[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                            CHARACTER COUNTS

  (Mr. DORNAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DORNAN. Mr. Speaker, character counts. It counts for everything 
in the leadership of this country or any other country. This city is 
named for the Father of our country, George Washington, as is one of 
our 50 states, as is our newest supercarrier.
  Mr. Speaker, George Washington was the epitome of character, so said 
our third President, Thomas Jefferson. He wrote rules of conduct for 
teenagers, not just in front of women, in front of everybody; 32 rules 
of conduct when he was 16 years of age.
  Listen to what he said to his men in a general order at Valley Forge 
about using blasphemous or vile language:

       The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and 
     wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice 
     heretofore little known to an American army, is going into 
     fashion. He hopes the officers will endeavor to check it and 
     that both they and the men will reflect that we can have 
     little help of the blessing of Heaven upon our arms if we 
     insult it by our impiety and folly. Added to this, it is a 
     vice so mean and so low, without any temptation, that any man 
     of sense and character detests and despises it.

       --George Washington, 1777, Valley Forge, PA.

  That, Mr. Speaker, is character. From the first President to the 42d, 
we have developed to a disgusting situation of lack of character.

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