Congressional Record, Volume 141 Issue 6 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)

[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H190-H200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

A TRIBUTE TO ED MADIGAN

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bliley). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Ewing] is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to recognize a former
colleague of ours, a Member who represented that part of central
Illinois that I now have the privilege to represent, the gentleman who
I followed here in these Halls of Congress in 1991, Mr. Ed Madigan.
I want to open this special order of recognition of the life of Ed
Madigan with a few comments, a little background about this great
individual, and a few personal comments.
Ed Madigan was born in central Illinois in January, on January 13,
1936. He graduated with a business degree from Lincoln College in
Lincoln, IL, a community that was his home his entire life.
He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in
1966, and he served there for 6 years until he was elected to Congress
in 1972. While serving in Congress, he was the ranking Republican on
the Committee on Agriculture the last 8 years in office, and he played
a key part in both the 1985 and 1990 farm bills.
Ed Madigan received an honorary doctorate degree in 1974 from his
alma mater, Lincoln College, and he received in 1977 honorary doctorate
degrees from Millikin University and Illinois Wesleyan University.
Probably one of the great highlights of his career was when he left
Congress to go and serve in the Bush Cabinet as Secretary of
Agriculture. He was the 24th Secretary of Agriculture of this great
country, appointed in 1991, and he served there throughout the
remainder of the Bush administration.
As I indicated before, he was a lifelong resident of Lincoln, IL. He
was very proud of that. He never lost the roots from which he came.
He though and believed that his major accomplishments in the field of
agriculture included the part that he played in the 1985 and the 1990
farm bills. He pushed for greater market orientation in our ag
policies, and he was the father of our crop insurance program.
He also began the process of reorganizing the USDA, something that we
have carried forward, and he was a major contributor to the GATT
negotiations. Ed Madigan not only served agriculture when he was in
this Congress, but he served as the ranking member on Energy and
Commerce, and on the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
In the 97th Congress, he was chairman of the House Research and
Planning Committee, and he was twice appointed chief deputy whip.
Ed Madigan was known as a consensus builder and at the time of his
death he was quoted as having said when he first entered Congress, as
he began his life in the Nation's Capital, he said that he had one
goal: ``I have the ambition to be an influential Members of Congress
and to use that influence to bring credit to myself and to help
people.'' I think there is no doubt in all of our minds that Ed Madigan
achieved that goal.
On a personal basis, Ed Madigan and I were both born within 6 months
of each other in the same county, in Logan County, IL, and we both grew
to manhood in that rural Illinois county. Our fathers were close
friends, and Ed used to enjoy telling his somewhat long stories about
how my father would try and outdo his father in some horse deal; but
you know, when his story ended, his father always came out on top. But
they were interesting, amusing stories.
Ed Madigan was a wonderful speaker, and he had so much charisma. He
was a man of his word. He was an honorable person. Ed Madigan was loved
by his constituents, respected by his constituents, and he is missed by
his former constituents.
{time} 1210

He is survived by his wife Evelyn, certainly one of the greatest
ladies to ever serve as a spouse in the Washington scene; three
daughters, Kimberly, Kellie, and Mary Elizabeth; three grandchildren,
to whom he was devoted; and a brother, Senator Robert Madigan, who
serves in the Illinois State Legislature, and also one sister, Sandra.
I know that everyone in Illinois joins with me, as do many of my
colleagues here today, to remember Ed Madigan, to honor Ed Madigan, and
to celebrate life and his service to this Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to the gentleman from Kansas, the
chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chairman Pat Roberts.
Mr. ROBERTS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
As the gentleman has indicated, Ed Madigan and the Madigan family
come from Illinois, Lincoln, IL, as he has stated, to be exact. And to
borrow from President Lincoln's famous address, it is altogether
fitting and proper that we do this.
More especially, in regard to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Ewing], who is now so ably representing the 15th district, Mr. Ewing,
like Ed Madigan, serves on the House Agriculture Committee, and in many
ways, I think, exemplifies Ed Madigan's legacy of positive attributes.
All of us who have admired and known and love Ed want to thank my
colleague, more especially, for taking this special order.
[[Page H191]] In the House we have a parliamentary means that allows
us to say, in essence, ``That was a mighty fine speech.'' Or, ``What
you said certainly makes sense to me.'' And we put it this way: ``I
thank the gentleman,'' or ``gentlewoman, and I associate myself with
his remarks.''
Now today there are many, many of Ed's friends who share our sense of
personal loss and love for this man and his family, who associate
themselves with this special order.
In this regard I do want to make special mention of former
Congressman Bob Smith of Oregon. It was Bob Smith and Pat Roberts,
along with any farmer and rancher who knew Ed Madigan, who thought we
should and fought to make Ed Secretary of Agriculture. We had been
riding shotgun with him for a long time.
The same applies to the members of the ``team'' Madigan, if I may use
that term, both on the Hill and at the Department of Agriculture,
talking about Chuck Hilty, Bill O'Connor, Diane Liesman, Jackie Parke,
Mary McGrane, Allie Devine, and Jim Waller.
I would also like to make special mention of former deputy secretary
of agriculture Ann Veneman, who worked with Secretary Madigan in
streamlining the USDA and certainly making it more cost-effective. I
know this list could go on for many special orders in regards to Ed's
many friends, but I also want to mention one person, Ed's special
friend, Joe Quattrone, or ``Joe Q.,'' of the House barbershop. All of
us miss him, and he is part of us.
Mr. Speaker and ladies and gentleman of the House, in reflecting on
what I would like to say and should say during this special order, I
came to one very obvious conclusion. Simply put, when our Republican
leader Bob Michel spoke in giving the moving and very eloquent eulogy
for Ed Madigan, he spoke for us all. And borrowing from Lincoln again,
I believe we can neither add nor detract from what Bob Michel stated.
Mr. Michel's eulogy will follow my remarks. So in closing, let me say
on behalf of Ed's family, his wife Evelyn--and what a source of
strength and resolve and love she has been to us all and to Ed and the
family: To Kim, Kellie, Mary Elizabeth, brother Bob, sister Sandra, and
all of the grandchildren, that we share in your sense of personal loss
and that you are in our prayers.
If Ed were with us today, in his true Irish wit, he would put his
glasses down on his nose, sitting somewhere in the House, and as he has
done many times in the House Committee on Agriculture, he would say,
``That is enough, Roberts.''
But I do want to repeat a quote from Helen Steiner Rice which I think
pretty well sums up how we feel and how we should feel as we celebrate
Ed's life. Helen Steiner Rice said the following:
When I must leave you for a little while,
Please go on bravely with a gallant smile
And for my sake and in my name,
Live on and do all things the same--
Spend not your life in empty days,
But fill each waking hour in useful ways--
Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer,
And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near.
And that is the way that Ed would want us to conduct ourselves, to
live our lives to the fullest, thankful that the Lord really gave us
the opportunity to know him and to share this all too brief time in
space.
I submit the eulogy of Mr. Michel for the Record.

Eulogy for the Honorable Edward R. Madigan

(Offered by Republican Leader Robert H. Michel, Dec. 12, 1994)

