[JPRT, 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Hon. Henry J. Hyde
1924 -2007
Henry J. Hyde
LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ILLINOIS
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES AND
OTHER TRIBUTES
IN THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED]
Henry J. Hyde
Memorial Addresses and
Other Tributes
HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND SENATE
OF THE UNITED STATES
TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE
IN HONOR OF
HENRY J. HYDE
Late a Representative from Illinois
One Hundred Tenth Congress
First Session
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2008
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
Tributes by Representatives:
Bonner, Jo, of Alabama.........................
36
Burton, Dan, of Indiana........................
5
Buyer, Steve, of Indiana.......................
48
Costello, Jerry F., of Illinois
...............................................
.....
3, 4, 28
Crowley, Joseph, of New York
.............................................
37, 39, 45
Dreier, David, of California...................
50
Ehlers, Vernon J., of Michigan.................
31
Faleomavaega, Eni F.H., of American Samoa......
41
Franks, Trent, of Arizona......................
19
Goodlatte, Bob, of Virginia....................
17
Hensarling, Jeb, of Texas......................
15
Jackson, Jesse L., Jr., of Illinois............
46
King, Steve, of Iowa...........................
51
LaHood, Ray, of Illinois.......................
10
Lantos, Tom, of California.....................
47
Lee, Barbara, of California....................
7
Lipinski, Daniel, of Illinois..................
30
Lungren, Daniel E., of California
........................................
33, 40, 42
Manzullo, Donald A., of Illinois
........................................
7, 16, 23, 27
McCollum, Betty, of Minnesota..................
35
Mica, John L., of Florida......................
34
Myrick, Sue Wilkins, of North Carolina.........
29
Pence, Mike, of Indiana........................
33
Pitts, Joseph R., of Pennsylvania..............
32
Rohrabacher, Dana, of California...............
7
Roskam, Peter J., of Illinois
...............................................
....
4, 24, 40
Schakowsky, Janice D., of Illinois.............
31
Schmidt, Jean, of Ohio.........................
16
Shimkus, John, of Illinois.....................
12
Smith, Christopher H., of New Jersey...........
14
Smith, Lamar, of Texas.........................
29
Stearns, Cliff, of Florida.....................
3
Tiahrt, Todd, of Kansas........................
48
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, of Florida..........
49
Weldon, Dave, of Florida.......................
4
Wilson, Joe, of South Carolina.................
27
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Grassley, Chuck, of Iowa.......................
54
Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah.......................
53
Memorial Service......................................
57
BIOGRAPHY
Henry J. Hyde, a 16-term Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, served the Sixth District of Illinois,
which includes O'Hare International Airport and much of
the suburban area to its west, the long-settled suburbs
due west of the Loop: Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Glen
Ellyn, Wheaton, and the newer suburbs along I-290 and Lake
Street: Bensenville, Addison, Wood Dale, and Bloomingdale.
Born on April 18, 1924, Mr. Hyde grew up as an Irish
Catholic Democrat in the Chicago area. He was an all-city
basketball center. Mr. Hyde attended Georgetown University
on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1947 with a
bachelor of science degree. He enlisted in the Navy from
1944 to 1946, where he served at Lingayen Gulf. After the
war he earned a J.D. from Loyola University in 1949,
practiced law in Chicago from 1950 to 1975, and served in
the Naval Reserves from 1946 to 1968. In 1958 he switched
parties, convinced that the Republicans were more in line
with his anti-Communist beliefs. He was elected to the
Illinois House of Representatives in 1966 and served 8
years before joining Congress in Washington, DC, in 1974.
It was in the U.S. Congress that Henry Hyde first made
his name as an abortion opponent, attaching to the
Appropriations Subcommittee bills his Hyde amendments
prohibiting the use of Federal funds to pay for abortions
in various circumstances. ``I look for the common thread
in slavery, the Holocaust, and abortion,'' he said in
1998. ``To me, the common thread is dehumanizing people.''
In 1976 Congress enacted the first Hyde amendment to an
appropriation bill, banning abortions financed by
Medicaid. It has remained in force ever since, though
States can spend their own money on abortions, and some
do. Exceptions for saving the life of the mother and
victims of rape and incest were added in 1993.
Mr. Hyde was one of the few Republicans who supported
the family leave bill. He opposed assisted suicide and
sponsored a bill passed by the House to criminalize the
prescription of lethal drugs to terminally ill patients
contemplating ending their lives.
In 1994 when the GOP won control of the House, Henry
Hyde was chosen to chair the Judiciary Committee and move
much of the party's socially conservative agenda.
Republican-imposed term limits compelled Mr. Hyde to give
up the Judiciary chairmanship at the start of the 107th
Congress, but he was able to leverage his seniority and
stature to take over the International Relations Committee
in 2001, where he took on yet another challenge--
shepherding Republican foreign policy in a time of
international unrest. His chairmanship proved challenging,
as he took over a committee where he had not had much
impact since the arms control and Central America policy
debates of the 1980s.
On many occasions Mr. Hyde proved himself one of the
most eloquent Members of the House. His speeches against
term limits and in favor of the flag-burning amendment are
classics. His strong stand on the nuclear freeze
resolution helped turn the tide on foreign policy in the
House in the 1980s.
None of these challenges, however, were as great or as
public as the challenge of serving as prosecutor in the
Clinton impeachment trial. From the first, Mr. Hyde
realized that any impeachment resolution must be
bipartisan if it were to be credible, but it became clear
that many Democrats were determined to defend President
Clinton at every turn. Democrats resisted his resolution
and advanced one of their own with time limits and with
the requirement that Members first vote on the definition
of an impeachable offense. In the end all Republicans and
31 Democrats voted for the Republican resolution. Mr. Hyde
ran the fractious hearings with scrupulous fairness and
even with occasional humor. His summation to the House was
genuinely eloquent. Although he convinced the House to
impeach President Clinton on two of four counts in 1998,
GOP leaders sought to bring the 1999 Senate trial to a
quick conclusion because it was clear they did not have
the two-thirds majority needed for convictions.
Henry Hyde was generally a loyal backer of President
Bush's plans for waging the war on terrorism, both at home
and abroad. Soon after hearing of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, he concluded that a lessening of
complacency about terrorist threats in the national psyche
might be the event's smallest of silver linings.
Among his colleagues, Mr. Hyde was respected as an old-
fashioned wit, one of the sharpest legal minds on Capitol
Hill, a leading defender of the institution of Congress.
He was often the most impressive spokesman in legislative
battles, pouncing on flaws in foes' arguments with all the
determination and effectiveness he used as a Chicago trial
lawyer.
Mr. Hyde is survived by his second wife, Judy; three
children, Robert (Mindy) of Irving, TX, Anthony (Barbara)
of North Aurora, IL, and Laura of Chicago, IL; and seven
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Hank;
two siblings, Mary and John Hyde; and his first wife of 45
years, Jeanne M. Simpson-Hyde, who passed away in July
1992.
?
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES
AND
OTHER TRIBUTES
FOR
HENRY J. HYDE
Proceedings in the House of Representatives
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life
and accomplishments of a terrific Member, former
Congressman Henry Hyde. He's often recognized for his
wisdom and his eloquence of speaking. But, frankly, there
were some other sides of him that were very precious. He
was a man of quick wit and a keen sense of humor, to which
I was always a willing audience.
Above all, he was passionately committed to protecting
and improving the lives of Americans, all Americans, both
born and the unborn. He was an effective pro-life
advocate, through prohibiting Federal funding of abortions
with the Hyde amendment and his advocacy for the ban on
partial-birth abortions. Conservative estimates indicate
that there are about 2 million Americans alive today as a
direct result of his work.
Henry Hyde leaves behind a legacy that inspires and
challenges those of us who remain behind today.
My deepest condolences and sympathy to his family, and
may God bless Henry Hyde.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I regret to inform the
Members that former Congressman Henry J. Hyde died this
past Thursday, November 29. Henry served in the Illinois
Legislature for 8 years, from 1967 to 1974. Henry was
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974 and
served for 32 years until his retirement after the 109th
Congress.
Henry was both liked and respected by those of us who
served with him. He chaired both the Judiciary and
International Relations Committees, presiding over both
with the same intelligence and eloquence he brought to all
floor debates. Last month, President Bush presented Henry
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation's
highest civilian honor, for his meritorious service to his
country.
Members should know that directly after votes this
evening, Mr. Roskam and I have reserved a special order to
recognize and remember the service of Henry Hyde later on
this evening. Those who want to participate can do so or
submit a statement.
At this time I would yield to my friend from Illinois
(Mr. Roskam).
Mr. ROSKAM. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, many of us come to Washington, DC, for
our first time and we go out and about and we introduce
ourselves. And I did that as a candidate, introduced
myself to people, and they had no interest whatsoever in
who I was. I tried then to seek a little bit of common
ground and tell them where I am from. They had no interest
whatsoever in where I was from.
And then I didn't play fair. Then I said to them, I am
running to succeed Congressman Hyde. At that moment, the
demeanor on every single person changed. They pulled me a
little bit closer, they grabbed my elbow, and they would
say, Henry Hyde, let me tell you about Henry Hyde. They
would tell some unbelievable story about how Henry Hyde
would come down to the well of this Chamber in a packed
place and with the whole country watching and do what
great statesmen do, and that was to speak to the great
weighty issues of the day. Or they would tell me about
Henry Hyde and a kindness that he had extended to them out
of the presence of anybody else, that no one would ever
know about.
So it is with a great deal of regret that Mr. Costello
and I are here announcing the passing of a great man. This
great man was my predecessor. He was known not only
ultimately for what he accomplished and what he stood for
but I think actually who he was.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I would ask the House to
observe a moment of silence in remembrance of our friend,
Henry Hyde.
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Madam Speaker, earlier today in
this body we observed a minute of silence to honor the
great life of Henry Hyde, our distinguished former
colleague from Illinois. Henry Hyde clearly established
himself in America as one of the great defenders of the
sanctity of human life. He was eloquent on a host of
issues in his outstanding rhetorical skills, but perhaps
he was most able and capable in defending the dignity and
sanctity of human life. . . .
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, one of the great
things that has happened in my political life and serving
in Congress is to have known Henry Hyde. Henry Hyde I
think was one of the greatest Congressmen to ever serve in
this Chamber. He was a man of integrity. He was honest.
When he gave you his word, it was his bond. He was loved
by everybody. Even during the controversial impeachment
trial of Bill Clinton, he did it with honor, and he did it
in a way that everybody respected him even though it was
very controversial.
He was a great chairman. He was the chairman of both the
Judiciary Committee and the International Relations
Committee, and he did a great job in both areas. I served
with him on the International Relations Committee and I
was one of his subcommittee chairmen, and I want to tell
you, he was a chairman you could be proud of. He was a man
who was always ready to listen and work with his
subcommittee chairmen and anybody in the Congress to solve
problems facing this Nation.
He was known best, I think, for the Hyde amendment,
which stopped Federal funding for abortions, and it has
been known throughout the time since that bill passed as
one of the great human life amendments ever presented in
this body or in the other body as well. He was a fighter.
He was the kind of man who was very strong willed, who
would fight like the dickens. But he had a heart that was
very soft where his fellow man was concerned. When he was
on an issue, however, he had a heart that was very tough,
and everybody that dealt with him knew that.
He was probably one of the greatest orators who ever
served in the Congress of the United States in either
body. When he came down to speak, everybody listened. I
know when a lot of my colleagues speak today they have to
bring the gavel down several times to bring the House to
order and ask for regular order, but when Henry Hyde came
down on a great cause and spoke, you could hear a pin drop
in this place because people knew he had something to say,
and they wanted to hear what he had to say.
I am very proud to have known Henry. I knew him for over
20 years in this body. I can't tell you or any of my
colleagues how great he was and how much I held him in
high esteem. He will be missed not only because he was a
great Congressman, he will be missed not only because he
was a great chairman, he will be missed because he was a
great American.
And before I leave, I have to tell you one little story
about Henry that he was so proud of. When he went to
college at Georgetown University, he played on the
basketball team. And one of the greatest players, if not
the greatest player of that era, was a man named George
Mikan, and Henry used to smile and with great pride tell
everybody that when he played against George Mikan, in the
second half he held him to one point. And there aren't
many people who could do that.
In addition to all of this, he authored the staunchest
pro-life legislation in Congress in 30 years, and headed
the impeachment hearings against President Clinton. Either
of those efforts would naturally incite a whole camp of
enemies.
Henry Hyde spoke of controversial matters with
intellectual honesty and without rancor,
said President Bush.
He was gifted as a legislator. There was a time when the
Illinois House was divided evenly and needed 89 votes to
pass a bill, and nothing was getting done because of
partisan wrangling. People were angry and debilitated.
Henry stood up and said he had voted against something
just because he was on the other side of the aisle, and
asked the House to reconsider the last bill on its merits.
They wound up going back to the last 32 bills that had
failed, and he brought people back into an atmosphere of
wanting to work together.
Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, had
this to say about Congressman Hyde:
Congressman Hyde played a big role in crystallizing the
issue of abortion as central to politics and the culture.
He has always been a driving force in making it clear that
abortion is not one among many issues.
Congressman Hyde, a Catholic, was a vocal opponent of
abortion. In 1976 Hyde attached an amendment to a spending
bill that banned Federal funding for abortions.
The amendment later become known as the Hyde amendment
and has been at the center of the political fight over
abortion since its passage.
This erudite, scholarly man has walked with kings and
kept the common touch,
Bush stated.
They're quick to say it's not the same Congress without
him--but that we're a better country because he was there.
And colleagues will always admire and look up to the
gentleman from Illinois, Henry J. Hyde.
Born in 1924, Hyde served in the House from 1975 to 2007
and retired at the end of the last session. Hyde served as
the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to
2001.
In a written statement, Boehner called Hyde ``a
constitutional scholar, a thoughtful legislator, and a
passionate orator.''
``But above all, he will be remembered as a gentleman
who stood as a beacon for the bedrock principles of
liberty, justice, and, respect for life,'' Boehner said.
On November 5, President Bush awarded Hyde the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the
President can bestow on an American citizen.
Henry, we miss you, buddy. Godspeed.
Ms. LEE. . . . And tonight I must take a moment and ask
that my remarks include my sympathy for Henry Hyde,
Chairman Hyde's family. I thought about Chairman Hyde
during our visit [the Congressional Black Caucus
Foundation visit to South Africa, to celebrate and
commemorate World AIDS Day], because we worked together on
the initial PEPFAR [President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief] legislation. He was committed to address this HIV
pandemic. He ensured that this bill became a bipartisan
bill. And even though we didn't agree on every issue,
tonight I commemorate him and I give my sympathy to his
family because, as we reauthorize this, his spirit and his
hard work and his legacy certainly will prevail as we move
forward.
Many of the key issues which remain were addressed in
South Africa as it relates to the PEPFAR reauthorization.
Some of them included addressing the abstinence until
marriage earmark and the onerous prostitution pledge;
reducing the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and
AIDS by empowering them through my legislation, such as
the PATHWAY Act; sharpening our focus on orphans and
vulnerable children, which of course Chairman Hyde was
committed to; better integrating nutrition and wrap-around
programs. We also have to expand support for health
systems and strengthen delivery of basic health care
services. And, of course, I believe that we must provide
$50 billion, not $30 billion as the President has asked
for, but $50 billion over the next 5 years for this
initiative. . . .
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, the subject of our special
order this evening is our dear friend, Henry Hyde.
Mr. Speaker, I would yield to Congressman Rohrabacher
from California.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, today we remember the life
of Henry Hyde. Henry Hyde was no doubt one of the greatest
Members ever to serve in this Chamber. He was certainly
one of the most articulate.
Let me note right off the beginning, Henry Hyde was a
personal hero of mine long before I arrived here in this
body in 1989. And unlike heroes whom I have met over my
lifetime, quite often I have been disappointed in the
heroes that I have met, Henry Hyde remained a person I
admired, a hero that I admired, even after I got to work
with him and got to know him personally.
Henry Hyde was, yes, a great orator, and he had a
personal presence. Anyone who has ever worked or been
around Henry Hyde could tell you that. Yet, these were not
the qualities that made him great. Henry used his talents
and his influence to further fundamental principles and
values that reflected Henry's character and his commitment
to higher ideals. He rose above politics.
What is it that Henry believed in? What were these
higher ideals? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Life. Yes, that is the first, that is the first of
Henry's values. Yes, Henry was one of the greatest voices
in the defense of the unborn on this planet. It was not
the popular stand to take, and it still is not necessarily
the popular stand to take. It was a moral imperative,
however, a moral imperative that Henry felt very deeply
about.
When someone believes that the issue of abortion is not
an issue that concerns tissue being extracted from a
woman's body, but is instead an issue that deals with the
ending of a human life, the principle is clear. But the
courage to advocate such a moral and principled position
may not match the importance of the issue itself.
Henry spoke with such eloquence on so many issues, but
on this issue, one could not help but admire him and know
that it was something that was coming from his heart, and
a heart that was filled with love. He was a national force
in the battle to protect the unborn. This is part of his
legacy and something we should not forget and we should
always remember him for, because it took courage for him
to lead this battle.
Henry made this issue a crusade, and he did much himself
to create the movement that now I think has brought public
opinion and at least the public consciousness more to what
the issue is on this issue of abortion. Yes, life was
Henry's number one priority.
