[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             WILLIAM H. GRAY: THE UNHERALDED VOICE ON HAITI

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many contributions 
of my former colleague, William H. Gray III, who since May 1994, has 
served as the President's special envoy to Haiti. His strong 
leadership, exceptional negotiating abilities, and his commendable 
personal qualities have had a positive, although unheralded, impact on 
the recent peacekeeping event in Haiti. Without William Gray's 
diplomatic efforts, it is doubtful we would have come this far in 
resolving the current crisis in Haiti.
  Once appointed as the special adviser on Haiti, he sought to enlist 
the support of the international community against the leaders of the 
military coup. He was also instrumental in getting the assistance of 
the Dominican Republic to stop the flow of gasoline and other goods, 
which were being smuggled into Haiti in direct violation of the 
international embargo. He also persuaded other nations to share in 
receiving refugees from Haiti.
  Mr. Gray's greatest strength is his ability to forge consensus among 
disparate factions. This quality was evident during his tenure as House 
Democratic majority whip and as chair of the House Budget Committee.
  He has left his mark not only on domestic issues but certainly on 
international affairs. No stranger to foreign policy, his appointment 
to the Haiti issue was not his first exposure to international 
conflicts. He played a pivotal role on South Africa policy as the 
author, in 1986, of the bill to ban new investments or loans to South 
Africa.
  For the edification of my colleagues, I call to their attention an 
article by Christopher Matthews that appeared in the Washington Times 
on September 22, 1994.

             William H. Gray: The Unheralded Voice of Haiti

                       (By Christopher Matthews)

       John Kennedy once observed, that ``Victory has 100 fathers, 
     defeat is an orphan.'' He was noting the speed with which 
     politicians stand forth to take credit following a success 
     and fade into the gloom when events go awry.
       Bill Gray, 53, is an exception. Without him, this week's 
     Haiti deal would, in all likelihood, not have been struck. 
     Our efforts to oust Gen. Raoul Cedras would have lacked 
     legitimacy. The Haitian military boss might have resisted. 
     The Haitian businessmen who undergird his power might have 
     insisted on it.
       Finally, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide might have 
     exploded the fragile deal former President Jimmy Carter, Gen. 
     Colin Powell and Sen. Sam Nunn managed to forge with Gen. 
     Cedras.
       Mr. Gray has been the back-room broker advancing U.S.-Haiti 
     policy since President Clinton named him his special envoy. 
     The former U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania deserves credit 
     for three critical breakthroughs, all of which were essential 
     to Sunday's deal.
       First, he personally traveled the Caribbean, lining up 
     governmental support for the Clinton policy. Because Mr. Gray 
     was able to win the backing of countries like Barbados, the 
     Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. 
     Vincents, plus South American allies like Argentina, the 
     United States became the champion of the hemisphere, rather 
     than simply ``the Goliath of the North.''
       Second, Mr. Gray coaxed Mr. Aristide toward reconciliation. 
     Instead of acting the firebrand revolutionary last week, the 
     Catholic priest-politician was talking a more Christian 
     language. ``We say no to vengeance, no to retaliation,'' he 
     told envoys from the 24 nations allied against the Haitian 
     junta Friday. ``Let us embrace peace. The restoration of 
     democracy will bring peace for all, reconciliation among all, 
     respect and justice for every single citizen.''
       Mr. Aristide made an equally potent commitment to free 
     markets. He told his White House audience of his personal 
     commitment to free market economics.
       ``I think President Aristide understands the dynamics of 
     the marketplace and market economies,'' Mr. Gray said after 
     Mr. Aristide's remarks Friday, ``that the way to grow is to 
     have individual freedom, free markets. That's what democracy 
     has produced.'' Mr. Aristide realizes, Mr. Gray assured the 
     White House press corps afterward, that the socialism or 
     other state-directed economic systems ``have fallen under 
     their own weight.''
       Both messages were critical to the deal won in Port-au-
     Prince late Sunday. Without Mr. Aristide's promise of 
     reconciliation, it is doubtful that Gen. Cedras would have 
     agreed to retire by Oct. 15. Without the promise of free 
     markets, Haiti's business class would have been too afraid of 
     looting and nationalization to let him.
       The man who deserves the largest share of credit for 
     converting the fiery clergyman-turned-president to the cause 
     of nonviolence is the Baptist minister-turned-U.S. 
     congressman-turned United Negro College Fund president, Bill 
     Gray.
       Mr. Gray's second success has been getting Mr. Aristide to 
     quietly accept the deal the American team cut Sunday. A sign 
     of how difficult this was is painfully obvious. It can be 
     heard in the howls of protest coming from Mr. Aristide's most 
     militant supporters, including those in this country.
       When Bill Gray quit the congressional leadership after 
     being the first African-American to reach it, he said he did 
     not want to spend his most active, influential years waiting 
     his turn to become Speaker of the House. He wanted to get out 
     and do things.
       He has.

                          ____________________