aboard for this mission,
Annie thought back to a vow her husband had made on the
day they wed 55 years ago.
``One thing that she's reminded me of is that on our
wedding day, along with the vows, one of the things I told
her that day or that night sometime was that I would
pledge to her I would try to do everything I could to keep
life from ever being boring,'' said the Senator.
Then he added with a laugh, ``And she's reminded me of
that several times in the past, and this time, too, that
she'd just as soon have things be a little bit more
boring.''
Since critics have said the upcoming 9-day mission is
merely a joy ride, Glenn has done his homework. With great
specificity, he can recount how the research about how a
senior citizen is affected in space will do a great deal
for the 34 million seniors in America.
``She gradually over a period of time became an
enthusiast for this,'' he said. ``She's changed her view
on this, as has my whole family, so she's excited about
it.''
Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR) said he spoke to Annie last
week and she revealed that NASA will be providing a laptop
so she can communicate with her husband in space.
``I said, `Annie, aren't you apprehensive at all about
this flight?' '' recalled Bumpers. `` `She said, `I'm
never apprehensive about anything John really wants to
do.' ''
Annie Glenn will not be the only person close to the
Senator lending her support at Cape Canaveral. A
bipartisan delegation of Senators will be heading down to
Florida on an official CODEL authorized by Majority Leader
Trent Lott (R-MS) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).
Daschle plans to be there for the launch, even though he
faces reelection back in South Dakota less than a week
later. Because Lott has a scheduling conflict, he will be
sending Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens (R-
AK)--who helped come up with the idea of a trip--to lead
the Republican side.
``Senators have a way of coming together when another is
involved,'' Lott said in an interview.
The office of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Greg Casey, who is
organizing the trip, does not have a complete list of
Senators attending yet. The trip will originate from
Andrews Air Force Base on the morning of the launch.
``We have a lot of interest from Senators,'' said
Secretary of the Senate Gary Sisco, who will also attend.
Glenn said that while colleagues have not discussed the
launch with him, he's heard whispers about it and feels
gratified.
``It's a good feeling to know that there are going to be
people there that you have worked with all these years--
that they think enough about it to be down there,'' he
said.
Another person who was supposed to be at the Cape was
Alan Shepard, his onetime rival in the Mercury program,
who recently died. Glenn admits that Shepard's death
reminded him of his own mortality, but the Senator insists
he's not worried about his safety.
``I've always been very aware of my own mortality
anyway,'' said Glenn. ``I got over that teenage
immortality bit a long time ago.''
Glenn suggested he is at peace with his decision. ``I
have a deep religious faith and I have all my life,'' he
said. ``I don't believe in calling on your religion like a
fire engine, you know, `Oh God, get me out of this mess
I've gotten myself into and I'll be so good even you won't
believe it.''
He added, ``But I think * * * we should all live so that
if something like that happens to us it won't be a big
shock. It's a shock. It would be a shock, of course.
Nothing can be 100 percent safe. Everyone knows that. But
I think the safety record NASA has had through the manned
space program has been absolutely amazing.''
Besides his combat missions in Korea and World War II,
Glenn faced danger in 1962.
``Some of the ophthalmologists predicted your eyes might
change shape,'' he said. ``It was serious enough that if
you look at the Friendship 7 over there in the Air and
Space Museum now, up on top of the instrument panel
there's still a little eye chart that I was to read every
20 minutes to see if my eyes were changing.''
When asked why he took such risks, without so much as a
blink Glenn responds, ``I thought it was valuable for the
country.''
Colleagues say it is this modesty--as well as Glenn's
relationship with his wife--that they will remember most.
``He's one of my favorite people in the whole world
because he wears his heroism with such extraordinary
modesty,'' said Senator Carl Levin (D-MI).
Senators like 51-year-old Tim Johnson (D-SD) seem awed
by getting the chance to serve with Glenn.
``It's like serving with a legend,'' said Johnson. ``The
fact that I served with John Glenn is something I'll tell
my grandkids.''
As a young Navy pilot, Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
revered Glenn and says the upcoming mission will remind
everyone of that.
``I know it will just affirm in people's minds that
we're privileged to have known a great American hero,'' he
said. ``I am honored to be in his company. I am serious. I
am honored to be in his company.''
Senator Richard Bryan (D-NV) said he will try to be in
Florida, partially because of a simple expression of love
he saw when Bonnie Bryan and Annie Glenn recently traveled
together to Saudi Arabia. From across the globe, Mrs.
Glenn placed a phone call to her husband in the Senate
cloakroom.
Bryan recalled, ``He was very excited and came up to me
and said, `I've got Annie on the line, would you like to
talk to Bonnie?' John and Annie have this very special
relationship--you can sense that.''
Leahy recalled riding in the back seat one time as the
Glenns kept teasing and poking fun at one another in the
front seat.
``The two of them are like a pair of teenagers,'' he
said.
But a much sadder occasion reminded Leahy of his
affection for the couple. When Leahy's mother died last
year, he found out that the Glenns had been trying to lift
her spirits during her illness.
``One of the things I found on her bed stand was a
handwritten note from John and Annie,'' said Leahy. ``They
both had written a couple of paragraphs in the letter.
These are very special people.''
For Glenn, his frequent trips to Houston for training
seem to have been a sort of fountain of youth.
Every time Glenn returns from Houston, said Senator
Richard Lugar (R-IN), he's been updated about the status
of the mission. ``It's wonderful to see someone so engaged
and lit up with enthusiasm,'' he said.
It has also reminded Glenn about the differences between
his two careers.
``Here of course, the political lines are drawn and you
have confrontation and you have to put everything through
a political sieve to know what's real and what isn't in
people's minds,'' he said.
``Back when I was in the Mercury program or in the
program down there now, it's such a pleasure to work in
that program because everything is so focused on one
objective that everybody's agreed on.''
The similarities between the two jobs, he concluded, are
limited.
``Both fields take a lot of dedication to accomplish
anything. That would be a big similarity, dedication to
country and dedication to what you're doing. But that's
about where the similarities end.''
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, though the 105th Congress
will soon come to a close, and each of us will return home
to meet with constituents, or take fact finding trips
throughout the Nation or the world, one of our colleagues
has not only already left town, but is headed for a most
unusual destination, that of outer space. I speak, of
course, of our friend, John Glenn who is ending his career
in the U.S. Senate.
Like most people, I first learned of John Glenn in 1962
when he orbited the Earth, but when the people of Ohio
elected him to this body in 1974, I had the opportunity to
come to know him personally. In the subsequent years, we
worked closely together on a number of issues, especially
those related to national security as we served together
on the Senate Committee on the Armed Forces. Naturally,
his experiences as a Marine Corps officer gave Senator
Glenn valuable insight into defense matters and he played
an important role on the Committee and in working to help
provide for a military adequately capable of protecting
the United States.
The same qualities that made John Glenn a successful
marine and astronaut, served him well here in the U.S.
Senate. Without question, he is a determined man who has
earned our respect for his honor, ability, and dedication.
His desire to serve our Nation is an inspiration, and in
keeping with the highest traditions of public service.
Without question, he has set an excellent example for
others to follow and it is my hope that more people, from
Ohio and throughout the United States, will follow his
lead and find a way to make a difference in their
communities and to our Nation.
Mr. President, the U.S. Senate will just not be quite
the same place without the presence of Senator John Glenn.
We appreciate the many ways in which he has served so
admirably and wish both he and his lovely wife Annie
health, happiness, and success in the years ahead.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, when the 105th Congress
adjourns sine die in the next few days, the Senate will
lose one of our Nation's true heroes, and one of my
personal heroes, Senator John H. Glenn, Jr. of Ohio. I
rise today to pay tribute to this great American, a man I
feel genuinely honored to call my friend.
All of us old enough to remember John Glenn's flight
into orbit around the Earth on February 20, 1967 aboard
Friendship 7 stand in awe of his courage and strength of
character. But this enormous accomplishment followed on a
distinguished record of heroism in battle as a marine
officer and pilot. He served his country in the Marine
Corps for 23 years, including his heroic service in both
World War II and the Korean conflict. And, in turn, his
remarkable accomplishment in the history of space flight
has been followed by an extraordinary Senate career over
the past 24 years, as the only Ohio Senator in history to
serve four consecutive terms.
For the 20 years that I have been in the Senate, I have
served side by side with John Glenn in both the
Governmental Affairs Committee which he chaired for many
years and now serves as ranking minority member and the
Armed Services Committee where he serves as the ranking
minority member of the Subcommittee on Airland Forces.
More recently, I have served with John Glenn on the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence. This has given me a
front row seat to watch one of the giants of the modern
day U.S. Senate do the hard, grinding work of legislative
accomplishment.
Over the years, John Glenn has led the fight for
efficiency in government, for giving the American people
more bang for that tax ``buck''. He was the author of the
Paperwork Reduction Act. He has worked to streamline
Federal purchasing procedures, and led the fight to create
independent inspectors general in Federal agencies. He was
the point man in the Senate for the Clinton
Administration's battle to reduce the size of the Federal
workforce to the lowest levels since the Kennedy
Administration. He and I have fought side by side to block
extreme efforts to gut regulatory safeguards in the name
of reform and for the passage of a sensible approach to
regulatory reform to restore confidence in government
regulations. Throughout his career, John Glenn has made
himself an enemy of wasteful spending and bureaucracy, yet
a friend of the dedicated Federal worker.
John Glenn has steadfastly served as a powerful advocate
for veterans. He led the effort to bring the Veterans
Administration up to cabinet-level and to provide benefits
to veterans of the Persian Gulf conflict.
On the Armed Services Committee, John Glenn has brought
his enormous credibility to bear time and again both in
that Committee and on the Intelligence Committee on the
side of needed programs and weapons and against wasteful
and unnecessary ones like the B-2 bomber.
Perhaps John Glenn's most important role, however, has
been as the author of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act
and as the Senate's leader in fighting the proliferation
of nuclear weapons around the world. In this area, the
Senate will sorely miss his clear vision, eloquent voice
and consistent leadership.
Mr. President, John Glenn, of course, has remained the
strongest and most effective voice in the Senate for the
Nation's space program. Many of us will be on hand to
watch the launch of his second NASA mission later this
month, 31 years after the first. At age 77, John Glenn has
volunteered to go back into space to test the effects of
weightlessness on the aging process, and once again
inspires our Nation and sets an example for us all--an
example of courage, character, sense of purpose, and, yes,
adventure.
No person I've known or know of has worn his heroism
with greater humility. John Glenn is, to use a Yiddish
word, a true mensch, a good and decent man.
John Glenn and his beloved wife, Annie, are simply
wonderful people. They, their children and grandchildren
are the All-American family. My wife Barbara and I will
keenly miss John and Annie Glenn as they leave the Senate
family.
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute
to a special colleague and a true American hero, John
Glenn of Ohio.
During his distinguished career, Senator Glenn has used
his boundless energy and expertise to work for effective
and efficient government and world peace. He is one of our
most beloved national figures and a role model to people
of all ages and all backgrounds from all over the world.
I was a teenager when the Nation watched in awe as John
Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. I
never would have guessed during those spectacular early
days of the space program that someday I would have an
office next to his in the U.S. Senate. It has been my
great privilege to serve with him and to know him as both
a friend and a colleague.
Today, he is at Cape Canaveral preparing to visit space
again. I know my colleagues share in my admiration and
pride for Senator Glenn as he boldly goes once more into
space. I wish him an exciting journey, a safe return and
wonderful retirement.
Saturday, October 10, 1998.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to bid
farewell to an American hero, a great Senator and a
wonderful friend--Senator John Glenn. Senator Glenn is
retiring after serving the people of Ohio for four terms.
But his service to our country did not begin in the
Senate, nor will it end here. Senator Glenn served in the
Marine Corps during World War II and fought in combat in
the South Pacific. He also fought with valor in the Korean
conflict and ended up flying 149 missions in both wars. He
has received numerous honors including six Distinguished
Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 18 clusters.
He later became a test pilot and set a transcontinental
speed record in 1957 for this first flight to average
supersonic speed from Los Angeles to New York. In 1959, he
was selected to be one of seven astronauts in the space
program. Three years later, he made history as the first
American to orbit the Earth, completing a 5 hour, three
orbit flight.
His heroism inspired me and all of the American people.
He received the Space congressional Medal of Honor for his
service.
After 23 years in military service, he retired in 1965
and went into the private sector. Despite his outstanding
service to his country, it was not enough for John Glenn.
He ran for the Senate in 1974 and is now completing his
24th year.
Despite his fame, Senator Glenn was a workhorse, not a
showhorse in the Senate. He took on complicated issues
like nuclear proliferation, troop readiness, government
ethics, civil service reform and campaign finance reform.
He did his work with great diligence and thoroughness,
with his eye on accomplishment not partisanship.
If you add his 23 years of military service to his 24
years of service to the people of Ohio, that is 47 years
of dedication to our Nation.
But even this is not enough for John Glenn. On October
29th of this year, he will return to space on a shuttle
mission. He will be the oldest person ever to travel in
space but even then his journey will not be over.
He will continue to represent the best of the American
spirit and be an informal Ambassador for scientific
exploration.
I wish him, his wife Annie, his children and
grandchildren the very best for the future.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, five Senators will move on at
the closing of this session of the 105th Congress. And
they are Senators that have, with the exception of one,
been here ever since I joined this body back in 1989.
Dirk Kempthorne from Idaho was elected after I was. And
now after one term he has elected to go back to his home
State of Idaho.
It seems like it becomes more and more difficult, as
time goes by, to attract men and women to public service,
and especially to public service when there are elections.
He brought a certain quality to this Senate. On his work
on the Environment and Public Works Committee, he was
sensitive to the environment and all the public
infrastructure that we enjoy across this country. It just
seemed to fit, because he had come here after being the
mayor of Boise, ID. And his very first objective was to
tackle this business of unfunded mandates. He took that
issue on and provided the leadership, and finally we
passed a law that unfunded mandates must be adhered to
whenever we tell local government, State government that
it is going to take some of your money to comply with the
laws as passed by the Federal Government.
He, like me, had come out of local government. He knew
the stresses and the pains of city councilmen and mayors
and county commissioners every time they struggle with
their budget in order to provide the services for their
people, when it comes to schools and roads and public
safety--all the demands that we enjoy down to our
neighborhoods.
We shall miss him in this body.
To my friend, John Glenn of Ohio, who has already made
his mark in history that shall live forever, he has left
his tracks in this body. And not many know--and maybe not
even him--but I was a lowly corporal in the U.S. Marine
Corps when he was flying in the Marine Corps. So my memory
of John Glenn goes back more than 40 years to El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station in Santa Anna, CA.
As he goes into space again at the end of this month, we
wish him Godspeed. He gave this country pride as he lifted
off and became the first American to orbit the Earth. And
he carried with him all of the wishes of the American
people.
To Dan Coats of Indiana, a classmate, we came to this
body together in 1989. Our routes were a little different,
but yet almost the same--he coming from the House of
Representatives and me coming from local government.
He is a living example of a person dedicated to public
service. But it never affected his solid core values. He
has not changed one iota since I first met him back in
1989.
The other principal is on the floor today. It is Wendell
Ford of Kentucky. I was fortunate to serve on two of the
most fascinating and hard-working committees in the U.S.
Senate with Senator Ford: the Commerce Committee and the
Energy Committee. Those committees, folks, touch every
life in America every day.
We flip on our lights at home or in our businesses. We
pick up the telephone, listen to our radio, watch our
televisions, move ourselves from point A to point B, no
matter what the mode--whether it is auto, train or plane.
Yes, all of the great scientific advances this country has
made, and research and the improvement of everyday life
and, yes, even our venture into space comes under the
auspices of the Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee and the Energy Committee. Those two committees
play such a major role in the everyday workings of
America.
Wendell Ford was one great champion and one of the true
principals in formulating policies that we enjoy today. He
played a major role in each and every one of them.
Again, it was my good fortune to work with Senator
Bumpers on two committees: the Small Business Committee
and the Energy Committee. There is no one in this body
that has been more true to his deeply held beliefs than
Senator Bumpers. Our views did not always mesh--and that
is true with Senator Ford. It was their wisdom and the way
they dealt with their fellow Senators that we worked our
way through difficult issues and hard times with a sense
of humor. I always say if you come from Arkansas you have
to have a pretty good sense of humor. My roots go back to
Missouri; I know we had to develop humor very early.
Nonetheless, it was the integrity and the honesty that
allowed us to settle our differences, even though we were
180 degrees off plumb.
I think I have taken from them much more than I have
given back to them. This body has gained more than it can
repay. This Nation is a better Nation for all of them
serving in the U.S. Senate.
In our country we don't say goodbye, we just say so
long. But we say so long to these Senators from our
everyday activities on the floor of the U.S. Senate. I am
sure our trails will cross many times in the future.
Should they not, I will be the most disappointed of all.
Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I appreciate you
presiding as you do in such a class fashion. I would like
to make a few comments here. I have been touched and
impressed by the fact of colleagues coming to the floor
and paying tribute to those Members who are departing. I
have listened because, as one of those Members who are
departing, I know personally how much it means to hear
those kind comments that are made.
Senator Ford, who just spoke, is leaving after a very
illustrious career. I remember when the Republican Party
took over the majority 4 years ago and I was new to the
position of Presiding Officer, it was not unusual for
Wendell Ford, who knows many of the ropes around here, to
come and pull me aside and give me a few of the tips of
how I could be effective as a Presiding Officer. I think
probably one of the highest tributes you can pay to an
individual is the fact that you see their family and the
success they have had. I remember when Wendell Ford's
grandson, Clay, was a page here. I think Clay is probably
one of the greatest tributes paid to a grandfather.
Dale Bumpers, often mentioned here on the floor about
his great sense of humor, is an outstanding gentlemen. He
is someone whom I remember before I ever became involved
in politics. I watched him as a Governor of Arkansas and
thought, there is a man who has great integrity, someone
you can look up to. And then to have the opportunity to
serve with him has been a great honor.
John Glenn. Whenever any of the astronauts--the original
seven--would blast off into space, my mother would get all
the boys up so we could watch them. I remember when John
Glenn blasted off into space. Again, the idea that somehow
a kid would end up here and would serve with John Glenn is
just something I never could dream of at the time. In
fact, John Glenn became a partner in our efforts to stop
unfunded Federal mandates. You could not ask for a better
partner.
Speaking of partners, he could not have a better partner
than Annie. I had the great joy of traveling with them
approximately a year ago when we went to Asia. That is
when you get to know these people as couples. I remember
that we happened to be flying over an ocean when it was
the Marine Corps' birthday. On the airplane we had a cake
and brought it out, to the surprise of John Glenn. But you
could see the emotion in his eyes. I know the Presiding
Officer is a former U.S. Marine, so he knows what we are
talking about.