Evelyn, Kim, Kellie, Mary Elizabeth, brother Bob, Sister
Sandra and Grandchildren.
It's a most difficult task to be called upon to speak when
you are overcome with grief in the passing of a loved one.
All the more so when it's your close friend and colleague
who has been taken from you so suddenly.
We find it particularly hard to take when the last time we
saw Ed, scarcely two months ago, he was in his usual good
form speaking atop a couple of bales of straw at a Logan
County Pig Roast he was hosting for Ray LaHood just before
the election.
We simply can't fathom the speed with which the scourge of
cancer can take its toll on what we all perceived as a very
healthy, robust, tall and erect good-looking fellow like Ed
Madigan.
Who are we to know what our fate will bring--the whys and
wherefores--all we know and feel is that Ed was taken from us
all too soon.
His was a life deeply steeped in politics, and devoted
primarily to public service.
I knew him as a very able state legislator before he came
to the Congress where he served for another 20 years prior to
being selected by President Bush as his Secretary of
Agriculture.
During the extended period we worked closely together and
became fast friends.
He was not the flamboyant type, but rather one who prided
himself in doing his homework, quietly going about his
business, getting the facts, and being a stickler for detail.
In short, he was a legislator of the old school.
A legislative craftsman genuinely interested--and
marvelously skilled--in forming good legislation out of the
give-and-take of debate and discussion.
To legislate successfully in a democracy means not only
being able to understand the problems, or articulate the
problems, but also the rare ability to work with colleagues
on both sides of the aisle to solve the problems.
Some political activists call such an approach
``compromise.'' Ed called it by its real name: democracy in
action.
I can tell you from experience that not everyone is capable
of enduring the long hours, the endless debates, the mixture
of raging ego and intense ambition and partisan enmities that
make up so much of the legislative process.
But Ed Madigan, with that sense of civility and reserve and
decency which seemed inherent in him, went about his work
patiently and proudly, always being the perfect gentleman.
He was proud to be a public servant at a time when public
service has been getting bad press.
Well, Ed Madigan's life is the answer we give to those who
doubt that a genuine sense of public service still live in
this country.
As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and of the
Agriculture Committee, Ed always brought to his duties that
enviable but indefinable quality called class.
Ernest Hemingway once defined courage as ``grace under
pressure.'' We might similarly define class as grace under
the glaring spotlight of public life.
There was a sense of easy, good-humored charm about Ed,
always tempered by that sense of reserve, that attractive
reticence, that innate self-possession that is as rare as it
is admirable in the rough and tumble world of politics.
And that is how we will remember him: his class, his sense
of calm amidst the storm, the easy, comfortable charm of the
born leader.
Again I thank the gentleman for yielding and reserving this special
order.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas for his
comments.
I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Houghton].
Mr. HOUGHTON. I thank the gentleman very much.
Mr. Speaker, regarding Ed Madigan, are there are lots of things that
could be said; we could go through a litany of those things which he
did as Secretary of Agriculture or as a Member of the House here for 10
years. But that is not what I want to talk about. In the few seconds
that I have I would just like to mention a couple of things.
George Romney used to describe friends of his as ``a great human.''
Ed was a great human. He had an impact on all of us here; whether it
was, as the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Ewing] mentioned, consensus
building or whatever, he recognized and emulated those great human
qualities which I would like to feel we all aspire to.
But another thing, President Eisenhower used to have on his desk a
saying that said, ``Suaviter in modo fortiter in re.'' That means,
``Softly in manner, strongly in deed.'' That is what Ed represented. We
talk, we show our emotion on a variety of different issues, but Ed was
always interested in the deed rather than the emotion or the show. I
would like to feel that as he was trying to build sort of a family-
friendly Agriculture Department atmosphere, down here we are trying to
build a citizen-friendly atmosphere. I hope he would be proud of us.
I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman. I would now like to yield to the
gentleman from Texas, the former chairman of the Committee on
Agriculture, Mr. de la Garza.
Mr. de la GARZA. I thank my distinguished colleague.
Mr. Speaker, today we gather to pay tribute to one of our former
colleagues and a former Secretary of Agriculture, the Honorable Ed
Madigan. It is with great sadness at his death that I want to take this
opportunity to say about
[[Page H192]] our recently departed colleague what an outstanding
individual he was. I use that word earnestly, since Ed Madigan's life
was nothing less than that. Ed Madigan came to these hallowed halls, as
I did, from the statehouse. He made his decision to run for
congressional office in order to be more involved with the political
process on a national level, wanting to make a real difference to the
people of Illinois who had elected him to Congress, and he did. With
great enthusiasm, knowledge, and legislative prowess, that is exactly
what he did in his years here as part of this illustrious body. I had
the honor and privilege to have him as my ranking minority member of
the Agriculture Committee when I was chairman.
He was a self-confident man, a natural leader, and it was only
fitting for him to cap his career in 1991 by being appointed as the
Secretary of Agriculture. I say this because his qualifications for
this job were superb.
Once in this position, he exercised them skillfully, overseeing the
Nation's agricultural needs and drawing upon his knowledge and
expertise as a former member of the House Agriculture Committee to do
so.
We worked together for things agriculture; as colleagues and as
friends, we traveled together for American agriculture to different
parts of the world; we worked with the leaders of the major countries
of the world and also with the less-developed countries, and many of
these areas that he worked on are now coming to fruition. He worked on
or started so many things that now we are finalizing.
To me it will always be an honor to have had the privilege of working
with Ed Madigan. To have been his friend meant even more. His loss is a
personal one, and I will miss him greatly.

{time} 1220

I extend my condolences to his wife, Evelyn, and to his family.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I yield to the
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Oxley].
Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank the gentleman from
Illinois [Mr. Ewing] for this special order for Ed Madigan, and I have
some prepared remarks, but I just would like to make a couple of
personal comments.
Ed was a long-time friend and mentor, and I know a lot of the members
of the Ag Committee talked about his service on the Ag Committee, but
he also had distinguished service for many years on the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and I considered him one of my mentors when I came
to the committee back in 1984. I found him to be truly the embodiment
of what a public servant ought to be, one who did not take himself too
seriously, but took his job very seriously, one who could spin a good
story as well as anybody.
I remember in one particular case we were asked to go to Camp David
to be lobbied very heavily by the Reagan administration for the TEFRA
bill. That was the bill that was going to try to restore some tax
revenue after the big tax cut in 1981, and after we returned from Camp
David that afternoon, the news media asked a lot of us there what was
it all about, and they asked Ed Madigan. Particularly they said:
``We understand you're already in favor of TEFRA. Why did you go up
to Camp David with all of these other folks who were allegedly
undecided?''
And Ed, with that wry smile of his, said, ``I suspect I was a
shill,'' and that was really the embodiment of his personality.
I valued his friendship; I valued our service together on the
committee. We will dearly miss Ed. Our best to Evelyn and the entire
family. Our condolences, but with strong memories of Ed as a great
personality here in this House who was well respected and well liked by
everyone he served with.
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the name of Ed Madigan's hometown can give you
an idea of the type of leadership qualities and personal attributes he
possessed. As a native of Lincoln, IL, Ed had become an influential
member of the State in just 6 years. He made the move from the Illinois
House of Representatives, where he had served since 1966, to the U.S.
House of Representatives in 1972.
Ed embodied all of the characteristics of an admirable Republican
leader. His honesty and integrity made him a devoted public servant.
His shrewdness and enthusiasm made him effective. His qualities are at
the foundation of Republican ideals, and by using these attributes, Ed
earned the trust of his colleagues as well as our respect.
Ed was a great legislative strategist. His behind the scenes style of
compromise earned him the position of U.S. Agriculture Secretary under
President Bush. Prior to becoming secretary, Ed was selected to 10
terms in the U.S. House where he served in several leadership
positions, including chief deputy minority whip and chairman of the
House Republican Research Committee.
Over the course of his political years, Ed used his influence to
promote the vast interests of his Illinois constituents through service
on the Youth and Families Committee and the Veterans' Affairs
Committee. As the agriculture committee's ranking Republican, he was
one of the few farm-state Republicans willing to apply free market
principles to crops that grew in his district. Also, he was
instrumental in many decisions concerning health and environmental
issues, as well as transportation issues.
When Ed began his life in the Nation's Capital, he said he had but
one goal: ``I have the ambition to be an influential Member of Congress
and to use that influence to bring credit to myself and to help
people.''
I think we can all agree that his goal was achieved.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr.
Skeen].
Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois
[Mr. Ewing] for the time that he has taken for this special order
because I think it is most appropriate for one of the finest gentlemen
who ever served in this body, and I am glad to follow people like the
gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Roberts] with whom I sat side by side while
Ed Madigan was our ranking member, and he always said, ``It's time for
the authorizers and appropriators to be getting together,'' and we are
doing exactly that. It is a good combination, and, under that tutelage,
I think it is a stamp of the kind of individual that Mr. Madigan was,
that he imbued within people who come to Congress a sense of service
with great dignity and always with a very reserved, never overexcited
or a grenade thrower, but just one who had a simple approach to the
thing of ``Let's get the job done.''
Mr. Speaker, I came to the floor of the House with a number of my
colleagues of the House today to express our deepest sympathies to the
family and friends of Ed Madigan who passed away on December 7, 1994.
He is a close friend of mine, and I know that I join many others in
saying that we will all miss him greatly. I always enjoyed getting
together with Ed, no matter what the task was that we had at hand,
because I valued our friendship and mostly because he was a gentleman's
gentleman, and I always appreciated his quiet, sincere but
enthusiastic, manner.
Ed Madigan embodied what makes this town and this institution the
special place that it is. His good nature and talent for knowing how to
get things done in Washington served him, his constituency and this
country well. The farmers and ranchers in Illinois and rural areas
around the country owe a special debt of gratitude to Ed Madigan, his
family, and his supporters. Ed could discuss the intricacies of
agricultural policy in a way that spoke directly to agricultural
producers, and he initiated a number of revolutionary ideas in Congress
and at the Department of Agriculture, and many of these policies
continue through the current administration. His plan to reorganize the
Department of Agriculture will save taxpayers millions of dollars while
providing agricultural producers with a much more efficient and
effective Department of Agriculture.
When I first came to Congress in 1980, Mr. Speaker, Ed and I
immediately became friends, and I often looked to him for advice and
counsel. He was my first ranking member on the Committee on
Agriculture, and we continued to stay in touch over the years as I went
up to the Committee on Appropriations and he went on to the Bush
administration.
Mr. Speaker, I regret that he is not here today to share this
wonderful change of positions and thus acquiring the majority status in
this body because he was a very much majority-oriented individual.
I say to my colleagues, ``I know Ed's legacy and memory will live for
years to come, and I feel very fortunate to have known Ed, as many of
you have as well, and I again appreciate that kind of friendship
because, when it's all
[[Page H193]] over, that's what you take with you when you go.''
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hastert].
Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Ewing] for reserving this time.
I rise today to join my colleagues in marking a passing of a former
Member of the House, a person that is certainly unique. Ed Madigan of
the 15th District of Illinois was not only a friend and a colleague,
but certainly a mentor.
Ed serve in this House, in this Nation, over a period of two decades.
He was first elected to this House in 1972 following three terms in the
Illinois legislature, and served ably, both as a representative of his
district in central Illinois and later as Secretary of Agriculture
during the Bush administration.
I remember the gentleman from Lincoln as both a friend as a mentor.
We both served for 6 years in the Illinois House prior to coming to
Washington and we both served on the House Energy and Commerce
Committee. In fact, I remember just coming on the House Committee on
Agriculture or House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Ed was kind
of giving me advice all the way along, and finally one day he said,
``Well, what are your subcommittees going be,'' and I said, ``Well, Ed,
I wanted to be on the Telecommunication Subcommittee,'' and I thought
it was important to be on the Energy Subcommittee, and he said, ``I'm a
ranking member on the Health and Environment Subcommittee,'' and he
said, ``You know it would serve you well to get on that subcommittee
because,'' he said, ``you know it's going to be a lot of things
happening in health and environment in the next year or two.'' And,
sure enough, I put in to get on the Health Subcommittee, and within 3
weeks Ed Madigan was Secretary of Agriculture, and I sat on that
committee being the only Illinois person on it and later taking on all
the health issues, and Ed would call me from time to time and lend me
some good advice.
Ed, when I think of his time in both agriculture, and in science
issues, and the energy issues, and telephone issues, I also think of
his time, as my colleagues know, that Ed was not a professional
politician. He had came from Lincoln, IL, and he ran the local taxi
company in Lincoln, IL.