Liberty. Henry fought for liberty as a young naval
officer in the Philippines during the Second World War. I
was very honored to have gone with Henry to the
Philippines where he was issued a medal for his service as
a young man in the Second World War. He then after the war
returned home and fought the battle for liberty in both
the State legislature in Illinois, and, yes, here in the
Halls of Congress.
Henry's war was a war for liberty and justice for all.
Henry was chairman of the Judiciary Committee. And, yes,
we should not forget another controversial thing about
Henry. He led that Judiciary Committee at a time of an
impeachment procedure against President Bill Clinton. With
the sexual implications of the charges against the former
President, that endeavor could have turned into a lurid
political circus. Instead, Henry Hyde insisted on
maintaining standards and maintaining that the issue was
perjury, and that was the only issue to be approached and
discussed, and he insisted on maintaining the decorum of
this House under these most trying of circumstances.
After serving as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he
moved on to serve as chairman of the International
Relations Committee. I was honored to serve with him on
that august committee, and I watched first hand as he
stepped up and maintained his commitment not only to
American security, but to human liberty. These were the
paramount issues for Henry Hyde, whether our country was
safe and whether human liberty was being furthered.
Yes, Henry Hyde was the chairman of the International
Relations Committee and led us after 9/11, led us at a
time when we went into war with radical Islam, a war in
which we are currently engaged. And Henry, his courage,
his strength, his character, did very much to ensure the
American people that, yes, we will prevail over this
monstrous evil enemy that we face.
Well, finally, let me note the pursuit of happiness. All
of us who knew Henry know that he was a man who enjoyed
his life. He exemplified that happiness comes from more
than just acquiring material wealth. Henry was a happy man
because he was doing what he thought was right and was
making a difference.
When he left us last year, he had dedicated his whole
life to the service of our country and to those higher
ideals I have just mentioned. He had every reason to be
proud of the wonderful and exemplary life that he had
lived.
So, tonight we remember Henry. He will be buried later
on this week, but he will remain a force in this body and
will remain a force in American politics for years to
come, along with the Henry Clays and the Daniel Websters
and the other great orators and great men of principle who
have served here in Washington in the people's House and
in this great Congress.
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Illinois, Congressman Ray LaHood.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to pay tribute
to one of the finest public servants that I have ever
known, Congressman Henry Hyde. Henry passed away last
week.
Before I begin my own remarks, I want to offer a couple
of comments on behalf of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.,
who for family reasons is not able to be here, but asked
me to offer these remarks on his behalf.
He was a good friend of Congressman Hyde, someone from
the other side of the aisle, but someone from our Illinois
delegation. He wanted me to express his feelings that
Henry was not only a good friend to him, but he was a
great American; someone who loved America and someone who
really made the world a better place; someone who
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., called a friend.
I offer those remarks on behalf of Congressman Jesse
Jackson, Jr.
Henry made a difference. When I was asked by a reporter
recently what I will remember about him, what I said was
that many of us come to this place with the idea that we
can make a difference. Henry Hyde made a difference. He
made a difference in the lives of the people that he
represented, not just in his congressional district and
not just in Illinois, but in the country and in the world.
He distinguished himself by serving as chair of two
committees, the Judiciary Committee and the International
Relations Committee, during deliberations of some very
serious legislation.
Henry Hyde had the ability to change people's minds.
That is almost unheard of around here. People come to the
well of the House almost always knowing how they are going
to vote on a particular bill. But whether it was the flag
amendment, whether it was term limits, which was a part of
the Contract with America in 1995, whether it was the Hyde
amendment, which protected so many lives for so many
unborn, whether it was impeachment or whether it was
expansion of O'Hare Airport, Henry Hyde had the ability to
come to this floor and persuade his colleagues of his
point of view. He had a very uncanny ability to do that,
because of his intelligence, because of the way that he
presented himself, and because of the respect that the
Members of this body had for this great man.
He did make a difference, and he did it with the highest
level of civility and dignity. He brought great honor and
dignity to this institution by his presence, the way he
conducted his arguments on the great debates of the day,
and I have no doubt that people did change their votes and
change their minds. Particularly on term limits he made
some very compelling arguments, and particularly on the
flag amendment he made some very compelling arguments, and
over a long period of 30 years, three decades, on the Hyde
amendment.
And even though the impeachment proceedings were very
controversial, people respected the way Henry Hyde
conducted those proceedings as chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, in a very honorable and civil way. And even
those on the other side who did not agree with the
impeachment proceedings, agreed that Henry Hyde conducted
it with the highest level of honesty, integrity, and
civility that you can bring to this Chamber.
Every third Thursday of each month that we are in
session, our delegation which now numbers 21, 19 Members
and 2 U.S. Senators, have lunch together. We used to
gather in Speaker Hastert's office, and now we gather in
Senator Durbin's office. And before every delegation
lunch, we could always count on Henry Hyde to tell at
least one or two very funny stories. He was a great
storyteller and he loved to tell stories.
I will never forget almost a year ago when Henry would
come in the Chamber as we were departing for the final
votes, and he was in a wheelchair because of his back
problems, and announced to all of us over in that part of
the Chamber that just a few weeks before that, about a
year ago, he wed his chief of staff of 35 years and he was
very happy. They were going to move back to Geneva, IL,
which is a suburban part of Chicago, west of Chicago, and
they were going to live happily ever after in Geneva, IL,
which is a beautiful part of the world on the Fox River.
When President Bush announced that he was going to give
Henry Hyde the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I tried to
call Henry and was not able to reach him. I did send him a
note. I know how proud he was. Of all of the awards and
accolades that he received, I know he was proudest of his
Presidential Medal of Freedom because it is the highest
civilian award that the President of the United States can
give to any person, and I know how proud Henry was of
that.
So as a Member from Illinois who has served with Henry
now during my 13 years and as former chief of staff to Bob
Michel, it is difficult to think that Henry Hyde is gone.
But he will be long remembered for his civility, the
dignity, the high honor that he brought to the job and to
the debates of very controversial issues, and was still
able to maintain the collegiality of every Member of this
body, both Democrats and Republicans, a great lesson for
all of us and a great example for all of us of how we
should treat one another and how we should conduct the
debates, even when there are great differences and great
opportunities to divide on these issues.
Henry stands as a lasting example. He will be remembered
for showing how one can make a difference on important
issues and during debate. We honor his memory tonight
which will be long remembered throughout the history of
the House of Representatives. Godspeed, Henry Hyde.
Mr. MANZULLO. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Shimkus).
Mr. SHIMKUS. I want to thank my colleague, Don Manzullo,
for putting this together tonight. It is great to listen
to my friend and colleague, Ray LaHood, and follow Dana
Rohrabacher. I think you will see a lot of Members speak
tonight, and they will say a lot of similar things. We
have colleagues from Texas, Ohio, and New Jersey here,
which shows the width, breadth and the reach of Chairman
Hyde.
When you come to this institution as a new Member, there
are people who are national figures and many people learn
to become friends with them in different ways. I think one
of the great privileges is when you become a colleague of
one of these great figures of history, and as Dana
Rohrabacher said, he meets the requirements of what you
would expect and the person that you have idolized and
respected over the years.
I follow Ray LaHood who mentioned our bipartisan
luncheons. We would also get together as a Republican
delegation every now and then, and at that time we had the
Speaker. Before the Speaker would weigh in, he would
always turn to the dean of the Illinois delegation seeking
Henry Hyde's counsel, his wisdom, his experience, and his
expertise. I think that is a sign of a great leader when
you know who to go to; and, of course, with the great
respect we had for the wisdom and the conviction of
Chairman Hyde.
When Henry spoke, people really did listen. That is a
lot to be said because we speak a lot and a lot of times
people aren't listened to. But Henry Hyde did it, and for
many of the reasons that Ray mentioned, but I think
because of the great respect that people from both sides
of the aisle had for Henry Hyde.
We all have our own little stories to tell. I am an
individual who struggled personally with the term limits
debate. Chairman Hyde would just always respectfully beat
the heck out of me because of my stated position. He said,
``John, we have term limits; they are called elections.''
When people talk about Henry's strong speeches on the
floor about term limits, they would think he was for term
limits, but Henry was adamantly opposed to term limits
because he was a constitutionalist at heart. He said the
Constitution allows for term limits, and that is why we go
before the voters every 2 years.
After wearing me down for many years, I eventually moved
to the Henry Hyde position on term limits.
But that is the type of person he was, not out of a view
of political expediency or what is right for the public
political perception at the time, but what was right for
the country.
We have a lot of colleagues down here so I am not going
to belabor the point. Dana Rohrabacher said it right. I
think the great way to remember Henry Hyde is to remember
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life in the
Hyde amendment. You can say these simply, clearly and they
identify Chairman Hyde.
Again, life would be the Hyde amendment. Liberty, aid to
the freedom fighters in Nicaragua and Central America and
the fight against the nuclear freeze movement. Chairman
Hyde, that was liberty making the hard decisions against
political expediency to promote democracy and freedom.
And the pursuit of happiness, the Millennium Challenge.
It is not just the pursuit of happiness for the country,
it is the pursuit of happiness for the whole world.
I am honored to be able to be on the floor to take a few
minutes to thank Chairman Hyde for his friendship, his
mentorship. He is and will be missed. God bless you, Henry
Hyde.
Mr. MANZULLO. I recognize the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I would like to associate
myself with the sense of loss we all feel for the passing
of Congressman Henry Hyde. As I think my colleagues know,
Henry Hyde was one of the rarest, most accomplished and
most distinguished Members of Congress ever to serve. He
was a class act.
Henry Hyde was a man of deep and abiding faith, generous
to a fault with an incisive mind that worked seamlessly
with his incredible sense of humor. He was a friend and
colleague who inspired and challenged us to look beyond
surface appeal arguments and to take seriously the
admonitions of Holy Scripture to care for the downtrodden,
the vulnerable, and the least of our brethren.
On the greatest human rights issue of our time, the
right to life for unborn children, the disabled, and frail
elderly, Henry Hyde will always be known as the great
champion and the great defender of life. No one was more
logical, compassionate or eloquent in the defense of the
disenfranchised.
Because of the Hyde amendment, countless young children
and adults walk on this Earth today and have an
opportunity to love, to learn, to experience, to play
sports, to get married, to enjoy their grandchildren some
day, to experience the adventure of life itself because
they were spared destruction when they were most at risk,
millions, almost all of whom have no idea how much danger
they were in, today pursue their dreams and their hopes
with expectations and great accomplishment.
With malice toward none, no one, even his most
vociferous critics, Henry Hyde often took to the House
floor to politely ask us to show compassion and respect
and even love for the innocent and inconvenient babies
about to be annihilated by abortion.
A Congressman for 32 years, a chairman for 6 years of
the Judiciary Committee, and for another 6 years chairman
of the International Relations Committee, Henry Hyde was a
prodigious lawmaker. With uncanny skill, determination,
and grace, he crafted numerous historic bipartisan laws
and commonsense policies that lifted people out of
poverty, helped alleviate disease, and strengthened the
U.S. Code to protect victims and to get the criminals off
the streets. He was magnificent in his defense of
democracy and freedom both here and overseas.
One of his many legislative accomplishments includes his
authorship of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief, PEPFAR, a 5-year $15 billion plan to combat HIV/
AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. During the debate,
Chairman Hyde compared the HIV/AIDS crisis to the bubonic
plague of the 14th century, the Black Death, and
challenged us to enact a comprehensive program to rescue
the sick, assist the dying, and prevent the contagion from
spreading.
Having served with this brilliant one-of-a-kind
lawmaker, I know the world will truly miss Henry Hyde.
Still, we take some comfort in knowing that Henry Hyde's
kindness, his compassion, and generosity will live on in
the many laws he wrote to protect and enhance the lives of
others. I, we, will miss this great statesman.
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).
Mr. HENSARLING. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I
must admit I feel most inadequate to the task to find
words to somehow adequately eulogize this great man, this
colleague, this friend of ours whom we called Henry Hyde.
I guess the most important thing I can say about him in
the time that I have served in Congress, I can think of no
greater champion of human life and human freedom than
Henry Hyde.
When I think about the Hyde amendment and what that
means to human life, that accomplishment alone is worthy
of an entire Congress, and it is really the work of one
U.S. Congressman.
Tens of thousands live today because of Henry Hyde.
There can be no doubt about that, Mr. Speaker. And often
in debate we hear people come to the floor and talk about
we need to pass this legislation or that legislation
because we need to do it for the least of these. He, more
than any other, understood in the depths of his heart that
the least of these are the unborn. And because of that, he
was a champion. And we do properly eulogize him tonight.
You know in debate, Mr. Speaker, it can get quite
contentious. One wonders sometimes why a civil society
cannot have a civil Congress. But I have no doubt that
although many occasionally may have thought him
wrongheaded, no one in this institution ever thought he
was wronghearted because he always acted out of the purest
of motives.
And as I hearken back to a comment that the gentleman
from Illinois made before me, it is interesting to note
that each of us would come to this floor and actually have
a greater interest in listening to Henry Hyde than
listening to ourselves. Very few Members of this body, Mr.
Speaker, command that kind of attention. But when Henry
Hyde spoke, people wanted to listen because he brought the
force of his intellect, he brought his humor, he brought
his grace, his kindness, he brought his civility, and he
brought his humility to this floor. And because of it, Mr.
Speaker, I know that I am a better person, and I believe
that every other Member of this institution is also better
for having known Henry Hyde and being able to listen to
him.
We regret his loss, but we thank his family. And I am
well acquainted with his son Bob, who is a resident of
Dallas, as I am, and I just want to thank them for loaning
him to this great institution and this great country. And,
again, I know I am a better Member of Congress and a
better human being because I had an opportunity to meet
Henry Hyde. And I know that as he meets his Creator, there
is no doubt in my mind, Mr. Speaker, that he has heard
those words, ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentlelady
from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) for 5 minutes.
Before I formally recognize her, I noted with great
interest that when Mrs. Schmidt was elected to Congress in
that special election, I don't think there was a time that
I came in when Henry wasn't here that Congresswoman
Schmidt wasn't seated right next to him talking to him,
listening to him, and observing his spirit. And it is most
appropriate that she speak about this great American this
evening. I recognize Jean Schmidt.
Mrs. SCHMIDT. Last week, I was deeply saddened to learn
of the passing of former Congressman Henry Hyde. The
United States lost a great statesman. I lost a role model
and a valued friend. We all lost a man who exemplified
civility and led a life dedicated to his country, serving
others and his ideals. His story should serve as a beacon
of hope for all who knew of him.
Congressman Hyde came from humble roots. He earned a
basketball scholarship to college, fought in World War II,
and earned a law degree. He was the American dream.
Congressman Hyde was first elected to Congress in 1975.
As a stalwart in Congress for over three decades, it was
his voice of civility and passion which Members from both
sides of the aisle respected and appreciated and which he
is oftentimes remembered for the most. But he is most
often remembered by all for the Hyde amendment,
legislation to prohibit the use of Federal taxpayer
dollars for abortions in the United States.
During his years in Congress, he not only worked to
protect the lives of the unborn, but he also was active in
the United States and Russian relations during the cold
war, wrote legislation to address the worldwide AIDS
epidemic, and presided over the House impeachment
proceedings of President Clinton.
Most will remember Henry Hyde for all that he was able
to accomplish as a Member of Congress. I will remember him
as a man who was true to his ideals and who spoke to our
hopes, not our fears.
His legislative accomplishments were just a reflection
of who he was. His compassion for the unborn and the weak
and the forgotten was not simply a veneer pasted on for
public consumption. He understood the meaning of life and
championed laws to protect it from its natural conception
to its natural death. He treated everyone he met as if he
or she were the most important person in the world because
he saw them as God's children and knew that they were.
Congressman Hyde was truly a life well lived. The
country and the world have experienced a great loss. I
have lost a dear friend on this floor. My condolences go
out to his entire family. I truly feel privileged to have
served with such a great man. And I would like to add that
when I was elected, I was excited to be here, but I was
most excited to meet Congressman Hyde. May he rest in
peace in the Lord's arms.
Mr. MANZULLO. I recognize the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Goodlatte) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, it is a real honor to rise and speak of the
life of a great American statesman and a true friend of
the American people and a personal friend, Congressman
Henry Hyde.
When I arrived here in the Congress in 1993, Henry Hyde
was already legendary. He had many years before that begun
work on the Hyde amendment, which established for now some
30-plus years the principle that the American taxpayers'
dollars would not be used to fund abortions. That
principle has stood with us all these years and I believe
will stand with us well beyond Congressman Hyde's passing.
It was a great legacy.
In addition, Congressman Hyde was known as an
outstanding orator, a public speaker of the first order.
He brought both his keen intellect and sharp wit with his
heart to the speeches that he gave on this floor, and he
commanded the attention of his colleagues and often
changed the minds of people who might have been very much
hardened against the position that he was putting forward.
He did it with considerable skill, with considerable
intellect, and with considerable commitment.