Dan Coats. There is no more genuine a person than Dan--
not only in the Senate but on the face of the Earth. He is
a man of great sincerity, a man who can articulate his
position so extremely well. He is a man who, when you look
into his eyes, you know he is listening to you and he is
going to do right by you and by the people of his State of
Indiana, and he has done right by the people of the United
States. He is a man who has great faith, a man to whom I
think a number of us have looked for guidance.
When you look at the Senate through the eyes of a
camera, you see just one dimension. But on the floor of
the Senate we are just people. A lot of times we don't get
home to our wives and kids and sometimes to the ball games
or back-to-school nights. There are times when some of the
issues don't go as we would like, and it gets tough. At
these times, we hurt. There are people like Dan Coats to
whom you can turn, who has said, ``Buddy, I have been
there and I am with you now.'' So, again, he is an
outstanding individual.
Monday, October 12, 1998.
Mr. FORD. Mr. President, as the 105th Congress comes to
a close, I want to take a moment to say thank you to my
fellow colleagues who, like me, will be retiring this
year.
I came to the Senate in 1974 with Senators Glenn and
Bumpers. It was a different time, when campaigns were
still won by going door to door, when the Senate itself
was much more open to compromise and bipartisanship.
Despite the changes in the Senate, Senator Bumpers has
continued to be a voice for his State, never giving up the
fight for something in which he believed. And when the
Senate itself began to listen, they began to respond. In
fact, after fighting 19 years to reform the National Parks
concessions operations, he finally won approval of the
legislation on last Thursday.
And while it's true the Senate long ago lost its
reputation as a place of eloquent debate, my colleague
from Arkansas has proven time and again the power of words
with his skillful oratory, whether the issue was arms
control, education or balancing the budget. In all my
years here in Washington, I was never so moved as I was by
a speech he gave on preserving the Manassas, VA, Civil War
Battlefield. He not only changed votes, but he reminded
his colleagues and the American people that our greatest
strength lies in our ability to give voice to our beliefs
and to our constituent's concerns.
Like Mark Twain who came into this world with Halley's
comet and left this world with the return, Senator Glenn
came into the public eye with his historic orbit around
the Earth and he will close out his public career with
another historic flight into space. In between, he's
demonstrated over and over that he's truly made of the
``right stuff.''
As the ``Almanac of American Politics'' wrote, he is
``the embodiment of the small town virtues of family, God-
fearing religion, duty, patriotism and hard work * * *''.
And over the years, he has brought the same fight and
determination that made him a brilliant fighter pilot to
his efforts to expand educational opportunities, increase
funding for scientific research, to clean up nuclear waste
sites, promote civil rights and to make our government
more efficient.
Despite their long list of contributions in the Senate,
perhaps their greatest contributions to this Nation are
still to come. Senator Bumpers has talked about going back
to Arkansas to teach and Senator Glenn has said once he
gets back down to Earth, he'll work to steer young people
toward public service. I can't think of a greater honor
than to say I've served alongside these two men and shared
their vision of a better America.
I also want to thank my two retiring colleagues on the
other side of the aisle. We may not have always agreed on
which road to take, but I believe we always shared a deep
commitment to our country and its betterment. Whether you
agree or not with Senator Coats' position on the issues,
everyone in this Chamber will agree he's willing to roll
up his sleeves and do the hard work necessary to
accomplish his goals. He's brought the same tenacity to
the Senate that found him at 3 percent in the polls when
he began his first congressional bid and had him winning
by 58 percent on election day. He got that win the old-
fashioned way, organizing block by block and pressing his
case one-on-one.
Senator Kempthorne has only been a part of this
institution for just one term, but he has already proven
that he can work with his colleagues to pass laws, like
the unfunded mandates bill, in a place where it's often
easier to move mountains than a piece of legislation. The
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 was a perfect example of
his ability to bring together scientists, activists on
both sides of the issue, and public health experts to
craft legislation that each one had a stake in seeing
succeed. So while he may have spent just a short while in
these halls, he demonstrated that it is only through
compromise that we can achieve solutions in the best
interest of the Nation.
So Mr. President, let me tell my fellow retirees what a
privilege it has been to serve with you over the years and
how grateful I am for your commitment to public service
and the American people.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute
on my behalf, and on behalf of the people of New Mexico,
to a true American patriot, Senator John Glenn. It has
indeed been a privilege to serve in this Chamber for 24
years with a man of such honor and distinction.
Although I only served with Senator Glenn on the Senate
Governmental Affairs Committee for a brief time, I have
been able to witness firsthand John Glenn's legendary
fairness and leadership. I doubt there has ever been a
Senator who could match his dogged determination. He
worked tirelessly for many years to cut government waste
and improve the efficiency of government, and I applaud
his efforts.
Since his arrival in 1974, John Glenn has championed the
cause of space exploration and research, an area of
particular interest and importance to my home State of New
Mexico. He has long understood, and I strongly concur with
him, that the United States has a unique opportunity and
obligation to the pursuit of knowledge and exploration of
the heavens. Thanks to Senator Glenn's continuing sense of
duty and service to his country, we will expand our
understanding of space and its effects on the human body.
The success of our space program has enabled our
children to dream of different worlds, our scientists to
explore the nature of matter and the origins of time, and
us to be able to look up into the night sky and to
understand what we see. John Glenn played a crucial role
in achieving this success. His flight on Friendship 7 was
one of the first indications of the greatness of America's
space program. His flight on Discovery will be a
continuation of the greatness John Glenn helped
established--and a confirmation of the contributions
senior Americans can, and do, make in our society.
John Glenn's life as a military hero, space pioneer, and
statesman is the stuff of legends. Although his time here
in the Senate draws to a close, he assures us that the
legend will grow when he takes off on the shuttle
Discovery later this month. It truly has been a pleasure
to work with the distinguished Senator from Ohio. Good
luck, John Glenn, and God Bless.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, on Saturday, I had a chance
to talk about our good friend, Dale Bumpers. I'd like to
take a few minutes to talk about four other friends who
will be leaving us at the end of this Congress.
Shortly after he left the White House, Calvin Coolidge
was called on to fill out a standard form. After filling
in his name and address, he came to a line marked
``occupation.'' He wrote ``retired.'' When he came to the
next line, labeled ``remarks,'' he wrote ``Glad of it.'' I
suspect that our colleagues who are retiring at the end of
this Congress are also ``glad of it''--at least in some
small measure. But, in addition to relief, I hope they
also feel a sense of pride--both for what they have
accomplished here, and the dignity with which they have
served.
In a short time here, Dirk Kempthorne has made all of
our lives a little better. Thanks in large part to him,
the Safe Drinking Water Act is now the law. Senator
Kempthorne has also reminded us of the importance of State
and local involvement in our decisions. We will all miss
him.
I had the good fortune to travel with Senator Kempthorne
to the Far East. As most of our colleagues know, as we
travel we get to know one another even better. I know him
and I admire him and I wish him well in his life after the
Senate. I also applaud him for the nature with which he
has continued to work with all of us. He has a very
conciliatory, very thoughtful, a very civil way with which
to deal with colleagues on issues. If we would all follow
Dirk Kempthorne's example, in my view, we would be a lot
better off in this body. His manner, his leadership, his
character, his personality is one that we are going to
miss greatly here in the U.S. Senate.
We will also miss Dan Coats. With his thoughtful
approach and uncompromising principles, Senator Coats has
followed his heart above all else. And, as a result of his
support of the Family and Medical Leave Act, millions of
Americans are able to follow their hearts, too, and spend
more time with their families when they need them most.
When Senator Coats announced his retirement in 1996, he
said, ``I want to leave (politics) when I am young enough
to contribute somewhere else * * * I want to leave when
there is still a chance to follow God's leading to
something new.'' Wherever Senator Coats and Senator
Kempthorne are led, we wish them both the best. I am
confident that they will continue to contribute much to
their country and to their fellow citizens.
And we will surely miss our own three departing
Senators.
Dale Bumpers, Wendell Ford and John Glenn are three of
the sturdiest pillars in this institution. They have much
in common. They came here--all three of them--in 1974. For
nearly a quarter-century, they have worked to restore
Americans' faith in their government.
Their names have been called with the roll of every
important question of our time. And they have answered
that call with integrity and dignity.
They are sons of small town America who still believe in
the values they learned back in Charlestown, AR;
Owensboro, KY; and New Concord, OH. They are also modest
men.
Perhaps because they had already accomplished so much
before they came to the Senate, they have never worried
about grabbing headlines here. Instead, they have been
content to work quietly, but diligently--often with
colleagues from across the aisle--to solve problems as
comprehensively as they can. They have been willing to
take on the ``nuts and bolts'' work of the Senate--what
John Glenn once called ``the grunt work'' of making the
Government run more efficiently.
They were all elected to the Senate by wide margins, and
reelected by even wider margins. And they all would have
been reelected this year, I have no doubt, had they chosen
to run again.
What I will remember most about each of them, though, is
not how much they are like each other they are, but how
unlike anyone else they are. Each of them is an American
original.
As I said, I've already shared my thoughts about Dale
Bumpers. No Senator has ever had more courage than Dale
Bumpers.
And no Senate leader has ever had the benefit of a
better teacher than Wendell Ford.
No leader has ever enjoyed such a loyal partnership as I
have. No leader has ever had a better friend and
counselor.
For the past 4 years, Senator Ford has been my right
hand and much more. He is as skilled a political mind, and
as warm a human being, as this Senate has ever known.
Carved inside the drawer of the desk in which Wendell
sits is the name of another Kentucky Senator, ``the Great
Compromisor,'' Henry Clay. It is a fitting match.
Like Henry Clay, Wendell Ford believes that compromise
is honorable and necessary in a democracy. But he also
understands that compromise is, as Clay said, ``negotiated
hurt.''
I suspect that is why he has always preferred to try to
work out disagreements behind the scenes. It allows both
sides to bend, and still keep their dignity.
In 1991, Wendell's quiet, bipartisan style convinced a
Senator from across the aisle, Mark Hatfield, to join him
in sponsoring the ``Motor Voter'' bill. Working together,
they convinced the Senate to pass that legislation. To
this day, it remains the most ambitious effort Congress
has made since the Voting Rights Act to open up the voting
booth to more Americans.
Wendell Ford has served the Bluegrass State as a State
senator, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator.
His love for his fellow Kentuckians is obvious, and it is
reciprocated.
In his 1980 Senate race, Wendell Ford became the first
opposed candidate in Kentucky history to carry all 120
counties. In 1992, he received the highest number of votes
ever cast for any candidate in his State.
Throughout his years in the Senate, Senator Ford has
also been a tenacious fighter for the people of Kentucky.
He has also been a leader on aviation issues, a determined
foe of government waste and duplication, a champion of
campaign finance reform, and--something we are especially
grateful for on this side of the aisle--a tireless leader
for the Democratic Party.
He chaired the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee for
three Congresses, from 1976 through 1982. And, in 1990,
Democratic Senators elected him unanimously to be our
party whip, our second-in-command, in the Senate--a
position he still holds today.
We will miss his raspy and unmistakable voice, his good
humor and wise counsel.
Finally, there is John Glenn. What can one say about
John Glenn that has not already been said?
In all these 24 years, as hard as he tried to blend in
with the rest of us, as hard as he tried to be just a
colleague among colleagues, it never quite worked, did it?
I used to think that maybe I was the only one here who
still felt awed in his presence. Two years ago, on a
flight from China with John and a handful of other
Senators and our spouses, I learned that wasn't so.
During the flight, we were able to persuade John to
recollect that incredible mission aboard Friendship 7,
when he became the first American to orbit the Earth. He
told us about losing all radio communication during
reentry, about having to guide his spacecraft manually
during the most critical point in reentry, about seeing
pieces of his fiberglass heat panel bursting into flames
and flying off his space capsule, knowing that at any
moment, he could be incinerated.
We all huddled around him with our eyes wide open. No
one moved. No one said a word.
Listening to him, I felt the same awe I had felt when I
was 14 years old, sitting in a classroom in Aberdeen, SD,
watching TV accounts of that flight. Then I looked around
me, and realized everyone else there was feeling the same
thing.
I saw that same sense of awe in other Senators' faces in
June, when we had a dinner for John at the National Air
and Space Museum. Before dinner, we were invited to have
our photographs taken with John in front of the Friendship
7 capsule. I don't think I've ever seen so many Senators
waiting so patiently for anything as we did for that one
picture.
A lot of people tend to think of two John Glenns:
Colonel John Glenn, the astronaut-hero; and Senator John
Glenn. The truth is, there is only John Glenn--the
patriot.
Love for his country is what sent John into space. It's
what brought him to Washington, and compelled him to work
so diligently all these years in the Senate.
People who have been there say you see the world
differently from space. You see the ``big picture.'' You
see how small and interconnected our planet is.
Perhaps it's because he came to the Senate with that
perspective that John has fought so hard against nuclear
proliferation and other weapons of mass destruction.
Maybe because he'd had enough glamour and tickertape
parades by the time he came here, John chose to immerse
himself in some decidedly unglamorous causes.
He immersed himself in the scientific and the technical.
He looked at government with the eyes of an engineer, and
tried to imagine ways it could work better and more
efficiently.
As early as 1978, he called for Congress to live by the
same workplace rules it sets for everyone else. More
recently, he spearheaded the overhaul of the Federal
Government procurement system, enabling the Government to
buy products faster, and save money at the same time.
In 1974, the year he was elected to the Senate, John
Glenn carried all 88 counties in Ohio. In 1980, he was
reelected with the largest margin in his State's history.
The last time he ran, in 1992, he became the first Ohio
Senator ever to win four terms.
As I said, I'm sure he would have been reelected had he
chosen to run again. But, as we all know, he has other
plans.
For 36 years, John Glenn has wanted to go back into
space. On October 29, he will finally get his chance. At
77 years old, he will become the oldest human being ever
to orbit the Earth--by 16 years.
Many of us will be in Houston to see John and his
Discovery crew mates blast off. If history is any
indication, I suspect we will be wide-eyed once again.
In closing, let me say, Godspeed, John Glenn and Dale
Bumpers, Wendell Ford, Dirk Kempthorne and Dan Coats. You
have served this Senate well. You are all ``Senators'
Senators,'' and we will miss you dearly.
Tuesday, October 13, 1998.
Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, as my colleagues well know,
my distinguished colleague from Ohio, John Glenn, is
busily preparing for his extraordinary and inspirational
return to space. As our best wishes are with him and his
wife Annie as they begin the next chapter in their
wonderful lives, I would like to take a moment to read a
fine tribute to Senator Glenn by those who also dedicated
their lives to public service--as members of John Glenn's
staff. I am honored to read the following letter addressed
to him:
October 9, 1998.
The Hon. John Glenn,
U.S. Senator, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator: As your four terms in the U.S. Senate come
to a close and as you prepare to return to space for the
first time since your historic 1962 orbital flight, those
who have had the honor and the privilege to serve as
members of your Senate staff would like to express our
gratitude to you.
Although there have been many staff changes over the
years, you have allowed us to pursue extraordinary careers
in government and experience opportunities that few can
ever know. Some of us have been on your staff since 1975
and many more have served well beyond the average tenure.
Beyond our professional careers, you and Annie have made
us feel welcome. You generously shared your time with us
as our families and children have grown. Your commitment
to family is evident in your 55 years of marriage to Annie
and that example must have contributed to the eight office
marriages in which both spouses first met as staff
members.
We have always been proud to assist a public servant who
is held in such high regard. We witnessed that admiration
and respect firsthand as we accompanied you in your
travels throughout the country and around the world and
when we see the many people who come to your offices to
conduct business.
Your patriotic service in war and peace, in space and in
the Senate is an inspiration to us. While you remind us
that there may be no cure for the common birthday, you
have proven time and again that with determination and
hard work dreams do come true.
Thank you for helping our dreams come true, too.
Godspeed John Glenn.
Mary Jane Veno, 1975; Christine S. McCreary, 1975;
Patricia J. Buckheit, 1975; Ernestine J. Hunter,
1975; Barbara Perry, 1975; Diane Lifsey, 1975; Kathy
Connolly, 1975; Linda K. Dillon, 1977; Dale Butland,
1980; Peggy McCauley, 1980.
Ron Grimes, 1984; Kathleen Long, 1984; Don Mitchell,
1984; Michael Slater, 1985; Rosemary Matthews, 1985;
Peter McAlister, 1987; Jack Sparks, 1989; Micole C.
Dauray, 1989; Shannon L. Watson, 1989; Tonya
McKirgan, 1990.
Suzanne McKenna, 1990; Sebastian O'Kelly, 1990; Vicki
Butland, 1991; Nathan Coffman, 1992; Holly Koerber,
1993; Mike Entinghe, 1993; Vickie Eckard, 1993; Bryce
Level, 1993; J.P. Stevens, 1994.
Kevin Cooper, 1995; Alberta Easter, 1995; Holly
Kinnamon, 1996; Jan Papez, 1995; Ayris Price, 1996;
David McCain, 1997; Yolanda Brock, 1997; Jill Jacobs,
1997; Dan Emerine, 1997.
Marc Saint Louis, 1997; Coleen Mason, 1997; Rochelle
Sturtevant, 1997; Elizabeth Stein, 1997; John Hoctor,
1997; Rob Mosher, 1997; Mary Goldberg, 1998; Maggie
Diaz, 1998; Christopher Davis, 1998.
Mr. President, all of us share the sentiments expressed
in this heart-warming tribute. It is a reminder of how
fortunate we are to have the opportunity to work with
dedicated staff who share our pride in representing our
fellow citizens in the U.S. Senate.
Wednesday, October 14, 1998.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I want to take this
opportunity to thank Senator John Glenn for his long and
distinguished service in the U.S. Senate. He has served
this body with great dignity, and with an unparalleled
commitment to our country.
Of course, Senator Glenn is known for a great deal more
than his Senate service, as the first man to orbit the
Earth and a hero in both World War II and the Korean war.
But his contributions here in the Senate, all by
themselves, have made for Senator Glenn the legacy of an
American hero.
I worked with Senator Glenn in 1993 on an amendment to
the Clean Water Act, which was just one of his many
efforts to focus environmental protection efforts on the
Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes States owe a great
debt to Senator Glenn for his work in this area, which has
included chairing the Senate's Great Lakes Task Force and
helping to get Great Lakes regional offices for the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Fish and Wildlife
Service.