{time} 1230

Prior to that his dad and he ran a livery company, a horse-trading
and service company in Lincoln, IL. So the stories and the humor that
Ed pulled out from time to time go back to those earthy times back in
Illinois dealing with Illinois farmers. He was never a farmer, but he
knew the farmers and the people that he dealt with there almost on the
same hustings that another Illinoisan served on--Abraham Lincoln.
One of the things I always remembered that I shared particularly with
Ed, Ed, I guess coming from the taxi business, loved old automobiles,
and he could talk about old Lincolns and old Packards. You could see
his eyes light up with the love of those cars, and he actually
collected a few.
We have to look back on Ed Madigan with a smile and a tear for his
loss, but, Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues that I take the well
today because Ed was a friend. He was also a leader of this House, and
he represented the best that this House stands for. He certainly was a
person who could cut through a lot of nonsense. He was a person who cut
to the quick of what the issues were.
We remember him fondly today as a friend and a fellow Member of this
Congress and as a man who did his best to serve the people he loved.
For a Member of the House of Representatives, I guess we can ask no
greater honor.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Hastert].
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Walsh].
Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, my tribute to Ed Madigan is on behalf of
myself, because I lost a friend, and my father, who had the pleasure of
serving with Ed Madigan in this House a little over a decade ago, and
who indeed, also, has lost a friend. Because it is true that if you
ever served with Ed, you probably ended up his friend.
In the tradition of Irish stock who emigrated to America to fill
positions in civic duty, some of Ed Madigan's ancestors were in law
enforcement. His father was a sheriff, of which Ed was very proud. A
strapping man, handsome and smiling, Ed Madigan was a powerful figure
who could tell a good story, who had a sense of humor.
After I was first elected to the House, before I got down here, my
father told me about Ed Madigan, suggested I look him up. When I did,
the man took me under his wing as if a self-appointed mentor. I had
requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee and of course Ed was the
ranking member in those days when we were in the minority. At the same
time, by the way, he was ranking member of Energy and Commerce, just to
give you an idea of what he could accomplish.
What I learned from him on the Agriculture Committee was invaluable.
I learned about some things from him about farming, for sure, and about
politics. But mostly I learned that a thoughtful, sincere approach in a
distinguished and respectable manner can accomplish as much, if not
more, than bluster.
Soon after I was here, he got involved in the race for whip, and I
was happy to work for him. He lost the race, a very close race to a
brilliant and rising star in Republican House politics, our current
Speaker Newt Gingrich. Ed showed strength and character in defeat as he
did in victory. Ed Madigan impressed me as a man who had real class. He
was gracious and fair-minded, and I gained respect for him on my own,
with fresh realization of what my father's earlier praise really meant.
In public service, if we are lucky, we form many friendships with
colleagues, and when it comes to remembering them under these
circumstances we may tend to recall personal traits over actual
accomplishment. So I want to end my tribute to Ed Madigan today by
relating what people who know agriculture saw as a true labor of love
by Ed and a victory by anyone's standards.
When the 1985 farm bill was being written, of vital importance to
farm families and related businesses and their employees, a tangle of
legislation banded together for full House consideration made its way
to the floor but for all intents and purposes was doomed.
The effort to mold a planning document, on which so many people and
so much commerce would depend, was in disarray. It was headed for
defeat, but Ed Madigan's amendments saved it.
Ed Madigan, who honored the memory of Abraham Lincoln and modeled
himself in some ways after his fellow Illinois Representative,
virtually rewrote the farm bill on the floor in a way that not only
accomplished the short-term goal--but, amazingly, was so cohesive and
comprehensive that it served as a blueprint for the farms bills to
follow.
I said I lost a friend, and for that I am sad. But I am happy now to
recall his work and honor his memory. Thank you.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Walsh].
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Ewing] for arranging this special order and for providing us with this
opportunity to pay tribute to an outstanding figure in American
Government; Edward Madigan.
Former Congressman and Secretary of Agriculture, Edward Madigan,
passed away on December 7 after battling lung cancer. Ed Madigan served
as our Nation's 24th Secretary of Agriculture under President Bush.
Prior to becoming our Agriculture Secretary, Ed was my classmate, the
class of 1972. He was elected to 10 terms in the House where he
meritoriously served in several leadership positions, including the
ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, the chief deputy
minority whip, and as the chairman of the Republican Research
Committee.
In our House Chamber where, during Ed's tenure, Democrats outnumbered
Republicans, Ed was highly effective in garnering wide support from
both sides of the aisle. As the senior Republican on the Agriculture
and Energy and Commerce Committees, Ed had as
[[Page H194]] much impact on public policy over the last decade as all
but a few senior Democrats.
Ed seized the opportunity for leaving a significant imprint on the
1985 farm bill, winning approval of an amendment that in effect
determined the measure's main thrust. His expertise, willingness, and
proficiency will be sorely missed when the 104th Congress gathers again
to discuss and debate farm issues.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to associate myself with the remarks of our
colleagues praising one of the most remarkable countrymen of our time.
Most importantly, Ed was a good friend and a dear colleague who
personally assisted my constituency. He was sincerely helpful and
supportive of the farmers in my congressional district, especially
Orange County. Ed graciously and eloquently addressed my constituents
during one of our Chamber days.
To Ed's gracious wife, Evelyn, and his three wonderful children, our
thoughts and our condolences are with you. The Congress of the United
States has lost a true statesman and to many a good friend. Ed Madigan
brought a sense of leadership, of dignity, and experience that was
unparalleled. He made his mark and will be sorely missed by his
colleagues.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Gilman].
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to a new Member of the Illinois delegation,
an old friend of Ed Madigan, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. LaHood].
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, this is my first opportunity to stand in the
well of the House, and I take it very seriously because I am pleased to
participate in a special order to honor our former colleague, Ed
Madigan. My special thanks to you, Tom Ewing, a friend and a neighbor,
for setting aside this time to honor Ed Madigan, who obviously was a
dear friend of yours and of many others.
While Ed was a Member of Congress he represented a large part of the
district which I currently represent. Ed and his lovely wife, Evelyn,
resided in their hometown of Lincoln, where he was finally laid to
rest.
I have known Ed for a long time, but my fondest memories will always
be his knack of telling great stories. He had a very dry sense of
humor, and he used his tale-spinning ability to entertain audiences
with one funny story after another. Because of this talent, I will
always remember Ed Madigan as the ``Will Rogers of central Illinois.''
He was an astute politician who could draw a congressional map to
favor those of his own party. He was a talented legislator and
craftsman who helped to write an 800-page farm bill in 1990, and he was
a statesman, as evidenced by his tenure as Secretary of Agriculture
during the Bush administration.
As is demonstrated by those who participate today in this special
order, Ed Madigan was loved and admired by Members of both sides of the
aisle.