When I arrived in 1993, I became very much aware of the
personal attention that he gave to other Members of this
House. As a new Member, he helped me through one of the
more difficult committees to serve on in the Congress, the
Judiciary Committee. And when we gained the majority, the
Republican majority in 1994, the Republican leadership
recognized Henry Hyde's capabilities and actually passed
him over other Members of the Congress to make him
chairman of that committee, knowing that that committee
had an enormous task ahead of it because, as many will
recall, in 1994, Republican Members campaigned for
election on the Contract with America. What many may not
realize is that of the nearly 30 bills that comprised the
10 principles that made up the Contract for America, more
than half of them went through the Judiciary Committee,
and Congressman Hyde shepherded each one of those through
the committee and then across the floor of the House, and
many subsequently passed the Senate as well and became
law. And he accomplished that not just by his own hard
work and dedication, but by delegating responsibility to
virtually every Member of the committee on both sides of
the aisle in some instances, in fact, giving new Members
like myself an opportunity to play a key role in managing
that legislation and offering key amendments, because he
recognized the importance of operating the committee in an
open and fair fashion.
His greatest challenge may have come with the
impeachment of President Clinton. I served on the
committee with him during that very difficult time as
well. The impeachment of the President of the United
States is one of the more serious things that the Congress
has to deal with, and it is certainly something that can
evoke great emotions and can bring about great contention
in the committee. But Chairman Hyde managed the committee
with great fairness, with great attention to detail, and
did so at a time when he was personally vilified and
attacked in a number of different ways, most unfairly, and
yet did it with equanimity, with grace, and I think
commanded the respect of Members on both sides of the
aisle as he handled that very difficult challenge, and did
so, I might add, successfully in bringing forward
impeachment resolutions which were sound, which passed the
House of Representatives, and which I think spoke for all
time about the importance of the respect of the rule of
law by all of those who serve in government, even in the
highest places.
Henry Hyde was an individual who believed very deeply in
our Constitution, and he showed that through his hard work
for 6 years as chairman of the Judiciary Committee in
passing a multitude of pieces of legislation that showed
that great respect for our Constitution. But he was more
than simply a believer in the rule of law. He was a
believer in the human heart. And he showed that time and
time again in his work with other Members of this
Congress, as we have heard some mentioned here this
evening, and also in his work internationally; because
after he completed his work as chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, he was given another important and great
challenge of serving as chairman of the International
Relations Committee. And I have had the opportunity to see
him in action with Presidents and Prime Ministers, to see
the kind of respect that he commanded from world leaders
because of his leadership of that committee and because of
his great concern for the promotion of American interests
around the world. Those interests are very pure, interests
of promoting democracy and opportunity for freedom and
peace for people in every corner of the globe.
I have not had the privilege of serving on the
International Relations Committee, but I have had the
opportunity to serve for 14 years on the Judiciary
Committee with Congressman Hyde, and I will never forget
the leadership that he provided on that committee and in
this Congress. He has been an inspiration to me, he has
been an inspiration to millions of other Americans, and he
deserves to be recognized as one of the greatest statesmen
of our time. And I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time.
Mr. MANZULLO. I yield to the Congressman from Arizona,
Trent Franks, 10 minutes.
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. I thank Congressman Manzullo.
Henry Hyde was perhaps more responsible than any other
Member of this body for allowing me to become a Member of
Congress, and I stand here thanking him for his work and
for him allowing me to come to this place.
Mr. Speaker, our moment in history is marked by mortal
conflict between a culture of life and a culture of death.
God put us in this world to do noble things, to love and
to cherish our fellow human beings, not to destroy them.
Today, we must choose sides.
Mr. Speaker, those words were spoken by one Henry Hyde,
who in 1924 was born in the same State that once gave us
an Abraham Lincoln who guided America through that
terrible storm that brought about the end of a cancer
called slavery that it had embedded itself so deeply in
American policy.
That same greatness of spirit that compelled Abraham
Lincoln to remind our Nation that all men are created
equal also compelled Henry Hyde to spend 32 years of his
life serving this body in defense of that same truth.
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde said:
We are the heirs of 1776, and of an epic moment in
history of human affairs when the Founders of this
Republic pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor. Think of that, their sacred honor, to the
defense of the rule of law. The rule of law is to
safeguard our liberties. The rule of law is what allows us
to live in our freedom in ways that honor the freedom of
others.
Mr. Speaker, whether working to overturn the horrors of
child sex slavery, of sex trafficking, or advocating to
protect victims of human rights abuse, or improving the
lives of children, families, seniors, and military
veterans, or protecting the innocent from the threat of
terrorism, or striving to bring clean water and basic
sanitation to the poorest of the poor all over the world,
Henry Hyde was truly a man who gave himself to the cause
of honoring and protecting the equal, inherent, and
profound dignity of every member of the human family.
He carried himself with such honor and dignity and true
nobility, and yet never wavered in the strength or
perseverance of his convictions. Like President Ronald
Reagan, he carried a reputation for being a happy warrior.
And, Mr. Speaker, while the hallmark of Henry Hyde's
life was the compassion for all of humanity, the driving
force of his work in Congress was the dedication to
protecting and restoring the constitutional rights for an
entirely unprotected class of humanity he called the
``defenseless unborn.''
Henry Hyde was instrumental in crafting legislation such
as the Mexico City policy and the partial birth abortion
ban. Perhaps his most world-changing initiative came in
the form of the legendary Hyde amendment which passed 2
years after he first came to Washington in 1976. It
prohibited the practice of taxpayers being forced to pay
for abortions. The year before, taxpayer funds had
provided for more than 300,000 abortions in America. Mr.
Speaker, at the very least, over 1 million little souls
have lived to feel the warmth of sunlight and freedom on
their faces because of the Hyde amendment and the work of
Henry Hyde, and that number could well be in the millions.
That is a legacy no words of mine can ever express.
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde once said:
This is not a debate about religious doctrine or even
about public policy options. It is a debate about our
understanding of human dignity, what it means to be a
member of the human family, even though tiny, powerless
and unwanted.
Henry Hyde was a man of unwavering principle, an
unflinching patriot who never hesitated to confront even
the fiercest controversies once he believed that he was
fighting on the side of truth, God, and human freedom. Not
only did he fight tirelessly for those truths, he spoke
them so powerfully that he deeply and profoundly moved the
heart of America. He stirred this body on countless
occasions and helped to rekindle the conscience of this
Nation, and the legacy of his words will resonate long
after every one of us has walked out of that Chamber for
the very last time.
Last month, Mr. Speaker, Congressman Henry Hyde was
honored by the President of the United States with the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can
be bestowed on any civilian. ``He used his persuasive
powers for noble causes'' according to the President. ``He
was a gallant champion of the weak and the forgotten, and
a fearless defender of life in all of his seasons.''
Mr. Speaker, back in 1857 in the Dred Scott decision,
the Supreme Court said that the black man was not a person
under the Constitution, and it took a civil war to reverse
that tragedy.
In the rise of the Nazi Holocaust, we saw the German
high tribunal say that Jews were unworthy of being classed
as humans, and a tragedy that beggars our understanding
followed as a result.
Then in 1973 we saw the Supreme Court of the United
States of America take from the innocent unborn children
the most basic human right of all, the right to live. And
in all three cases, Mr. Speaker, a great human tragedy
followed. The Civil War took more lives than any war in
our history. The world war that arrested the Nazi
Holocaust took 50 million lives worldwide, and even saw
atomic bombs fall on cities.
And today we stand in retrospect and wonder how the
compassion of humanity did not rise in defense of those
who could not defend themselves when such horrible
atrocities might have been prevented. And yet, there and
here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave,
we have killed 50 million of our own children in what
should have been the safe sanctuary of their own mother's
wombs. They died nameless and alone, their mothers were
never the same, Mr. Speaker, and all of the gifts those
children might have brought to humanity are now lost
forever.
Mr. Speaker, there is no way for me to add to the power
of the immortal words of that gallant statesman, Henry
Hyde himself. He said something I wish that every
American, every person on Earth could hear. He said:
When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that
awesome moment, the final judgement, I've often thought,
as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of
loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone
standing before God, and a terror will rip through your
soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that
those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think
there will be a chorus of voices that have never been
heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly
in the next world, and they will plead for everyone who
has been in this movement. They will say to God, ``Spare
him because he loved us,'' and God will look at you and
say not ``Did you succeed?'' but ``Did you try?''
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde truly tried. And I am convinced
that the day will still come in America when the warm
sunlight of life will finally break through these clouds
and shine once again on the faces of unborn children in
this Nation. And when that day comes, history will record
that it is a great champion named Henry Hyde who waged a
quiet war for the defenseless unborn in the Halls of this
Congress. And he reached up to hold the hand of an unseen
God and reached down to hold the hand of an unnamed little
baby and refused to let go until the storm was gone.
And, Mr. Speaker, if I'm wrong, and somehow America
never finds its way out of this horrible darkness of
abortion on demand, I know more than anything else in the
world that the Lord of the Universe still hears the cries
of every last one of his children. And no matter who or
where they are, if time turns every star in heaven to
ashes, I know in my soul, as Henry Hyde knew in his, that
that eternal moment of God's deliverance will come to
every last one of them.
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde was a true and noble champion
and he will live forever in our hearts and minds as a
warrior for the cause of human freedom and human life. May
his family, his many friends, and loved ones be comforted
in the peace and assurance of knowing that their
courageous father and husband and friend has been welcomed
by an eternal chorus of voices and has now walked safely
into the arms of God and heard him whisper, ``Well done,
thou good and faithful servant.''
God bless Henry Hyde.
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the
remaining time that we have.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Altmire). The gentleman has
approximately 20 minutes remaining.
Mr. MANZULLO. OK. I'll claim 5 minutes for myself.
I was elected to this Congress in 1992, was sworn in in
1993, and never got used to the name Congressman. When
someone said Congressman, I would turn around and I'd look
for Henry Hyde. I thought that you had to be here an
unnamed number of years and garner the utmost respect of
your colleagues before you could be called by that name,
Congressman.
And I had the opportunity to work with Henry. I recall
in either 1993 or 1994, when it was going to be very
difficult because of some procedural problem for Henry
Hyde to offer the Hyde amendment, and the only way that he
could do that was through unanimous consent of this body.
It was on, I believe, an appropriations bill. I sat next
to Henry Hyde at this table to my immediate right, and he
turned to me and he said, ``Don, if I can't offer this
amendment, tens of thousands of children will die.'' And I
was numbed by what he said, and also by the immense power
that one person could have to intervene in the lives of
those who had not, who could not, see the light of day
because of their circumstances.
The chairman of the Appropriations Committee, William
Natcher from Mississippi, stood up in a very noisy
Chamber, and he said, ``I ask unanimous consent in this
body that the Hyde amendment be allowed in order.'' And I
remember him peering over those glasses, this man from
Mississippi who never missed a vote on the floor of the
House of Representatives. One person could have said, ``I
object,'' and no one did. And Henry Hyde offered the
amendment that particular afternoon and it passed this
body and went on to become part of the continuing law
forbidding the use of taxpayers' funding for abortions. I
shall never forget the sweat that was emanating from his
body, how his hands were being wrung together. And I never
thought it possible that one person could make that much
of a difference in the U.S. Congress. And he made the
difference to people who could never vote for him. He just
did it because he said that this is the right thing to do.
And there were other occasions in my career as a Member
of Congress where I would see him stand up. And when Henry
Hyde stood up to speak, this noisy body of 435 independent
contractors would become very quiet and listen to Henry
Hyde. When the Contract with America was penned, and he
handled several bills dealing with that very difficult
piece of, series of legislation, in the section on product
liability he allowed me to give the concluding speech on
the floor because one of the companies that I represent
back in Rockford, IL, had gone out of business on the
100th anniversary because it was sued over a machine that
it had manufactured 50 years earlier. And sitting on the
desk of the president of that great company was a summons
starting a suit over a machine that was manufactured at
the time of the House of Romanov when it ruled Russia. And
he gave me the honor of giving the concluding speech on
that very difficult topic.
You ask yourselves, where are the Henry Hydes of America
today? Where are the orators of this House? And no one
stands up because they're gone.
I would recognize the gentleman from Illinois, Peter
Roskam, for as much time as he would consume.
Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, you know, as I've sat and
listened this evening to the tributes of Congressman Hyde,
a couple of things have become clear to me, that there's
an element, a great sense of loss tonight among us about a
man that people on both sides of the aisle really came to
respect and admire and deeply appreciate.
I've thought about Congressman Hyde and the role that he
played. He came to Congress in 1974, and that was a very
difficult time for the Republican Party. He's one of the
few people who was successful in a campaign after the
scandal of Watergate, and came in as a conservative in the
House of Representatives before conservative was cool. He
was passionate about a strong America and understood
fundamentally what our Nation's role was in the world.
We've talked a lot over the past several minutes about
Henry Hyde and his pro-life legacy. There was another
passion that he had, and I think it was inextricably
linked to his view of life and defending it at all ages,
and that was his high view of freedom. He was a person who
understood fundamentally that the United States had a very
special role to play.
I was a staffer for him and remember him talking about
the captive nations. That was a phrase that was used to
capture the description of the Eastern bloc nations. And
you see, in Henry Hyde's district, in the Sixth District
of Illinois, there was a whole host of immigrants, folks
who had come to this land of America because America was
free. And Henry Hyde represented that constituency well.
And it was people who had been formed largely by their
suffering under a tyrannical communist regime. And when
Henry Hyde came to office in 1974, in those years before
the 1980 election, he was among a small group of people in
the House, I think, who really understood what was at
stake.
As it turned out, Ronald Reagan won a historic election
in 1980. It was a landslide really of epic proportion.
And Henry Hyde was one of those people who was
positioned in the House of Representatives, Mr. Speaker,
to be one of Ronald Reagan's partners over the next 8
years on what has been nothing short of a transformation
of American foreign policy.
Henry Hyde was a pivotal figure in the mid-1980s when
the House turned to him and asked him to play a key role
at the time in the Iran-Contra investigation. I remember
working for him at that time and a whole great deal of
activity. When I looked at my boss, Congressman Hyde,
during the committee hearings, every time he asked a
question, every time he made a point, there was a sense of
clarity about him that was just very inviting. He
understood what was going on. He didn't shy away from a
political fight, as we all know, but he was able to engage
people in such a way that he could persuade them. He was
sort of the old school of American politics in that he
wasn't satisfied merely to have a debate. No. This was a
guy who wanted to persuade you. And his view was, look, if
you knew what I knew and if you had seen what I have seen
and if you understand what I understand, then surely
looking at this evidence you'll be persuaded, as I am, to
this way of thinking. And I think the way that he
approached that, Mr. Speaker, was very inviting in a way.
Listen, he was at a pivotal point in our public life
together in very difficult times for our country. But we
all know, as we reflect on this great man, that he did it
with a sense of duty, he did it with a sense of honor, and
he did it in a way that he always upheld his oath to
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
I remember the first time I met Henry Hyde, I was
interviewing in his office, and it was when he was in the
Rayburn Building, room 2104 in the Rayburn Building. It
was, I think, an April evening, if I'm not mistaken, in
the mid-1980s, and I had a chance to interview with my own
Congressman, Henry Hyde, to become possibly a legislative
assistant. I went in. I handed him my resume. And I have
an independent recollection, as I am standing here today,
of Henry Hyde looking out over me in these half glasses
and kind of clearing his throat looking at the resume,
sort of looking it over, and I remember feeling very
intimidated because at the time, after all, I was in a
conversation with Henry Hyde. Well, to make a long story
short, he very graciously offered me the job.
And what I will say is this. We serve with a whole cast
of characters here in Congress. And we see one another
many times on the floor, and we interact with one another,
and we see one another in the hallways. But when you
really want to get to know a Member, you ask the staff
what is that person really like? The staff people who are
working for that Member, out of the public view, behind
closed doors in the office when nobody is around, and I
will tell you this: Henry Hyde was the same person to work
for as the person who would appear here on the floor of
the House of Representatives. He was gracious. Now, he
expected you to work hard. He expected excellence on the
part of his staff, and he wanted you to do a good job. But
the same pleasant man that you encountered and is fondly
remembered here this evening was the same person that
interacted with his staff.
You know, there are different ways to measure people.
And I called Congressman Hyde on the phone in April of
this year. I was walking into the Cannon Building. It was
an early morning. And I called him on my cell phone, and I
caught him at home. It was fairly early. And I said,
``Henry, I have been here for 4 months.'' I said, ``I
marvel at what you were able to accomplish during the time
that you were here.''
Many of us come from legislative bodies, State
legislatures or county legislative bodies, and they are
fairly intimate affairs, actually. They're fairly small
groups of legislators who come together. But when you
think of the figurative shadow that he cast on legislation
for the past 30 years, it was a thing to behold.
I know he enjoyed the phone call, but it wasn't false
flattery. It was actually admiration from somebody who has
recently come to succeed him in Congress.
Finally, in closing, Mr. Speaker, I remember when I sat
with Congressman Hyde several months before I came to this
body, and at the end of a very pleasant conversation as we
went back and forth on issues and talked about local
politics and State politics and national politics and all
kinds of issues, he said a word to me. When I share it
with you, Mr. Speaker, it is going to sound like a very
common thing. But when you're me and you are seated across
from Henry J. Hyde, it didn't sound very common at that
point. And he said to me this: He said, ``Peter, this is
important work in Congress. This is important work.'' And
there was an urgency with what he was saying to me that
day. And it wasn't the whimsy of an old man who was just
reflecting back on 32 years of service, but it was the
admonition of a statesman who had looked out over the
horizon and really understood the great challenges but,
even more, the great opportunities that are here for us in
the United States of America.
So I know that I am joined by many Americans who
considered Henry Hyde to be their Congressman, to be
America's Congressman. And so it is with a great sense of
pride and also a great sense of sadness and loss that I
rise today, like so many of my colleagues, to honor his
memory.