As the chair and ranking member of the Senate
Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Glenn has been
fairminded and provided outstanding leadership on the
committee, in particular during the recent hearings into
campaign finance violations. During those hearings,
Senator Glenn showed his keen understanding of the flaws
in the current system and his commitment to its reform. As
someone who cares deeply about campaign finance issues, I
was grateful for his leadership.
Senator Glenn has also worked tirelessly on nuclear
proliferation issues, and been a valued member of the
Armed Services Committee, the Select Committee on
Intelligence, and the Special Committee on Aging.
Now Senator Glenn is moving on to his newest challenge,
and, as usual, making history. At the age of 77, he will
again launch into space, this time for a 9-day ride on the
shuttle Discovery. Most of us would be content being the
first man to orbit the Earth, flying 149 combat missions,
and breaking a transcontinental flight speed record in a
Navy jet. But then John Glenn has more determination, more
talent and more courage than most of us can imagine. He
must know that he is not just respected and famous, he
must know that he holds a special place in the hearts of
his fellow Americans and in American culture, yet there is
no humbler man in the Senate. We admire him for that, we
thank him for his dedicated service to the U.S. Senate, to
the people of Ohio and to America. We wish him every
success on his next mission, and wish him all the best in
his retirement.
Wednesday, October 21, 1998.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in this last day of the 105th
Congress, I think it is appropriate that we take a little
more time to express our appreciation and our admiration
for our retiring Senators. I look down the list: Senator
Bumpers of Arkansas; Senator Coats of Indiana; Senator
Ford, the Democratic whip, of Kentucky; Senator Glenn, who
will soon be taking another historic flight into space;
and Senator Kempthorne, who I believe is also going to be
taking flight into a new position of leadership and honor.
This is a distinguished group of men who have been
outstanding Senators, who have left their mark on this
institution. I believe you could say in each case they
have left the Senate a better place than it was when they
came.
Have we had our disagreements along the way? Sure,
within parties and across party aisles. I have to take a
moment to express my appreciation to each of these
Senators. I especially want to thank Senator Ford for his
cooperation in his position as whip. We worked together
for a year and a half as the whip on our respective side
of the aisle and we always had a very good relationship.
Of course, I have already expressed my very close
relationship for Senator Coats and for Senator Kempthorne.
To all of these Senators, I want to extend my fondest
farewell.
As majority leader, I feel a responsibility to speak for
all of us in bidding an official farewell to our five
colleagues who are retiring this year.
It was 1974 when Dale Bumpers left the Governorship of
Arkansas to take the Senate seat that had long been held
by Senator Fulbright. There are several Senators in this
Chamber today who, in 1974, were still in high school.
Four terms in the Senate of the United States can be a
very long time--but that span of nearly a quarter-century
has not in the least diminished Senator Bumpers'
enthusiasm for his issues and energy in advancing them.
He has been a formidable debater, fighting for his
causes with a tenacity and vigor that deserves the title
of Razorback.
It is a memorable experience to be on the receiving end
of his opposition--whether the subject was the space
station or, year after year, mining on public lands.
Arkansas and Mississippi are neighbors, sharing many of
the same problems. From personal experience, I know how
Senator Bumpers has been an assiduous and effective
advocate for his State and region.
No one expects retirement from the Senate to mean
inactivity for Senator Bumpers, whose convictions run too
deep to be set aside with his formal legislative duties.
All of us who know the sacrifices an entire family makes
when a spouse or parent is in the Congress can rejoice for
him, for Betty, and for their family, in the prospect of
more time together in a well earned future.
Senator Dan Coats and I have a bond in common which most
Members of the Senate do not share. We both began our
careers on Capitol Hill, not as Members, but as staffers.
I worked for the venerable William Colmer of
Mississippi, chairman of the House Rules Committee, who
left office in 1972 at the age of 82. Senator Coats worked
for Dan Quayle, who came to Congress at the age of 27.
Despite the differences in our situations back then, we
both learned the congressional ropes from the bottom up.
Which may be why we both have such respect for the
twists and turns of the legislative process, not to
mention an attentive ear to the views and concerns of our
constituents.
Now and then, a Senator becomes nationally known for his
leadership on a major issue. Senator Coats has had several
such issues.
One was the constitutional amendment for a balanced
budget. Another was New Jersey's garbage, and whether it
would be dumped along the banks of the Wabash.
The garbage issue is still unresolved, but on other
matters, his success has been the Nation's profit.
He has championed the American family, improved Head
Start, kept child care free of government control, and
helped prevent a Federal takeover of health care.
His crusade to give low-income families school choice
has made him the most important education reformer since
Horace Mann. His passionate defense of children before
birth has been, to use an overworked phrase, a profile in
courage.
Senator Coats does have a secret vice. He is a baseball
addict. On their honeymoon, he took Marcia to a Cubs game.
And when he was a Member of the House, he missed the vote
on flag-burning to keep a promise to his son to see the
Cubs in the playoffs.
To Dan, a commitment is a commitment. That is why he is
national president of Big Brothers. And why, a few years
ago, he kept a very important audience waiting for his
arrival at a meeting here on the Hill.
He had, en route, come across a homeless man, and spent
a half-hour urging him to come with him to the Gospel
Rescue Mission.
Here in the Congress, we must always be in a hurry. But
Senator Coats and his wife, Marcia, have known what is
worth waiting for.
They have been a blessing to our Senate family, and they
will always remain a part of it.
Senator Wendell Ford stands twelfth in seniority in the
Senate, with the resignation of his predecessor, Senator
Marlow Cook, giving him a 6-day advantage over his
departing colleague, Senator Bumpers.
He came to Washington with a full decade of hands-on
governmental experience in his native Kentucky. He had
been a State senator, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor.
With that background, he needed little time to make his
mark in the Senate.
In that regard, he reminds me of another Kentuckian who
make a lasting mark on the Senate.
Last month, I traveled to Ashland, the home of Henry
Clay, to receive a medallion named after the man once
known as Harry of the West. Senator Ford was a prior
recipient of that award, and appropriately so.
Henry Clay was a shrewd legislator, a tough bargainer,
who did not suffer fools lightly. That description sounds
familiar to anyone who has worked with Senator Ford.
He can be a remarkably effective partisan. I can attest
to that. There is a good reason why he has long been his
party's second-in-command in the Senate.
At the same time, he has maintained a personal autonomy
that is the mark of a true Senator. He has been outspoken
about his wish that his party follow the more moderate
path to which he has long adhered.
Senator Ford's influence has been enormous in areas like
energy policy and commerce. Contemporary politics may be
dependent upon quotable sound-bites and telegenic
posturing, but he has held to an older and, in my opinion,
a higher standard.
One of the least sought-after responsibilities in the
Senate is service on the Rules Committee.
It can be a real headache. But it is crucial to the
stature of the Senate. We all owe Senator Ford our
personal gratitude for his long years of work on that
Committee.
His decisions there would not always have been my
decisions; that is the nature of our system. But his work
there has set a standard for meticulousness and gravity.
All of us who treasure the traditions, the decorum, and
the comity of the Senate will miss him.
We wish him and Jean the happiness of finally being able
to set their own hours, enjoy their grandchildren, and
never again missing dinner at home because of a late-night
session on the Senate floor.
There are many ways to depart the Senate. Our colleague
from Ohio, Senator John Glenn, will be leaving us in a
unique fashion, renewing the mission to space which he
helped to begin in 1962.
In the weeks ahead, he will probably be the focus of
more publicity, here and around the world, than the entire
Senate has been all year long.
It will be well deserved attention, and I know he
accepts it, not for himself, but for America's space
program.
For decades now, he has been, not only its champion, but
in a way, its embodiment.
That is understandable, but to a certain extent, unfair.
For his astronaut image tends to overshadow the
accomplishments of a long legislative career.
In particular, his work on the Armed Services Committee,
the Commerce Committee, and our Special Committee on Aging
has been a more far-reaching achievement than orbiting the
Earth.
With the proper support and training, others might have
done that, but Senator Glenn's accomplishments here in the
Senate are not so easily replicated.
This year's hit film, ``Saving Private Ryan,'' has had a
tremendous impact on young audiences by bringing home to
them the sacrifice and the suffering of those who fought
America's wars.
I think Senator Glenn has another lesson to teach them.
For the man who will soon blast off from Cape Canaveral,
as part of America's peaceful conquest of space--is the
same marine who, more than a half century ago, saw combat
in World War II, and again in Korea.
His mission may have changed, but courage and idealism
endure.
In a few days, along with Annie and the rest of his
family, we will be cheering him again, as he again makes
us proud of our country, proud of our space program, and
proud to call him our friend and colleague.
Senator Dirk Kempthorne came to us from Idaho only 6
years ago. He now returns amid the nearly universal
expectation that he will be his State's next Governor. It
will be a wise choice.
None of us are surprised by his enormous popularity back
home. We have come to know him, not just as a consummate
politician, but as a thoughtful, decent, and caring man.
This is a man who took the time to learn the names of
the men and women who work here in the Capitol and in the
Senate office buildings.
In fact, his staff allots extra time for him to get to
the Senate floor to vote because they know he will stop
and talk to people on the way.
During the memorial ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda for
our two officers who lost their lives protecting this
building, Senator Kempthorne noticed that the son of one
of the officers, overwhelmed by emotion, suddenly left the
room.
Dirk followed him, and spent a half-hour alone with him,
away from the cameras. The public doesn't see those
things, but that's the kind of concern we expect from him.
His willingness to share credit gave us our Unfunded
Mandates Act and Reauthorization of the Safe Drinking
Water Law. And his eye for detail and pride in his own
home State led to the transformation of that long, sterile
corridor between the Capitol and the Dirksen and Hart
office buildings.
Now, as tourists ride the space-age mechanized subway,
they enjoy the display of State flags and seals that form
a patriotic parade. It delights the eye and lifts the
spirit.
If you've ever visited Idaho, known its people, and seen
its scenic wonders, you don't have to wonder why he's
leaving us early.
You wonder, instead, why he ever left.
Years ago, he explained his future this way: That he
would know when it was time to leave the Senate when he
stopped asking ``why'' and started saying ``because.''
We're going to miss him and Patricia, and no one needs
to ask ``why.'' Even so, we know the Governor will be a
forceful spokesman on the Hill for all the Governors.
They could not have a better representative. The Senate
could not have a better exemplar. We could not have a
better friend.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I've been fortunate to be a
Member of the U.S. Senate for nearly 18 years, and I have
seen a lot of Members come and go. But I must admit that I
have never seen anyone make a more dramatic exit than our
colleague from Ohio. Then again, who in this Chamber would
expect anything less?
John Glenn is a man who has served his Nation as a
marine fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, flying a
total of 149 combat missions.
He has served as a test pilot in the first era of
supersonic jets--an occupation where attending a
colleague's funeral was as common as a new speed record.
Then of course, John Glenn became a part of our national
consciousness when he was chosen to be one of the seven
Mercury Astronauts. As much as any event since World War
II, his historic flight aboard Friendship 7 on February
20, 1962 united this Nation and made us believe that there
are no limits on what we as humans and as Americans can
accomplish.
For the past 24 years, John Glenn has served the people
of Ohio and this country as a U.S. Senator. He has
performed his duties with an uncommon grace and dignity.
He is a credit to this institution and I am proud to call
him a friend.
And now, on October 29th, in perhaps his last act as a
U.S. Senator, John Glenn will return to the heavens aboard
the space shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest man to
ever travel in outer space.
It is very common in this body to feel emotions of deep
admiration and respect for one's colleagues, but John
Glenn is the rare Senator who inspires feelings of sheer
awe.
I was trying to think of what would be an appropriate
way to pay tribute to my friend from Ohio, and to put into
perspective how remarkable and inspiring is his impending
voyage aboard Discovery. And I was reminded of the famous
farewell of another American hero to whom Senator Glenn is
linked historically.
I'm sure all of my colleagues remember Ted Williams--and
those of us from New England remember him quite fondly.
The Boston Red Sox left-fielder is considered by many to
be the greatest hitter who ever lived. The last man to
ever hit .400 and the winner of two Triple Crowns, Ted
Williams' ability to hit for both power and average has
never been matched.
One fact most people don't know about Ted Williams is
that he served in the same squadron with John Glenn during
the Korean war. Our friend from Ohio was the squadron
commander, and the Mr. Williams was his wing-man. People
talk about Ruth and Gehrig as the best one-two punch in
history, but John Glenn and Ted Williams isn't half bad.
As the story is told, when Ted Williams went to Korea,
he knew he would be going into combat. Therefore, he was
going to pick the best person to fly alongside him. He had
been told that John Glenn was one of the best test pilots
in the world, so he sought out our colleague in the
reception center before shipping out. And while Ted
Williams sought out John Glenn, in tapping Ted Williams to
be his wing-man, John Glenn was saying that Williams was
the best and sharpest pilot he had in his squadron.
Ted Williams had many great moments on the baseball
diamond, but no moment more perfectly encapsulates his
career than his last major league at-bat on September 28,
1960. And as John Glenn prepares for his Discovery
mission, I cannot help but be reminded of that crisp
autumn afternoon at Fenway Park.
The game was meaningless in the standings, with the Red
Sox limping to the end of their worst season in 27 years.
But the day was significant for it was the last time that
Hub fans would ever get a glimpse of Number Nine's classic
swing. After going 0 for 2 with two fly outs and a walk,
Ted Williams came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth
inning for what was sure to be his last at-bat. Writer
John Updike was at the game, and his accounts of that day
are considered scripture by baseball fans everywhere.
As Updike wrote: ``Understand that we were a crowd of
rational people. We knew that a home run cannot be
produced at will; the right pitch must be perfectly met
and luck must ride with the ball. Three innings before, we
had seen a brave effort fail. The air was soggy, the
season was exhausted. Nevertheless, there will always
lurk, around the corner in a pocket of our knowledge of
the odds, an indefensible hope, and this was one of the
times, which you now and then find in sports, when a
density of expectation hangs in the air and plucks an
event out of the future.''
As many of my colleagues already know, Ted Williams did
not disappoint. In his final swing, he hit a one-one pitch
that soared majestically through the air before
disappearing into the right-field bullpen.
As John Updike wrote, ``Ted Williams' last word had been
so exquisitely chosen, such a perfect fusion of
expectation, intention, and execution.'' Well, I feel that
Senator John Glenn's final word has been just as
exquisitely chosen.
Here is a man whose career of service to this country is
unparalleled. Taken separately, his service as a marine
pilot, as an astronaut, and as a Senator are
extraordinary. Put together, they are mythic.
Thirty-six years ago, John Glenn convinced a nation that
there are no limits to human potential. At the end of this
month, he will once more extend the envelope of human
accomplishment. John Glenn's mission on the Discovery is
his home run in his last at bat. I only wish that they
could find a seat on the Discovery for John Updike.
Ted Williams' last home run reminds me of John Glenn,
not simply because it shows that both men know how to go
out in style. It does so because the emotions that were
stirred in this fabled at-bat are the very same emotions
that have made John Glenn an American hero.
It is that feeling of indefensible hope, our desire to
believe in something that is bigger than ourselves. Simply
put, it is our belief in heroes.
Life will always be full of disappointment and
tribulations. But it helps us to conquer the everyday
battles in our own lives when we see someone whom we
admire accomplish great things. And we cheer for those
persons, because in them, we see the best in ourselves. By
believing in them, we believe in ourselves.
When you read John Updike's description of the mood in
Fenway Park before that last at bat, it could just as
easily be a description of the mood in the Grandstands
watching Senator Glenn's launch from Cape Canaveral later
this month, or in every American living room when John
Glenn boarded Friendship 7 thirty-six years ago.
Reason insists that we be practical. That we accept our
limitations. Yet we hold out hope that we can achieve
things once unimaginable, that we can do better. And John
Glenn has shown us time and again, as an astronaut, as a
test pilot, as a marine, and as a Senator that we can do
better.
Surprisingly, the fact that John Glenn and Ted Williams
served together in Korea remained largely a secret until
10 years ago, when Senator Glenn appeared at a reception
to honor Ted Williams on his 70th birthday. At the end of
the evening, Ted Williams, a man not known for lavishing
praise on others, spoke about his former commander. He
said, and I quote: ``I was so happy and proud of the fact
that I knew him. John Glenn is an extraordinarily
talented, brave hero. He's a hell of a man. It's just too
bad that he's a Democrat.''
When Ted Williams is singing your praises, you must be
doing something right, and aside from his comments about
Senator Glenn's politics, I couldn't agree more with Mr.
Williams' statement.
What we seem to forget about Senator Glenn's departure
is that, while he is going into space at the end of the
month, he is also coming back. I understand that he plans
to set up an institute at Ohio State to encourage young
people to become involved in politics and public service.
In today's climate, it may be harder to turn young people
on to politics than it was to put a man into orbit in
1962. But as a public servant, I cannot imagine a better
advocate for the profession of public service than John
Glenn. He reminds all of us, young and old, that there is
honor in service to others and to your country.
While I am certain that he will keep busy, I hope that
he and Annie will have a chance to relax and enjoy his
retirement. They have certainly earned it.
So as I bid my friend farewell and good luck in his
future years, and in particular his mission, I will repeat
those words made famous by Scott Carpenter 37 years ago:
``Godspeed, John Glenn.''
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, in 1962, a few weeks before
becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn
appeared on the cover of Life magazine under the header,
``Making of a Brave Man.'' John Glenn is indeed a brave
man, but to those of us who have served with him in the
U.S. Senate, he is much more. He is a skilled legislator,
a good friend, and an honorable and decent person.
For the generation who remembers John Glenn's historic
trip to space 36 years ago, his return this month abroad
the space shuttle is truly special. At that time, the
United States was in the midst of the cold war with the
Soviet Union. The Soviets could boast many achievements in
space, including the launching of the first satellite. It
was a tense time, and ours hopes as a nation were with
John Glenn and the U.S. space program.
On February 20, 1962, America held it's collective
breath as Glenn's Friendship 7 capsule circled the Earth
three times. During this mission, John Glenn showed us why
he was our hero. When a faulty signal erroneously warned
that the capsule's heat shields might come loose, he
remained calm and cool, even as he watched fiery bits of
spacecraft flash past him during reeintry into the Earth's
atmosphere. The entire country beamed with pride at this
heroic accomplishment.
President Kennedy called space ``a new ocean'', and John
Glenn will go down in history as one of it's first and
most important explorers. His flight opened the door to
future missions, such as the Mercury program, Gemini
program, and eventually the Apollo program that put man on
the Moon.