{time} 1240

On a very personal note, I must take special note of the fact that
the last public event that Ed Madigan participated in was a fund
raising hog roast for me in his home county on October 3. I knew he was
not feeling well, but he never complained. He stood before a group of
300 of his neighbors and friends to spin tales and offer supportive
comments on my behalf, for which I will forever be grateful.
In conclusion, I want to quote from a column by Alan Guebert, an
agricultural writer, which I will enter into the Record: ``There are
two kinds of politicians, show horses and work horses.'' He was by his
own admission the latter, a work horse; a man who sought fairness, not
fame. He never sought the television lights.
When Edward R. Madigan was lowered into the deep black prairie on the
afternoon of December 12, 8 straight days of dismal winter weather
broke, and stunning sunshine flooded the Illinois farm country.
I would like to conclude today by asking to have entered into the
Record the heartfelt eulogies delivered by Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and
my former boss and former Republican leader, Congressman Bob Michel.
Again to you, Tom, thank you so much for arranging this special
order.

Ed Madigan: He Led Quietly and Sought Fairness, Not Fame

(By Alan Guebert)

There are only two types of politicians, he liked to say:
show horses and workhouses. He was, by his own admission, the
latter; a man who sought fairness, not fame or television
lights.
Yet fame finally found him. And when it did, he glided
through glittering Washington in limousines. His friends all
knew, however, that he was more comfortable exploring
junkyards for vintage jalopies.
His predecessors at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
possessed farm backgrounds and walls full of postgraduate
degrees. But he grew up driving his father's taxi, not
tractors, around Lincoln. The only advanced degree he
earned--other than honorary--came from the Knights of
Columbus.
He served in the Illinois House of Representatives for six
years, the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years and
USDA for two years. But before he served Central Illinois,
the nation and farmers, he first served his church as an
altar boy for 12 years.
After he stepped into public service in early 1966, he won
an enviable string of 13 consecutive races in 26 years. After
he left public office in 1992, he lost his biggest race of
all Dec. 7.
He pushed, cajoled, jawbound and jostled negotiators of the
European Union into accepting the first-ever global trade
treaty for agriculture. But he passed away one day before
President Bill Clinton signed the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade.
He devoted his life to the Republican Party, just as his
father, ``Red,'' had done as a GOP stalwart for 40 years. But
the first big vote he faced as a freshman congressman in 1973
was the potential impeachment of a Republican president,
Richard Nixon.
``I would have voted to impeach, too,'' he once told me,
``because not even the president is above the law.''
He fought to restrict the growth of government, but spent a
legislative career powerlessly watching it multiply. In his
congressional district, the very center of Illinois' abundant
agriculture, government employees outnumber farmers by a 5-
to-1 ratio.
The irony contained in that unbalanced equation was not
lost on him in farm policy writing, either.
As a rookie Republican on the House Agriculture Committee,
he voted for the 29-page, 1973 Farm Bill. The last Farm Bill
he helped craft as the ranking minority member in 1990
totaled a staggering 719 pages.
Despite being viewed as a moderate, he was often staunchly
partisan. When he preached the party line, however, it
usually was in private and it always was with unfailing
politeness.
He disliked the take-no-prisoners politics of today's
Republican leadership. He saw its rise and tried to stop it
by challenging Newt Gingrich for the Republican whip's job in
1989. He lost that intraparty fight by two votes--87 to 85--
and confrontation replaced compromise in his beloved House.
Weary of always being in the minority--and, having seen the
Republicans snare the presidency four times during his
Washington tenure without making a dent in the Democratic
majority in the House--he lost faith in early 1991 and opted
out.
When he notified the White House in January 1991 of his
interest in the vacant secretary of agriculture post--
indirectly and very discreetly, of course--the job looked
safe for six years. George Bush was cruising toward re-
election with a sparkling voter approval rating of 87
percent.
But Bush stumbled in 1992 and the man who had trained 18
years to lead American agriculture silently left USDA after
just 18 months as secretary. It was the one time his
political instinct had failed him.
But he did not complain. He never complained. He led. And
he led quietly. Like a workhorse.
When Edward R. Madigan was lowered into the deep, black
prairie on the afternoon of Dec. 12, eight straight days of
dismal winter weather broke and stunning sunshine flooded the
Illinois farm country.
Eulogy of Hon. Robert Michel for Ed Madigan

