[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 4 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    THE LATE SENATOR WALLACE BENNETT

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, I was saddened to learn over the 
Christmas holidays that one of my father's best friends, a man whom he 
was privileged to serve with in the Senate, a man of the West, Senator 
Wallace Bennett, passed away.
  My father, Milward Simpson, and Wallace Bennett had a great deal in 
common. Most importantly to them, they were honored and beloved and 
respected by their constituents, whom they loved. They shared a rare 
friendship. And it is just as unique and rare that their sons have the 
privilege of serving in this body together, and share the same close 
friendship as our fathers did before us.
  Senator Bob Bennett is a lovely friend of mine. And I think all of us 
who see him and have come to know him in this place realize what a fine 
addition he is to the U.S. Senate. It is wonderful to have his 
presence.
  Senator Bennett, Senior, was born in 1898. My father was born in 
1897. Senator Bennett, Senior, attended the public schools in Salt Lake 
City and attended the University of Utah. My father attended the public 
schools in about six communities in Wyoming. He said they never could 
catch up with him long enough to educate him. Then my father attended 
the University of Wyoming.
  Both were veterans of the First World War. Upon returning from 
service, Senator Bennett was a high school principal. He later went 
into private business as a paint manufacturer. In 1949 he was elected 
president of the National Association of Manufacturers. He was elected 
as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 1950. He served until his 
resignation in December 1974.
  My father came to the Senate in 1962 to fulfill an unexpired term of 
Senator Joe Hickey. My father retired in 1966. They both served on the 
Banking Committee. When Senator Bennett retired, he was the ranking 
Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, the second ranking 
Republican on the Banking Committee, and the vice chairman of the 
Committee on the Standards of Conduct.
  Senator Wallace Bennett had a very well deserved reputation as a 
compassionate conservative, and there is nothing mutually exclusive 
about both of those adjectives.
  I am very proud to serve with his son who shares those same 
characteristics of the father. They also share a marvelous sense of 
good humor, for which Wallace Bennett will always be remembered.
  Senator Bennett is survived by his delightful life partner, Frances. 
They were married for 71 years. They had 5 children, 29 grandchildren, 
and 68 great grandchildren.
  He contributed a great deal to his State of Utah and to our Nation. 
It is with a great deal of love that the sympathies of my wife, Ann, 
and my mother, Lorna and my entire family go out to my very good 
friend, Bob Bennett, to Joyce, and to the entire family of this 
splendid man.

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