[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO JERRY FEARING

 Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, when Jerry Fearing, editorial 
cartoonist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, puts down his pen on July 
29, people in politics who look at newspapers to see how they are 
perceived will have a hard time measuring that perception outside the 
editorial pages. In this, the era of 10-second sound bytes, who can say 
what medium is an accurate gauge of perception, reality or meaning?
  But if a picture paints a thousand words, then Jerry spoke volumes to 
us. Judging from Jerry's work, I could tell when my work made sense and 
was meaningful to him and to the people I represent. And I could tell 
when he was disappointed in me and that hit me the hardest. Jerry 
accomplished this because he knows the people of Minnesota--and us, as 
politicians--so well.
  Jerry started cartooning at the St. Paul Dispatch in 1957 and is 
estimated to have drawn 11,000 cartoons since then.
  I have watched the character of politicians for nearly 30 years and 
have known Jerry since I began paying attention to editorial cartoons 
at the start of my law partner's campaign for Governor in late 1965.
  And after Harold Levander left office, I went down and collected all 
of Jerry's Levander cartoon plates. Like nothing else, they told the 
story of the man, the times and how they shaped each other.
  Over time everything has changed: editorial cartoons and journalism, 
politics and politicians, and myself.
  That Jerry came up with a meaningful statement in all of his works 
over 29 years is a testament to his knowledge, creativity and insight.
  His editor Ron Clark said that it is becoming more and more difficult 
to draw cartoons that are meaningful without offending someone. He 
said: ``If the thought police insist that cartoons or jokes should 
offend no one, Fearing predicts the day will come when there will be no 
humor in the world.''
  And just as Jerry said he would not encourage young people to pursue 
careers as political cartoonists, I would not encourage my sons into 
the world of politics.
  I have become a friend of Jerry's over the years and respect him and 
his judgement enormously. To say I will miss Jerry as both an editorial 
cartoonist and person is a vast understatement.
  On January 2, 1995, perhaps I will collect cartoon plates of my own, 
just as I did for Harold Levander, and reflect on a career that was 
touched by the wit, wisdom and talent of Jerry Fearing.

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