In a few weeks, America will once again beam with pride
when John Glenn lifts off from Kennedy Space Center abroad
the space shuttle Discovery. As opposed to his first
mission, which lasted 5 hours, this mission is scheduled
to last 9 days. During that time, Senator Glenn will
participate in a number of experiments designed to find
parallels between the physical stress of space flight and
the natural aging process.
Scientists are hopeful of finding out why astronauts and
the elderly suffer from similar ailments, such as bone and
muscle loss, balance disorders and sleep disturbances.
Understanding these physiological characteristics may open
the door to new and innovated treatments. I am sure
Senator Glenn is as excited about these potential
breakthroughs as he is about his return to space.
As a Senator, John Glenn has been a wonderful advocate
on many important issues. Along with his hard work on
space, technology and science issues, Senator Glenn has
also been a strong voice on the need for his country to
increase it's investment in education. So many times, I
have seen Senator Glenn with school children in the Hart
Senate Office Building, and I know that he inspires our
next generation of leaders as he does us.
So as Senator Glenn leaves the Senate, I want to give
him my thanks for all that he has done for this country.
Like all Americans, my thoughts and prayers will be with
him as he makes history yet again. I wish him well on this
and all his future missions.
---
ORDER FOR PRINTING OF INDIVIDUAL SENATE DOCUMENTS
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
there be printed as individual Senate documents a
compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in
tribute to Senators Dan Coats of Indiana, Dirk Kempthorne
of Idaho, Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, Wendell Ford of
Kentucky, and John Glenn of Ohio.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Craig). Without objection, it
is so ordered.
Mr. LOTT. These clearly are five great Senators who have
served their States and their country so well. And I am
sure they will continue to do so, albeit in a different
arena. Of course, I have said here, Dan Coats has been one
of my closest friends for the past 20 years. I will miss
him here but I will be with him in other areas.
And, of course, John Glenn makes history once again
flying off into space. And many Senators and their spouses
will be there to see that event.
Proceedings in the House
Friday, October 9, 1998.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I rise today to
pay tribute to an American and Ohio hero. More than 35
years ago, John Glenn made history as the first American
to orbit the Earth. On October 29, he will once again make
history as the oldest man to travel into space. On behalf
of the people of Ohio and the country, along with the rest
of the members of the Ohio delegation, I would like to
thank Senator Glenn for his dedicated service to our
country and wish him the best of luck on his upcoming
mission.
John Herschel Glenn, Jr., is a true American hero. He
has served his country honorably in the Marine Corps, in
the U.S. Space Program and as a Member of the U.S. Senate.
On February 20, 1962, he became a national figure after
becoming the first American to orbit the Earth. Senator
Glenn, a native of Ohio, has represented the working
families of Ohio as their Senator since 1974. His upcoming
shuttle mission and retirement at the end of this Congress
will punctuate the end of a remarkable stretch of public
service that will leave an indelible mark on our society.
October 29, 1998, marks a triumphant day for our Nation
when Senator Glenn returns to space aboard the space
shuttle Discovery. Nearly 37 years after his initial trip
into space, he will again represent his country and our
State as a member of Discovery Mission STS-95. As he
prepares for his upcoming mission, the members of the Ohio
delegation wish to salute the Senator from Ohio. As he
prepares for the upcoming mission, we salute the Senator
and native of New Concord, OH. Godspeed, John Glenn.
Thursday, October 15, 1998.
Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to
a friend and fellow Ohioan, who will very soon be
embarking upon two great adventures. I am speaking, of
course, of Senator John Glenn. In a few days, he will be
returning to space aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
Shortly thereafter, Senator Glenn will be ending his long
and distinguished service in the other body of this
Congress.
Senator Glenn has served our country in an astonishing
number of ways. He fought in the Pacific in the Second
World War, and served in Korea. He has been awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions, and holds the
Air Medal with 18 clusters. In 1959, he was chosen by NASA
as a Project Mercury astronaut. Three years later, on
February 20, 1962, he became the first American to orbit
the Earth.
In 1974, after a few years in the private sector,
Senator Glenn was elected to his current position as a
U.S. Senator from Ohio. During his 24 years of service in
the Senate, he has devoted enormous energy toward ensuring
the security of our country and people, and he has worked
to build a responsible and responsive Federal Government.
He is an acknowledged expert and leader in nuclear non-
proliferation efforts, and has tirelessly worked to better
the lot of working-class families and to protect the
environment.
Now, as Senator Glenn prepares for retirement, he has
agreed to serve our Nation yet again, returning to space
in order to add to the body of human knowledge. I am very
pleased and proud that Senator Glenn, a true legend and a
hero, will again be a very visible example to our Nation--
an example of service to our country and service to all
humanity.
A new generation of Americans will watch the launch of
Discovery later this month, and hear from their parents
and grandparents the many stories of how John Glenn served
his country. They will hear of his bravery in wartime, his
skill in the development and piloting of experimental
aircraft, and his calm handling of the exceeding
dangerous, ground breaking orbits aboard Friendship 7.
They will also hear that he spent 24 years as a Senator
from Ohio, working in innumerable ways to better our
Nation. That he has set this example for all Americans may
be his most lasting contribution. Who can judge the effect
of such an example of personal sacrifice upon the children
of our country, and upon all Americans?
For these years of service and untiring dedication, I
would like to thank Senator Glenn. And, on the occasion of
his return to space, I congratulate him and wish him a
fruitful flight and a safe return. I will miss his
leadership here in Congress, as will all Ohioans. However,
I will always remember him as an example of what a true
American should be.
ARTICLES AND EDITORIALS
[From the Plain Dealer, February 21, 1997]
`A Genuine American Hero' Says He'll Retire; Glenn
Announcement Made on Anniversary of Historic Mission
(By Joe Hallett)
On the 35th anniversary of his historic space flight,
Senator John Glenn returned home to complete another
mission, announcing yesterday that he would retire from
the Senate when his fourth term ends in 1998.
Saying ``there is still no cure for the common
birthday,'' Glenn cited his age, 75, as the reason for his
retirement. He acknowledged, however, that he did not
relish quitting the Senate. ``Although my health remains
excellent, and my passion for the job burns as brightly as
ever, another term in the Senate would take me to the age
of 83,'' Glenn told an overflow crowd in the quaint Brown
Chapel at Muskingum College, where he and his wife, Annie,
graduated more than 50 years ago.
Glenn pledged to be ``one of the hardest-working
Senators in Washington'' for the next 2 years and to spend
his time afterward teaching and challenging young people.
His low-keyed, yet impassioned, 45-minute speech to a
largely student audience mixed remembrances from a
remarkable career with a sermonette about the danger to
democracy posed by the ``blemishes of apathy and
cynicism.''
And it spun into motion the inevitable jockeying within
the Democratic Party to replace Glenn--a seemingly
daunting prospect with popular Republican Governor George
V. Voinovich poised to seek his party's Senate nomination
in 1998 and already sitting on $1.3 million for the race.
Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Mary O. Boyle, on
hand for Glenn's speech, and widely identified as an early
front-runner for the Democratic Senate nomination, held
off announcing her candidacy, saying: ``It's John Glenn's
day.''
Republicans acknowledged as much, graciously bowing to
Ohio's senior Senator by pocketing the harsh commentary
that surely would have accompanied a re-election
announcement and instead praising Glenn. Voinovich called
Glenn ``a genuine American hero,'' adding that ``John
Glenn's place in our Nation's history is secure.''
President Clinton agreed. He issued a statement saying:
``Senator Glenn is a patriot and hero. His lifetime
devotion to public service as a veteran, an astronaut and
a U.S. Senator has earned him the deep respect of all
Americans.''
Clinton added, ``I will sincerely miss Senator Glenn's
advice and leadership on Capitol Hill. Ohio and the Nation
owe him much thanks for his dedication and spirit. ``
Nowhere has Glenn secured a greater place in the hearts
of his constituency than here, a town of just over 3,000
nestled in the hills 70 miles east of Columbus. At the
high school bearing his name, students know of his orbital
flight only from their history books and parents'
teaching, yet they readily express a personal connection.
``A lot of people when they get famous forget where they
came from, but not him,'' said Jeff Connell, a 17-year-old
senior.
``He's not like a stereotypical celebrity,'' said senior
Traci Bates, 17. ``I think he comes back here because he
likes to.''
English teacher Mary Ann DeVolld, 45, remembers when
Glenn came to the high school in 1984 to launch his failed
bid for the presidency, saying community pride in their
hometown hero has never waned.
``It's an American dream story,'' DeVolld said. ``For a
teacher, it's inspiring to be able to point to John Glenn
and tell your students that you can be whoever you want to
be.''
Yet, even here, few argued with Glenn's decision to
retire.
``After 75 years,'' said tow truck operator John Smith,
``let somebody younger get in there with new ideas.''
Said James Pohlman, a Columbus lawyer and long-time
Glenn friend who wiped away tears as he left Brown Chapel:
``John has served with great distinction, but as he said
it is time to close the door on a career.''
The obvious personal affection that oozes from this
community for its favorite son has not always translated
into political support. While handily defeating Republican
Mike DeWine statewide in 1992, Glenn lost his
overwhelmingly Republican home county of Muskingum by
4,384 votes.
Aide Dale Butland said Glenn wrestled with the question
of retirement, deciding just ``within the last few days''
not to seek re-election. But once made, there was no doubt
about where and when Glenn would announce his decision.
With 77-year-old Annie, his wife of 54 years, their son
and daughter and two grandchildren on hand, Glenn told the
tale of his life, starting with December 7, 1941, the day
Annie, his high school sweetheart, was to give an organ
recital in the very chapel where he stood. En route, Glenn
heard on the car radio that the Japanese had bombed Pearl
Harbor--``news that completely changed the direction of
our lives.''
A few days later, Glenn volunteered for the Marine Corps
and eventually flew 149 combat missions in World War II
and Korea as a fighter pilot. After a stint as a test
pilot, he entered the space program, becoming the first
American to orbit the earth. Nary a day passes that he is
not asked about the historic 1962 mission, Glenn told the
chapel audience, adding that he has a ready answer to the
question, ``How did you feel?''
Said Glenn: ``I felt exactly how you would feel if you
were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on
top of 2 million parts--all built by the lowest bidder on
a government contract!''
Glenn is Ohio's longest-serving elected U.S. Senator--
Republican John Sherman served 32 years in two stints from
1861-97, when the Ohio General Assembly appointed
Senators--and said he was proud of his career. He noted he
had cast 8,894 Senate votes on behalf of Ohioans and cited
his work to diminish the threat of nuclear weapons and to
make the Federal Government more efficient.
But Glenn aimed the brunt of his speech at students,
imploring them to take responsibility for their lives, to
reject the enemies of democracy--``cynicism, apathy,
selfishness, hostility toward government, and incivility
toward one another.''
Glenn told the students that people are happiest and
most fulfilled when they devote themselves ``to something
bigger and more profound than merely their own self-
interest.''
---
[From the Columbus Dispatch, February 21, 1997]
Age Keeps Glenn From 1998 Run
(By Alan Johnson)
In a place where his life changed and on the anniversary
of the historic day that launched his career, John Glenn
yesterday announced that he won't seek a fifth term in the
U.S. Senate.
Glenn, 75, said his age--not his health, boredom, or the
``poisonous atmosphere'' of public life--prompted his
decision.
``Although my health remains excellent and my passion
for the job burns as brightly as ever, another term in the
Senate would take me to the age of 83,'' Glenn said.
``There is still no cure for the common birthday.'' The
Senator started the day with a Washington, DC, ceremony
marking the anniversary of the 1962 flight in which he
became the first man to orbit Earth as one of the original
Mercury 7 astronauts.
Several hours later, at almost precisely the hour he
splashed down 35 years ago, Glenn began his countdown to
retirement by addressing a packed audience in his hometown
of New Concord.
Speaking to about 500 people--including family members,
longtime friends, politicians, and students--at Brown
Chapel at Muskingum College, Glenn said he will work
during his retirement on educational programs with young
people nationwide ``to teach and to challenge.''
His decision to retire was disappointing to many
political supporters of the four-term Democrat but was
welcomed by Tom Miller, a retired three-star Marine
General and Glenn's friend of 55 years.
``I'm delighted,'' said Miller, who met Glenn in 1942 at
flight training school. ``He's served his country long
enough.''
The two men from small-town, disciplined families--one
from Ohio, the other from Texas--became fast friends and
roommates, flying side by side in the Pacific in World War
II and later as test pilots.
Glenn went on to become an astronaut; Miller rose
through the ranks and retired as head of Marine aviation.
In 1962, Miller was a military aide to President
Kennedy, assigned to the Glenn family during the space
shot.
``I've been pounding on him even before the last term
that he could be a far more powerful spokesman to the
youth of this country in another position,'' Miller said.
``I think it's been hard for him to be a good politician
with his kind of moral integrity.''
Glenn chose Brown Chapel for his announcement because he
was headed there December 7, 1941, for an organ recital by
his future wife, Annie Castor, when he heard over the car
radio that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor,
signaling the United States' entry into the war.
The news prompted Glenn to postpone his marriage plans
and enroll in the Marines--a move that propelled him to a
career in aviation and later the space program.
During a Senate career dating from 1974, Glenn took a
leadership role in several legislative initiatives,
including nuclear non-proliferation agreements, the
creation of inspector general watchdogs in Federal
agencies, and the cleanup of contaminated nuclear weapons
sites in Ohio.
Glenn used his 45-minute speech to outline his strong
feelings about an apathy he feels has seized America and
to urge young people to do something about it.
``Personally, I feel sorry for those who seem to measure
their patriotism by how often and how viciously they can
criticize our government,'' Glenn said.
``We didn't win our world leadership by bemoaning our
fate, by overemphasizing our shortcomings, by carping
about what was bad--but by building on what was good.
``For me, politics is not and has never been a dirty
word,'' Glenn said. ``For me, public service remains what
people of religious faith refer to as a `calling.' ''
Democrats must now scramble to find a candidate to
replace Glenn in the 1998 Senate race. Governor George V.
Voinovich, a Republican, has announced his plans to seek
the office.
``There's no way we're going to replace John Glenn,''
said David J. Leland, chairman of the Ohio Democratic
Party.
``We've been fortunate to have him representing Ohio
this long.''
Among the pool of Democrats likely to seek the position,
Mary O. Boyle's name is mentioned most often. The Cuyahoga
County commissioner attended Glenn's announcement
yesterday but refused to disclose her plans.
``This is John Glenn's day,'' Boyle said.
Voinovich issued a statement praising Ohio's senior
Senator as ``a genuine American hero.''
``His service began long before that historic flight
into space 35 years ago and continues to this day. John
Glenn's place in our Nation's history is secure.''
At the Washington event, Glenn commemorated the
anniversary of his orbital flight by announcing plans for
a nationwide Space Day on May 22.
Speaking to students at the Challenger Learning Center
at an inner-city junior high school, Glenn said Space Day
will allow schools and communities to celebrate
achievements in science and math evolving from the space
program.
After hearing about Glenn's decision, colleagues in
Washington lauded him.
GOP Senator Mike DeWine, who unsuccessfully challenged
Glenn in 1992, said Glenn has put service to his country
above all else.
``From his military service in World War II and as a
fighter pilot in Korea to his historic spaceflight that
galvanized the attention of the entire world, John Glenn
is truly a modern American pioneer,'' DeWine said. ``His
sense of duty and honor to his State--and to his Nation--
has continued in the U.S. Senate, where his presence is
legendary.''
``Every once in a great while, someone comes along who
is an inspiration for a generation,'' Senate Minority
Leader Tom Daschle said. ``John Glenn has been an
inspiration for two generations. He is a genuine American
hero.''
Daschle, of South Dakota, said he was ``disappointed but
not surprised'' by Glenn's decision to retire. ``The
Senate will miss him, and I will miss him personally,'' he
said.
White House press secretary Michael McCurry, who worked
on Glenn's presidential campaign, called Glenn ``a true
patriot.''
Paul Johnson, executive director of the Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Glenn is taking a
well-deserved rest after a distinguished career as a war
hero, an astronaut, and a Senator.
``John Glenn answered his country's call,'' Johnson
said, ``and we join the Nation with our thanks.''
---
[From Roll Call, January 26, 1998]
Seniority Bites
members with collective 437 years of service in the house
and senate are leaving political office, taking with them
some colorful memories, major legislative achievements,
and political lessons
(By Francesca Contiguglia)
When Representative Lee Hamilton (D-IN) first came to
Congress in 1965, septuagenarian House Speaker John
McCormack (D-MA) had trouble remembering the freshman's
name.
All that changed on the eve of a Caucus vote for
Speaker, when McCormack called for Hamilton's vote.
Hamilton said he would not be supporting the Speaker.
``From that day on, McCormack remembered my name,'' said
Hamilton.
That's just one of the dozens of lessons learned over
the years by Hamilton and the 17 other Members retiring at
the end of this year. But even after a collective 390
years of service, 437 including resigning Members, some of
these Members have regrets about not mastering those
lessons sooner.
``I only wish I had known in 1975 what I know now,''
said Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR), who is retiring after
four terms in the Senate. ``I would have been a more
effective Senator.''
``You must live through the battles and develop an
institutional memory,'' said Bumpers. He counsels
newcomers to remember that ``you only have so many battles
in you,'' so pick them carefully.
Bumpers has picked plenty of battles, having been known
as an unabashed liberal who is an adamant supporter of
arms control. He once accused Reagan of not wanting ``to
spend money on anything that does not explode.'' Bumpers,
who is also known as a passionate orator, tells newcomers
to remember that the life of a legislator can be
frustrating.
``My goal from the time I was 12 years old was to come
to Congress,'' he said.
``But it's not long till you realize you're just one of
the hundred,'' a sobering realization, he said.
Other Senate retirees include Glenn and Senators Wendell
Ford (D-KY) and Dan Coats (R-IN). ``There's never been
three finer men serve in the U.S. Senate than those
three,'' said Bumpers.
Although Glenn is a national hero, he has had his share
of disappointments.
He dropped out of the 1984 presidential race after a
surprisingly weak showing.
He later was dragged through the mud during the Keating
Five affair, even though the Senate Ethics Committee
cleared him of any wrongdoing.
``One of the greatest miscarriages of justice was Glenn
being brought into the Keating Five hearings,'' said
Bumpers. ``You couldn't hold a gun on me and make me think
John had done anything wrong, ever in his whole life.''
Glenn's clean-cut image was also scarred a bit by his role
as ranking member in the Senate Governmental Affairs
campaign finance investigation last year.
Republicans accused Glenn of being a defense attorney
for the Clinton administration and said he muffed a golden
opportunity to make a bipartisan case for reform on the
eve of his retirement--a charge that Glenn vociferously
denied.