Mr. MANZULLO. Reclaiming my time, there are some great
Henry Hyde stories. The first time I met him was in his
office in your congressional district, and he was wearing
this incredible Hawaiian shirt, and sticking out of his
pocket was this oversized cigar. I had never seen a cigar
that big in my entire life. And he was a connoisseur of
his cigars. And I remember one time my chief of staff had
given me this cigar. He said, ``I got this and you've got
to give this to Henry Hyde the next time you see him.'' So
I was carrying this cigar in my pocket, and I needed him
to sign a document, and he signed the document, and I
said, ``Henry, I've got this cigar for you.'' And I think
his eyes got bigger than that cigar.
What a sense of humor, what a joy, what a thrill to have
served with him. We are honored and blessed to have served
with somebody by the name of Henry Hyde of Illinois.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I join with
my colleagues and friends this evening to honor the life
of former International Relations Committee Chairman Henry
Hyde.
Throughout his 32 years in the House of Representatives,
Congressman Hyde was a pioneer of conservative values and
principles. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the
International Relations Committee, he fought to preserve
the sanctity of life and to promote the tenets of freedom.
His career is a testament to his character and his love
for this country. It was all too fitting that President
Bush honored this life and legacy earlier this year when
he awarded Congressman Hyde the Medal of Freedom--
America's highest civilian honor.
For those of us who had the pleasure to know Chairman
Hyde personally, we were touched by his immense dedication
to public service, his integrity, and the wisdom he
imparted to us all. He was a founding father of modern
American conservatism promoting the expansion of freedom
and the limiting of government.
I am grateful to have known and worked with this
tremendous individual, and I am grateful for his service
to this Nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
entire Hyde family during this difficult time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the
passing of our colleague from Illinois, Henry J. Hyde.
Congressman Hyde served in the House of Representatives
for over 30 years and his respect for this body and the
United States of America was a hallmark of his career.
Volunteering to serve in the Navy during World War II, he
played basketball at Georgetown, graduated from Loyola Law
School and eventually chaired both the Judiciary and
International Relations Committees, presiding over both
with the same dignity and eloquence with which he treated
all floor debate.
Henry was perhaps best known as Congress's leading voice
for protecting the unborn. During his first term, he was
successful in enacting the Hyde amendment, which outlawed
the Federal funding of abortion in most cases, and still
stands today. But what stands out equally to many of us is
the way he handled this advocacy, always arguing
passionately, always arguing forcefully, but always
arguing his beliefs with a grace and tact that provided
for an honest exchange on the most contentious of issues.
This is a great lesson for all of us today, that even when
we disagree, we should debate the issues on their merits,
with the highest levels of decorum.
Madam Speaker, Henry Hyde was an influential presence in
the House of Representatives and both national and
Illinois politics. He will not soon be forgotten, and I
send my condolences to his family.
Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory
of a great man, and a dedicated Member of this body. Henry
Hyde was an esteemed colleague, a remarkable orator, and a
true statesman. He was uniquely able to graciously
disagree with other Members at a fundamental level without
disrespect or contempt. In this sense, he was an example
to all of us, Republican or Democrat, conservative or
liberal. When he spoke on this floor, he spoke
deliberately and intelligently, crafting numerous policy
speeches that will endure well into the future.
Henry was a devoted advocate for the unborn, and he
never wavered on this point. For that, I am personally
grateful. Much has been said on this point, but no one can
say it better than Henry himself.
As he stated during a critical debate on this floor:
One of the great errors of modern politics is our
foolish attempt to separate our private consciences from
our public acts, and it cannot be done. At the end of the
20th century, is the crowning achievement of our democracy
to treat the weak, the powerless, the unwanted, as things?
To be disposed of? If so, we have not elevated justice; we
have disgraced it.
Henry Hyde was not a perfect man, and like the rest of
us, I imagine he was sometimes inclined to become angry
and unpleasant when confronted with the frustrating issues
that make our days here in Congress so interesting. But I
always respected Henry for maintaining an honorable
demeanor, even in the midst of emotionally charged
disagreements. In the spirit of our country's great
orators, he knew that we don't promote a real debate with
nastiness and soundbites, but with thoughtful
consideration and a deep understanding of the issues at
hand.
My heart goes out to his family during this difficult
time. Surely they can appreciate the impact that Henry
Hyde made on this Chamber. I'm honored to have an
opportunity to express my gratitude to a man whose public
service changed this country for the better.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, Henry Hyde was a
giant in Congress. His articulateness, diplomacy, and
knowledge was evident to all. He sat on the Judiciary
Committee from when he was first elected in 1975 and
served 6 years as the committee's chairman. It was a
privilege to serve with him.
Vivid memories of my years in Congress center on
comments Henry Hyde made on and off the floor. He was a
person of conviction, but never a partisan for partisan's
sake. He was one of those rare individuals who, when he
spoke on the House floor, was listened to with respect
because of his way with words and his sincerity.
We will miss him but he will be in our thoughts and
prayers.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my
deepest condolences on the loss of Congressman Henry Hyde.
It is a great honor to have known him and served with
Henry, a dedicated public servant whose devotion to his
constituency, values, and country was rivaled by few.
Though I only shared a single term in the House of
Representatives with Congressman Hyde, I felt privileged
to serve with him in the Illinois congressional
delegation. A man well known for his eloquent speeches,
Henry Hyde was a legend throughout Illinois and the entire
country.
Throughout his 32-year tenure in the House of
Representatives, Congressman Hyde proved to be an
intellectual powerhouse, commanding respect for the strong
arguments and stimulating debate that he brought to the
House. A true statesman, Henry was known for his ability
to bring opposing sides of a debate together to find a
consensus for the good of the country.
In the House, Congressman Hyde was influential on
matters of international importance, having chaired both
the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on
International Relations. I have particularly great respect
for his eloquent voice on American foreign policy during
the cold war.
For his public service and great contributions to
America throughout his career, not the least of which was
his brave service in the Navy during World War II,
Congressman Hyde was recently recognized with the
Presidential Medal of Freedom. Awarded by the President
and given only to those individuals who have made an
especially meritorious contribution to the security or
national interests of the United States, this is the
Nation's highest civilian honor.
A man who always stayed true to his faith, Henry Hyde
was unwavering in defending his values and beliefs with
every word he spoke. In the end, I will always admire
Henry for his basic belief that the law exists to protect
the weak from the strong, and his willingness to fight for
this principle.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today not only to honor Henry Hyde,
a great man, but to recognize the impact he has made on
our country. America no doubt will feel the loss of this
man who so deeply committed himself to his country. I
count myself lucky that I had the opportunity to serve
with him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and
family.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay my respects to
our departed colleague, Representative Henry Hyde. I am
saddened by the death of this exceptionally fine and
honorable man, who so ably served not only the best
interests of his constituents but, indeed, the entire
Nation for over 30 years in this House. Henry Hyde will be
remembered in many different ways--as a skilled attorney
who respected and defended the rule of law; as a stout
champion of the rights of the unborn; and as a
distinguished statesman who promoted peaceful and just
international relations and agreements.
As I remember the life and service of Henry Hyde, one
personal experience stands out in my mind. In 1984, I was
involved in a closely contested race for an open Michigan
State Senate seat. A prominent pro-life organization
endorsed my opponent, based not on my record or his, but
on unrelated reasons. This was done despite my own
consistent pro-life voting record and ardent pro-life
policy stance. The pro-life endorsement carried
considerable weight in the district and was a noteworthy
point in the campaign. Henry Hyde found out about this
development, and he was outraged. He traveled up from
Illinois to campaign for me, to correct what he considered
a grave injustice. Of course, given the passage of the
Hyde amendment to prevent Federal funds from being used
for abortions--remarkably, passed during his first term in
Congress in 1974--Henry Hyde was a hero in the pro-life
movement. His public endorsement of my campaign was a
significant factor in my close victory.
Mr. Speaker, I consider it an honor to have known and
worked closely with Henry Hyde. I know many of us feel the
same way. I hope we will uphold his legacy of defending
the rule of law, promoting just international relations,
and protecting the sanctity of all life.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my
sadness over the passing of our former colleague and
friend, Henry Hyde, and my respect for his decades of
public service on behalf of the people of Illinois.
Representative Hyde was known throughout the country as
a man of strong beliefs, a public servant who fought hard
for his convictions with eloquence and passion. Those of
us in the House of Representatives--especially those of us
who served with him in the Illinois delegation--also knew
him as a gentleman. Disagreements on some issues never
prevented him from working with a colleague on other
matters.
I was one who often disagreed with Congressman Hyde, but
we were always able to talk about our differences and work
together on bipartisan issues, such as investigating the
causes of oil and gasoline price increases in the Chicago
market, ending the genocide in Sudan and the AIDS epidemic
in Africa, fighting global poverty and the proliferation
of destabilizing nuclear weapons, and addressing gun
violence. I always felt that I could reach out to
Congressman Hyde and have an open and beneficial
discussion, even on the most controversial issues. He was
the only person who ever called me ``Janny,'' a private
nickname I enjoyed.
Congressman Hyde was born in Rogers Park, Chicago, and
went to St. George High School in Evanston. He was first
elected to Congress in 1974, after already having had a
distinguished career as a lawyer, World War II veteran,
and member of the Illinois General Assembly. He served the
Sixth District of Illinois for 32 years, never forgetting
his roots, his responsibilities or his values. He will be
missed.
PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions
were introduced and severally referred, as follows: . . .
By Mr. ROSKAM (for himself, Mr. Costello, Mr. Lipinski,
Mr. Boehner, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Pitts, Mr.
Manzullo, Mr. Weller, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. LaHood,
Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Shimkus, and Mr.
Blunt):
H. Res. 843. A resolution mourning the passing of
Congressman Henry J. Hyde and celebrating his leadership
and service to the people of Illinois and the United
States of America; to the Committee on House
Administration.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, last week America lost a true
statesman when Henry Hyde passed away at the age of 83.
Representative Hyde was a student of American history, a
constitutional scholar, a thoughtful legislator, and a
skillful orator. But above all, he will be remembered as a
man of integrity who stood for the most basic principles
of liberty, justice, and, above all, respect for life.
On November 5, President Bush awarded Mr. Hyde the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the very highest honor the
President can bestow on an American citizen.
In his first term, Henry Hyde offered an amendment that
ensured that Americans who believe in the sanctity of life
would not see their taxpayer dollars go to the funding of
abortion. That was just the beginning of Henry's long
legislative career spent working to protect the sanctity
of human life.
I urge the Democrat leadership to bring the bipartisan
H. Res. 843 to the floor for a vote. It would be a mark on
this body if we did not honor the life and work of a man
of character like Henry Hyde.
Mr. PENCE. On November 29, Americans learned of the
passing of one of the giants of this Congress in the 20th
century. Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois died at the
age of 83.
As Members in both parties know, throughout his nearly
four decades in this Congress, Henry Hyde was the essence
of dignity, civility, and a commitment to principle. He
was a champion of the great causes, life, liberty, and the
rule of law, a voice for the voiceless, victims of human
rights abuses, and he was a lion of the right to life. In
every sense, life has lost its lion, and this movement
will miss his roar.
Henry once quoted on this floor from his favorite poet
Tennyson from the poem ``Ulysses.'' He said, by memory:
Though we are not now that strength which in old days
moved heaven and earth, that which we are, we are, one
equal temper of heroic hearts made weak by time and fate,
but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to
yield.
On all the great issues of the day, Henry Hyde strove,
he sought, he found, he did not yield. May he rest in
peace, and those of us who share his values and his
principles not rest until the work he began is done.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, last
night I was unable to be here when we had a tribute to our
departed colleague, Henry Hyde. I just wanted to say this
about Henry Hyde: It was a privilege and an honor to serve
in this House with him.
I recall a conversation I had with him a number of years
ago at which time I talked to him about sometimes did he
ever get tired about the fact that people beat him up on
the issue of abortion. And Henry thought a minute and he
said, ``You know, as I get older and I think of my own
mortality, I look forward to the time when I might be
entering those gates into heaven and the voices of all
those young children that we saved welcoming me there.''
They're giving you a great welcome right now, Henry. We
miss you.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, one of the
greatest voices to ever be heard in these Chambers has
been lost to the ages. I rise today to pay tribute to my
good friend, a great American and my former colleague,
Henry Hyde. Tomorrow in Illinois, one of the State's most
capable and eloquent Members of Congress will be laid to
rest.
It was my distinct honor to meet Henry Hyde, to serve
with Henry Hyde and to call Henry Hyde my friend.
In this House of Representatives over the past several
centuries, there have been many distinguished individuals.
I submit that not only was Henry Hyde one of the most
distinguished, but also one of the most appreciated
individuals, one of the finest gentlemen, one of the
greatest Americans to serve in this, the people's House.
Whether he was defending the unborn or relating his
position to us on any matter before this House, Henry Hyde
always spoke with dignity, conviction, principle, and
eloquence. When Henry Hyde addressed this House, its
Members and all Americans listened. While everyone who
knew Henry Hyde can tell us a very special story and
personal experience about knowing Henry Hyde, there are
several memories that I will always fondly cherish and
remember.
I recall when Henry came to my district, came to my home
in Florida. I will never forget when Henry Hyde stopped
me, actually in this aisleway, here on the floor of the
House, and in that aisleway he complimented me on my
remarks that day. Imagine, Henry Hyde, the master orator,
praising such common words. How honored I was by his
compliment to so junior a Member on that day. There are
many other stories I can tell about Henry Hyde and I know
we can all share the other stories, but let me tell you in
closing to relate one of my last memories of this great
man.
I had the privilege of traveling with Henry to the
United States European Interparliamentary meetings
overseas, and on my last trip with Henry to one of these
meetings, one of the last times that Henry Hyde as I
recall him serving as chairman of the International
Relations Committee, we were flying together with others
across the Atlantic to make our next day's meeting. I woke
up in the middle of the night and everyone in the cabin on
the plane was sleeping, with one exception, and that was
Henry Hyde. Some of you may recall Henry had been quite
ill toward the end of his service. He required assistance
to walk, and I knew how uncomfortable and how difficult it
was for him to travel. But here was Henry Hyde so
committed to his responsibility, while in such great
personal pain and discomfort that he could not rest, he
had to sit up in his chair all night, but he was
fulfilling his duties and his responsibilities. I knew
that night and I knew when I first met him, I knew also
when I first heard him, and I have known, and I have been
honored to call him my friend, I have had the opportunity
to know a great man, a great American, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
To Henry's wife and family, and on behalf of all the
people of the Seventh Congressional District of Florida,
and personally, I extend my deepest sympathies.
Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today
to honor the late Congressman Henry Hyde who passed away
on November 29, 2007.
Representative Hyde was a man of great honor and a
dedicated public servant. He served for 32 years in the
U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Chicago
suburbs. During that time he served as chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2001 and as
chairman of the House International Affairs Committee from
2001 to 2007.
I had the honor of serving with Mr. Hyde as a member of
the House International Affairs Committee during his time
as chair. He was a thoughtful and insightful committee
chair who was willing to mentor a new Member of the other
party. I will always remember Mr. Hyde's help in including
three important provisions in the original President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). These provisions
on drug resistance, orphans and vulnerable children, and
tracking the sale of drugs on the black market were
ensured a place in the legislation largely because of Mr.
Hyde's support. I will also never forget the opportunity
to travel with Mr. Hyde to Mexico, where it was evident
that he was well respected by world leaders.
One of the things I recall most clearly about
Representative Hyde was his command of the English
language and his oratorical skills. When Secretary Rice
appeared before the International Affairs Committee, he so
eloquently expressed his disappointment that the Bush
administration had failed to live up to its obligation to
ensure security in Iraq.
In addition to his many years as an elected leader, Mr.
Hyde was a celebrated athlete in college, a veteran, and a
lawyer. In recognition of his accomplishments, in November
of this year, Congressman Hyde was awarded the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, our country's highest
civilian honor.
On behalf of the families of Minnesota's Fourth
Congressional District, we extend our prayers and
sincerest condolences to his wife, children and all of the
family and friends of Representative Hyde. He will be
remembered in the highest regard, and I will miss him.
Madam Speaker, please join me in paying special tribute
to the life and service of Congressman Henry Hyde.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the
memory of a great leader, a great man, and a truly great
American, the Honorable Henry Hyde.
Known throughout Congress as a man of strong character
and humility, Chairman Hyde served the people of the Sixth
District of Illinois with decency and grace. From his
service in the Navy during World War II and throughout his
career in the U.S. House of Representatives, Henry Hyde
devoted his life to public service.
In the House, he rose to the chairmanship of two
committees, Judiciary and International Relations. To say
that Chairman Hyde was an eloquent orator would be an
understatement. He spoke with dignity, conviction,
principle, and eloquence; he was a true statesman by any
measure. As President George W. Bush said last month,
``the background noise would stop when Henry Hyde had the
floor.''
In service to the people of Illinois for over 40 years,
Chairman Hyde was a champion of the rights of the unborn.
He will probably be most remembered for his amendment that
prohibited the use of Federal funds for abortions--a
measure that became known as the Hyde amendment.
Just last month, President Bush bestowed upon
Representative Hyde the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
Nation's highest civilian honor. The medal is designed to
recognize great contributions to national security, the
cause of peace and freedom, science, the arts, literature,
and many other fields; I can think of few individuals more
deserving of this high honor.