Reverend Clergy, Eveline and members of the family, to my
colleagues in government and to friends and neighbors of Ed
Madigan * * * I consider it a great honor to be asked to say
a few words about my good friend. But first, on behalf of
Brenda and myself and all the people of Illinois, Eveline, to
you, and members of the family, let us express our sympathy
and best wishes.
Ed Madigan is without doubt, one of the most effective and
competent public officials I ever had the pleasure of knowing
or working with. As a legislator, he was second to none.
Particularly when you consider the 24 years he spent in the
legislative branch of government, only six of those years,
the first six, when he was a member of the Illinois House, he
was in the majority party. All the time he served in the
United States Congress, he was in the minority party. but
throughout his legislative career, he was extremely
effective. As politics in America * * * said of Ed, no one
seems to have told Madigan that Republican's are at a
disadvantage when it comes to writing legislation in a
heavily Democratic House.
Over the past decade, he has had as much impact on public
policy as all but a few senior democrats. As Secretary of
Agriculture, he was equally as effective though unfortunately
he didn't serve in that position as long as he did in
Congress. I well remember in the closing days of the bush
Administration, talking to Ed by phones and saying ``are you
kind of winding down?'' * * * he says ``No, I have to go back
and forth to Europe as I am trying to negotiate part of the
Gatt Treaty'' * * * and I thought to myself at that time, how
fortunate the farmers of this country and all of us were to
have someone with the ability to negotiate like Ed Madigan
representing us. And that reminded me the other day when one
of the newspaper stories told of a Democratic Congressman who
commented about Ed that he was a person when you negotiated
with him and you all got done, you realized you had all
bought the same horse a couple of times. And he meant that as
a highest compliment.
Ed Madigan had many outstanding characteristics. Those of
you would attended Republican functions during the year knew
that whenever Ed Madigan was going to speak, you could count
on a good story. He learned that well from the namesake of
his hometown, Lincoln. In fact, the only fear I had when he
started to tell those stories * * * that I might be the
object of one of those stories.
Ed Madigan also had the characteristic of loyalty. In fact,
that was something I always admired * * * he was very loyal--
loyal to family. In fact, I don't know of any time I
journeyed out to Washington or he was back in Springfield, we
sat down and talked about things, that he didn't bring up a
member of the family.
To his community, even though he went far in Washington, he
never forgot his roots. He never forgot particularly, his
hometown of Lincoln and the many people he grew up with and
represented there so well. The mayor was quoted in the paper
the other day saying ``the day he became Secretary of
Agriculture, Ed Madigan traced him down--tracked him down (I
think) on vacation, and said, ``oh, by the way, you need to
know about this grant that could help Lincoln.''
That's the way he was, very loyal to family, to community,
and to friends. I consider Ed Madigan one of the closest
friends I've had in politics.
We first met in 1971. He was a young member of the Illinois
House and I was a young staffer in the Illinois State Senate.
And we worked on reapportionment. Now, those of you who knew
Ed, knew that there was nothing more important than politics
and particularly, reapportionment. He was a very skilled
negotiator at an early age. And from that point in 1971, we
became close friends. And no matter when I needed help or
needed advice, and I would turn to Ed, he was always
available. Whether I was just a staffer or later a State
Legislator, or Secretary of State, or then as Governor, he
always had time no matter what he was doing in Washington, to
set aside part of his day to meet with me.
Ed Madigan was truly a good friend and I am sure I speak
for many many in this church today who felt that way about
Ed. Much can be said about Ed, but to me, I guess the most
important thing was he was someone you could always could on.
Someone who in his quiet and effective way, made a
difference. We will all miss Ed. But more importantly, no
matter how long we live, we will always be very appreciative
that we had a chance to know Ed and we will never forget Ed
Madigan.
Mr. EWING. Thank you for your comments. I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Gunderson].
(Mr. GUNDERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. GUNDERSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our friend and colleague
from Illinois, like everyone else has, for doing this, because I think
it is only appropriate that we take time to remember someone who was
such a valuable part, both of this institution, of service to this
country in many different facets, and to us personally.
I had the privilege of working with Ed Madigan on the House Committee
on Agriculture for much of the past 12 years, until he went down to the
Department. Ed and I had this affection for each other. We called each
other Mr. Leader. He had reason to be called leader, and I think he did
it for me just out of friendship and in response. But, of course, he
then became our leader. He became our leader on the House Committee on
Agriculture, and, as others have said, astutely, in different times,
managed the farm bill.
I think many people remember him as well with his leadership on the
Subcommittee of Health over in Energy and Commerce. I told the press
when he became Secretary of Agriculture that Ed Madigan was the best
agricultural strategist I have every known, and I suspect he will
continue to be that for some time.
He was able to quietly and carefully, and yet all knowingly, listen
to his colleagues, listen to his constituency, whether it be in
Illinois or in agriculture communities across this country, and design
within the realm of the possible the best possible package.
Finally, I think Ed Madigan should be remembered not only as a leader
and a strategist, but he should be remembered as one committed to
public service. Ed Madigan took over the leadership of the House
Committee on Agriculture because he was the right man for the right
time to do that. He became Secretary of Agriculture under George Bush
because he was the right man to take that job at that time. Neither of
these were appointments that were necessarily looked upon and sought by
Ed Madigan for a long period of time and yet he recognized that there
comes a time and place when you can make a special contribution, and as
the gentleman before me said, not with the fanfare of the press, not
with the glare of the lights, and the publicity that follows with it,
but rather with the sincere commitment that he had an opportunity and
ability to make a great contribution to this country.
He did it in this Congress, he did it as Secretary of Agriculture, he
has done it for this country. We are all better because of that.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman for those comments. I now yield to
the distinguished Member from California [Mr. Waxman].

[[Page H196]]

Mr. WAXMAN. I thank you very much for yielding to me, and I want to
join in this memorial service and commemorate the relationship that so
many of us had with our colleague, Ed Madigan. Ed and I served together
on the Commerce Committee, and for a number of years he was the ranking
minority member of the Subcommittee on Health and Environment during
the time that I served as chairman.
It was a honor to have worked with him. He was a man who was
dedicated to solving problems, to trying to figure out what the issues
were, how can we resolve philosophical differences, which we obviously
had, but how do you solve real world problems to make this a better
country.
We worked together on a number of issues. One was the breast cancer
legislation. That legislation provided additional funds to combat this
disease, to get screening so women would have mammographies to try to
find the cancer early and be able to totally eradicate it.
He was very much in support of giving information to consumers about
nutrition and foods so that consumers could make their own choices, and
he and I worked very closely on that legislation.
We worked on environmental issues like the Safe Drinking Water Act
and the Clear Air Act, where we had to struggle for many years trying
to figure out exactly the best formula to protect the environment, but
also to recognize the economic needs of the country.
Then one of the things he was very proud of and was a genuine
contribution, was to have the nursing professions, which make such an
important contribution to patient care, get a status at the National
Institutes of Health so that the research money there that would
improve health care for all Americans would recognize the unique role
of nurses.
He typified the view that you need to work together to find solutions
to problems. Even though you may have differences you to keep those
differences in perspective. He was a wonderful human being. He cared
deeply about people. He will be sorely missed.
I regret that I wasn't able to get to the funeral, that the House of
Representatives did not make provisions for us to travel to that
occasion. Had I been there, I would have liked to see Evelyn and his
daughters and the rest of his family and to express to them personally
my feelings. I was able to communicate them on the phone and in
writing. But I hope that they will see this tape or read the transcript
and know that those of us who worked with Ed Madigan will miss him
greatly. He was a wonderful human being and made an enormous
contribution to this institution and to the betterment of our country.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman for those comments. Now the
gentleman from California, Jerry Lewis.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Tom Ewing, I very much appreciate your
yielding me this time, and especially appreciate having this special
order in memory of Ed Madigan.
Ed Madigan was one of the greatest Secretaries of Agriculture that
this country will ever have. Ed Madigan was one of the finest human
beings that one could ever hope to meet.
Much has been said about his hometown of Lincoln, IL, and the
parallel between Ed and other great leaders from his State. Ed Madigan
was, first and foremost a member of the House. Nobody, but nobody, in
my experience reflected more the qualities and the mix of talent and
personality that makes a great Congressman than Ed Madigan.
I must say that my picture of him at this moment was back there
behind the rail off the House floor. I was a new Member coming from
California, frustrated by the longstanding minority status that we
experienced in the House. New Members, who served in their own State
legislature as Ed did, quickly learned that you didn't have much to say
around this place being in the minority.