Ford, who came to the Senate in 1974 along with Bumpers
and Glenn, has distinguished himself as a fierce defender
of the institution both as chairman of the Rules and
Administration Committee and as Democratic Whip for 7
years.
Known as a plain-spoken man from Kentucky, Ford has
looked out for one of his State's top industries: tobacco.
With an ever-present cigarette in his mouth--either during
congressional hearings or in the hallways of power--Ford
has made sure that Senate rules allow individuals to smoke
on his side of the Capitol.
Now 73, Ford is not slowing down. He gave a speech in
September 1996 for a departing colleague, Senator James
Exon (D-NE), and said, ``I hope you live to be 105 and I'm
one of your pallbearers.'' Coats has spent less time in
the Senate than his retiring colleagues, but he has made
his mark for being upbeat and humorous, making his staff
``more like a family,'' according to his press secretary
of 9 years, Tim Goeglein.
Goeglein recalled Coats's first day in the Senate. The
staff was unpacking the office when a squirrel snuck in
through an open window and ran about wreaking havoc. Coats
ran off a list of puns and jokes about having a small
rodent running around a Senate office.
One of Coats's larger causes was the line-item veto,
which passed in the 104th Congress. But he has also been
devoted to family causes. Among other things, he supported
the Family Leave Act and sponsored a law allowing parents
to block dial-a-porn numbers.
Outside of politics, Coats is an enormous Chicago Cubs
fan and has said if he weren't a Senator, he'd want to be
the shortstop for the team. His wish almost came true on
his 50th birthday, when he was called from the stands at
Wrigley Field to throw out the first pitch, a surprise
arranged by his staff.
---
[From the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, July 19, 1998]
Sunday Profile: John Glenn; Return to Glory
the astronaut-turned-senator from ohio trains to soar
through space and history again, to prove that senior
citizens can still have the right stuff
(By Scott Montgomery)
A carnival-sized crowd in blue suits and neckties
abruptly pulled up stakes at the end of the speech, and
the carpeted warehouse in which NASA keeps its biggest
space training equipment ebbed into a hush. The departure
of the President can do that to a room, even one this big
and industrial: drain it of people so quickly it feels
like the air has left, too. Spectators, security officers,
television cameras with their clacking bird legs, all
suddenly gone. Out. But not everyone split with President
Clinton after his tour of the Johnson Space Center on this
hot April afternoon. The seven bright crew members of the
space shuttle Discovery still kicked around on NASA's
royal blue carpet, buzzing a bit from the VIP glow. With
one exception. Payload specialist John Glenn was not high
on the thrill of having been with the President, something
the Senator does now and then in his day job. Instead he
gloried in something more precious: hanging out with his
space ship crew. Away from the glare, off camera, Glenn
reveled in the camaraderie of being John rather than
Senator Glenn, dribbling out M&Ms to all hands, swapping
tastes of the space food that was sampled by Clinton.
Biting a steaming fork of rehydrated shrimp cocktail
offered by a crew mate who declared it ``the Cadillac of
space food.'' ``Oh, this is great!'' Glenn said, mouth
open, chewing, hot. ``May have shrimp for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner, I don't know. I found out one thing in
tasting it: Stir it up a little bit. If you get down to
the corner (of the plastic bag) where that horseradish is
concentrated, ohhhhhh!'' America is waiting for John
Glenn's return to glory with the shuttle launch in
October, but Glenn himself is not. For him the glory is
already back. He is tenacious yet patient in the pursuit
of any mission, and those traits have served him well.
That's why he broke the coast-to-coast flight record in
1957. Why, in 1962, he became the first American in orbit.
And that is why, come October 29, at 77 he'll be the
oldest human to fly in space. The mission is already under
way. It means endless training on shuttle systems and
poring over experiment manuals. It's dangling down the
side of a life-sized shuttle trainer and mastering--at
long last since he's been so slow warming to the new
computers in his Senate office--the high-powered laptops
that run science experiments aboard the shuttle. ``I'm
enjoying every minute of it,'' Glenn said that day in
Houston, ``want to spend all the time here I can getting
ready.'' Believe that.
By the time Lieutenant Colonel Glenn rocketed through a
clearing sky above Cape Canaveral on that late February
morning in 1962, he already knew something about fame.
Before the ticker tape parades and the presidential
medals, Glenn, a native son of small-town Ohio, had
introduced his face to America. He teamed with youngster
Eddie Hodges, who went on to a brief Broadway career, to
win about $25,000 on the television game show ``Name That
Tune'' in October 1957. A former glee club member and a
life-long devotee to a good barbershop quartet, Glenn made
big money by quickly recognizing such tunes as ``Far Away
Places.'' ``Some gal just walked up to him * * *,''
remembers Glenn's longest, closest friend, retired Marine
Corps Lieutenant General Tom Miller, 75. ``She didn't
recognize him or anything, said, `How'd you like to be on
a show?' '' Recognize him? Yeah, Glenn was famous even
before that. Months before this CBS talent scout spotted
him shopping in New York, Glenn made headlines by setting
an across-country speed record flying the F8U jet at
supersonic speeds from Los Angeles to New York.
Glenn made the trip faster than if he'd ridden a bullet
fired from a .45-caliber gun.
Anyone who saw him make that speed record his personal
mission knew Glenn would be a guy who didn't just beat the
odds, he'd wear them down. ``He always starts from behind
and winds up in the front ranks,'' said retired Admiral
James Stockdale, who was in Glenn's class at test pilot
school. Stockdale became famous as Ross Perot's running
mate in the presidential election of 1992, but before his
late-in-life political debut he was a fighter pilot,
Vietnam prisoner of war and Congressional Medal of Honor
winner. He tutored Glenn in physics and calculus at the
test pilot school in Patuxant River, MD, in early 1954
because Glenn had left college before graduating to fly in
World War II. In exchange, Glenn taught the Naval Academy
grad to fly jets. ``He knew within himself that he had the
capacity to learn fast enough to keep up with almost any
academic experience,'' Stockdale said. By launch day in
October, Glenn will have spent nearly 500 hours in
training for the mission. He will know the essentials of
living in orbit from sleeping to using the bathroom (the
toilet is vacuum sealed with spring-loaded clamps that
hold the astronaut in place). He'll understand the
rudiments of the shuttle life support systems and radio
operations, and he's been put in charge of the flight's
still and video photography. When he's done Glenn still
won't be schooled in how to fly the shuttle, but he'll
qualify for a job as a television news cameraman. ``When
the Senator's down here we try to keep him busy because we
do have him for a limited period of time and we want him
to be as prepared with all the orbiter systems as we
can,'' said Curt Brown, Glenn's shuttle flight commander.
``Plus, he has a whole suite of life science experiments
that he has started.'' He returns to Washington saddled
with reading material. ``Not only do we load him up,''
``but he loads himself up * * *,'' said Steve Williams,
training manager for Glenn's flight. Industriousness is
not something Glenn developed for NASA. Or the Marines for
that matter. Growing up in New Concord, a pretty
Presbyterian town about 70 miles east of Columbus, Glenn
got a car only when he made a clunker on his dad's Chevy
lot run. That old Chevy was a convertible. Its top had
long ago rotted away, so Glenn drilled holes in the floor
to drain the rain, and has had ragtops ever since. Yes,
even today.
And he only got money as a boy by harvesting and selling
rhubarb from the family garden. ``I was the rhubarb king
of New Concord,'' he boasts.
Flying was something Glenn took to as soon as he could.
Muskingum College, right there in New Concord, offered
flying lessons for physics credit. The class was taught on
a grass field 50 miles away, but that didn't deter Glenn.
No surprise there, he just drove. A second chance. To this
day, Glenn insists the whole space shuttle thing began
accidentally. He swears he wasn't fishing for a way back
into the astronaut program, to get that second space shot
he was denied during Project Mercury. President John F.
Kennedy reportedly had decided Glenn was too popular to
risk his life with another rocket flight. Glenn was
preparing for NASA's budget hearings in the summer of
1996. He stumbled across a medical chart that listed the
physiological reactions the human body has to prolonged
weightlessness: muscle atrophy and cardiovascular shifts,
sleeplessness, and weakening of the immune system.
Brittling of the bones. Dozens of changes to the body that
astronauts endure in weightlessness before recovering
fully soon after returning to the gentle pull of Earth's
gravity. Glenn had a thought. He snatched a medical book
on geriatrics, and found another chart listing the many
painful effects of normal human aging. Muscle atrophy and
cardiovascular shifts, sleeplessness, and weakening of the
immune system. Brittling of the bones. As a man in his
70's, Glenn was becoming familiar with some of these
conditions, though he has been stalling them as best he
could with a diet of perpetual moderation and a devotion
to brisk 2-mile walks four or five times a week. NASA
already was working with the National Institute of Aging,
a part of the National Institutes of Health, on some of
these same issues but experts there hadn't yet proposed
sending an elderly person into space to see if an aged
body would react differently than younger astronaut bodies
do. ``I got into this thing and developed what I thought
was a rationale for somebody (in his age group) going,''
Glenn said, ``to look into these particular areas. And if
I could do it, why, fine.'' But Glenn admits it wasn't
really that casual for him. What Glenn saw in those
medical books was a mission. Within months he was on the
floor of the Senate taking it to the public. ``I wish I
could have the very personal attention of every person in
this country who is 60 years of age or older,'' Glenn said
from the floor. ``One thing that has happened in the look
into the life and biosciences in the NASA program has been
that we find some notable parallels between what happens
to astronauts in space and what happens to the elderly
right here on Earth. ``And if we can find what triggers
some of these similarities, perhaps we will have a whole
new handle on approaching difficulties that people have
right here on Earth.'' Before that, he'd gone to see NASA
Administrator Dan Goldin, a President Bush-appointee who
found himself being asked to approve sending into space a
man born not many years after the Wright Brothers
triumphed at Kitty Hawk. But, of course, the issue was
more than age because this was not just any fit-as-a-
fiddle grandfather. John Glenn is a national icon, a cold
war and real war hero, the very personification of
America's pioneering work in space. Glenn didn't just ride
America's first space capsule into orbit, he designed the
instrument panel. It would be like bringing back Henry
Ford to race the Indianapolis 500. It was an opportunity
of great poetry and great danger. ``The space frontier is
unforgiving to error,'' Goldin said. ``It was a very big
decision that had to be made.'' Nobody wants to be the guy
whose decision to send America's John Glenn back into
space accidently kills him. Goldin made a list of
requirements to be met before he'd agree to the flight.
The science experiments would have to be legit, Glenn's
health would have to be a certainty, the White House would
have to stay out of the process, and Glenn's wife, Annie,
would have to be consulted.
``You know what she said to me? Goldin said of Glenn's
wife since 1943. `` `This is what John wants to do. I've
been with him for 55 years, I'm going to support him.' ''
And all the while, Glenn just kept coming.
Glenn told his 52-year-old son David, a physician in
California, about all the medical tests he'd undergone and
the younger Glenn concluded that NASA had done everything
but an autopsy. But Glenn was not content to sit back and
wait. He started calling Goldin. To check. How's it going?
What's cooking on my idea for a shuttle flight? Have you
heard anything new? Can I get you any more information?
Active man. Not many things make John Glenn squirm. Nerves
of steel are part of the legend, part of the hero package.
After all, he's a fighter pilot who flew 149 combat
missions in World War II and Korea and collected a host of
medals in the process despite losing a friend to anti-
aircraft fire in his first combat mission. Glenn has met
with world leaders, and even made a hearty but failed
attempt to become one, losing his 1984 bid for President.
He was in California with Bobby Kennedy the night he was
killed, and flew to Boston in the morning to tell the
Kennedy children. He's faced difficult things, and that's
not to say things don't affect him, but he handles them.
Whatever it is, he deals. But something does unnerve
Glenn, or at least take him out of his stride, make him
less sure-footed than his fighter pilot confidence would
like: the whole topic of his flight that doesn't deal with
the specific--the scientific research, the procedures, the
quantifiable. Goldin has been up-front in saying that
while defensible scientific research made the Glenn flight
possible, that's not all that's going on. Goldin says he
wanted to give Glenn the second space flight he didn't get
before, because such ``inspiration is a part of the
American psyche.'' Glenn might be flattered, but he's not
letting on: ``I've heard him say that * * * that it goes
beyond (science). And I suppose there's that aspect to it,
that someone going up at my age * * * whether it will be
an inspiration, I don't * * *. Define inspiration. ``Will
it make me an inspiration to older people to be more
active or will it affect younger people's view that the
elderly are not people just to be put away in a bin? You
know, will there be that aspect to it? I suppose there
will. But * * *. We didn't set out to design it to do
that.'' Some of Glenn's reticence may be to deflect the
charges of critics who say his flight has little
scientific value and is instead a nostalgic adventure.
John Pike, director of space policy for the Federation of
American Scientists, doesn't oppose Glenn's return to
space, just the rationale being proffered. ``The question
you have to ask is, why are we doing this?'' Pike said.
``We're doing it because it's John Glenn, we're not doing
it because he's a geezer.'' Glenn, of course, bristles at
this idea, pointing out that the National Institute on
Aging had a pair of conferences to discuss his flight.
``They brought in experts from all over the country,''
Glenn said. ``They thought there was real merit to this
thing.'' ``Agreed,'' says Pike. ``The science is not
`completely bogus,' but neither is it essential,'' he
said. The space program would benefit most from Glenn's
flight if Glenn would embrace the cultural significance of
a space hero returning to orbit. ``It's not useful, it's
glorious,'' Pike said. ``I wish he would get off this
medical stuff and give us some pep talks.'' Glenn will be
involved in two age-related experiments, as both a
researcher and a guinea pig. One will study what causes
muscle weakening in space. The other will look into sleep
patterns by comparing Glenn and others in the crew. For
those two studies, Glenn will give blood 12 times in 9
days. Flight engineer Scott Parazynski, who's on his third
shuttle mission, will insert a catheter into Glenn's arm
so he'll only be stuck with a needle four times. Glenn
will talk about the science all day. He can recount from
memory the minute details of each shuttle procedure he
must know, tossing in extra info like how fast the ship
will be traveling when he does this thing or that. He can
talk about the crew with him on this flight, effusively
respectful of each one of them. But he's never been one to
offer details from his heart. Even going back to Project
Mercury, America's first space program. Glenn talked
longest and soonest in those press conferences with the
seven original astronauts, but it was all about the work,
not the feeling he got from the work. Example: That first
orbital flight concluded with a harrowing period during
re-entry into Earth's atmosphere when everyone thought his
heat shield might have slipped loose, which would have
meant instant incineration of the capsule. America waited
long minutes in one of the Nation's first truly unifying
television moments to see if the shield was still attached
and Glenn was still alive. In retelling that moment, Glenn
described his state of mind in the capsule as `concerned.'
And that's not today, looking back on a tough moment 36
years ago, that's back then. On the Navy destroyer that
picked him up. So now, faced with the cultural
significance of his return to space as an elderly man, the
shameless romance of it, the grand potential for it to
inspire young and old * * * well, you heard him, that's
not part of the mission. ``I guess I leave it to other
people to make observations about whether they think
that's going to occur or not,'' Glenn said. ``If it's
going to have that effect, and other people think it will
have that effect, well fine, maybe that's a good, maybe
that's a good benefit from it.''
Although the Glenns concede that the family was at first
``cool'' to the idea of his return to space, everyone has
since climbed aboard. Glenn has had both his children and
the two grandchildren out to Houston for a tour of the
simulators he'll begin training in shortly. And Annie is
with him for most of his sessions at the space center.
``I'm very lucky that I can learn what's going to affect
him,'' she said flatly. ``And I can watch him in training
or attend classes. And he's really so excited. So
tickled.'' But for the science, he wants to make clear.
The science. After every question about what it means to
him personally, Glenn swings back to the mission like a
compass finding true north. ``I always wanted to go up
again,'' he'll say, ``but that's sort of beside the
point.'' Until finally, in his Washington office with the
Senate computer behind him cued to the shuttle Discovery's
Web page, he lets a door drift open. Yes, there was
something about the first space flight that moved him. And
held him. In a rare, fleeting moment, he confesses that
much. Behind the cold warrior exulting in the power of
American ingenuity there was this guy from Ohio who as a
kid made model airplanes and as a grown up got to look
down on the Earth the way angels do. He agrees, now, that
it was spiritual. ``Not spiritual in the idea that you
expect to run into God or anything like that,'' he says.
``But a spiritual quality in that having such a different
vantage point to look at creation, even though you're not
that far away from Earth, but to look at it from that new
kind of vantage point can't help but give you a greater
appreciation for all this creation we live in.'' But he's
squirming. This is clearly off the mission. Tenacity and
discipline don't help explain the way a single day in
orbit, 4 hours and 55 minutes in a metal can no bigger
than a refrigerator, could grip a person's imagination for
the rest of his life. ``I suppose when you've had an
experience like that you're a little different person when
you come back,'' Glenn says, trying. ``You've seen things
that very few people have ever seen, and that can't help
but * * *. I guess it maybe makes you * * * maybe a little
more tolerant of life in general or you're not quite so
prone to be critical of everything that happens.'' He
shrugs. ``Maybe that's a poor way to put it, I don't
know.''
---
[From the Cincinnati Enquirer, August 16, 1998]
John Glenn's Mission of Discovery
(By John Johnston)
Just as John Glenn rocketed into history 36 years ago as
the first American to orbit Earth, he's poised to make
history again as the oldest person ever in space.
Senator John Glenn has letters from critics saying he is
too old to be an astronaut.
Send someone younger into space, they say.
The letters, tucked away at his Bethesda, MD, home, were
written more than 36 years ago. At the time, Mr. Glenn,
the oldest of the seven Mercury astronauts, was training
to become the first American to orbit Earth. ``I got
letters saying, `You shouldn't go up there. You're going
to be almost 41,' '' says Mr. Glenn, who turned 77 last
month.
It seems absurd now. As ridiculous, maybe, as the
psychiatrists who in early 1962 urged NASA to replace Mr.
Glenn. After weather and technical problems forced several
postponements--in all, his flight aboard Friendship 7 was
delayed 11 times before its February 20 launch--some
experts worried the stress was too much to bear.
``Which was ludicrous,'' Mr. Glenn says.
So maybe it's no surprise how relaxed he appears now.
Less than 3 months before he is scheduled to fly in space
shuttle Discovery and become the oldest human ever in
space, he courts a confidence not unlike that which
carried him safely through two wars, a stint as a test
pilot, and the uncertainty of the early astronaut program.
His casual, unhurried style belies his celebrity status;
the accessible Senator looks well-wishers in the eye as he
shakes their hands, answers questions, signs autographs.