Madam Speaker, our country and this great institution
have been blessed to share in the life of Chairman Henry
Hyde. May we never forget the leadership he displayed or
the lessons he taught us. May we continue to keep the
entire Hyde family in our thoughts and prayers.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 843) mourning the
passing of Congressman Henry J. Hyde and celebrating his
leadership and service to the people of Illinois and the
United States of America, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 843
Whereas all Members of Congress affect the history of
the United States, but Congressman Henry J. Hyde leaves a
legacy as one of the most principled and influential
public servants of his generation that will endure for
many years;
Whereas millions of men and women across America mourn
the death of the distinguished former Congressman from
Illinois;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde, upon his graduation from high
school, earned a scholarship to play basketball at
Georgetown University, and participated in the [1943] NCAA
national championship basketball tournament;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde served valorously in the United
States Navy from 1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific, New
Guinea, and the Lingayen Gulf and continued to serve in
the Naval Reserve until 1968;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde returned to the United States from
active duty in 1946, graduated a year later with a
bachelor of [science] degree, and went on to earn a law
degree from Loyola University Law School in [1949];
Whereas Henry J. Hyde served in the Illinois House of
Representatives from 1967 to 1974;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde was elected to serve Illinois's
Congressional District in the United States House of
Representatives in 1974;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde will be remembered for his
impassioned opposition to abortion, and the Hyde
Amendment, which banned the federal funding of abortion;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde was named chairman of the
Committee on the Judiciary in 1995 and played a vital role
in the passage of key elements of the Contract with
America, and as a skilled lawyer and someone who loved the
practice of law, he understood and respected the rule of
law as an essential part of American democracy;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde was instrumental in the early
1980s reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
and known for initiatives including the Family and Medical
Leave Act, nutrition programs for women, infants, and
children, Federal standards for collection of child
support, and landmark patent, copyright, and trademark
reform legislation;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde was named chairman of the
Committee on International Relations in 2001 and worked
across the political divide to successfully enact
legislation to address the burgeoning international HIV/
AIDS crisis, and also succeeded in enacting landmark
foreign assistance legislation, including the creation of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the expansion of
United States funding for microenterprise initiatives
aimed at helping the poor and vulnerable;
Whereas during his long distinguished career, Henry J.
Hyde played an integral role in debates over United
States-Soviet relations, Central America policy, the War
Powers Act, the Taiwan Relations Act, NATO expansion, and
the investigation of the Iran-Contra affair;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde highly respected the institutional
integrity of the House of Representatives, and was a
forceful advocate for maintaining the dignity of the House
and for recognizing the sacrifices and struggles Members
make while in its service;
Whereas in 2006, Henry J. Hyde retired from the House of
Representatives, where he maintained ties of bipartisan
civility throughout the more than 3 decades of dedicated
service;
Whereas Henry J. Hyde was awarded the Nation's highest
civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on
November 5, 2007, for tirelessly championing the weak and
forgotten and working to build a more hopeful America; and
Whereas Henry J. Hyde has been characterized as a
statesman, a constitutional scholar, a person with sharp
wit and a keen sense of history, a passionate orator, a
compassionate man, and a person with a distinguished
career who has left an indelible mark on the legacy of the
United States House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its appreciation for the profound
dedication and public service of Congressman Henry J.
Hyde;
(2) notes that he was preceded in death by his late wife
Jeanne Simpson and his son, Henry ``Hank'' Hyde;
(3) tenders its deep sympathy to his wife, Judy
Wolverton, to his children, Robert, Laura, and Anthony,
and to the entire family of the former Member of Congress
and staff;
(4) directs that the eulogies offered concerning the
life of the Honorable Henry J. Hyde, former Representative
from the State of Illinois, be bound and printed as a
House document; and
(5) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of
this resolution to the family of Congressman Henry J.
Hyde.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman
from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) each will control
20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the service of our
former colleague, a Member of the House of
Representatives, Mr. Hyde, who served in the House of
Representatives from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 2007,
and served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as well
as chairman of the International Relations Committee.
Mr. Hyde's life was a good, long life and a complex life
as well. Mr. Hyde graduated from high school and earned a
scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown University.
He participated in the 1943 NCAA basketball tournament. As
a college basketball fan, I think that may be the height
of his career. But that was only the beginning.
He went on to serve valorously in the U.S. Navy from
1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Guinean
Gulf, and continued in the Reserves well into the 1960s.
Mr. Hyde was elected to serve the constituents of the
Illinois Sixth Congressional District, I think where he
certainly contributed mightily and tremendously to the
advancement of the Congress, as well as our country.
I had the great opportunity to serve with Henry Hyde as
a member of the International Relations Committee, a
somewhat junior member, then a mid-bench member. I always
enjoyed the banter with the chairman; quick witted, and
incredibly intelligent, steeped in history, understood
every bill that was before him, and understood where he
stood on those issues.
And although Mr. Hyde and I did not agree on every
political issue, I admired his tenacity. I admired his
demeanor. I admired the way in which he handled himself,
both in committee, on the floor, and as a person.
I also had the opportunity to travel with Mr. Hyde on a
trip to a country that is near and dear to both himself
and myself, the country of our ancestry, Ireland. I know
that he was proud of the work of the advancement of peace
and justice in Ireland, in all of Ireland, and worked
mightily toward that end.
But Mr. Hyde had numerous accomplishments. And I'll
leave that to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle
to advance today. But I would urge the adoption of this
resolution, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise
in support of H. Res. 843, mourning the passage of
Congressman Henry Hyde and celebrating his leadership and
service to the people of Illinois and the United States of
America.
And at this time I would like to recognize for 5 minutes
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), who is the prime
sponsor of this legislation, and the successor to Henry
Hyde in that seat from the great State of Illinois.
Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, a special word of thanks to the
majority leader, who worked hard to get this resolution on
the floor, and to him I'm deeply grateful.
You know, there's been a lot said about Henry Hyde over
the past several weeks, particularly since his passing and
in the weeks prior to that when he received the Medal of
Freedom from President Bush in a White House ceremony that
he was unable to attend due to his illness.
And we've often focused in those comments on his conduct
here in the House of Representatives, Mr. Speaker, but I
would like to give just a little bit of a glimpse of what
he was like back at home, because the same shadow that was
cast here in the Capitol was similarly cast in the Sixth
District of Illinois, which is the west and northwest
suburbs of Chicago. There, he was Henry Hyde who would be
routinely introduced at various gatherings, and in
partisan gatherings he would oftentimes get a standing
ovation from a very grateful group of Republicans. But all
across the aisle, both sides of the aisle, people were
able to approach him, and they would often think of him,
really, as an alderman for that area, or almost a city
councilman. And by that I don't mean anything to negate
his status, but simply, his accessibility as a Member of
Congress, which was something really to behold. You could
routinely find him in his district. He would fly back and
forth every week into O'Hare Airport, which was right in
the middle of his Sixth District of Illinois.
And I think that he was one of those people who, when
you think about Congressmen, you think about the very best
and the very brightest. And I would submit that when, from
1974 all the way up through his retirement, when people
contemplated Henry Hyde, he was contemplated in a way that
was a positive reflection on this institution. When people
thought of him, they thought, You know what? That's the
way a Congressman is supposed to be. That's the way a
Congressman is supposed to handle himself. That's the way
a Congressman is supposed to interact with people on his
own side of the aisle and, even more important, with
people on the other side of the aisle.
His legacy is one, and his name will inextricably be
linked with the pro-life movement. He was a passionate
advocate, as we all know, for the unborn.
He did his duty in the impeachment of President Clinton.
But those things, while they're formative, and they're
very interesting, and they are who he was, sort of the
lead gets buried if you stop the Henry Hyde story there,
because he was someone who was also very active and a
partner in trying to reach out to come up with the funds
and the support to take on HIV/AIDS globally.
And he was far ahead of his time. He was one who broke
from his ranks and voted in favor of the Family and
Medical Leave Act, much to the chagrin, at the time, of
many in his party who subsequently have come to see the
light of that courage of his convictions.
And so, Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is a time of
reflection and it's a time of honoring the legacy of a
great man. And I think the words of Paul Johnson, a great
British historian, come to mind when he wrote a history of
the American people. And the British historian Johnson
said, to paraphrase, he said this: All kinds of factors go
into how history comes out. Just all kinds of things. But
without question, the single most important factor are the
people who are in charge at the time.
And I think all of us today rise and acknowledge that
Henry J. Hyde and the oath that he took and the way in
which he carried himself in office was a great credit, not
only to this institution, but a great credit to our
country.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield once
again to my good friend from the territory of Samoa,
Representative Eni Faleomavaega, for as much time as he
may consume.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank my
good friend from New York for yielding me such time to say
a few words in honoring this gentleman.
As I'm sure that I did not want to miss this opportunity
to stand here on the floor and to express my feelings of
this great American, as I'm sure there may have been a
special order already taken where Members could speak and
give their sense of tribute to Congressman Henry Hyde.
I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his sponsorship
of this bill, and want to thank the members of the
Illinois delegation for their sponsorship of this
legislation to honor my good friend and dear colleague,
the late Congressman Henry J. Hyde, whom I've had the
distinct privilege of serving with when he served as
chairman of the House Committee on International
Relations.
Mr. Speaker, Chairman Hyde and I did not always agree on
the issues and bills that were brought before our
committee, but one thing that I valued tremendously
concerning the character of this great leader, and that is
he respected the opinions of others, even though they may
have differed from his.
Chairman Hyde was a great leader, a man of principle,
and a true patriot and statesman. And above all, Mr.
Speaker, he was my friend.
I'm reminded of a Chinese proverb, Mr. Speaker, and the
proverb states, ``There are many acquaintances but very
few friends.''
Congressman Henry Hyde was my friend. Have a good
journey, Henry.
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, one of
the most fortunate things I've had happen in my life is
that I was able to serve for 12 years with Henry Hyde; 10
years during the first period of time I served, and then
the first 2 years of my return to the Congress. For 10 of
those years, well, all 12 of those years, I served on the
Judiciary Committee with him, and he was, in my mind, a
great man.
We all have our heroes, I suppose, in life. My dad's a
hero of mine. Ronald Reagan was a hero of mine. Mother
Theresa is a hero of mine. And in this House, Henry Hyde
was and continues to be a hero of mine.
Recently, we have had a lot of debate and discussion in
the national press about the appropriate place for
religion and religious values in public debate. The speech
given by the former Governor of Massachusetts, Governor
Romney, has been called the speech reminding people of the
speech given by another gentleman from Massachusetts some
40 years ago, President John F. Kennedy. And in their own
way, they were both outstanding speeches.
But one of the speeches I recall on the same subject was
given by Henry Hyde. It was the speech he gave at my alma
matter, the University of Notre Dame, in the same year
that Governor Cuomo gave a speech to the university,
attempting to address the question of what the proper role
was of religious values in public life.
Now, it was particularized in the fact that both
Governor Cuomo and Henry Hyde were Roman Catholics. But
what they said there and what Henry said there is not
limited merely to a Catholic in public service, but goes
to the question of what someone who has deeply held
religious values should do when confronted with the great
ideas of their time.
Perhaps the greatest example in political history is
that of Sir Thomas More, also known as St. Thomas More,
immortalized in the great play, ``A Man for All Seasons,''
when he attempted to try and deal with the tremendous
disconnect at times between what in the secular world
appears to be an obvious conflict between deeply held
values and your responsibility as an elected or appointed
figure.
Similarly, in a closer period of time in our history, a
work that influenced the speech of John Kennedy was a
great writing by John Courtney Murray called, ``We Hold
These Truths.'' John Courtney Murray was a tremendous
Jesuit priest and political theorist whose work probably
was the greatest influence in the Catholic Church during
the Second Vatican Council in understanding what political
liberty was all about. And I have used both of those
writings in trying to understand what my obligation in
life is.
But ranking alongside both of those works is this work
by Henry Hyde called, ``For Every Idle Silence.'' He took
that from a statement by St. Ambrose. He said, ``Not only
for every idle word but for every silence must man render
an account.'' Henry Hyde believed that.
In the speech at my alma mater, Henry Hyde said in 1984,
``This must be an election year. Everyone is talking about
theology.'' The reason I mention that is here we are 20-
some years past that time, and there are those that
believe that this issue is arising for the first time, and
somehow we have some difficulty in understanding what it's
all about.
So I would just like to reflect on a few words of Henry
Hyde in that speech which perhaps would give us some
direction as we approach that same issue this year. He
said:
First and hopefully most obviously, we are not arguing
about the creation of a theocracy or anything remotely
approaching it. We're not talking about declaring
ourselves a Christian nation or a nation under any
religion.
But he said:
We are, as our coinage and our Pledge of Allegiance
asserts, a Nation ``under God'': that means a Nation under
God's judgment, constantly reminded by our smallest coin
that the true measure of ourselves comes from beyond
ourselves. Again, for the church as well as for democracy,
let us preserve the integrity of both the political
process and the church.
And he went on to say:
In the second place, we are not arguing about whether
``religion and politics should mix.'' This formula, so
simple, is also deceptive and disorienting. Religion, the
expression of what theologian Paul Tillich called our
``ultimate concern,'' and politics have ``mixed,''
intermingled, shaped and influenced each other centuries
before the conversion of Constantine.
And Henry goes on to say:
And this has been true of our American experiment as
well. The claim that American religion has always been
``intensely private between the individual and God'' would
surely have come as news to John Winthrop and the
Pilgrims, to Jonathan Edwards, to the Abolitionists, to
Lincoln, to 15 generations of the black church, and not
least to American Catholics taught by the magisterial John
Courtney Murray, architect of the Vatican Council's
``Declaration on Religious Liberty.'' Throughout our
history, religious values have always been a part of the
public policy debate. Religious values, particularly the
Judeo-Christian tradition's insistence on the inherent
dignity and inviolable worth of each individual human
life, lie at the root of what Murray called the ``American
Proposition.''
Henry says,
Yes, other influences shaped the Founders of our
Republic. Enlightenment modes of political philosophy play
their important role, too. But to borrow a phrase
momentarily from the Marxists, ``it is no accident'' that
Benjamin Franklin, one of the deistic Founders, proposed
as a device on the Great Seal of the United States a
picture of Moses lifting up his staff and dividing the Red
Sea while the Pharaoh was overwhelmed in its waters, with
the motto ``Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.''
Jefferson, often considered the most implacable foe of
``mixing'' religion and politics, countered with the
suggestion that the Great Seal depict the children of
Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a
pillar of fire by night.
Henry Hyde understood that we are influenced and
informed by our most deeply held beliefs and that it is
not un-American to bring those to the debate. He also
suggested that what we also understood was that we should
not establish any particular religion or demand the
American people bow to any particular religion.
Henry Hyde gave us tremendous guidance, and for those in
the debate involved today, I would suggest they might want
to look at Henry's book, ``For Every Idle Silence,''
including that speech at Notre Dame which he entitled,
with his usual good sense and humor, ``Keeping God in the
Closet, Some Thoughts on the Exorcism of Religious Values
from Public Life.''
Henry Hyde was a remarkable man. He had a great wit
about him. You could argue on the floor with him as
strongly as possible, and he would come over across the
aisle, punch you in the arm and tell you a joke. He took
what he did seriously, but he never took himself too
seriously. He was an inspiration to me and many others
around the world.
I remember one time I asked Henry, do you ever get tired
being involved in the debate on the right to life, and he
said to me, ``You know, I do, but as I get older and think
of my mortality, I think about the possibility of entering
the gates of heaven, and I think of the faces of those
children whose lives I've saved, standing there saying to
me, `Welcome, Henry, welcome.' ''
Ultimately, I think Henry's life can be summed up in the
last words that he gave to the students and faculty of the
University of Notre Dame in 1984. He said this to those
students:
And so I ask again, do you change the world or does the
world change you?
There was a ``Just Man'' many centuries ago who tried to
save Sodom from destruction. Ignoring his warning, mocking
him with silence, the inhabitants shielded themselves with
indifference. But still he persisted, and taking pity on
him, a child asked, ``Why do you go on?'' The Just Man
replied that in the beginning, he thought he could change
man. ``Today,'' he said, ``I know I cannot. If I still
shout and scream, it's to prevent them from changing me!''
As Henry said to those students that day: ``I hope you
go out and change the world!''
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde was the Just Man. Henry Hyde did
work. Henry Hyde changed the world. I am thankful for his
leadership. I'm thankful for him being a colleague. I'm
thankful to be able to call him friend, and I rise in
strong support of H. Res. 843.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers on
our side and will close, and I will just say that it's
been noted to me that it's highly unusual for us to have a
House resolution honoring a former Member but maybe
appropriate in this particular case because Henry Hyde was
an unusual person, and I will just go back again to my
experience with him on the committee.
I found him to be very fair, very just, a very abiding
chairman, and was concerned as much about the decorum of
the committee and how we conducted the business of our
committee as well would be done in a fair and just way.
That's something that I will certainly remember Henry Hyde
for.
I hope as we move forward, not only today or next year,
but in Congresses to come, that that rapport between
Members of both sides, regardless of where we find
ourselves on issues, can conduct ourselves in a way which
would make Chairman Hyde proud.