{time} 1250

Ed saw my frustration, came up to me one day, and suggested that I
spend some time working within his circle, within the leadership. He
took me to the Research Committee and to other jobs and together we
worked for almost a decade on the Republican side of the aisle within
the Republican leadership.
Most importantly, Ed Madigan was a leader in the House who recognized
that beyond the responsibilities we had in terms of partisan battle,
most of our challenges had little to do with partisan politics. For he
was a policymaker, a guy who wanted to make a difference in people's
lives by way of shaping public policy.
Because of that, he had great respect on both sides of the aisle. As
has been indicated, he was a workhorse, not a show horse. Rarely did Ed
Madigan just quickly get up to speak on an issue. But because he seldom
spoke, he was always listened to with great care by those Members who
knew of his talent and his background and the seriousness with which he
took issues that he chose to speak about.
In California, there is on the front of one of our buildings a
statement that we should bring men to match our mountains. In Ed
Madigan, we saw the greatest of leaders. He will be greatly missed by
his friends. I hope there are friends beyond his work that will
remember that Ed had a great sense of humor. It was wry and quiet, but
a real sense of humor. The part of that that strikes me most and that I
would like to leave my colleagues with is that Ed Madigan was one of
those great leaders who understood the value and very much appreciated
the importance of our being willing to laugh at ourselves. His stories,
his jokes, his humor often centered around all of us needing to
recognize how important it is that we take time out and appreciate
laughing at ourselves.
We will miss you, Ed.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
I now yield to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Bliley].
Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for
yielding to me.
When I came to this body, in 1980, the minority leader and the
Committee on Committees assigned me to the Commerce Committee. And once
arriving there, the then ranking member, Jim Broyhill from North
Carolina, assigned me to the Health and Environment Subcommittee where
I first met Ed Madigan, who at that time was ranking member and,
indeed, remained ranking member on the Health Subcommittee on Commerce
until President Bush asked him to take over the Agriculture Department
in his Cabinet.
He was a great help to me. I had not come from State government. I
had come from local government, city council, and mayor. He helped me
immeasurably in my first term and, indeed, in all the terms when he was
ranking member.
As has been said before, he achieved a lot, through charm, wit, and
great intellect. He was, indeed, a giant.
We all miss him. To Evelyn and the family, know that you are in our
prayers.
And I hope, Ed, wherever he is, is watching as we do this today.
I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember not only a dear colleague but
also a great friend--the distinguished gentleman from Illinois, Ed
Madigan.
A recent Illinois newspaper quite accurately described the man I
knew--honest, effective, insightful, and sincere. Ed Madigan not only
portrayed these attributes in his professional life, but in his
personal life as well. He was a straight shooter who told it like it
was. If some called Ed old fashioned--because of his preference for
calm deliberations instead of heated, partisan confrontations--then so
be it. For if old fashioned meant accomplishing great things while
earning the respect of Members from both sides of the aisle, then Ed
was pleased to wear that label.
With a steady hand guiding the wants and needs of his constituents,
Ed steered many a debate in the House through the smooth waters of
agreement and the stormy seas of dissent. But, through it all, this
loyal public servant stayed the course--offering guidance and good
humor to all along the way.
However, Mr. Speaker what has distinguished this gentleman the most
in his years of service is his devotion--his devotion to see the good
in his fellow man and woman, while others only would see the bad; his
devotion to guard not only for the things that would be good for the
land of Lincoln, but also for the things that would help all American
families; and finally, his devotion to his party and this institution
has been a constant source of inspiration to all those who may have
forgotten the true meaning of public service. [[Page H197]]
It was a distinct pleasure and privilege to serve in the U.S. House
with Ed Madigan. While his presence in this body will be greatly
missed, there are plenty of us who will remember him well. Thank you,
my friend, for your tireless efforts and your loyal commitment to your
party and to your Nation--your hard work certainly did not go
unnoticed.
Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman.
I yield to the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier].
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding and
congratulate him for taking out this special order.
I would like to follow on the line that was raised by my friend, the
gentleman from Redlands, CA [Mr. Lewis], who referred to the fact that
Ed Madigan was able to match the mountains that we have in California.
I was extraordinarily saddened and shocked, as everyone was, at Ed's
passing, because we have all known Ed to be an extraordinarily vigorous
and impressive human being. It is difficult to imagine that he is gone.
But when Jerry Lewis mentioned the fact that Ed Madigan was one who
could match those mountains, I could not help but think about a great
opportunity that I had with Ed, when he come to southern California to
visit with some former constituents of Mr. Lewis, our mutual friend,
Howard Margolies from the Coachella Valley. Mr. Madigan had not had the
chance to, since he had become Secretary of Agriculture, focus on what
is the largest industry in our State of California, that being
agriculture. We all know how devastated so much of the State is now
because of the terrible floods that have hit us.
But Ed came to southern California and spent a couple of days
traveling around the State, familiarizing himself even more with our
specific concerns in the area of agriculture. And it was a great honor
that I had to be able to spend that couple of day period with him when
he visited California for his first time after having been named
Secretary of Agriculture.
One other experience that I had that I would like to mention very
briefly was that, in 1986, I had the chance to travel with Ed and
Evelyn and a rather large delegation to the Pacific Rim, and Ed was the
leader of that delegation. And we had a tremendous time looking at some
of the trade and agricultural issues that affected the relationship
between the United States and nations in the Pacific Rim.
I thank my friend for yielding me this time. I know I was given 1
minute. I would simply like to say that, along with every other Member
of this institution, we extend our condolences to Evelyn and other
members of the Madigan family. We certainly do miss the presence of
this extraordinary human being.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Nussle].
Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I was struck, as I was watching this conversation that
we are having this eulogy, this presentation that we are having today,
how many people mentioned the words ``help'' and ``assistance'' that Ed
Madigan provided them along the way. I thought it was only me. I have
to say that I am not, as many others who served with Ed Madigan and
knew him so very personally, I did not have that kind of experience
with Ed. I did not know him that well. And that is why, if for no other
reason, I am struck by the two instances that I recall the most about
Ed and my very brief relationship.
One was when I was a candidate. I got a call out of the blue from Ed
Madigan. I really did not even know who he was, I have to confess. He
called me up and he said, ``I am a representative from Illinois and
just wanted to know if you had any questions or concerns about ag
policy. I would be glad to try and answer them.''
I made up a couple of questions real quick, wishing that I had been
better briefed to even ask the questions. I went on from that
experience thinking, why in the world, this guy must have nothing
better to do than to call me up. Obviously, we all know he did.
But then when I got to Washington, I was told that I had a big
brother for my orientation, and I was honored to discover it was this
same Ed Madigan. I discovered who he was and what he did, and when I
went to my first meeting and our first discussion was about committee
assignments, he came prepared with a sheet of paper of ideas for me,
which I know now, having been a representative for 4 years, how
difficult it was or how time-consuming it was to put that together. Yet
how much time he thought. It was not just off the cuff with Ed. It was
not just a spur of the moment. He put some thought into it. I have to
say that it is something that I learned from and I hope to emulate. I
have tried to.
If there was any effect that Ed had on me, it was that we have to be
willing to take time to teach and inspire other people who come after
us to do good things and to be proper participants in this process. And
he gave me that inspiration. I am not sure if it took, but I want to
thank him for being a brother and being an inspiration and being a
mentor. It is something that I hope I can pass on to someone else in
the spirit that Ed Madigan passed it on to me.
I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman very much for those comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois
[Mr. Durbin].
{time} 1300

Mr. DURBIN. I thank my colleague and friend, Mr. Ewing, for giving me
the opportunity to speak today, and also for sponsoring this important
special order.
I would also like to acknowledge to the Speaker that on the floor
today we have a former colleague from our State of Illinois, Terry
Bruce, who served in this House of Representatives for many years with
Ed Madigan, and wanted to be here as part of the audience, at least, in
this special order. I am glad that he could attend. He and I both
counted Ed Madigan, a Republican, a good Republican, as a good friend
of our party and our side of the aisle, particularly when it came to
issues of importance to Illinois.
It is hard to believe, I still cannot believe, that Ed has passed
away. Only 10 weeks passed between the announcement of his serious
illness, the lung cancer that he faced, and our attendance at a
memorable funeral in Lincoln, IL, paying tribute to him as a man and as
a public servant.
One of the people in the crowd whose name should be mentioned today
is Chuck Hilty. Chuck I think was at Ed's side forever. I never saw the
two of them apart. From Ed's service in the House of Representatives,
on the Agriculture Committee, and the Department of Agriculture, Chick
Hilty was always at his side, not only as his trusted assistant but as
his close friend. He was one of his pallbearers on that day of the
funeral in Lincoln.
I saw Bob Michel here earlier, and I am sure he has been
acknowledged, but as our former minority leader, I know he wanted to be
on the floor as part of this special order. His eulogy for Ed Madigan
was memorable. He brought to it a vision of the man and a level of
emotion that was truly genuine, and I think each of us in the church
that day felt that Bob Michel represented all of us in public life who
had known Ed Madigan so well.
The term and phrase ``gentleman'' is used so often in our country and
in our society and in this Chamber, ``Will the gentleman yield?'' and
so forth. But when I think of Ed Madigan, I think he was truly a gentle
man, soft spoken.
In a business where a lot of politicians will roar, Ed Madigan never
raised his voice. In a business where a lot of people get red in the
face and waive their arms to try to get something done, Ed Madigan
never stooped to that, and yet was probably one of the most effective
Congressmen whom I have known in this Chamber.
He used the art of gentle persuasion. How many times he would call me
from the Agriculture Committee and ask me to make a tough vote, never
suggesting to me what the politics were, but just saying ``I think this
is a good thing to do,'' and it made its impression.
Then serving in the Illinois delegation, as Mr. Ewing and I have the
honor to do, we have had an unusual tradition of bipartisan delegation
meetings. We meet each month, hang our hats at the door, Democrats and
Republicans come in and gather in the room as residents
[[Page H198]] of Illinois to try to solve problems. Ed was always
there, not only as a member of the delegation, but also as Secretary of
Agriculture.
When the time came, and I think the suggestion was originally from
Mr. Michel, that we as a delegation join in writing a letter to
President Bush encouraging him to name Ed Madigan as Secretary of
Agriculture, it was unanimous. Every member of the delegation, Democrat
and Republican, came forward and stated, ``He is the right choice for
the job,'' and boy, was he. What a great Secretary of Agriculture.
A lot of my friends who are farmers back in Illinois often wonder
about whether Ed was raised on a farm. Well, he wasn't, but you would
never have known it. He had spent a lifetime here becoming more
familiar with agricultural issues and policies than any person who was
born on a farm might be. He brought that knowledge and understanding to
the job as Secretary of Agriculture.
My Friend, Congressman Lewis from California, referred to his sense
of honor. I recall visiting him at the Department of Agriculture in
this beautiful office reserved for the Secretary. I was complimenting
him on his wonderful office. He said, ``You know, Dick, I have been
here a long time and I still haven't figured out how to get the heat on
in this office. I have called a number of people in. You can just
understand what kind of bureaucracy I have to go through just to get
the heat on in my office.''
Ed was always taking things lightly when it came to himself
personally, but taking his job very, very seriously.
I liked him, too, because you could come to him
and deal in honest terms with him. You could talk to him about
things that were important to you and know that the message would go no
further. You could talk to him about political concerns and know that
he would be honest, and would try to deal with you in an honest
fashion.