One of his closest friends, retired Marine Lieutenant
General Tom Miller, says Mr. Glenn may be ``physically,
more tired (from training). But mentally, in my view, he's
much more at ease with what's going on. He's back in his
own realm.''
Since January, he has juggled two full-time jobs:
astronaut training in Texas and Florida, Senate work in
Washington. Meanwhile, he's tried to cater to a slew of
journalists eager to cover the biggest space story in
years.
``I keep trying to find John Glenn's breaking point,''
Mary Jane Veno, his longtime administrative assistant,
says half-jokingly, ``and I only find my own.''
Says Scott Carpenter, his friend and former Mercury
astronaut: ``He's dedicated and he's busy, and John
thrives on that.''
On a hot, steamy Thursday in the Nation's capital, Mr.
Glenn's packed schedule includes a permanent Subcommittee
on Investigations hearing, a Senate Armed Services
Committee meeting and a Democratic Policy Committee
luncheon.
But he also makes time for a TV reporter and a newspaper
writer. A magazine journalist is scheduled to interview
him by phone. They all want to talk about space.
And he has several photo opportunities in his office,
including one with two 17-year-olds, Jacob Hodesh of
Wyoming and Christopher McCracken of Alliance. They're
Ohio's representatives to Boys Nation, an American Legion-
sponsored program that teaches youths about government. Of
course, Mr. Glenn chats about going back to space.
Later, he speaks to a group of Cleveland State
University graduate students attending a conference on
urban terrorism. Someone dutifully asks a terrorism
question; everyone else wants to know about space.
And there are tourists who catch a glimpse of the
Senator exiting the Senate subway below the Capitol; their
eyes widen as they fumble with their cameras, but he's too
fast, he's gone. You can read their lips: ``That's John
Glenn!'' Surely they'd like to hear him talk about space,
too.
He is an icon because of space.
When the Soviet Union in 1961 demonstrated its
superiority in space by putting man in Earth orbit, a
fearful and vulnerable America needed to prove it could
compete; some U.S. leaders felt the survival of the free
world was at stake.
Enter John Glenn, the red-haired plumber's son from New
Concord, OH. He flew 4 hours, 55 minutes aboard tiny
Friendship 7 and gave a doubting country a reason to
believe in itself. When he landed safely, ``tears ran like
a river all over America,'' Tom Wolfe wrote in The Right
Stuff.
He was showered with ticker tape in New York City and
praised by President Kennedy. As an elected official,
though, he never came close to matching his astronaut
glory.
Much of his 24-year Senate career has been devoted to
non-glamorous issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and
cutting government waste. But his hero status has endured,
despite lingering campaign debts from a failed 1984
presidential bid and a brush with a savings-and-loan
scandal in which he was cleared of wrongdoing.
A model of his old spacecraft sits on a display case in
his fifth-floor office in the Hart Senate Office Building.
Piles of paperwork vie for attention on his desk. A large
photo of his wife, Annie, sits near scale models of space
shuttles.
``I've always wanted to go up (in space) again, just
from a personal experience standpoint,'' he says. ``This
time around, there's another purpose to it.''
He won't allow any conversation about the shuttle
mission to go more than a sentence or two before he
injects the ``R'' word: research.
``We have the opportunity now to get into some areas of
research with regard to aging that I think have the
potential of being extremely valuable in the future,'' he
says. ``I feel fortunate to be able to qualify physically
to be the one do to the research.''
Mr. Glenn, a payload specialist on the seven-member
crew, will be a human test subject in geriatric
experiments that examine similarities between the aging
process and what occurs to astronauts in weightlessness.
Older people, for example, tend to lose bone and muscle
mass, have trouble sleeping, and experience decreased
cardiovascular strength. That also happens to astronauts
in space, but they soon recover on Earth.
The Senator became aware of such similarities several
years ago while reading a book on astronaut physiology.
After consulting with experts, in summer 1996, he asked
NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin to consider including
geriatric studies on a shuttle mission, with Mr. Glenn on
board.
While NASA sought experts' advice, organized scientific
conferences, and held the proposal up for peer review, Mr.
Glenn kept in touch with Mr. Goldin. Frequently.
``Can you help me with this friend of yours?'' the NASA
chief said one day in a phone call to Lieutenant General
Miller. ``He's driving me out of my gourd.''
The general knows all about Mr. Glenn's aggressiveness,
dating to their days as fighter pilots in World War II and
Korea.
In Korea, ``He was in a different (fighter) group,''
Lieutenant General Miller says. ``I knew how he flew. I
flew down specifically to give him some hints on things
not to do. I should have known he wouldn't listen to me.
On two different flights, they blew his airplane all to
pieces.''
Fellow fliers nicknamed him Old Magnet Ass, but Mr.
Glenn gave as good as he got, earning five Distinguished
Flying Crosses in two wars.
Lieutenant General Miller chuckles about another story,
saying the Senator ``won't own up to this.'' It harks back
to the days when the Millers and Glenns were next-door
neighbors in Arlington, VA, and John sought to be named to
the Mercury program.
``He was basically 6-foot (tall) by his naval aviation
medical records,'' the general says. But the maximum
height for astronauts was 5 feet 11 inches. So, ``every
once in a while, he'd have a couple of big books on his
head.''
Maybe it was just a joke, the general says. Or maybe
not. Regardless, at the January press conference
announcing Mr. Glenn's return to the space program, NASA's
Mr. Goldin described him as ``the most tenacious human
being on the face of this planet.'' His biggest challenge?
``I'm far less facile on computers than my colleagues
are. A year or so ago, the staff here almost insisted I
get this thing,'' he says of the PC at his desk. He
chuckles. ``I'm up to where I can get my e-mail most of
the time.''
A message scrolls across the monitor, installed by his
teen-age grandsons during a visit the week before: ``John
Glenn (Grandpa) is the greatest Senator--grandpa of all
time.''
And perhaps one of the most physically fit. In Houston,
he has rappelled down the side of the space shuttle and
been spun around a centrifuge. The demands of astronaut
training haven't exhausted him, he says.
For years, he's kept in shape by power walking a couple
of miles four or five times a week at home in Bethesda.
More recently, he began working out with weights.
``I get aches and pains once in a while like everybody
else. But I don't have any rheumatism or arthritis or
anything like that. Never have.''
Ms. Veno, who talks with him several times a week when
he trains in Houston, says conversations typically go like
this:
Ms. Veno: Is it physically demanding?
Mr. Glenn: Oh, yeah, it's really tough.
Ms. Veno: Are you handling it?
Mr. Glenn: Oh, yeah.
Ms. Veno: Would you tell me if you weren't?
Mr. Glenn: Oh, heck no.
Training has caused him to miss 34 of 212 Senate votes
this year. But he says he has not and will not break a vow
to be in the Senate whenever his vote could mean the
difference on major legislation.
This month, while the Senate is in recess, he's back in
Houston.
``I don't think with something like this you can ever
say you're satisfied with your level of training,'' he
says. ``I always wanted another 3 days before any final
exam I ever took.''
October 29, he says, will be ``the final exam, big
time.''
Anna ``Annie'' Glenn, his wife of 55 years, probably
would prefer he skip it.
``She didn't really try to talk me out of it,'' Mr.
Glenn says. ``But I knew from her attitude toward it that
she was really not in favor of this.''
Another chuckle.
``She didn't have to say anything. She knew that I
always wanted to go back up again. She's known that for 35
years. But certainly neither one of us ever thought it
would happen.''
Mrs. Glenn, hoping to forestall an onslaught of
reporters, declined to be interviewed for this story.
The Senator got permission from mission commander Curt
Brown for Mrs. Glenn to attend briefings in Houston. The
Glenns' son and daughter, David and Lyn, and David's
children, Zach and Daniel--all of whom have voiced concern
about Mr. Glenn's upcoming flight--also have been to
Houston.
Observing the training firsthand has made family members
more comfortable, the Senator says. NASA officials have
joked that if for some reason John Glenn cannot fly, 78-
year-old Annie will be ready.
Lieutenant General Miller says if tragedy were to occur,
the Glenn family ``would understand that the sacrifice was
done in the interest of helping others. They've accepted
that now, and they're all behind him, 100 percent.''
Some observers, though, have criticized Mr. Glenn's
return to space as a nostalgia trip he earned by defending
the Clinton administration during last summer's Senate
campaign finance investigation.
``That's the biggest canard we ever had around here,''
the Senator says. ``I never had one conversation with the
President or the Vice President or any of the staff in the
White House--not one--during that whole thing.''
He also brushes aside critics who say little will be
learned from sending one aging astronaut into space.
``Where on Earth do you start a data base? You start it
with one data point and add to it as you go along.''
Critics are nowhere to be found this day. A receptionist
in the Senator's outer office has a caller from North
Carolina on the line. Mr. Glenn is his hero, the caller
says. He'd like two autographed photos--of Glenn the
astronaut and Glenn the Senator.
Sorry, the receptionist says. ``We have so many
requests.'' About 400 a week. Only one autograph per
person, she explains. (For the record, requests for
autographed astronaut photos are outpacing Senator photos
more than 2-to-1.)
Others call or write to say the upcoming mission
inspires them. A 76-year-old Tiburon, CA, woman wrote that
despite having a leg amputated, she learned to fly a
helicopter 3 years ago.
``I'm so glad that you can go up again,'' her letter
says. ``GO! GO!''
A flight to inspire?
Even some space experts think Mr. Glenn's flight will
have more inspirational than scientific value.
John Pike, director of space policy for the Federation
of American Scientists, says he would like to hear Mr.
Glenn ``talk more about `the right stuff' and talk less
about all this medical research foolishness.''
The Senator suppresses that notion like a gyroscope
correcting a wobble. He'll only go so far as to say
inspiration could be ``a good side benefit.''
Others have suggested it's much more than that. NASA's
Mr. Goldin has said of Mr. Glenn's flight: ``Is it just
science? No. Inspiration is part of the American psyche.''
Says Mr. Glenn: ``You don't do these things as a stunt.
This isn't like going over Niagara in a barrel or walking
a high wire between the World Trade Center buildings.
You're doing it because of basic research that may benefit
people right here on Earth.
``If people like what we're doing in some way, and
admire that, well, so be it. And that's good.''
Some observers have speculated Mr. Glenn is reluctant to
talk about the inspirational value of his flight because
it will give ammunition to those who say he's getting a
joy ride.
``I don't think that's it at all,'' says Ms. Veno, his
aide. ``I think it's consistent with his reaction to the
hero aspect. I think for people like John, it's hard to
accept that they have that kind of impact. He probably
thinks that's attaching more importance to him than he
deserves.''
Len Weiss, who has worked with the Senator for 22 years,
agrees. He is minority affairs director of the Senate
Governmental Affairs Committee. ``I don't think a fear of
criticism is determining what he says about this flight.
He says what he believes. What you see is what you get.''
What you see, often, is a man passionate for detail. A
technocrat who enjoys poring over official reports that
even Mr. Glenn has said would make most people's eyes
glaze over.
But Ms. Veno says her boss ``really is a pretty
emotional person, which a lot of people don't have the
privilege of seeing.''
You wonder what his emotions were on February 20, 1962.
What he was thinking and feeling when he looked out the
window of Friendship 7. What he will think on October 29
as he blasts off from Launch Pad 39B.
``This isn't something where you go up there and say,
`Here I am looking back at the world, and this has changed
my life forever,' '' Mr. Glenn says.
But then he softens a bit. He recalls some astronauts
found God in space. Jim Irwin returned from the moon and
created an evangelical ministry, High Flight. Charlie Duke
became a born-again Christian and president of Duke
Ministry for Christ.
``Did I have an experience like that? No,'' he says. But
Mr. Glenn, a lifelong Presbyterian, took his faith
seriously before he left Earth's gravity. And still does.
At home, he and his wife say grace before every meal.
But yes, he was moved, he says.
``When you're up there, you're viewing things from a
different vantage point than human beings have ever looked
at Earth. You get a new appreciation for the fragile
little existence we have here.
``You fly over the Middle East, and you look down, not a
cloud in the sky, and you think of all the problems
through the centuries that have come out of that area, and
it's so beautiful, looking down on it. You think, with all
these manmade problems we've got there, why can't we solve
some of these things. You can't help but think a few
things like that.''
He is not thinking about research now.
``Ever since I was a kid, I've thought sunrises and
sunsets were particularly beautiful. Up there, you see a
sunrise or sunset occurring at 18 times normal speed. Up
there, you see the colors of the rainbow right across the
whole spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,
violet.''
Photos can't quite capture that luminous quality in the
way the human eye can, he says.
``It gives you a new appreciation for God's creation, I
guess, and certainly a new appreciation of the fragility
of the world in which we live.''
Mr. Glenn has strayed as far off course as he cares to.
``This is set up on a very tight timeline, and we're
going to be very, very busy. But I can guarantee you, when
I am not absolutely engrossed in something else, I am
going to be over at the window.''
It's Friday morning, and in a few hours, the old
astronaut will leave for Boston to meet with a researcher
who is heading up one of the geriatric experiments.
Most likely they won't discuss sunrises and sunsets.
---
[From Time Magazine, August 17, 1998]
Back to the Future
after waiting 36 years, john glenn at last prepares to
return to space; the mission is different, but the man
remains the same
(By Jeffrey Kluger with reporting by Dick Thompson/
Houston)
John Glenn has a curious tendency to fly machines that
try to kill him. He flew them in the Marines; he flew them
with the Air Force; he flew them as a civilian. And each
time he did, the fact that they were trying to kill him
never seemed to trouble him much. One telling incident
happened in 1953, during the Korean War. A World War II
veteran and a longtime combat aviator, Glenn had been
assigned to fly F9F Panther jets in an attack squadron
running raids out of Pohang. During one especially hellish
run, Glenn encountered an unexpectedly heavy barrage of
anti-aircraft fire. A cloud of shrapnel ripped one bomb
from the undercarriage of his Panther, then another. A
second blast punched more than 200 holes in the skin of
his plane. Glenn struggled for a few moments to keep his
wounded aircraft stable and then realized the effort was
futile. Keying open his microphone, he called out levelly
to the squadron leader, ``I'm going to ease out of here.''
The leader, who was too far away to spot the flak coming
up from the ground, challenged him. ``Why?'' he asked. ``I
don't see anything hot down there.''
``Well,'' Glenn answered, more bemused than flip, ``the
leader normally doesn't.'' With that, the 32-year-old
flyer peeled off for Pohang.
Last week in Houston, John Glenn, the 77-year-old senior
Senator from Ohio, was learning his way around another
potentially lethal flying machine. Clad in a blue full-
body garment shot through with a webwork of cooling tubes,
he stepped into a NASA training room at the Johnson Space
Center and glanced at a space-shuttle simulator standing
in front of him. A technician then helped him struggle
into a heavy orange flight suit. Stuffed into the backpack
of the 90-lb. pressure garment was a huge load of survival
equipment: a life preserver, an emergency food and water
supply, a pair of emergency oxygen bottles, a bouquet of
rescue beacons, and an array of other gear.
There was no chance that Glenn would need any of this
equipment during a training session here on solid ground.
But on October 29, when he climbs into a mid-deck seat on
the shuttle Discovery and prepares to rocket into space
for a 9-day mission, he'll face a real, if remote, chance
that the craft could spin out before it reaches space and
wind up in the drink. If it does, the septuagenarian
Senator will need all the survival hardware he can get.
By rights, Glenn, who is concluding a 24-year political
career and easing into senior statesmanship, ought to be
beyond such concerns. By choice, he's not. In less than 3
months--36 years after he blasted into the sky inside the
titanium pod of a Mercury spacecraft--he'll return aboard
the relatively lavish space shuttle. Even as Congress's
August recess begins and the rest of Washington's
lawmakers decamp for their favorite vacation spots, Glenn
will be in Houston and Florida for his most intensive
month of training since being assigned to the mission.
To hear NASA's detractors tell it, Glenn is manifestly
unfit for space travel of any kind. Flying into orbit more
than a third of a century after he last made the trip,
more than a dozen years after most people his age have
begun retiring, and only months after the death of fellow
Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard illustrated the frailties
of even the most resilient flesh, is, they argue, at best
showboating and at worst reckless.
Not so, says NASA. Long ago, the agency noticed a
parallel between the changes that happen to a body in
space and those wrought by aging on Earth. What better way
to study this phenomenon than to send an aged astronaut
into orbit? And what better aged astronaut than the one
who made the country's first trip?
That's the official story. Perhaps more to the point is
that back in the 1960's, NASA was a place for heroes.
Every time men rocketed into space, they took a greater
risk than on their previous flight, reached for a more
audacious and dangerous goal--and almost always succeeded.
But after the 4 extraordinary years between 1968 and 1972,
when the United States was sending crews to the moon, the
agency retreated to the familiar backwaters of near Earth
orbit. Aside from a few high notes like the Hubble-
telescope repair mission and the horror of the Challenger
explosion, human space travel became downright dull. And
with the first components of the NASA-led International
Space Station set to launch within months, things seemed
likely to stay that way. For a public that had grown to
expect great things from NASA, this was pale stuff indeed.
If anything could rekindle the magic of the vigorous NASA
that was--instead of the flickering NASA that is--it might
be the return of the man who first lit the agency's fires.
NASA will never admit this publicly, of course, and when
Glenn goes back to the pad next October, he will go as
just another crew member, a lowly payload specialist
setting off for a week or so of work. But even NASA
Administrator Daniel Goldin seems to concede that when he
inks the name Glenn onto a flight manifest, he writes more
than just a name. ``There is,'' he declared the day he
announced Glenn's return to space, ``only one John
Glenn.''
By most accounts, John Kennedy is the key to why Glenn
still has the itch to fly in space. When Glenn went aloft
on February 20, 1962, the United States was taking its
first toddling steps on its long march to the moon.
Although he was 40, Glenn figured he still had a lot of
flying ahead of him. When he returned to Earth, he found
otherwise. Like any other astronaut, he periodically
approached Bob Gilruth, head of the Mercury program, to
inquire about his position in the flight rotation; unlike
any other astronaut, he was routinely stonewalled.
``Headquarters doesn't want you to go back up,'' Gilruth
would say to him, ``at least not yet.''
At first, Glenn accepted this with a shrug, but as time
went by and more and more of his astronaut brothers were
chosen for the Gemini and Apollo programs that followed
Mercury, he grew increasingly frustrated. Finally, in
1964, he resigned from NASA. ``It was only years later
that I read in a book that Kennedy had passed the word
that he didn't want me to go back up,'' Glenn says. ``I
don't know if he was afraid of the political fallout if I
got killed, but by the time I found out, he had been dead
for some time, so I never got to discuss it with him.''