The last time I saw Chairman Hyde was where I more often
saw him sitting, next to the portrait of Lafayette here in
the House of Representatives in a wheelchair and remarking
to him, as I always did, ``Mr. Chairman, how are you,''
even though he was no longer chairman of a standing
committee here in the House. For many of us on our side,
as well as yours, he was always the Chairman, and we say
to Chairman Hyde, God bless and Godspeed.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply
saddened to learn that Henry J. Hyde passed away on
Thursday, November 29, 2007. I know I join my colleagues
both past and present in thanking this truly remarkable
man for his contribution to this country.
Former Representative Henry Hyde served his country
honorably both in the U.S. Navy during World War II and
later as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representative Hyde was first elected to the House of
Representatives in 1975, where he later served as chairman
of the House Judiciary Committee and the House
International Relations Committee.
During his tenure in Congress, Henry Hyde will be
remembered for leading the impeachment proceedings against
former President Bill Clinton and for his staunch
opposition to abortion rights, both issues on which he and
I strongly differed. Despite my opposition, Henry Hyde
always took principled stands on issues and legislation
and personified what it means to be called ``The
Honorable.''
Henry Hyde had always been considerate to me, generous
with his time and extremely helpful to me as a legislator.
Not long after I was sworn in as a new Member, he acted as
a mentor and we became close friends despite our political
and ideological differences. I was pleased to work with
Henry on the Hyde-Jackson partnership, the effort to bring
a third airport to the Chicagoland region. On this
specific issue, I owe Congressman Hyde a debt of gratitude
for his leadership, public service, experience and wisdom.
I will miss my good friend and trusted mentor and my
deepest condolences go to his family.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join this
commemoration of the extraordinary life of Henry Hyde, the
late, able chairman of the House International Relations
Committee. The U.S. House of Representatives lost an
institutional legend this year, and those of us lucky
enough to have served with Henry Hyde lost a treasured
friend. Although Henry and I did not always agree on
matters of policy, I have a deep and lasting respect for
his service to this country.
Mr. Speaker, Henry Hyde was a giant. His integrity,
intelligence, and patriotism were of towering proportions.
Our friendship always transcended partisan political
considerations and was reminiscent of an era of
congressional collegiality. Henry's passionate commitment
to public service and to the American people will serve as
a beacon for generations.
Henry Hyde had a wide variety of legislative feathers in
his cap, but I wish today to speak about two particularly
notable accomplishments. The first rightfully bears his
name--the Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful
Atomic Energy Cooperation Act. This bipartisan agreement
was done with cooperation in both Chambers. It represents
the right way of legislating--ample preparation,
consideration of all ideas, bipartisan cooperation,
cordial relations with the other body, and keen attention
to institutional prerogatives.
Also under Henry's leadership, Congress approved
groundbreaking, bipartisan legislation to fund the global
battle against the scourge of HIV/AIDS. The U.S.
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act
of 2003 would not have happened without Henry's strength
and persistence, and it stands as a testament to his life
and work. Henry memorably--and astutely--compared the
scourge of HIV/AIDS to the bubonic plague in its tragic
scope. We are now in the midst of renewing the mandate of
this vital legislation, and Henry's leading role in it
will be very much on his colleagues' minds.
A member of the International Relations Committee since
1982, Henry was a key figure in debates and decisions
about war and peace, international arms control, the
expansion of NATO, and U.N. reform. He also served with
distinction on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees,
but I will let others speak to his achievements there. And
of course, the continued, devoted support by his
constituents through 16 terms in Congress speaks volumes
about his work on behalf of his district.
Mr. Speaker, Henry chaired the International Relations
Committee for 6 years, through some of the most pivotal
and riveting challenges of our times. He wielded his gavel
with fairness, intellectual honesty and no small amount of
wit. Some of us may disagree with some of his policies,
but he was a true gentleman of the House, and he will be
deeply and sincerely missed.
Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today to
honor a great American. Henry Hyde was a true gentleman
and a greatly respected Member of Congress. Many words
come to mind when I think of Mr. Hyde: leadership,
aggressiveness, determination, dignity. Many sought
counsel from him, including me. He was a tremendous
orator, with a keen mind and a silver tongue. Members of
both parties liked and respected him, because they knew
that, regardless of party or ideology, they would be
treated fairly, with dignity and respect.
Unfortunately, Henry Hyde has been criticized in the
press for leading the impeachment proceedings against
President Bill Clinton, but the most important cause he
led was to protect life. His political career was
comprehensive, but it is his work to protect and promote
the dignity of human life that has had the greatest
impact. His efforts in this body are unmatched, and he
leaves a profound legacy of challenges met, obstacles
overcome, and grace in tumultuous times. He will be deeply
missed, and our prayers go to the entire Hyde family
during this difficult time.
I join many of my colleagues in praising the life and
work of Henry Hyde. The greatest tribute we can give him
is to carry on his efforts to acknowledge the worth of
every single human being, born and unborn. I encourage
Members of this body and our constituents to follow
Henry's lead and make sure that we honor the value of
life.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, with the passing of Congressman
Hyde, the country lost a true patriot who was deeply
dedicated to the American people. He had a distinguished
career in public service, beginning with his time in the
Navy during World War II, followed by his service in the
Illinois General Assembly, and then in the House of
Representatives. Henry's leadership and steadfastness to
principle quickly became apparent in the House. He always
was a stalwart defender of the rights of the unborn, and
pushed the Congress to see clearly the impact of its
decisions on the defenseless.
I was honored to serve with Henry while he was chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, enduring long markups to move
the Contract with America legislation, equipping our law
enforcement with the tools to fight terrorism, and
combating the scourge of drugs in our society. His amiable
personality hid an individual who did not shy from a
fight, especially when it came to upholding the
Constitution, the rule of law, and other interests of the
United States. As a fellow House impeachment manager, and
as one of the ``band of brothers,'' I am truly honored to
call him my brother and I will miss him.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) that
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution,
H. Res. 843, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the
affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution,
as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the
life and memory of Congressman Henry J. Hyde, the
Representative of the Sixth District of Illinois from 1975
to 2007. Congressman Hyde was a distinguished and well-
respected member of this body, serving for 32 years in the
House of Representatives.
During his tenure, Congressman Hyde served honorably as
the chairman of the Judiciary and International Relations
Committees and contributed much to this Nation. My
thoughts and prayers go out to Congressman Hyde's family
and friends during this difficult time.
While Congressman Hyde's accomplishments are many, I
want to take a moment to share one that is both emblematic
of the mark he left and of which I am particularly
grateful. During the 109th Congress, I had the pleasure of
working with Congressman Hyde to help spur the creation of
the first Jewish American Heritage Month.
As the lead Republican cosponsor of the House
Resolution, Congressman Hyde was instrumental in garnering
the support of the President of the United Sates and
Republican leadership in the House, especially that of
Speaker Hastert.
With support from around the country, the House and
Senate passed resolutions in early 2006 urging the
President to establish Jewish American Heritage Month.
President Bush then proclaimed the first Jewish American
Heritage Month in May 2006 so that Americans could come
together to celebrate the many contributions that Jews
have made to the fabric of our society.
Thanks to Congressman Hyde's commitment and dedication,
American Jewish culture and heritage is now celebrated
each May by our Nation. In appreciation of this
leadership, and in honor of Congressman Hyde's lifetime
commitment to serving his country, I have requested that a
tree be planted in Israel dedicated to his memory.
I again express my deepest sympathy to Congressman
Hyde's family, friends, and the people of Illinois.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, we are all saddened by the
passing of our friend and colleague, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde). He will be sorely missed not only by
his fellow Members, but by the countless people who came
in contact with him on a daily basis.
One such person is Mr. Bert Caswell, a guide with the
Capitol Guide Service. I am including for the Record a
poem written by Bert about the late Mr. Hyde . . . . I
hope all Members will take the time to read this poem and
remember Henry Hyde.
Somethings, You Can Not Hyde!
Somethings!
You can not Hyde!
That lives with us, so very deep down inside . . .
throughout our lives!
All in what we say and do!
All in who we so touch . . . that make us a real who's
who!
As in our times, that which so comes into view!
For it's all about how you so carry yourself, as when you
rise!
For it's all in what you so do, in others' eyes, as your
time upon this earth goes by!
For these are the things that which one can not Hyde!
Fast breaking in our lives!
To court our hearts, all in our part called life that
which so defines!
All in The Game of Life, you were so great Henry Hyde!
Henry Hyde, was such The Man . . .
Who upon the hardwood and on the floor of The House, did
so boldly stand!
All because of his great heart, and stance . . . and his
gentle hand!
From That Land of Lincoln . . .
From one court of greatness to another, always thinking!
As across the aisle he reached out his hand!
Quiet in his calm and caring grace.
For his service to God and Country he now so holds his
place . . .
And for all of those magnificent children, he did stand!
Oh, Henry Hyde,
You were, But The Man! For in you we can so understand!
What it is to be a leader, a patriot, a family man . . .
and God fearing man!
Yes, In Life . . . Somethings, You Just Can Not Hyde!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Mr. KING of Iowa. . . . We said goodbye to the elegant
statesman and the great lion for life, Henry Hyde,
Chairman Henry Hyde. Many of us count him as a friend. I
counted him as one of the honors of my life to be able to
call him as a friend and someone whom I admired.
The words on the program at Henry Hyde's funeral were a
quote from him that say this:
When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that
awesome moment, the final judgement, I've often thought,
as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of
loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone
standing before God, and a terror will rip through your
soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that
those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think
there will be a chorus of voices that have never been
heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly
in the next world, and they will plead for everyone who
has been in this movement. They will say to God, ``Spare
him because he loved us,'' and God will look at you and
say not ``Did you succeed?'' but ``Did you try?''
God bless his life and his effort, and may he save the
lives of the unborn.
Proceedings in the Senate
Friday, December 7, 2007
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in honor
of Representative Henry Hyde, who, as we all know, passed
away last Thursday. I believe all those who knew Henry
will remember him for his sincere moral convictions and
his dedication to the country.
Representative Hyde was born in Chicago in 1924. He
graduated from Georgetown University, where he was a
standout on the basketball team that made it all the way
to the 1943 national championship game. He went on to
obtain a law degree from Loyola University.
Henry was in the Navy during World War II, serving in
combat in the Philippines. After the war, he served for
more than 20 years in the Naval Reserve, eventually
obtaining the rank of Commander.
In 1974, he was elected to the House of Representatives
where he would represent the citizens of the Sixth
Congressional District of Illinois for 32 years. During
his time in the House, he became known as a steadfast
proponent of the rights of the unborn, authoring the Hyde
amendment, which, to this day, ensures that Federal
taxpayer funds are not used in the performance of
abortions. He was also a stalwart supporter of our
Nation's military and firm believer in the need to uphold
the rule of law.
Henry and I had the distinct privilege of having our
chairmanships of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees
overlap for a substantial period of time. We worked
together on numerous pieces of legislation and I always
enjoyed the passion and energy he brought to every issue.
Henry was a very capable legislator and a man of deep
convictions. Last month, President Bush honored
Representative Hyde by awarding him our Nation's highest
civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During
the ceremony, which Henry could not attend due to his
declining health, the President described Henry as a
``powerful defender of life, a leading advocate for a
strong national defense, and an unwavering voice for
liberty, democracy, and free enterprise around the
world.''
While there were times that Representative Hyde found
himself in the middle of divisive and fiercely partisan
debates, I don't think that anyone would doubt that he
always sought to stand behind his principles and to do
what he believed was best for our country. I want to
express my deepest condolences to Representative Hyde's
family and my thanks for his years of service to our great
Nation. He will be sorely missed.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I am introducing a
Senate resolution to honor the life and work of
Congressman Henry John Hyde of Illinois. I authored this
resolution because I knew Henry Hyde for over 20 years. In
fact, he and I were 2 of 16 Republicans who were first
elected to the House of Representatives in 1974.
Congressman Hyde was a true leader in the House of
Representatives. He proved his leadership by authoring the
Hyde amendment to help protect the lives of unborn
children. Because of this long-standing policy, innocent
lives have been saved and taxpayers have not been forced
to fund abortions.
Henry Hyde was intelligent, as was proved during his
tenure as chairman of two different committees--the House
Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on
International Relations. In his 32 years in the House of
Representatives, he was dedicated to the rule of law as
well as the expansion of freedom around the world.
He was a great Representative for the people of his
district, and he leaves an important legacy for our
Nation. It is with great respect that I introduce this
resolution in his honor.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
SENATE RESOLUTION 405--RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND
CONTRIBUTIONS OF HENRY JOHN HYDE
Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Coburn,
Mr. Cornyn, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Roberts, Mr.
Sununu, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Allard, Mr. Bunning, Ms. Snowe, Mr.
Domenici, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Coleman, Mr.
Vitter, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Thune, Mr. Bennett, Mr.
Crapo, Mr. Craig, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Smith, Mr.
Graham, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Corker) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 405
Whereas Representative Henry John Hyde of Illinois was
born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on April 18, 1924;
Whereas Henry Hyde excelled as a student both at
Georgetown University, at which he helped take the Hoyas
basketball team to the National Collegiate Athletic
Association semifinals in 1943 [1943 NCAA championship]
and from which he graduated with a bachelor of science
degree in 1947, and at Loyola University Chicago School of
Law, from which he graduated in 1949;
Whereas Henry Hyde served his country for his entire
adult life, as an officer of the United States Navy from
1944 to 1946, where he served in combat in the Philippines
during World War II, in the United States Navy Reserve
from 1946 to 1968, from which he retired at the rank of
Commander, as a member of the Illinois House of
Representatives from 1967 to 1974 and Majority Leader of
that body from 1971 to 1972, as a delegate to the Illinois
Republican State Conventions from 1958 to 1974, and as a
Republican Member of the United States House of
Representatives for 16 Congresses, over 3 decades from
January 3, 1975, to January 3, 2007;
Whereas Henry Hyde served as the Ranking Member on the
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives from 1985 to 1991, in the 99th through
101st Congresses, and as chairman of the Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives from the 104th
through 106th Congresses and the Committee on
International Relations from the 107th through 109th
Congresses;
Whereas, in his capacity as a United States
Representative, Henry Hyde tirelessly served as a champion
for children, both born and unborn, and relentlessly
defended the rule of law;
Whereas Henry Hyde demonstrated his commitment to the
rule of law during his tenure in the House of
Representatives, once stating, ``The rule of law is no
pious aspiration from a civics textbook. The rule of law
is what stands between us and the arbitrary exercise of
power by the state. The rule of law is the safeguard of
our liberties. The rule of law is what allows us to live
our freedom in ways that honor the freedom of others while
strengthening the common good . . . If across the river in
Arlington Cemetery there are American heroes who died in
defense of the rule of law, can we give less than the full
measure of our devotion to that great cause?'';
Whereas Henry Hyde was a key player in some of the
highest level debates concerning the response to the
terrorist attacks on our Nation on September 11, 2001;
Whereas Henry Hyde received the Presidential Medal of
Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor, on November
5, 2007, at a ceremony at which President George W. Bush
explained about Representative Hyde, ``He used his
persuasive powers for noble causes. He stood for a strong
and purposeful America--confident in freedom's advance,
and firm in freedom's defense. He stood for limited,
accountable government, and the equality of every person
before the law. He was a gallant champion of the weak and
forgotten, and a fearless defender of life in all its
seasons.'';
Whereas Henry Hyde's greatest legacy is as the author,
during his freshman term in the House of Representatives,
of an amendment to the 1976 Departments of Labor and
Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriations Act--
commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment--that prohibits
Federal dollars from being used to pay for the abortion of
unborn babies, which conservative figures estimate has
saved at least 1,000,000 lives;
Whereas Henry Hyde lived by the belief that we will all
be judged by our Creator in the end for our actions here
on Earth, which he once explained on the floor of the
House of Representatives by saying, ``Our moment in
history is marked by a mortal conflict between a culture
of life and a culture of death. God put us in the world to
do noble things, to love and to cherish our fellow human
beings, not to destroy them. Today we must choose
sides.'';
Whereas Henry Hyde selflessly battled for the causes
that formed the core of his beliefs until the end of his
life, and was greatly respected by his friends and
adversaries alike for his dedication and will remain a
role model for advocates of those causes by virtue of his
conviction, passion, wisdom, and character; and
Whereas Henry Hyde was preceded in death by his first
wife, Jeanne, and his son Hank, and is survived by his
second wife, Judy, his sons Robert and Anthony and
daughter Laura, 3 stepchildren, Susan, Mitch, and Stephen,
7 grandchildren, and 7 step-grandchildren: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) notes with deep sorrow the death of Henry John Hyde
on November 29, 2007, in Chicago;
(2) extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family of
Henry Hyde;
(3) recognizes the life of service and the outstanding
contributions of Henry Hyde; and
(4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a
copy of this resolution to the family of Henry Hyde.