I really respected him for that, and time and time again I came to
value his judgment and his friendship.
The last time I saw him alive was in the runway of the Rayburn
Building near the subway. We just chanced across one another. He said,
``You know, now that I am out of politics, I can come in and campaign
for you.'' I said, ``I would be glad to have you and honored to have
you support my candidacy.''
I dropped him a note and said, ``You have to hang on. I may not need
you in this election, but I may need you later on.'' He was a wonderful
man. He was that kind of guy. You knew his friendship meant a lot.
I thank the gentleman from Illinois for bringing this special order.
I think the number of people who have come together to the floor this
afternoon are evidence of the kind of legacy which Ed Madigan has left
in this Chamber; certainly in our State of Illinois, and definitely in
his beloved home town of Lincoln, IL.
I will miss him. I wish there were more like him around here. He has
left a good lesson in his life for those of us who follow, that we
should try to lead our lives a little more closely to his model.
Mr. EWING. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for those very
appropriate comments.
Let me say that the gentleman from California [Mr. Hunter], and the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Weller], were both here and wanted to
speak on behalf of this special order for Ed Madigan, but because of
the long list of Members who have come out today, they had to go on to
other business. They will submit their remarks, along with the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Poshard].
I, too, want to recognize former Congressman Terry Bruce from
Illinois, who I know from my conversations with Ed and his family was
one of his very closest friends in this body, and who has been so good
to the Madigan family.
I hope, in closing, that all the viewers, all those who are back in
Illinois, will recognize the very high esteem, and particularly the
family of Ed Madigan and Evelyn Madigan, will recognize the very high
esteem in which he was held by this body, and the great loss that his
passing is to all of us, but the great joy we take in the life that he
lived and the service that he gave to his country.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues today
to celebrate the remarkable life of Ed Madigan. Ed's untimely death
last month has robbed our Nation of a great American and great public
servant.
Throughout his distinguished service in the Illinois State
Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives and, finally, as
Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Madigan never lost touch of his roots. He
always exhibited deep concern for the problems confronting main street
America. Ed dedicated his life to helping people which is a legacy that
his family can be proud of.
Ed cherished this institution, earning the respect and admiration of
his colleagues. While a soft-spoken man, Ed was both persuasive and
tireless in pursuing the interests of his district and country. He
served the people of Illinois and the Nation with dignity and honor.
Even though Ed and I served on opposite sides of the aisle in the
House, I considered him a friend and a man of impeccable integrity. His
death represents not only a tragic loss for his family but for our
country he loved and served so well.
Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, last month the people of the 15th
Congressional District of Illinois lost one of their strongest allies
and advocates, Edward Rell Madigan. A man of his word and a man of the
people, Ed Madigan served in the Illinois State Legislature for 6 years
in the late 1960's before being elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1972, where he served central Illinois for 18 years.
Ed Madigan then served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under
President Bush.
Ed Madigan was a master political strategist and a fighter. He was
tough, but his wide respect from Members of both parties gave testament
to his fairness. He was a good man, and I know we were all saddened to
learn of his passing. Ed will certainly be missed by those who had the
privilege of working with him.
Mr. Speaker, Ed Madigan epitomized what a public servant should be
and his unselfish devotion to the challenge of public service was
reflected in his commitment to meeting the needs of his constituents.
He devoted many long years to hard work to
crafting legislative policy that served not only his district, but the
Nation as a whole. He never forgot where he came from, and he never
forgot the people of Lincoln, IL.

Ed's devotion to the Nation's heartland blazed the path for his
ascension to ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee for
8 years. He also served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, where
any of his colleagues would attest to the quality of his work and his
sense of fairness and dedication. He was a statesman of the highest
caliber.
I always admired Ed and the dignified manner in which he held forth
on the floor. He was articulate, and his deep, resonant voice commanded
respect for all within the range of his voice. But more than that he
was a gentleman, and though we were in different parties we were good
friends.
Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on the distinguished career of an
outstanding Member, let us also give our thoughts to his family that he
loved so dearly. His wife, Evelyn, was often credited by Ed with truly
holding the ship together, and his three daughters--Kimberly, Kellie,
and Mary Elizabeth--were a source of true pride. Ed Madigan knew what
was important to him, and where his bedrock strength lay in this
sometimes tumultuous atmosphere--that strength was his family.
Mr. Speaker, Ed Madigan was a special breed of public servant. He
worked quietly and effectively within the system, he worked with his
colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and he helped raise the public's
respect for the House of Representatives by dutifully serving as a man
of whom we could all be proud. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mr. QUILLEN. Mr. Speaker, over the recess I was greatly saddened to
learn of the death of my good friend Ed Madigan, whom I served
alongside in this body for almost 20 years. For that time period, the
15th Congressional District of Illinois could not have had a more
conscientious or hard-working Representative in the U.S. Congress.
Ed Madigan was one of the quiet workhorses that make it possible for
the House to do its business. I come from an area where agriculture
dominates the economy, and all of my constituents, as well as millions
of others across this Nation, owe him a great debt of thanks for the
way in which he served as ranking minority member of the Committee on
Agriculture. Passing a 5-year farm bill is an ardous process, and Ed's
mastery of the issues involved made it possible to craft legislation
that helped make American agriculture the most productive in the world.
On the Energy and Commerce Committee, Ed held the line against
excessive Government regulations, and it is unfortunate that he is not
here to witness the new congressional
[[Page H199]] majority fulfill his vision of rolling back the tide of
Government redtape. As the lead Republican on the most active
subcommittee of Energy and Commerce, Ed was a voice of common sense
that we all heeded.
Mr. Speaker, President Bush recognized Ed's leadership when he
selected him to be Secretary of Agriculture, a job at which Ed
performed admirably. I was sad to hear of his passing, and my wide,
Cecile, and I send our deepest condolences to Ed's family and friends.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in saluting
and paying tribute to our esteemed former colleague, the late Edward
Madigan.
For almost 20 years, Ed Madigan ably served his constituents as the
representative for the 15th Congressional District of Illinois. A
native of Lincoln, IL, Ed came to the House in 1972 following 6 years
in the Illinois House. He quickly earned the respect and admiration of
his constituents and colleagues with his devoted service and principled
manner.
As a member of the House Agriculture and Energy and Commerce
Committees, Ed played a key role in formulating public policy,
including the crafting of the house-version 1985 farm bill, and health
legislation. Ed deservedly earned the reputation as an informed, hard-
working Member of Congress who would protect the interests not only of
his constituents but the Nation as a whole.
Ed was also an active member of the House Republican leadership,
serving his colleagues as the ranking member of the House Agriculture
Committee, chairman of the Republican Research Committee, and chief
deputy Republican whip. His expertise and knowledge about agriculture
and farm programs was renowned, and led to his appointment by President
Bush to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture in 1990. As Secretary, Ed
continued to work hard on behalf of America, and was instrumental in
formulating early plans for the reorganization of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
As a friend of Ed's, and having served as his colleague since 1981, I
was saddened to learn of his death, and would like to join with my
colleagues in expressing my sincerest sympathy to the entire Madigan
family. Ed Madigan, however, will always be remembered by those with
whom he served, as well as his constituents in the 15th Congressional
District of Illinois. Ed was a model legislator and a tireless worker,
and his service to our nation is greatly appreciated.
Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague
and dear friend, Ed Madigan. Ed served in this chamber for 18 years,
and I, along with the entire Illinois congressional delegation, am
saddened to lose him. As a member of the House of Representatives, Ed
served the people of the 15th Congressional District with great pride
and vigor. He never lost touch with the people back home, and it was
evident in his work and friendships.
As Secretary of Agriculture under President Bush and during his 16
years on the House Agriculture Committee, Ed was a champion for farmers
in Illinois and across the Nation. It was Ed who worked diligently to
support the use of ethanol and to shape the agriculture provisions in
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that I believe will greatly
increase the income and flexibility of American farmers.
Ed Madigan dedicated his entire life to the people and state of
Illinois, and for that we are grateful. His sincere and unselfish
manner put him above the rest. I truly believe the spirit and
convictions of Ed Madigan will live for years to come in the hearts of
all of us and all those in Illinois and across this great Nation whom
he helped and represented. We extend to the entire Madigan family our
condolences, and I am grateful to them for the continuous support they
gave Ed during his many years in public office. Ed will truly be
missed, but always remembered by those he touched over the years.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend and
former colleague, Ed Madigan, who passed away in December. Ed Madigan
served his constituents in the State of Illinois with dignity and
competence in the U.S. Congress, and served the Nation ably as the 24th
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President George Bush.
Ed Madigan, as a Member of Congress, fought hard to protect the
agricultural way of life in Illinois. As a long-serving member of both
the House Agriculture and Energy and Commerce Committees, he fought
hard to speak on behalf of small business owners in the Midwest and
those needing quality health care.
In his 10 terms in the U.S. House, Ed Madigan distinguished himself
as a Member who worked diligently but quietly, with a friendly
bipartisanship but a solid belief in those issues he considered
important. His battle with lung cancer went all but unknown to the
public until he was near the end of his life, a testimony to his grace
and demeanor.
I join my colleagues today in honoring his memory. I considered Ed
Madigan a very good friend, and his work here in the House and his
legacy as a fellow human will be long remembered.
[From the Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL), Dec. 9, 1994]

