[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 64 (Friday, May 20, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE PASSING OF MRS. JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 20, 1994

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join with our colleagues in mourning the 
passing of a truly remarkable woman, at too premature an age.
  Each First Lady in our nation's history--from Martha Washington 
through Hillary Clinton--has enjoyed a significant impact on our 
Nation. Few, however, have had as tremendous an influence as did Mrs. 
Kennedy.
  Today, our young people may not appreciate that, prior to the Kennedy 
administration, the White House was considered a temporary residence by 
its occupants, and enjoyed little historic significance.
  Mrs. Kennedy, virtually single-handedly, transformed the White House 
into a national treasure. She scoured the Nation for furnishings and 
trappings of bygone eras, and in many cases through cajolery, convinced 
private citizens to redonate to the American people items of historic 
significance. As a result of her crusade, the White House became an 
invaluable historic landmark during her husband's administration. As 
hard as it may be to believe today, prior to Jackie Kennedy's tenure as 
our First Lady the White House was not even officially listed by the 
Federal Government as a historic site. She vigorously campaigned for 
this designation, as she also vigorously campaigned for the funding--
the vast majority of which was from the private sector--necessary for 
the restoration and preservation of the White House.
  Few of the visitors to the White House today appreciate that it is 
due to Mrs. Kennedy's efforts that its value as an informative and 
favorite stopping place for tourists, as well as a historic landmark, 
is preserved for us and for future generations.
  We must not forget, either, that it was through her efforts that the 
White House, and Washington, DC, became a cultural center. The Center 
for the Performing Arts, which today is named in memory of President 
Kennedy, was her inspiration.
  Most Americans are well aware and quite conscious of the fact that, 
during her tenure as First Lady, Mrs. Kennedy set a style of elegance 
and grace in the White House which captivated the imagination of the 
world, and which rapidly became the hallmark of Americanism throughout 
the world. My close friend, Oleg Cassini, served as Mrs. Kennedy's 
fashion designer and the revolutionary changes he and she made on the 
styles of the day reverberate to this day.

  Not so many Americans are conscious of another, even more indelible 
contribution made by Mrs. Kennedy: the example she set of dignified 
courage in the face of overwhelming personal tragedy. The assassination 
of the President, on Nov. 22, 1963, was one of the most traumatic 
single events in all of history. President Kennedy's youth and vigor 
made his sudden, totally unanticipated death all the more shocking and 
distressing. The fact that the United States had not experienced a 
Presidential assassination in over 62 years, and the fact that what was 
then the new electronic age brought the horror of the assassination 
into virtually every living room in America only underscored the deep 
emotional impact which it had on all alive at that time. Mrs. Kennedy 
was only the second First Lady in history to be present at the scene of 
the awesome crime, and accordingly would have been justified in a total 
withdrawal from the public eye.
  Instead, with infinite grace, Mrs. Kennedy publically led our Nation 
through its period of mourning. Her grieving face, standing next to 
President Johnson as he was sworn in just minutes after the 
assassination, is etched in the public memory forever. She, in fact, is 
the focal point of all our shared memories of that tragic weekend: her 
kneeling at the coffin in the Capitol Rotunda; her urging her small son 
to salute his daddy's casket; and her accepting the folded American 
flag at Arlington National Cemetery--all of these images are forever 
frozen in the national consciousness and were indispensable in allowing 
us to cope with this monumental tragedy.
  The assassination of President Kennedy was the first single event in 
all of history which was known by over 90 percent of all Americans 
within an hour of its occurrence. Her strength and dignity throughout 
the 4 days of memorial services did much to keep the Nation united 
during this time of uncertainty and dread.
  Her conduct throughout the remainder of the 1960's set an example 
which all of us in the future should use as an appropriate role model. 
Although the tabloid press and the sensationalist elements in our 
society attempted to utilize her persona to their own ends, she 
remained above all controversy and criticism in silent dignity, 
pursuing her own grace and charm while protecting her children from the 
glare of needless publicity.
  Throughout the twilight of her life, Jacqueline Kennedy chose to die 
with dignity. Her courage in the face of fatal illness, her refusal to 
be kept alive by artificial means, and her insistence in passing away 
in the presence of her dearest loved ones have humbled us all. The 
manner of her passing was an example to all of us on death with 
dignity, and is tragic only because, at the relatively tender age of 
64, we appreciate that she had so much more to contribute and to be 
with us.
  We extend our condolences to her children, John Jr. and Caroline, to 
her grandchildren, and to the many family members and loved ones who 
were touched by the life of this remarkable woman.

                          ____________________