Henry J. Hyde
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T9800.003
In Memoriam
April 18, 1924-November 29, 2007
Introductory Rites
Placing the Pall
Entrance Hymn #612 Amazing Grace
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Honorable Duncan Hunter
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23
``Shepherd me O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my needs, from death into life''
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12
Honorable David Dreier
Gospel: Luke 5:17-26
Fr. Richard A. Rosinski
Homily
Fr. Daniel P. Coughlin
Prayers of the Faithful
Mr. Tony Hyde
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Offertory Hymn: Ave Maria
Presentation of the Gifts
Tom and Melinda Mooney
Communion Hymn #814 Taste and See
``Taste and see the goodness of the Lord''
Final Commendation
Remarks
Honorable John Boehner
Honorable Jerry Costello
Mr. Bob Hyde
His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Prayer of Commendation
Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran
Recessional Hymn #404 Jesus Remember Me
``Jesus Remember me when you come into your kingdom''
Pall bearers
Honorable Wayne Anderson
Mr. Pat Durante
Mr. Mitch Glazier
Mr. Stephen Glazier
Mr. Jim Schiesser
Mr. Tom Smeeton
``When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that
awesome moment, the final judgement, I've often thought,
as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of
loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there
alone standing before God, and a terror will rip through
your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think
that
those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think
there will be a chorus of voices that have never been
heard
in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the
next world, and they will plead for everyone who has been
in this movement. They will say to God, `Spare him because
he loved us,' and God will look at you and say
not `Did you succeed?' but `Did you try?' ''
Henry J. Hyde
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED]
Father Richard A. Rosinski. I bless the body of Henry,
with the holy water that recalls the day of his baptism,
of which Saint Paul writes: All of us who were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. By baptism
into his death we were buried together with him, so that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have
been united with him by likeness to his death, we shall
also be united with him by likeness to his resurrection.
On the day of his baptism Henry put on Christ. In the
day of Christ's coming, may he be clothed with glory.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Good morning. As we gather this
morning to celebrate, remember the life of Henry Hyde we
ask you to please join us in singing our opening hymn--
number 612 in the Green Gather Hymnal. Amazing Grace,
number 612.
[Amazing Grace]
Father Richard A. Rosinski. With profound memories, and
great respect, in silence let us pray.
[Silence]
O mighty God our father, we firmly believe that your son
died and rose to life. We pray for our brother, Henry, who
has died in Christ. Raise him at that last day, to share
the glory of the risen Christ, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever, and ever.
People. Amen.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Mr. Hunter.
Duncan Hunter. You know since ancient times when travelers
needed guidance they have always had that great North
Star. And no matter how difficult the journey they could
always look up and see that precise guidance shining
bright and faithful and always there for anybody who
wanted to lift their eyes. Henry Hyde was the North Star
of the U.S. Congress.
This reading is from the book of Deuteronomy.
For his command, which I enjoin on you today, is not too
mysterious and remote for you. It is not up in the sky
that you should say ``who will go up in the sky to get it
for us and tell us of it. That we may carry it out.'' Nor
is it across the sea that you should say, ``who will cross
the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may
carry it out.'' Know it is something very near to you,
already in your mouths and in your hearts. You have only
to carry it out. Today I set before you life and
prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments
of the Lord your God, which I enjoin on you today--loving
him and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments,
statutes, and decrees, you will live and grow numerous and
the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are
entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts
and will not listen, and are led astray and adore and
serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly
perish. You will not have a long life on the land which
you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. I call
heaven and Earth today to witness against you. I have set
before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.
Choose life then that you and your descendants may live,
by loving the Lord your God, heeding his voice, and
holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, and
a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord
swore he will give to you.
[Shepherd Me O God]
David Dreier. No one could have asked for a better friend
than Henry Hyde, and to the family I have to say what an
honor it is to participate today.
A reading of the letter of St. Paul to the Romans.
None of us lives for oneself and no one dies for
oneself. If we live, we live for the Lord and if we die,
we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die we
are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to
life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the
living for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of
God. For it is written, ``as I live'' says the Lord,
``every knee shall bend before me and every tongue shall
give praise to God.''
For all of us shall give an account of ourselves to God.
The word of the Lord.
People. Thanks be to God.
[Alleluia]
Father Richard A. Rosinski. My sisters and brothers, may
the Lord be with you.
People. And also with you.
Celebrant. Hear a proclamation of the Holy Gospel
according to Saint Luke.
People. Glory to you, Lord.
Celebrant. One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and
teachers of the law were sitting there, would come from
every village in Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem and the
power of the Lord was with Him for healing. And some men
brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They were
trying to bring him in and set him in his presence but not
finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they
went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher
through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When
he saw their faith he said, ``As for you, your sins are
forgiven.'' When the scribes and Pharisees began asking
themselves, ``Who is this who speaks blasphemy? Who but
God alone can forgive sins?'' Jesus knew their thoughts
and said to them in reply ``What are you thinking in your
hearts? Which is easier to say--`Your sins are forgiven'
or to say `rise and walk'? But that you might know that
the Son of Man has authority on Earth to forgive sins.''
He said to the man who was paralyzed, ``I say to you,
rise. Pick up your stretcher and go home.'' He stood up
immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying
on, and went home glorifying God. Then astonishment seized
all and they glorified God and struck with awe they said,
``We have seen incredible things today.''
The Gospel of the Lord.
People. Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. The consistent teaching of Holy
Scripture is to outline a consistent ethic of life with
the living God. By the Spirit each of us can account to
the Lord and his Word throughout a lifetime. At times, a
specific passage of Scripture can make a most powerful
impact simply because it is read on a particular day at a
singular moment upon a most significant event. For
example, the words ``if we live, we live for the Lord, if
we die, we die for the Lord'' have a special significance
because it is December 7 and we remember the bombing of
Pearl Harbor.
Today, the words ``The Lord your God will bless you in
the land you occupy'' have a special meaning for American
Catholics who celebrate the patronal feast of the United
States tomorrow, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I
want to tell you why the Gospel we just heard was chosen.
This Gospel has become a haunting and living parable for
me since I learned of Henry Hyde's death.
Luke's narrative is a story of one man's encounter with
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because this is a story about a man wanting to be closer
to the Lord, the house, the people of faith around him,
and about a whole new life, it seems to me to be a
parabolic story of Congressman Hyde.
Luke explains the scene in great detail. On this
particular day, Jesus is teaching. His teaching however is
not framed by the past. No, the teaching of Jesus is
ongoing and for everyone. Especially in this passage, for
religious and civic teachers of the law. He seems to
advise that law is not to divide people but for healing.
When there are cracks, gaps, fractures, or wedges in the
social fabric, law is needed for binding, holding people
together. Law is not some foreign form of dogmatic
imposition, but often the result of an elongated process
of forming human convictions that unite individual rights
and responsibilities with the common good of all. The
power revealed is not Machiavellian manipulation. Good law
reveals the power of the Lord.
Here the Lord of the living and the dead comes to heal.
The Gospel text goes on to describe that some people
gathered around the man who was unable to move himself
now. They know the man's desire to be closer to the Lord.
It seems people gravitate easily around a man who seeks
only justice and healing so they want to present, put him
right in front of Jesus. They come together and after
testing the crowd they find a way into the house. When the
Lord sees their faith he turns toward the man and says
``your sins are forgiven. No matter what you are thinking,
rise and walk.'' It is their faith, not the man lying
there, that moves the Lord to act.
How blessed is the man who unites others around him. He
may know when and how to speak with authority, but he
knows also when to keep silent and how to read the speech
and thinking of others. How blessed is the man who does
not take himself all so seriously or takes on a task only
as his own. Rather he glories in the work as the common
achievement of a whole team of people. How blessed is the
lawgiver rooted in principle and not popularity. And
blessed is the man who has a sense of humor about himself.
He can smile at the crowd, the lawmakers, and even laugh
about the loose tiles in the roof of the house itself. How
blessed is the man who can readily confess his sins and
know that God does forgive sin in this world.
He most likely knows how to suspend judgment while in
search for all the evidence. In the end, knowing true
absolution himself, he can figure out a way to move beyond
preconceived notions and witness forgiveness to others.
So how thrilling then, is this story of human suffering,
human limitation, and any form of paralysis which can be
lifted by the Lord. The man hears the Lord say to him,
``rise, walk.'' The man picks up all the pieces which
until then were holding him and his life together. He gets
up and walks again. A whole new life ahead of him. He goes
home glorifying God, now truly free. That very deep
longing in the heart is brought to a new dimension of
fulfillment. Going home.
In this Gospel the Lord asks the crowd, ``What are you
thinking in your hearts?'' Hopefully today, you can answer
the Lord's question. By looking beyond the mind's eye,
beyond the appearance of death in the crowd, beyond the
appearance of bread and wine, personal sorrow and loss,
rather, look into your heart, amidst your desires, your
loves, your longings, your hopes. They're in your heart.
What are you thinking?
Can you sense the pulsating life of resurrection?'
Perhaps you may draw closer to those who knew Henry well:
his wife, his family, his staff, some colleagues, the Lord
himself. And come to know the uncanny sense of timing, the
great sense of humor, enjoying this parable story
unfolding before us, in the gentleman from Illinois, who
in his career was often asked, ``Why do you rise?''
If this Gospel story is in any way true of him, you may
even hear him say, ``Sometimes, when the scene seems
impossible, you just have to lift the roof off the
house.''
My brothers and sisters, have we not seen incredible
things in our day?
Thank you, Henry.
And all praise and thanks to you our Lord Jesus Christ
now and for ever.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Brothers and sisters, Jesus
Christ has risen from the dead and in glory now intercedes
for his people. Confident that God hears the voices of the
brokenhearted and all who trust in the Lord, let us now
offer petitions for the living and the dead. To each
invocation let us respond ``Lord, hear our prayer.''
Tony Hyde. In baptism, Henry Hyde received the light of
Christ. Scatter the darkness now and lead him to eternal
glory.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Tony Hyde. As a father, we shared at his table. As a
public servant he was nourished at the table of Christ,
our Savior. Welcome him into the halls of the heavenly
banquet.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Tony Hyde. That those in public office may promote justice
and peace.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Tony Hyde. That those who bear the cross of pain in mind
or body may never feel forsaken by God and be consoled by
the care and love of others.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Tony Hyde. For the family and friends, colleagues, and
staff of Henry Hyde, that they may be consoled in their
grief by the Lord who wept for his friend Lazarus and
forgave the repentant thief on the cross.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Tony Hyde. For all of our deceased relatives and friends.
For all who have helped us along the path of life and that
they may have the full reward of their goodness.
We pray to the Lord.
People. Lord, hear our prayer.
Father Richard A. Rosinski. Ever attendant father to your
children, hear the prayers which we speak and those hidden
in our hearts. For we place all our trust in your holy
name now and for ever. Amen.
[Ave Maria]
Father Richard A. Rosinski. My brothers and sisters, pray
that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty
Father.
People. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and
the good of all his Church.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Lord, receive the gifts we
offer for the salvation of Henry Hyde. May Christ
reconcile and offer him favorable judgment, for he
believed in Christ as his living Lord and Savior. We ask
this through Christ our Lord.
May the Lord be with you.
People. And also with you.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Lift up your hearts.
People. We lift them up to the Lord.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Let us give thanks to the Lord
our God.
People. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Father, all-powerful and ever-
living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you
thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him, who rose from the dead, our own hope of
everlasting life has dawned. The sadness of death gives
way to the bright promise of immortality. Lord, for your
faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body
of our death in this world's dwelling we are given the
promise of everlasting life in the glory of heaven. And
so, with choirs of angels we proclaim your glory and join
in their unending hymn of praise.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Father, you are holy indeed,
and all creation rightly gives you praise. All life, all
holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit. From age to age
you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west
a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.
And so Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to
make them holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may
become the body and blood of your son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, at whose command we celebrate this Eucharist.
On the night he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you
thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his
disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is my body which
will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave
you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and
said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the
cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting
covenant. It will be shed for you and for all men so that
sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
Celebrant. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
[Christ Is Risen]
Celebrant. Father, calling to mind the death your Son
endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and
ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he
comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and
living sacrifice.
Look with favor on your Church's offering, and see the
Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself.
Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood,
may be filled with his Holy Spirit, and become one body,
one spirit in Christ.
May he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us
to share in the inheritance of your saints, with Mary, the
virgin mother of God; with the apostles, the martyrs,
Saint John Neumann and all your saints, on whose constant
intercession we rely for help.
Lord, may this sacrifice, which we offer to you, bring
peace, advance the peace in the world. Strengthen in faith
and love your pilgrim Church on earth; your servant Pope
Benedict, our Bishop Thomas, and all the bishops, with the
clergy religious and the entire people your Son has gained
for you. Father, hear the prayers of the family you have
gathered here before you. In mercy and love unite all your
children wherever they may be.
Celebrant. Lord remember Henry. In baptism he died with
Christ: may he also share his resurrection, when Christ
will raise our mortal bodies and make them like his own in
glory. Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and
sisters, and all who have left this world in your
friendship. There we hope to share in your glory when
every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see
you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and
praise you for ever through Christ our Lord, from whom all
good things come.
Celebrant. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty
Father, for ever and ever.
[Amen]
Celebrant. Let us pray in the risen Christ, as Jesus
taught us to pray.
Celebrant and People. Our father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done
on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Celebrant. Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us
peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and
protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for
the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
People. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are
yours, now and for ever.
Celebrant. Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I
leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our
sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the
peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever
and ever.
People. Amen.
Celebrant. The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People. And also with you.
Celebrant. Let us offer each other a sign of our communion
and peace.
[Jesus Lamb of God]
Celebrant. Please kneel or be seated.
Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the
sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to
this communion.
People. Lord, I am not worthy to see you, but only say the
word and I shall be healed.
[music]
Celebrant. As we receive communion please join in singing
page 814, Taste and See, page 814.
[Taste and See]
[Steal Away to Jesus]
Celebrant. Let us pray. Lord God, your son Jesus Christ
gave us the sacrament of his body and blood, to guide us
on our pilgrim way to your kingdom. May our brother Henry
who shared in the Eucharist come to the banquet of life
Christ has prepared for us all. We ask this through Christ
our Lord.
People. Amen.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Please be seated.
We want to welcome some remarks.
Mr. John Boehner.
Congressman John Boehner. Henry Hyde was not just a
congressional hero. He was an American hero. And on a
personal note, he was my hero. I have served with
thousands of fine people during the 17 years I have been
in the House. There is no one I admired more than Henry
Hyde. No one.
He was a loving father, grandfather, and devoted
husband. Henry Hyde was also a leader. He never served as
Speaker, or majority leader, or minority leader. He was a
legislative giant in his own right. He left an indelible
mark on our institution through the sheer force of his
presence, his intellect, and the example he set for all.
His accomplishments in Congress were broad and
numerous--so broad and numerous they are difficult to
fully chronicle. He led a movement in Congress to ensure
our Nation's laws respect the sanctity of every precious
human life. He led the men and women of our institution,
teaching us about honor, dignity, and service to country
through his own humble actions. He led the people of his
Chicago district for many years, providing them with
distinguished service always marked by wisdom, class, and
grace. He led a committee in Congress that stood strong,
like a rock, when the constitutional principles at the
heart of our democracy were challenged. Most of all, he
led by treating all men and women with dignity and
respect, regardless of who they were or what they
believed.
Treating everyone with dignity and respect came
naturally to Henry. Not just because he was kind and full
of decency, but because he truly believed all human life
is precious. Henry was at peace in the presence of
others--even those who disagreed with him most--because of
his unshakeable faith in the sanctity of every human life.
In a vocation often marked by senseless, noisy debate,
Henry Hyde was a clear, calm, and commanding voice for
justice; for the defenseless; for the innocent. Always.
There is a famous prayer called the Serenity Prayer,
known to many who practice the Christian faith. Henry
probably said it many times, perhaps in his own unique
way. In this prayer, we pray God will give us the courage
to change what we can change; the serenity to accept what
we cannot change; and the wisdom to know the difference.
If ever there was a life that offered irrefutable evidence
that the Lord hears this prayer and answers it, it was the
life of Henry Hyde. He was the definition of courage,
serenity, and wisdom. He had all three, in seemingly
endless supply.
Those traits are now his legacy. From the streets of his
hometown in Illinois to the Halls of the U.S. Congress,
his words and deeds will echo for generations to come.
Henry Hyde, your Nation will never forget you. Rest in
peace, my friend.
Congressman Melvin L. Watt. To Father Coughlin and
honorable clergy, to my distinguished colleagues and all
friends and colleagues of Henry Hyde, his constituents,
and friends, and most important, to his wonderful family
whom I've gotten to know--I am deeply honored to have been
asked by the family to say a few words today.
I suspect there will be people who will say that it is
somewhat counterintuitive that the family selected me to
say some words. There will be those who say ``Well, isn't
that the guy who was a persistent and ardent opponent of
just about everything that Henry Hyde did during his
chairmanship in the Judiciary?'' Perhaps some people will
remember, ``Well, that Mel Watt was the guy that accused
Henry Hyde of driving the train that was moving toward the
impeachment of the President.''
But I think those people will miss an important point,
because in a sense, and my colleagues will bear this out,
the relationship that I had with Henry Hyde is part and
parcel symptomatic of the relationship that we desired to
have in Congress. In that sense it is symbolic of what is
good and wonderful about Congress, and good and wonderful
about our democracy. It reflects itself on various levels,
it of course reflects itself first of all and most visibly
in our politics and in the political arena.
Where Henry and I played on different teams, represented
different constituencies, came from different backgrounds,
represented the diversity of America and yet, understood
that that's exactly what our Founding Fathers set up as a
mechanism of bringing us all together to resolve our
differences. And when you served with Henry Hyde you
immediately began to understand that he knew the rules
under which we operate and he was a wonderful legislator
and a magnificent orator and so even when you disagreed
with him and his positions you'd sit on the floor of the
House and listen to Henry Hyde and his eloquence and
magnificence. And you'd say, as we all were confident,
``You know, there's going to come an issue around where
Henry is on my side and I can't find a better more devoted
colleague when that time comes because I know he will
stand and fight with me. And there were those issues.