Ed Madigan's Leadership Emphasized Personal Touch

Ed Madigan was a leader who didn't have to shout.
His actions spoke for him.
The adjectives describing Mr. Madigan, who served as state
and U.S. representative and U.S. secretary of agriculture,
will be numerous in the days to come: honest, charming, low-
key, consensus maker, skilled player, quiet, effective,
insightful, sincere, enthusiastic to serve, politician's
politician, tactful and master strategist.
Most people saw Ed Madigan the same way. He was not a
politician of many faces.
He knew the art of compromise, but wouldn't cave in. Just
as he didn't cave in without a struggle to lung cancer, whose
complications eventually took his life Wednesday.
He was also a man who had a knack for putting things into
perspective. You didn't have to know him well to know that at
the top of his list was family. He loved to talk politics,
but he could also spend considerable time talking about how
his wife, Evelyn, gave him the support that was really
important.
That was especially true when he made the move from the
Illinois House of Representatives, where he had served since
1966, to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972. He had
become an influential member of the state House in just six
years, but he passed on a chance to run for lieutenant
governor to seek the U.S. House seat because he wanted to be
more involved with people.
His initial comments to a Pantagraph reporter who visited
him in Washington, D.C., a few months after he was elected
weren't so much about the nation's capital and all of the
political power.
He talked more about making sure he would be known as a man
of his word and not a ``flapmouth''; the high price of
housing; and how his family would have to adjust. It said
something about his roots.
Mr. Madigan memorized a book containing the names and
pictures of his colleagues so he could call them by their
first names. By calling them by their first names, he said it
forced them to find out who he was.
But Central Illinois was first and foremost for the Lincoln
native, even coming home to fight the biggest challenge of
his life.
He remembered the farmers of Illinois in one of his more
significant roles in Washington, D.C., as he helped amend the
1985 farm bill to ensure that it favored the free-market
approach instead of imposing production limits. He also
helped craft the final compromise on clean-air legislation
that encouraged the use of ethanol.
Challenges were what Mr. Madigan seemed to thrive on. With
a few exceptions, he used his soft-spoken, behind-the-scenes
style of compromise to get things done, rising to become the
fifth-ranking Republican in the House as chairman of the
House Republican Research Committee.
Perhaps one of Mr. Madigan's more disappointing times in
Washington came when he lost the race for House Republican
whip to Newt Gingrich of Georgia in 1989. He would not change
his approach to match the fire-brand, confrontational ways of
Gingrich.
He carried that same style into his job as U.S. agriculture
secretary when he was appointed by President Bush in March
1991. He served until Bush was defeated the following year.
Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the death of our friend Ed Madigan is a
profound loss for the Congress, the citizens of Illinois, and our
entire Nation. One of America's most respected and influential leaders
has been taken from us much too soon, and together with Ed's family, we
are deeply saddened.
Throughout his service in public office, Ed distinguished himself as
a hard-working legislator and gained the respect, admiration, and
friendship of members on both sides of the aisle. Those of us in the
Illinois delegation are especially proud to have worked with Ed, who
set an example for all of us with his quietly effective and thoughtful
leadership.
Ed has left his mark on this institution and on our Nation,
especially in the area of agriculture. Both as a Member of the House
and as our Secretary of Agriculture under President Bush, Ed's
expertise and common sense helped guide America toward sound policy in
this area. In particular, he played a vital role in shaping the 1985
farm bill, urging a free-market approach and cautioning against
production limits.
When I came to the House 15 years ago, the first thing I learned was
that Ed Madigan was our Illinois farm expert, and since I had almost no
farms in my district, and little knowledge of farm policy and law--one
of the most complex of all--I would invariably follow Ed's lead in
voting on farm matters. You knew Ed has done his homework and had made
a sound judgment for our country and our state.
But beyond his wise judgment, we most of all will cherish Ed's great
strength of character and his personal warmth. He was not only a leader
who informed our debates, but a friend whose great courage in facing
cancer inspired
[[Page H200]] us. He was not only a representative who knew how to get
the job done, but someone who knew how to keep things in perspective.
As one editorial noted of Ed:

You didn't have to know him well to know that at the top of
his list was family. He loved to talk politics but he could
also spend considerably time talking about how his wife,
Evelyn, gave him the support that was really important.

The writer goes on to observe that after his election to the House,
in the face of overwhelming new responsibilities and challenges, Ed's
principal concern was how his family would adjust to life in
Washington.
Mr. Speaker, in his all too short life, Ed Madigan contributed great
intelligence and insight to the public policy debates in this country,
and we will long cherish his memory. He showed us all what
distinguished public service really means and we will miss him more
than words can say.
I join my colleagues in expressing our deepest condolences to Ed's
wife, Evelyn, and to his entire family. All Americans share in your
great loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Ed
Madigan, a thoughtful, consensus-seeking public servant who carved out
a great career in Washington, first as a 10-term Member of this body
and later as Secretary of Agriculture under President Bush.
In the House, Ed's leadership skills were demonstrated by his rise to
the fifth-ranking position in the Republican hierarchy: Chairman of the
party's Research and Planning Committee. He was also appointed twice as
chief deputy whip.
Later, the Illinois Representative gave up his leadership post to
assume the ranking Republican position on the Agriculture Committee,
playing a key role for 8 years on farm legislation. He was especially
instrumental in shaping the 1985 farm bill.
In addition to serving as Secretary of Agriculture at a time when the
Department had a high profile, Ed was named by President Bush to serve
as lead negotiator on the agriculture section of the trade negotiations
under GATT.
Since leaving Government service, and until his untimely death last
month, Ed had been associated with a major Illinois-based insurance
company and had served on the board of a number of corporations.
Ed was a soft-spoken, generous individual who let his achievements
speak for themselves. He leaves a great legacy in this body, where so
many of us counted him as a good friend.
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, Ed Madigan's unexpected passing away came as
a shock to all of us who regarded him as our friend. Had he lived, he
would have celebrated his 59th birthday the day after tomorrow.
Ed Madigan served the citizens of his district in north-central
Illinois for almost two decades. And he served them well.
His legislative career began in 1967 in Springfield where he served
in the Illinois State House of Representatives.
He brought his many talents to Congress in 1973 after 6 years in the
Illinois General Assembly. Ed's many Springfield honors included being
named Outstanding State Legislator.
His legislative abilities became apparent to those of us in this
Chamber shortly after his arrival in Washington. He was a master of
working out compromises where others failed to make progress.
Ed was ranking Republican on the House Committee on Agriculture at
the time of his resignation. He was also serving at that time as Chief
Deputy Minority Whip. Ed Madigan willingly sacrificed the position he
loved so much in this House of Representatives to heed the call of
President George Bush to become a member of the President's Cabinet. He
was the Nation's 24th Secretary of Agriculture.
Ed Madigan was a fine son of the State of Illinois. He was our
colleague, and most important, he was our friend. Ed Madigan will be
missed.
In closing, I would like to extend our sympathies to his wife,
Evelyn.

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