[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 46 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                            TRIBUTE TO NIXON

  Mr. DOLE. Madam President, all American Presidents affect history in 
their own way. But few have made more history or shaped the history of 
their times more than Richard Nixon.
  Today, I join with the Members of this body and with millions of men 
and women across America and around the world in mourning the death of 
the 37th President of the United States.
  Richard Nixon was a great student of history. If he had not 
personally met a world leader, he had read and studied his life. In 
fact, the last time I visited President Nixon in his home in New 
Jersey, I was struck by the number of biographies stacked on his desk.
  There has been a great deal of discussion the past few days over how 
history will remember Richard Nixon. And I believe he will be 
remembered for a number of reasons.
  As many have said and written, he will be remembered for his foreign 
policy accomplishments, and for his dedication to peace. In his first 
inaugural address, President Nixon said ``The greatest honor that 
history can bestow is the title peacemaker.''
  No doubt about it, because of his efforts as President to improve 
relations with the then-Soviet Union, to bring China out of isolation, 
and to forge peace in the Mideast, Richard Nixon more than earned the 
title of peacemaker.
  That is also a title he earned after leaving the White House, where 
he travelled the world, speaking on behalf of democracy, freedom, and 
peace. Many of us in this Chamber will remember how eloquent the 
President was in urging us to provide assistance to the eastern 
European countries as they took their first steps toward freedom.
  I believe history will also remember President Nixon for his domestic 
policy achievements. Achievements far less reported than his victories 
on the world stage.
  A landmark family assistance program, proposed with the assistance of 
our colleague Senator Moynihan, who at that time was special counsel to 
President Nixon, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
expansion of the Food Stamp Program, an innovation called ``revenue 
sharing'' where Federal dollars went to the cities and States, the 
Consumer Products Safety Act, an emphasis on strengthening law 
enforcement, all this occurred during the Nixon administration.

  President Nixon also knew that historians would write of the events 
that led to his resignation from the Presidency. And there are some who 
are still unwilling to forgive him for Watergate.
  But in the past few years, I think more and more Americans have come 
to appreciate President Nixon and his accomplishments.
  In fact, as I traveled to a number of States this weekend, I was 
struck by the number of people who came up to me to share their sadness 
about his death, and to say how much they admired President Nixon.
  They admired him not because he was perfect. But they admired him 
because of his courage and perseverance. They admired his intelligence 
and his vision. They admired the fact that he loved his family. And 
they admired him because he loved his country.
  Plain and simple, Richard Nixon believed in America. And whether it 
was facing an anti-American mob in Venezuela, or going toe-to-toe with 
Khrushchev in the famed ``kitchen debate,'' Richard Nixon always stood 
up for America.
  This past January, President Nixon announced the creation of the 
Center for Peace and Freedom at the Nixon Library and birthplace in 
Yorba Linda, CA. And I believe a portion of his remarks serve as a 
lasting legacy for this remarkable America.
  ``Some are tired of leadership,'' said President Nixon. ``They say 
[America] carried that burden long enough. But if we do not provide 
leadership, who will? The Germans? The Japanese? The Russians? The 
Chinese? Only the United States has the potential to lead in the era 
beyond peace. It is a great challenge for a great people.''
  Madam President, I believe history will reflect the fact that America 
is better prepared to meet our great challenge because of the life, the 
career, and the accomplishments of Richard Nixon.
  I join with the Members of the Senate in extending our sympathies to 
the President's daughters, Tricia Cox and Julie Eisenhower and to all 
members of the Nixon family.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. RIEGLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. RIEGLE. Madam President, am I correct in understanding that we 
are now prepared to move ahead on the interstate banking bill?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. That is the regular order.

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