Glenn spent the next decade working in private industry,
most notably (and incongruously) as an executive with the
Royal Crown Cola company. In 1974 he parlayed his still
glittering name recognition into a seat in the U.S.
Senate. Even as a Member of Congress, he remained smitten
with space travel, but as an aging lawmaker who hadn't
been in a flight rotation or ready room in years, he
accepted the fact that his professional flying career was
over. And it was--at least until 3 years ago.
In 1995 Glenn, a member of the Senate Special Committee
on Aging, was paging through a textbook on space
physiology when a thought struck him. Doctors had long
since identified more than 50 changes that take place in
an astronaut's body during weightlessness, including blood
changes, cardiovascular changes, changes in balance
control, weakening of the bones, loss of coordination, and
disruption of sleep cycles. As a lay expert on aging,
Glenn recognized that these are precisely the things that
happen to people on Earth as they grow older. ``I figured
we could learn a lot if we sent an older person up,
studied what the effects of weightlessness were, and tried
to learn what turns these body systems on and off,'' he
says. And he had an idea of just who that older person
should be.
Approaching the space agency directly with a notion this
outrageous was, of course, not the way to go. If 20 years
in Washington had taught Glenn anything, it was that
bureaucratic balance wheels have to be turned gently. He
decided to start by contacting a few NASA physicians and
asking them, almost casually, if they had ever looked into
the astronaut-geriatric parallel. Why, yes, they had, the
doctors said. As a matter of fact, they had published a
little pamphlet on the topic. Would Glenn like a copy?
Would he ever! Armed with those few scraps of data, the
Senator contacted the National Institute on Aging and
suggested that the group might want to hold a conference
to investigate the phenomenon further. The NIA agreed, and
held two meetings during the following year, compiling a
mound of research that strengthened the data base
considerably.
Finally, in the summer of 1996, Glenn was ready. He
approached NASA Administrator Goldin and formally pitched
his case for returning to space. ``I told him there are 34
million Americans over 65, and that's due to triple in the
next 50 years,'' Glenn recalls. ``And I told him someone
ought to look into this.'' Goldin, savvy about the wiles
of flight-hungry astronauts--even flight-hungry astronauts
who haven't flown in 34 years--saw medical merit in the
argument and offered Glenn a deal. If the science held up
to peer review, he promised, and if Glenn could get past
the same physical every other astronaut must pass, NASA
would seriously consider his proposal. But, Goldin added,
``we've got no open seats just for rides.''
It wasn't a decision made lightly. In the months that
followed, Goldin wrestled with the matter, agonizing over
what he considered his John Glenn problem. At one point,
he sought counsel from Tom Miller, Glenn's oldest friend
and Marine Corps comrade. `` `Can you imagine if something
happened [during the mission]?' '' Miller recalls Goldin
asking. `` `My heart says yes, but my brain says no.' ''
The scientists and doctors were less ambivalent. By
early this year, they had finished their preliminary
reviews and concluded that both Glenn's science and his
health were sound enough to justify the mission. Shortly
afterward, on January 15, Glenn was in his Senate office
meeting with a group of constituents from Ohio State
University when he got word that Goldin was on the line
for him.
Stepping into the bullpen of cubicles just outside his
door, Glenn picked up the phone and, after some good-
natured stalling and suspense building by Goldin, learned
that he would indeed be returning to space and that the
announcement would be made the next day. Until then, Glenn
was to say nothing. The Senator thanked the Administrator,
hung up the phone and went back to work without a word to
his staff. ``He's a military man,'' says press secretary
Jack Sparks. ``He knows how to take an order.''
When word got out the following morning, the reaction
was largely positive, particularly in Congress. Glenn will
not be the first lawmaker to fly in space. Senator Jake
Garn of Utah and Representative Bill Nelson of Florida
both took shuttle rides in the giddy, all-aboard days
before the Challenger disaster. In the eyes of many,
however, Garn and Nelson were mere junketeers, politicians
who wangled a trip into orbit largely for the sake of
going up--or, in the case of the famously space-sick Garn,
throwing up. Glenn is no mere joyrider. ``John has worked
hard to prepare for this,'' says Senator Wendell Ford of
Kentucky. ``He's not doing it for the publicity. He is
doing it to make a contribution.''
The response was not quite as enthusiastic at home,
where Annie Glenn, the astronaut's wife of 55 years, had
to be told the news. Having sweated through her husband's
149 combat missions and one 5-hour Mercury mission, Annie
had long since become accustomed to Glenn's doing outsize
things and incurring outsize risks. In the eighth decade
of life, however, she justifiably assumed all that was
behind her. ``Annie was a little cool to the idea to begin
with,'' Glenn confesses. But in the tradition of a
military and NASA wife, she listened to his reasons for
wanting to return to space, familiarized herself with his
mission and then, as she had done so many times before,
proceeded to help him train for it.
That training will be something of a new experience for
Glenn, who is used to being the captain of any ship he
flies. The flight plan for the October mission lists seven
Discovery crew members, from Curt Brown, the commander, to
Steve Lindsey, the pilot, through three mission
specialists, and two payload specialists. Glenn's is the
last name on the list. No sooner did the crew first meet
last January than Glenn made it clear that the chain of
command was fine with him. ``They wanted to call me
Senator, and I said no,'' he says. ``I'm coming down here
as John. I'm a payload specialist, and Curt's the flight
commander--and whenever they forget that, I correct
them.''
Even a lowly yeoman like Glenn will have his hands full
getting ready to fly aboard his new ship. The first time
Glenn flew, he was in a mere demitasse of a spacecraft--
one with a single window, 56 toggle switches and barely 36
cu. ft. of habitable space. The joke around NASA in that
earlier era was that you didn't so much climb inside a
Mercury capsule as put it on.
The shuttle, by contrast, is a veritable flying
gymnasium, with 10 windows, more than 850 toggle switches
and roughly 332 cu. ft. of space for each of the seven
crew members. If astronauts got the 36 cu. ft. the Mercury
pilots got, the shuttle could in theory accommodate a crew
of 64. And Glenn must learn every inch of this new
territory. ``We're teaching him how to live and how to
sleep and how to clean up, just basic habitability in
space,'' says Brown. ``Now we go to space to work. We
don't go just to survive.''
More nerve-racking than mastering what goes on inside
the shuttle, though, is mastering what could go on
outside. One of the most hair-raising parts of Glenn's
training involves emergency escape procedures. Crew
members on shuttles must be prepared to ride slide-wire
baskets down from the launch pad if a fully fueled shuttle
threatens to blow; shimmy down an escape pole and
parachute away from the ship in the event of a postlaunch
emergency below an altitude of 20,000 ft.; and rappel down
ropes from the hatch if the spacecraft makes an emergency
landing on tarmac. On his Mercury flight, Glenn's only
safety measure was an escape rocket designed to ignite and
carry the spacecraft out of danger if his Atlas rocket
appeared likely to explode.
Not everything about the shuttle will be more difficult.
During the Mercury days, the astronauts pulled a gravity
load of up to 7.9 Gs during their ascent, meaning that a
pilot like Glenn who weighed 168 lbs. would briefly feel
as if he weighed a whopping 1,327. Shuttle astronauts
generally pull no more than 3 Gs, and Glenn, who has not
added much weight to his still fit frame in the past 36
years, should tolerate that burden easily.
Then too, there are creature comforts aboard the shuttle
that the Mercury pilots didn't dare dream about. Glenn's
only meal on his first, brief mission in space was a tube
of applesauce he sucked through a straw. The shuttle
offers a decidedly better bill of fare, including such
delicacies as smoked turkey, Kona coffee, and dried
apricots. All the meals are sealed in plastic packets,
each of which is coded with a colored dot to indicate
which crew member it is intended for. The color code for
Brown, the commander, is red; for Glenn, a payload
specialist, it's purple. ``The shrimp cocktail they fix is
very, very good,'' says Glenn, ``as good as what you'd get
at Delmonico's. Curt likes shrimp, and I always tell him
that when he's on the flight deck and I'm hungry, I'm
going to go looking for a red dot.''
But Glenn is going aloft to do more than tuck into the
cuisine. Discovery will ferry a number of payloads in its
cargo bay, including a Spartan satellite that will be
released into space to take readings of the sun, a pallet
of sensors to measure the ultraviolet environment of
space, and several new components for the Hubble Space
Telescope that need to be tested in the extreme conditions
of space. Most important, the ship is carrying the
Spacehab science module, a pressurized laboratory that is
connected to the crew compartment and provides additional
space for conducting medical experiments. It is here Glenn
will be doing most of his work, processing blood and urine
samples from the rest of the crew and sitting still for
the battery of tests that will be run on him.
Those tests would try the patience of any patient.
Throughout the flight, Glenn's heart rate, respiration,
blood volume and pressure will be monitored regularly.
Doctors on Earth want to analyze his blood for immune
function and protein levels, and this will require taking
so many samples that throughout the flight, Glenn will
wear a catheter implanted in his arm, allowing easy access
to a vein without a new needle stick each time. He will
wear a suit wired with sensors to measure his sleep cycles
and will swallow a horse-pill-size thermometer that will
take temperature readings as it passes through his body.
These and other findings will be compared with base-line
readings taken before lift-off, which are already being
assembled. Glenn routinely walks around the grounds of
NASA's Houston facility with monitors strapped to his
wrist and belt. When he returns from space, he will face
yet another battery of tests, including an MRI to look for
changes in his spinal cord and bone-density tests to look
for mineral loss. ``All of this,'' Glenn says, ``gives us
the potential not only of dealing with the frailties of
our already aged population but of helping younger people
avoid problems as they get old.''
Or so NASA says. Not everyone in the space community
agrees. Alex Roland, a former NASA historian and chairman
of the Duke University history department, has been
outspokenly skeptical of Glenn's mission, questioning its
scientific value and dismissing it as a trivial or even
foolish use of NASA's scarce resources. If critics like
Roland are right, the mission's science is merely a fig
leaf. If it's a fig leaf, what is it covering? ``This
space flight is the same as the first one,'' says John
Pike, director of space policy for the Federation of
American Scientists. ``It had everything to do with making
the country feel good. It's about the right stuff, not
science. Which is fine with me.'' Newsman Walter Cronkite,
whose coverage of the Mercury missions made him as much of
a television icon as the astronauts, agrees that Glenn's
upcoming flight ``is bringing back a public interest in
space flight.''
Whether or not this is true, there is no denying that
Glenn's 1998 mission will be rich with echoes from his
1962 mission. Once again there will be the program-
preempting coverage; once again Annie Glenn and her family
will be seen watching anxiously as the rocket that carries
the head of the household explodes off the ground and
falls back to Earth; once again there should be the
triumphal return.
The first time Glenn flew, the family stayed at home in
Arlington, VA, watching the launch on TV, since the Glenns
were reluctant to pull their son and daughter out of
school for the trip to Cape Canaveral. This time wife,
children and the Glenns' two grandsons will all be there
for lift-off. Glenn takes a small, whimsical pleasure in
pointing out that his grandsons, who will be 16 and 14 in
the fall, are the same age his son and daughter--now 52
and 50--were the last time he flew.
For anyone contemplating Glenn's return to space, this
kind of existential ciphering is irresistible. The country
is now further in time from Glenn's first trip into orbit,
for example, than Glenn's first trip into orbit was from
Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic. A man who was
Glenn's current age when Glenn was born would himself have
been 17 years old when the Civil War began. Then too,
there are the people who saw Glenn's first flight who
either will or won't be here for the second. Khrushchev,
Kennedy, Johnson, Mao Zedong--all towering figures in
1962, all dust now. Castro--communism's beachhead in the
West then, old and isolated now. Queen Elizabeth--young
and remote monarch then, old and remote monarch now.
That kind of perspective shifting, that kind of standing
back from the pointillist portrait of history, may be what
Glenn's return to space is really all about. Glenn and
NASA will never wholly concede this spiritual point, but
Glenn and NASA don't have to concede it. John Glenn flew
in 1962, and an exuberant country decided it just might
live forever. Thirty-six years later, an older, more sober
Nation could use a little of that feeling again.
---
[From Life Magazine, October 1998]
The Last Heroes; John Glenn Flies Us Back to the Age of
Innocence
(By Richard B. Stolley)
In the mock-up of the shuttle Discovery at the Johnson
Space Center in Houston, John Glenn is running through a
protein-turnover experiment that involves the collection
of blood and urine from crew members for analysis. NASA
instructors are demonstrating how to use a centrifuge.
``Will I have this book with me?'' he asks, referring to a
manual in his hand.
``Yes, John,'' an instructor says. Everybody uses first
names here.
``Have these ever failed?''
``No. You check this, check that, and if it doesn't
work, you call us.'' Glenn pauses, grins mischievously and
says, ``You mean, `Houston, we have a problem?' '' There
is a slight intake of breath in the mock-up, strained
mouths, uneasy faces. John Glenn is making a feisty joke
of one of NASA's dark hours, the Apollo 13 crisis.
``Well,'' an instructor finally murmurs, ``let's hope you
don't have to say that.''
Is there a happier 77-year-old in America? Not likely.
John Glenn is going back into space for 9 days beginning
October 29, and this son of Ohio is in hog heaven.
After he became the first American astronaut to orbit
the earth in 1962, Glenn wanted to fly again. NASA
officials demurred. The massive adulation that greeted his
splashdown convinced them that Glenn was more valuable
selling space travel than doing it. Glenn found out years
later that his friend President Kennedy, basking in the
astronaut's popularity, also opposed his return to space.
``Maybe he was afraid of the political fallout if
something happened to me,'' Glenn says. ``All I know is
that they didn't want to put me back up again.''
After 18 months of PR and paper-pushing, Glenn got
discouraged and quit NASA. He tried corporate life, then
went into politics. About 3 years ago, as the increasing
number of older Americans began attracting scientific
attention, Glenn sensed an opportunity to talk himself
back into space. ``It became apparent to me that age might
be an advantage instead of a disadvantage,'' he recalls.
``There are about ten things in a human body that change
in space that are like the frailties of old age.'' Glenn
recruited the National Institute on Aging, which endorsed
the idea that knowledge gained from studying a senior
citizen in space and afterward would be valuable. NASA set
two ground rules: The mission had to make scientific sense
to its own doctors, which it eventually did, and Glenn had
to pass the same rigorous physical exam as the other crew
members--``No waivers.''
He passed, although he protests, ``I don't think I'm in
such superb shape as everyone else seems to think.'' There
is some truth in this: Compared with shuttle teammates, he
crawls in and out of hatches with a noticeable creakiness.
His waist, inevitably, has broadened; below the belt is a
whisper of a paunch.
Still, the man looks great and appears amazingly
vigorous. He has exercised all his life, and today he
fast-walks two miles a day and lifts weights. He has never
smoked cigarettes and gave up his pipe two decades ago. He
occasionally drinks wine with dinner. Food is another
matter. He admits to being a continual dieter. ``If I ate
like I'd like to eat,'' he says, ``I'd weigh 300 pounds in
thirty days.'' Since the prospect of space beckoned, he
has concentrated on fish, grains, beans, fruits, and
vegetables and stayed away from red meat.
The physical demands of the flight will be strenuous, of
course, but nothing like those of Glenn's 1962 mission.
The sheer size of the spacecraft is a factor; for Glenn,
this will be like traveling in a Greyhound instead of a
Geo. Back then the issue was not successful experiments
but survival. Doctors weren't sure whether humans could
take eight G's going up and coming down; in the shuttle,
it's a maximum of three G's. ``As test pilots,'' Glenn
says, ``our job was to find out what we could and couldn't
do. Did our eyeballs change shape? Would inner-ear fluid
move differently? Could we even swallow? We were trying to
put a lot of basic issues to rest.''
The terrifying vastness of what was unknown back then
makes Glenn (and his Mercury buddies * * * ) seem heroic
beyond contemporary measure. But in the face of this
observation, John Glenn squirms. He deals with the subject
of fear better.
``Was I afraid to the point where it overcame what I was
supposed to be doing?'' he says. ``No. Apprehensive. Keyed
up. Aware of every little bump and jiggle and watching
everything very carefully. I had a pretty high level of
confidence that the thing wasn't going to blow up. I did
have a couple of major problems that the scientists
weren't sure I could handle. At the end of the first
orbit, the danged automatic system screwed up and a
thruster got stuck. Rather than use up all the fuel, I
just went manual on everything. Scientists weren't sure I
could control the spacecraft. That settled that question.
Then we had the heat shield problem: Will he burn up or
won't he? I was apprehensive, yes, but not fearful to the
point it interfered. And that's the way I feel this
time.''
Danger has been as much a part of Glenn's life as his
Ohio roots. As a Marine fighter pilot, he flew combat in
World War II, then again in Korea, where he shot down
three Communist MIGs. After that he tried his hand and
nerve as a test pilot in the era of the first supersonic
jets. ``We lost a lot of people,'' he says matter-of-
factly. ``I never had to bail out, but I had a lot of very
weird things happen. We spent more time than we liked
going to funerals. It wasn't very pleasant.'' That test-
pilot experience led to his selection as one of the
original Mercury team, the seven whom author Tom Wolfe
would immortalize with a macho label: ``the Right Stuff.''
John Glenn has no reason to remember the book fondly. It
describes him as the Presbyterian Pilot, excessively
pious, scolding his fellow astronauts on issues of
morality, grandstanding with the press, lobbying
shamelessly to be first American into space (an honor that
would go to Alan Shepard * * * ).
Yet Glenn actually enjoyed the book. ``Tom Wolfe writes
with a stream of consciousness that I sort of like,'' he
says. ``Most of his account was reasonably factual,
although I was neither the pious saint nor the other guys
the hellions he made them into.'' The movie, Glenn had no
use for. ``Hollywood made a charade out of the story and
caricatures out of the people in it.''
Movie aside, how does he feel about the term ``the Right
Stuff?'' An immediate ``Oh, I don't like it.'' He pauses.
``I don't try to define it,'' he says, then tries to do
exactly that. ``I suppose the Right Stuff means a
willingness to sort of be out there on the edge, where the
danger level is supposedly much higher, but you are
willing to take that risk, and that's supposedly supposed
to be the Right Stuff. I don't know. It's a willingness to
risk for whatever gain, I guess.''
Glenn is reminded, ``Tom Wolfe did it in only three
words.''
He smiles sheepishly. ``I guess that's what it means.''
Whatever it meant in 1962, Glenn had it. The cold war
was at its fiercest, and the American psyche was being
battered. ``We thought we led the world in science and
technology,'' Glenn recalls. ``All at once they were
challenging us on our grounds. We tried to send up
satellites and failed. We wanted to be first with a manned
flight, and damned if they didn't beat us on that, too.
