[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 86 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               GOV. DENNIS ROBERTS WAS A TRULY GREAT MAN

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, it is with great personal sadness that I 
rise to inform the Senate of the passing today in Providence, RI, of a 
legendary figure in the history of my State--former Gov. Dennis J. 
Roberts.
  Governor Roberts, who was 91, died this morning at Rhode Island 
Hospital. I understand he had been in superb good health.
  Just a year ago I had the particular delight to attend his 90th 
birthday luncheon given by our current Governor, Bruce G. Sundlun, and 
attended by all living former Governors, including our colleague, 
Senator Chafee and our former colleague, John O. Pastore. It was a 
wonderful moment in Rhode Island history and Governor Roberts was, as 
always, eloquent, and devastating in his repartee.
  Mr. President, my own political career became entwined with that of 
Governor Roberts in 1960 when we were two of the three candidates for 
the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by 
Senator Theodore Francis Green. I was fortunate to be victorious but, 
nevertheless, Governor Roberts was always very gracious to me 
throughout the rest of his years. I know that I liked and respected him 
immensely and considered him a truly great man.
  Dennis J. Roberts, widely known as ``Denny'', was a towering figure 
in our State. He was elected Governor four times, serving as long as 
anyone in our State's history. Previously he had served as a State 
senator, chairman of the Democratic City Committee in Providence, and, 
from 1940 through 1951, as mayor of Providence.
  Both as mayor and as Governor he was a commanding, decisive, skilled 
figure, equally comfortable and talented as a public administrator and 
as a political leader.
    
    
  Denny Roberts was a political leader at a time when politics was an 
honorable and respected profession and he practiced the art of politics 
as few others. He built a powerful political organization in Providence 
and in Rhode Island and saw to it that the system delivered quality 
public services and innovative public programs. To many this period was 
the Golden Age of Providence and Rhode Island's politics and Denny 
Roberts presided over it.
  Since that election in 1960 Governor Roberts remained deeply involved 
in Rhode Island public life as an attorney, a champion of civil rights, 
an elder statesman.
  Mr. President, that is a sad day for our State, but also a day to 
look back with admiration and pride on a remarkable man and a 
remarkable career. I offer my wife's and my sympathies to Governor 
Roberts nephews, former Attorney General Dennis J. Roberts II and 
Thomas Roberts of Providence.
  Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia [Mr. Byrd] is 
recognized.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, inasmuch as the Senate is presently awaiting 
the managers of the pending business, I ask unanimous consent that I 
may speak for not to exceed 15 minutes on another matter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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