There's another level on which I know Henry Hyde and
that's the level of being an American. We don't always
appreciate that level inside our country because we are
constantly trying to make America live up to the standards
that the Constitution has set out for us. But when you go
outside the country you begin to understand the feeling
that America takes. You carry the flag and there are some
rules and protocols that prevail out there too because you
want to show the world your diversity but you want to show
them that regardless of who the President of the United
States is or what is going on there is a rule of law.
There are a set of principles that transcend who's the
President or who's in charge, and they relate to justice
and democracy and liberty. And there was no better person
to take that message around the world than Henry Hyde.
I traveled with him to Europe, to China, to Korea, to
the DMZ, to the Philippines, where he had jumped out of a
boat and rushed up onto the shore when he was in the
military. To South America where we landed on the runway
and were never allowed off the plane. To Fiji where we met
with the General and said ``Please don't stage a coup,''
and 6 months later he staged a coup.
That's where I found Henry Hyde as an American, not
inside our country--there, standing for the things we hold
so dear in our country. There's a final level that those
first two levels made it much, much easier for me to
relate to Henry Hyde. That's the level of our common
humanity. Because when you are spending as much time in
close proximity and talking to people, and especially
Henry Hyde, you come to know that none of what he was
standing for had to do with politics or partisanship. He
believed every word that he spoke. The sanctity of life
wasn't a political slogan to Henry Hyde, it was what he
believed.
I found it ironic that last night in Washington, the two
football teams, from the two places that Henry spent most
of his life, played each other--the Bears and the
Redskins, and I was amazed that at the end of the game,
the Bears and Redskins together went to the center of the
field, many of them, and they recognized their respect for
each other and they recognized their common humanity by
kneeling and praying to God--they circled the wagons
there.
Today I think our colleagues here in Congress have come
to circle the wagons around Henry Hyde. To kneel, and
pray, and thank God for the impact that this wonderful man
had on each and every one of us. I thank the family for
giving us this opportunity to share this wonderful man,
and for recognizing the great relationship that
transcended all of our differences and found us as
Americans and with a common humanity all at that point. I
thank God for the impact that Henry Hyde had on my life.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. I understand from family that
there were some other Members of Congress who wish to say
some words.
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Your Eminence, members
of the clergy, members of the Hyde family and Mrs. Hyde,
we are here on behalf of a very grateful Nation to share
this hour of bereavement with you and offer some words of
comfort. I've often felt that the short speeches subject
to an agreement between Democrats and Republicans, the
moment of silence followed by the finality of the gavel,
for me at least, fails to capture the essence, the
enormity of a man, a woman, the individual for whom a life
of service and dedication is acknowledged.
Herman Watts once preached a sermon where he began:
``Every person comes into this world seeking his name.
This is the centrality of life--not the name upon a birth
certificate nor the name by which one's parents called
you. What is the name by which God knows you? What is your
alignment with the universe? What is your purpose for
living? How do you justify the air that you breathe, the
food that you eat, the space that you occupy?
Watts says that a person cannot live at his best and
highest unless he has some primary name.
I've been reading the obituaries of my friend, my close
and dear friend, Henry Hyde. Some have read ``reverend
clergy abortion foe,'' others have read ``Clinton
impeacher,'' still others ``conservative.''
The family should gain great comfort in knowing that
Henry did not go by those names. He went by the name
devoted husband, father, friend, who loved and believed in
America and America's processes. Here is a Henryism, to my
colleagues, you and maybe the Nation should gain great
comfort in knowing that your obituary has also already
been written. Many Americans would rather our stories be
told sooner rather than later. Only we know not the time,
the place or the hour of the finality, but the fact that
the last gavel is near. The question is what is your name,
how shall we call you, what was your alignment with what
was right?
When I was a student at Chicago Theological Seminary I
spent a lot of time at the cemetery, and at the cemetery
you see on most tombstones a beginning date and an end
date. And between those two dates, reverend clergy, there
is a dash, and for millions of Americans and for people
who rest at peace at cemeteries, we don't know their
contribution, we don't know the gap that they filled. We
do not know the role that they played.
For me, as someone who idolized Henry Hyde, as a young
man who entered the Congress of the United States not
knowing his way, someone who Henry Hyde took under his
wing, someone who is very grateful that the family would
allow me to come today and just offer these words of
comfort. I never saw Henry as an abortion foe, it didn't
matter to me. Henry was a good man. He was a great man who
believed in the American process and that process of civil
discourse which might lend itself to civil disagreement.
When his personal sense of morality came into conflict
with that process he asked the Divine to call him by his
name, and he responded. Henry Hyde was not an impeacher,
he was a public servant and a good man and a great friend,
who loved his country, who believed in the American
process of civil discourse which might lend itself to
civil disagreement. With his understanding of the
Constitution and his responsibilities to it, he came into
contact with certain facts. He did what each of us would
do, honor the people, keep the oath, keep the faith. That
was his calling, that was his name.
Most of that which I have learned about the nonpersonal
nature of politics comes from the man who lays in state in
this church. Mrs. Hyde, gain great comfort in knowing, he
wasn't just our colleague, he was our friend. His
friendship, his warmth, his laughter, his stories, even
the smell of his cigar will be missed.
My father often says that we live our lives as though
life is certain and death is uncertain when in reality
death is certain and life is uncertain. Henry knew that
one day he would not answer the roll call, that the moment
of silence and that the gavel was coming.
We should all gain great comfort in knowing that Henry
knew his name. So I would imagine on this home going
celebration for the life of Henry Hyde that the Lord, God
almighty, is looking up and looking down on Henry at the
gate. He turns to Henry and he says, ``For what purpose
does this distinguished gentleman from Illinois thy good
and faithful servant rise?'' Henry responds, ``Master, to
seek recognition and to yield back the balance of my
time.''
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Mr. Bob Hyde.
Bob Hyde. Thank you. Thank you all for the many kindnesses
and comforts you have provided my family during these last
trying several months. Your prayers and support have
greatly ameliorated our pain and lightened our burden in
incalculable ways. We remain deeply in your debt so we
thank you and ask our good Lord to bless you and your
families.
Now I feel the need to set the record straight. I am not
Henry's younger brother, I am his son. That has happened
to me several, previous times; just evidence of the years
being unkind. In July my father had heart surgery. During
the times I visited Dad in the hospital room and saw him
trumbled off to dialysis, radiology, and other departments
within the medical center, I was often reminded of the
Scripture verse, John 21:18, ``Truly I say to you for when
you are young you girded yourself and walked where you
would; when you are old you will stretch out your hands
and another will gird you and carry you where you do not
wish to go.''
During these last few treasured moments he would often
fall into deep sleep mid-sentence. He wouldn't talk much
about himself but mostly expressed his concerns for his
family, especially for his wife Judy of whom he had the
deepest love and affection, his daughter Laura, and his
son Tony. Dad had a very large family which wasn't limited
by blood or by marriage ties. He had a grand family,
because he included members of his staff, friends,
colleagues, supporters and opponents alike as well as the
weak and defenseless as members of his family.
In 1992, I had the honor of authoring a eulogy for my
mother. Within that document I prayed that it would be
many more years further before the next occasion would
present itself. Earlier this November, when I last saw my
father, I knew the day was not too far away for this sad
duty to return; unfortunately the materials I had been
working on had been mistakenly placed in storage. You see,
my wife and I had recently sold our residence in Texas and
our new home was still under construction. I wanted to
review a copy of my mother's eulogy, hopefully to employ
some rhetorical symmetry. That's something Dad would have
liked.
My brother Tony thought he had a copy. It was in a
storage box in his home. Prior to Dad's retirement he had
significantly contributed to my brother's memory trove,
where there were approximately 18 or so large boxes to
peruse. Now for those who may have visited Dad's office,
you would note an oversized office desk, with a mound of
materials stacked on his desk--books, articles, magazines,
letters piled high appearing like the Andes Mountains.
Strangely, like an experienced air traffic controller Dad
pretty much knew where everything was. Locating a
document, papers just didn't consume much time for him. As
anecdotal evidence that the next plane of existence is
nearer to ours than anyone would think, the very first
box, the very first envelope, produced two copies of my
mother's eulogy.
No one needs to remind me I am in a church attending
Dad's funeral mass, this is the truth.
It's extremely difficult for me to speak of Dad using
the past tense. My aforementioned experience leads me to
believe that using the past tense might be grammatically
correct but spiritually inappropriate. This comforting
ache still remains grounded in a sense of loss partly due
to my inability to correctly articulate the various
contradictory feelings that currently exist within myself.
My family's aches exist because we are still bound to the
earth and that's a strange comfort to know that something
would be very wrong if we did not feel this way. Our
Catholic faith informs us that we should be joyful. Dad is
now free from the many pains of life and he is now
enjoying everlasting life. We are left with thousands of
memories, things Dad taught us. He taught us that service
benefiting the less fortunate was a very high calling.
Such service is direly needed in a world that too often
seems to reward individuals who choose adverse over
charity, malice over justice, and pride over modesty, and
vapidity over thought. Dad taught us that one's actions
partaken during one's life would echo in eternity, would
be echoed in music or merely noise, a hallow gong
signifying nothing.
I believe that the music of Henry's life tolls,
producing an aria supported by the millions of voices of
the unborn souls who greeted him along with many others
who have predeceased him, supporters, and one-time
opponents alike.
Dad was a very talented orator. One of the very best
from the last two centuries. He told me one reason why he
thought he was effective was that he knew that it only
takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they
love and it can take many, many years to heal them. Dad
taught us that one spiritual comfort was far more
important than the momentary material contentments of this
world. He observed that many people mistakenly lose their
health to make money and then lose their money to restore
their health. Those who seem too often to be thinking
anxiously about the future, they appear to forget the
present, such as they never live in the present nor in the
future. Those are the things that would sadden him. Dad
taught us how to laugh, especially at ourselves. That it
is especially imprudent to take oneself too seriously. It
was a very rare occasion when I talked to him that he
didn't share a really humorous story or two with me. If
the gift of joy is an indication of God's close presence,
then Dad was never too far from our Good Lord's eternal
kingdom. Dad exhibited a true joy in living and applied
his very best efforts in using his gifts, talents and
potential that our good Lord endowed him with.
Dad also taught us how to die, he told me that it was a
tragedy when individuals tried to live as though they
would never die and died as though they had never lived.
Dad died in the same manner in which he lived; with
dignity and with readiness in peace, and thanks to our
church, in a state of grace.
Dad accepted the challenge to run the great race and to
stay the course, to keep the faith. It's quite fitting
that he will be buried today, Pearl Harbor Day. For many
decades ago it was this event which dramatically changed
the trajectory of his life's journey, his race.
Dad had initially planned to attend Santa Clara
University. He was on a basketball scholarship. All such
competitive events on the west coast had been indefinitely
canceled due to war. Instead, Dad traveled to Washington
to attend Georgetown University. The following year he
became a 90-day wonder serving in the U.S. Navy and
participating in the retaking of the Philippines.
After the war he returned to Washington to complete his
undergraduate studies. During his senior year the coach
was into developing younger players, so toward the end of
the season my father hadn't experienced much playing time.
Late during the second half of the final game of the
season the coach wanted to insert my father into the final
minutes of the game. Dad had to unfortunately decline his
coach's offer. You see, another player on the team, a
starter, had somehow misplaced his shorts, and there
wasn't another pair available, so Dad gave the player his
shorts and was contented to attend the game in his
warmups. Neither had said anything to the coach, so
whenever I hear someone say ``so and so would give the
shirt off his back,'' I would simply smile to myself and
think about my father, a charter member of the greatest
generation.
Salvation was the theme that the prophets and
theologians pondered and explored. Through Christ's
sacrifice salvation is made available to us all. We are
called out of darkness into our Lord's marvelous good
light, his redemptive presence today and throughout all
tomorrow heals us. Our spiritual inheritance for which we
are born, our legacy that cannot be destroyed, much less
tarnished, if we keep Christ's commandment to love another
as he loves us. Therefore we should not be bewildered with
our own personal burdens as if they are something
extraordinary. These ordeals give us our share of Christ's
sufferings and are a cause of joy. Mankind has often
speculated and debated on the existence of when the moment
arrives where death unfetters you from this world of care
and sorrow.
One author, C.S. Lewis, likens the event to a final
stripping of a well-worn and cherished garment. This great
author thought the now unrestrained spirit would be
enjoying a complete cleansing, pure and instantaneous
liberation. At the hour of death, one moment you are of
this Earth and the next the sting of death is over like a
bad dream, like an extracted tooth never to be of any
account again. Suddenly all is well, all doubts within a
twinkling of an eye become trivial. Dad's spirit may be
saying to itself the pain is over, my confusion has
cleared, how could I ever have even doubted it. Now his
spirit stands upright and he can converse with those
heavenly spirits about him--the awe in it all is simply
another cause for joy. These spirits seem extraordinary to
mortal eyes and yet they are not now unfamiliar. Until
that hour most humans don't have any conception of how the
spirits would look and many individuals may have doubted
their existence.
But when Dad saw these beings he understood that he had
always known them and realized what part each of them
played within his life, even when he supposed himself to
be alone. So he could say to them, one by one, not ``Who
are you?,'' but rather, ``So it was you all the time.''
Not only did Dad see God's holy angels and saints, he also
saw Him. Christ's clear light was clarity in itself, that
raised the form of a man. This meeting will wake all the
memories of the dim consciousness, that once reflect the
solitudes from infancy until now. All such questions and
feelings will at last be fully explained.
The central music in every pure experience which had
always just evaded memory is now at last recovered. Dad is
caught up into an existence where pain and pleasure take
on a transfinite value and all earthly arithmetic is
completely dismayed.
There's much more I would like to say to you all but I
know Dad would want me to be brief, and I'll remain his
obedient son.
Again, on behalf of Judy and our entire family, thank
you for your thoughts, generosities, and prayers. May God
provide you his blessings of peace and good health.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Your Eminence if you please.
Thank you.
Francis Cardinal George. Permit me the privilege of
extending a word of condolence on the part of the bishops
of the United States, to Judy and to Congressman Hyde's
children and grandchildren and step-children. A word of
sympathy also must be spoken to his colleagues in the
House of Representatives who have lost a friend, a mentor.
Many who haven't known him personally, such as myself,
but knew him from what he did and what he said and what
his record shows, recognized always, as the world
recognizes, that Henry Hyde is a man of great principle.
But, it's more than that, because principles, if they're
not true, can be harmful. And even good principles can
sometimes hide self-righteousness or hypocrisy.
Beneath the principles, I believe, there was a man of
instincts; instincts that were honed through a life of
sacrifice for his country, for his family, for his
friends. A life shaped by following Jesus Christ in his
body the church. Those instincts were sure. He had good
instincts about immigrants, he had good instincts about
workers, he had good instincts about children and
particularly about children who have not been born, but
are alive in their mothers' wombs. I think he had the
instinct of a dedicated legislator when he looked at a
constitutional order that now permits private killings and
said something is wrong. And it was those instincts that
guided everything else, and could do so to the end because
they were themselves rooted in love.
Most especially at his funeral mass we recognize that
they were rooted not only in his love of God but far more
important for all of us, God's love for him, God's love
for us. That infinite love is stronger than death; into it
we now consign Henry Hyde.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. Thank you. I'd also like to
thank the bishops from Joliet, Bishop Sartain for being
here, Bishop Kaffer, the ordinary. The bishop from
Rockford will offer the final commendation. Please stand.
Bishop Thomas G. Doran. As you can all fairly see or
shortly will, I'm way out of my league. When I became a
bishop one of the priests said to me, ``Bishop, if I had a
single hour to live, I'd like to spend it listening to
you.'' I thought, there's a priest who ought to be
promoted. But then he said, ``Because you can make an hour
seem like eternity.'' So, I'm not going to put you to
that.
I do want to extend on behalf of the priests and people
of the diocese of Rockford our sympathy and condolences to
Judy and to Henry Hyde's children and to all of you who
mourn him. We all have to be mindful, of the wisdom of our
holy mother church that says funerals are not only for the
dead, but also for the living. We all have to remember as
difficult as it is that we will all be present at at least
one more funeral.
Father Thomas Foley. Before we go our separate ways let us
take leave of our brother. May our farewell express our
affection for him. May it ease our sadness and strengthen
our hope. One day we will joyfully greet him again, and
the love of Christ which conquers all things, destroys
even death itself.
[God Most High]
Bishop Thomas G. Doran. Into your hands Father of mercies,
we command our brother Henry Hyde in the sure and certain
hope that together with all those who have died in Christ
he will rise with Him on the last day. We give you thanks
for the blessings which you bestowed upon him in this
life. They are signs to us of your goodness and of our
fellowship with the saints in Christ. Merciful Lord turn
toward us and listen to our prayers. Open the gates of
paradise to your servant and help us who remain to comfort
one another with assurances of faith until we all meet in
Christ and are with you and with our brother, for ever. We
ask this through Christ our Lord.
People. Amen.
Bishop Thomas G. Doran. In peace let us take our brother
to his place of rest.
Father Daniel P. Coughlin. I ask everyone to remain in
their places while Congress leaves.
We are grateful to Father Rosinski and the parish staff
here at St. John Neumann, for their hospitality and for
their services. May God bless their ministry.
[Jesus Remember Me]