They taunted us that Americans were going to sleep under a
Soviet moon. There was a mentality that people forget
today, but it was very real back then.''
The effort to put Glenn into orbit was a near fiasco,
played out in complete openness, unlike the secret and
sinister Soviet program. Glenn's launch was postponed a
depressing 10 times. He still winces at the memory. ``It
would be announced that Glenn is going on such and such
date, and then no, it's been canceled because of something
or other. Once I was on the way to the pad in the van when
the flight was canceled. Damn, we flopped again. We
couldn't get this thing off. It was almost like it was
designed for suspense by Hollywood.''
On the 11th try, February 20, at 9:47 a.m., millions of
nervous, prayerful Americans watched on TV as John Glenn's
tiny capsule, which he and his family had named Friendship
7, roared into orbit. It circled the globe three times and
landed safely in the Atlantic. Suddenly, the cold war was
a standoff. America went joyfully hysterical. There was a
parade in Washington, then another in New York with a
blizzard of ticker tape. ``Overwhelming,'' says Glenn.
``Beyond anything we had envisioned.'' He sat the family
down--wife Annie and their teenage kids, David and Lyn. It
was classic Glenn: so genuine and yet fodder for cynicism.
``I said, look, we are the same kind of people we were
before. I'm still putting my pants on one leg at a time. I
don't want anybody getting any big poppycock ideas. We'll
just be our own folks. And that's exactly what we did.
That seemed in its own right to attract attention, and
made people feel even closer to us.''
Before New York had swept up the last of the confetti,
John Glenn was an American hero. Today, to many, the four-
term Democratic Senator is still one. Does he object to
that assessment? He tries to.
``Look,'' he says, ``I don't know what people think * *
*.''
He is interrupted. ``Senator, you know exactly what they
think.''
``Well, I know what they think,'' he admits, ``but I
don't look at myself that way. I don't come in every day
and think I'd better do this in a certain way because I am
a hero. I never thought that in my whole life. And I'm not
starting it now. If other people look at me as someone
they admire because of what I've been fortunate enough to
take part in, I don't recoil from that, nor do I try to
advance it.''
By January, John Glenn--twice an astronaut, 24 years a
Senator, newly retired from both--will be out of a job.
But he is a man who needs some sort of mission, so he has
come up with one. He plans to set up an institute at Ohio
State University that would involve young people in
politics and public service--a quest as daunting as
shooting rockets at the moon. He knows that many Americans
today feel ``politics and government are so dirty they
can't possibly get their hands messed up in it.'' And he
knows that leaders more articulate than he have preached
the gospel of public service without success. But perhaps
the young will listen to a space traveler. ``If they do,
fine,'' says Glenn. ``If they don't, well, I'll give it my
best shot.''
Today, his best shot is aimed at understanding this
body-fluid centrifuge. He's training as hard as he is
because fouling up one of the experiments, as opposed to
personal safety, is his major concern. He looks up and
emphasizes: ``Make that `concern.' Not `fear.' ''
---
[From the the New York Times, October 30, 1998]
Glenn Returns to Space: The Overview
36 years later, glenn lifts off for his space encore
(By John Noble Wilford)
John Glenn, an astronaut again at 77, returned to orbit
today in the space shuttle Discovery for a rendezvous with
the memory of a time when exploits of early astronauts
held the world in thrall and for a long-awaited encore,
this time as the oldest traveler in outer space.
At 2:19 p.m., after two suspenseful delays, the
shuttle's two rockets and three engines ignited in flames
and billowing vapors and lifted the seven-member crew--
including Mr. Glenn, the retiring Democratic Senator from
Ohio and the first American to circle the planet--into an
orbit some 345 miles above Earth.
``Liftoff of Discovery with a crew of six astronaut
heroes and one American legend,'' intoned Lisa Malone, the
countdown commentator, at the moment the shuttle rose into
a cloudless blue sky.
Although Mr. Glenn's flight had been criticized in many
quarters as a publicity stunt and political payoff with
little scientific value, an estimated 250,000 visitors to
the Kennedy Space Center and surrounding communities, one
of the biggest crowds to see a shuttle departure, followed
Discovery's ascent, watching until it was no more than a
vanishing point of light more than 5 minutes after
liftoff. President Clinton, watching with Mrs. Clinton
from the roof of the Launch Control Center, was the first
sitting President to see a space launching here since
Richard M. Nixon watched the takeoff of Apollo 12 in 1969.
In an interview on CNN before the liftoff, Mr. Clinton
pointed out that today's flight--the last mission before
NASA begins launching the International Space Station in
December--was the end of an era. ``So John Glenn began
this first phase of our space program, and he's ending it
just before we start on the space station,'' Mr. Clinton
said.
A few hours after Discovery reached orbit, Lieutenant
Colonel Curtis L. Brown, Jr., the commander, looked over
at Mr. Glenn.
``Let the record show, John has a smile on his face and
it goes from ear to ear,'' Colonel Brown told Mission
Control. ``We haven't been able to remove it yet.''
In his first radio communication with Mission Control,
Mr. Glenn was ebullient. ``A trite old statement: zero-G
and I feel fine,'' he said, paraphrasing his first
reaction to zero gravity, in 1962.
Looking down on the Hawaiian islands, Mr. Glenn said:
``Today is beautiful and great. I just can't even describe
it.''
More than 36 years ago, on February 20, 1962, Mr. Glenn,
then 40, rocketed aloft from here to become the first
American to orbit the planet. Alone, squeezed into a tiny
Mercury capsule, he made all of three orbits of Earth on a
flight that lasted 5 hours. Today, aboard the relatively
commodious Discovery, with 70 times the room of the
Mercury capsule, Mr. Glenn began a mission planned to last
9 days.
Two younger astronauts, Colonel Brown and Lieutenant
Colonel Steven W. Lindsey, both of the Air Force, were at
the controls of Discovery. From his passenger seat in the
compartment below the flight deck, Mr. Glenn felt the bump
at liftoff and the increasing vibration and noise of the
first 2 minutes of surging rocket power, 20 times the
thrust of the Atlas rocket that first put him in orbit.
When Discovery's two solid-rocket boosters were jettisoned
after a little more than 2 minutes, Mr. Glenn felt a
sharper jolt and might have caught sight of a flash of
light in the tiny compartment window.
In many ways, it was a more comfortable ascent this
time. At most, the rocket power exerted on Mr. Glenn's
body pressures about three times the normal force of
gravity at sea level. The pressure was certainly nothing
like the G-forces from the Atlas, which reached eight
times normal levels.
As the shuttle's three hydrogen engines burned, Mr.
Glenn could begin to relax to the steady whirring of
turbines and fans. Eight and a half minutes after
ignition, he and the other Discovery astronauts had
reached orbit and, unbuckling the straps that secured them
during liftoff, experienced the floating sensation of
weightlessness. On his Friendship 7 flight in 1962, Mr.
Glenn never got the chance to unbuckle and had no place to
stretch out.
For the rest of the day, the crew moved slowly about
Discovery, opening the cargo-bay doors and activating the
systems and scientific instruments in the pressurized
Spacehab module in the cargo bay where astronauts are to
conduct many of their experiments.
Generally overlooked in the avid attention on Mr. Glenn
was the multinational crew, including a Japanese and a
Spanish astronaut, which is to get busy on Friday with
dozens of astronomy observations, tests of hardware for
the Hubble Space Telescope, and experiments on the effects
of a low-gravity environment on insects, fish, and humans.
Much of the scientific work will be handled by Dr.
Stephen K. Robinson, an engineer; Pedro Duque, an
aeronautical engineer from Spain who is representing the
European Space Agency; and Dr. Chiaki Mukai, a Japanese
physician and medical researcher. Mr. Glenn's primary duty
will be to act as a test subject for investigations of
physiological changes from space flight that appear to
parallel changes in aging humans. His attending physician
for many tests will be Dr. Scott E. Parazynski.
Such studies point up one of the sharpest contrasts
between this flight and Mr. Glenn's first. ``Back then,
the issue was not successful experiments but survival,''
Mr. Glenn said in a recent magazine interview. ``Doctors
weren't sure whether humans could take eight G's going up
and coming down. As test pilots, our job was to find out
what we could do and couldn't do.''
NASA officials said Discovery was operating normally,
but engineers said they were investigating the apparent
loss of a small, insulated aluminum panel near the tail. A
videotape of the launching showed the panel dropping off 2
seconds after main-engine ignition, 5 seconds before
liftoff. The panel appeared to be the cover over a stowed
parachute, which is deployed at landing to slow the
shuttle on the runway.
At a news conference, Donald R. McMonagle, a shuttle
official at the Kennedy center, said the incident was not
expected to pose any additional risk or cause any change
in mission plans. The shuttle could land without the
``drag chute,'' which was added to the shuttles for extra
braking force only after more than 50 safe landings
without parachutes. The problem presented ``no hazard to
operations of the vehicle in orbit,'' the official said.
A more detailed analysis of the problem is expected to
be made on Friday, Mr. McMonagle said.
The day of Mr. Glenn's second launching broke warm and
clear, with no signs of technical trouble on Discovery at
Pad 39-B. Before his first mission, Mr. Glenn had to wait
out 10 postponements because of weather or mechanical
problems between December and February 20 before he
finally lifted off.
Today's countdown proceeded smoothly toward a scheduled
2 p.m. liftoff. At a pause at T-minus-9 minutes, Scott
Carpenter, the astronaut who was Mr. Glenn's backup pilot
in 1962, echoed his famous farewell to the Mercury flight,
which was ``Godspeed, John Glenn.''
Speaking to the Discovery crew, Mr. Carpenter said, ``At
this point in the count, it seems appropriate to say to
the crew, good luck, have a safe flight, and to say once
again, Godspeed, John Glenn.''
But Discovery was not going anywhere yet. Alarms sounded
in the cockpit and were recorded at Mission Control in
Houston. The countdown was halted while engineers
considered possible problems with the cabin pressure in
the crew module, and soon established that there was
nothing to fear. Then, at T-minus-5 minutes, the count was
interrupted again as one private airplane and then another
were spotted flying into restricted airspace near the
Kennedy launching area.
The liftoff seemed trouble-free, until the examination
of video recordings revealed that a piece of metal seemed
to break loose and hit the nozzle of the shuttle's center
engine. Investigators were trying to find out if it was
indeed the parachute panel--a piece of waffle-textured
aluminum 18 inches wide, 22 inches long, and 1.7 inches
thick--that fell off.
``At this point, we know of no impact on the mission,''
Mr. McMonagle said of the problem.
One of the most important maneuvers of the mission is to
come on the fourth day. The Discovery astronauts plan to
release a small satellite called Spartan for 2 days of
observations of the Sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, and
its effects on the space environment throughout the solar
system. The satellite is to be retrieved before the
shuttle returns to Earth. Landing is scheduled for
November 7 here at the Kennedy center.
The mission is the 92d by a shuttle since the reusable
craft were introduced in 1981. And it is the 121st
American flight of astronauts since John Glenn made
history with his first flight. Shortly after 7 p.m. today,
Mr. Glenn passed his old space flight record of 5 minutes
under 5 hours, with 8 days yet to go on the return flight
he had longed to take since February 1962.
---
[From the New York Times, January 17, 1998]
Glenn To Slip Bonds of Age in Space
(By Katharine Q. Seelye)
He wears glasses now; he is paler and balding. But he
still has his freckles and the Midwestern blend of modesty
and self-assurance he always displayed as an American
hero.
``I'll give it my very best try,'' John Glenn said today
at a packed news conference at NASA headquarters here,
where officials announced that they were sending the 76-
year-old Ohio Senator back into space after a 36-year
absence. Mr. Glenn said that he had lobbied NASA for 2
years to reprise his epic flight of 1962, which launched
him into history as the first American in orbit. Dan
Goldin, the NASA Administrator who gave the go for Mr.
Glenn's autumnal space shuttle mission, called him ``the
most tenacious human being on the face of this planet.''
Senator Glenn has enjoyed other successes since slipping
the bonds of Earth in his 9-by-7-foot capsule, including
the distinction of being the only person Ohio has elected
to the Senate for four consecutive terms (he retires this
year). But nothing he has achieved in politics has come
came close to rivaling the worldwide acclaim he received
as an astronaut, and there was some speculation today that
Mr. Glenn wanted to cap his career the way he began it--by
lighting the candle, in the jargon of astronauts.
``Zero-G, and I feel fine,'' a suddenly weightless John
Glenn radioed 36 years ago, with the world holding its
breath as Mr. Glenn circled the globe, scoring one for the
United States after the Soviet Union had launched two men
into orbit and was winning the space race at the height of
the cold war. Afterward, four million New Yorkers gave him
a ticker-tape parade that rivaled the one for Charles
Lindbergh.
Mr. Glenn asserted today that he wanted to go back into
space because he was intensely interested in geriatrics.
On his own initiative, he said, he had studied some of the
similarities between aging on Earth and flying weightless
in space, including the loss of bone mass, a weakening of
the immune system and a slackening of muscles. He proposed
to Mr. Goldin that he go back into space to study them
further, to help ``lessen the frailties of old age'' and
prevent problems for young astronauts.
But in the course of his lengthy news conference, Mr.
Glenn returned to the novelty factor--he would be the
oldest person to go into space. And he acknowledged that
he was keenly aware of his place in the American psyche.
Besides, he argued to those who suggested NASA might
have picked him for the public relations value--he was as
good a choice as anyone.
``If I can pass the physical, why not me to do this kind
of experimenting?'' he recalled asking Mr. Goldin in the
summer of 1996.
There is little doubt that Mr. Glenn can pass the
physical. Doctors say he is in excellent health. A former
Marine fighter pilot, he exercises every day, and he said
he expected to be in even better shape by the time the
space shuttle Discovery is launched in October.
He also spurned suggestions that his selection was a
political reward for defending President Clinton and Vice
President Gore during the Senate hearings last year on
campaign finance practices.
``Nothing could be further from the truth,'' the Senator
asserted. ``There were never any directions, there were
never any requests from the White House.''
It was Mr. Glenn's partisan performance during the
hearings--in response to partisan tactics by the
Republicans--that in some eyes diminished his reputation
as an amiable Senator. His character--his sense of decency
and fair play--had always been his strength. But these
apolitical qualities, combined with a public speaking
style that was less than electrifying, kept him from
playing a major role in the Senate and helped doom his
1984 bid for the Presidency, for which he remains $3
million in debt.
He was first elected to the Senate in 1974 and delved
into nuclear proliferation and, later, issues related to
aging. But he was also touched by the Keating Five
scandal, in which he and four other lawmakers were accused
of doing favors for a wealthy campaign contributor. The
Senate Ethics Committee concluded that Mr. Glenn had only
``exercised poor judgment'' in arranging a meeting, but it
tarnished his Mr. Clean image.
Throughout Mr. Glenn's career, it was clear that his
trip into space was never far from his mind. He announced
his retirement from the Senate on February 20, 1996, the
35th anniversary of his orbit. And at one merry moment
during the campaign finance hearings, when the Republicans
had displayed a particularly complicated chart, Mr. Glenn
mused: ``Is this supposed to be an orbital track?''
Even today, it was evident that the chance to leave the
planet again was more important to him than whatever might
await in Washington. Said Mr. Goldin: ``One of the
conditions for Senator Glenn to fly is, I have an iron-
clad commitment from him that his Senate duties will not
interfere with the activities of training for the space
shuttle.''
Mr. Glenn, the son of a plumber, had sought to enter
politics 2 years after his 1962 orbit of Earth, announcing
his candidacy for the Senate in 1964. But a fall in his
bathroom injured his inner ear and he had to drop out of
the primary.
He still wanted to return to space, but was turned down.
``I always wanted to go back up again,'' he said today,
adding obliquely: ``At that time, headquarters didn't want
me to go back on flight status again. And so, after a year
or so, I went on to other things.''
It was unclear whether he was referring to a time when
John F. Kennedy was President or when Lyndon B. Johnson
occupied the Oval Office.
With Mr. Glenn's political career on hold, he went into
private business, serving on the boards of Royal Crown
Cola and the Questor Corporation. He oversaw four Holiday
Inns. In 1970, Mr. Glenn ran for the Senate again, but
lost the Democratic primary to Howard Metzenbaum. The seat
was up 4 years later, and this time, Mr. Glenn beat Mr.
Metzenbaum.
In 1979, Tom Wolfe published ``The Right Stuff,'' an
examination of the dawn of the American space program and
the qualities that, in Mr. Wolfe's phrase, would ``bring
tears to men's eyes.'' The 1983 movie based on the book
was expected to give Mr. Glenn a big advantage in the
presidential campaign, when he presented himself as an
alternative to the more liberal Walter Mondale. But
support never materialized, and he dropped out. Mr. Glenn
held his Senate seat in 1992 against a challenge from Mike
DeWine, whose campaign slogan asked: ``What on Earth has
John Glenn done?''
Mr. Glenn announced his retirement last year after it
was clear that Ohio's popular Republican Governor, George
Voinovich, who had built up a substantial war chest, would
present a particularly strong challenge.
But all of those battles melted away today as Mr. Glenn
grinned his way through the announcement of the news he
had waited so long to hear. His first words, typically,
were in homage to his wife, Annie, his childhood
sweetheart, who sat in the front row adjacent to a
battalion of cameras that were recording the moment for
history. She brought her own instamatic and took her own
pictures, occasionally wiping a tear from the corner of
her eye.
Mr. Glenn said his wife and children were initially
``not enthusiastic'' about his upcoming flight but that
they understood it was important for him.
With the image of the Challenger disaster still
imprinted in American minds, Mr. Goldin was quick to say
NASA ``tripled the reliability of the Space Shuttle since
the early 1990's.''
Nonetheless, he said, an experienced flyer like Mr.
Glenn ``knows that there's a finite probability he may not
come back.'' He said that the decision to send Mr. Glenn
into space should not send a message ``that it's safe to
fly in space.'' Rather, he said, ``This is a signal that
we're trying to do the maximum space research to benefit
the American people and to inspire people.''
Mr. Goldin insisted that the agency was not exploiting
Mr. Glenn's popularity as a ploy to win more money. ``We
will not pander to the American public self-servingly to
get more money for this agency,'' Mr. Goldin said, but
added: ``Is it just science? No. Inspiration is part of
the American psyche.''
If Mr. Glenn was afraid of the flight, he did not let
on. His only fear, he said, was that he might not ``do a
good job.'' He added: ``I was concerned about that back in
1962. I will be concerned about that again.''