[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        THE PASSING OF GREATNESS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as one of millions upon millions of 
Americans mourning today the passing of a great woman, I want to extend 
to our colleague Senator Edward Kennedy from Massachusetts, and to his 
extended family, my wife Erma's and my condolences on the death 
yesterday of his mother, Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy--Rose Fitzgerald 
Kennedy, as we knew her best.
  Some Americans have expressed a regret that our representative 
democracy precludes the granting of titles of noble recognition as is 
common among our British cousins.
  To be certain, if titles were granted in America to those most 
worthy, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy would long, long ago have been known 
affectionately as ``Lady Kennedy.''
  Indeed, given her innate intelligence, political acumen, and enviable 
sense of self, had Rose Kennedy been born perhaps 50 years later than 
she was, she might well have been the first United States Senator in 
her family.
  Instead, being born 104 years ago, from her childhood and youth, Rose 
Kennedy imbibed the air of the politics of Boston, of Massachusetts, 
and of America, and learned to play magnificently the role of wife to 
her husband and mother to her sons and daughters as she brought her 
incomparable strengths and graces to bear on their successes.
  Rose Kennedy's life spanned more than half the history of the 
Republic of the United States. For much of that history, Rose Kennedy 
was a frontline participant in the great events of our era, and in more 
than a peripheral fashion.
  Where else in American history can be recorded that one woman was the 
wife of an Ambassador to the Court of St. James, the mother of an 
American President, the mother of three United States Senators, mother 
of the Attorney General of the United States.
  And, perhaps, above all else, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy will live on in 
the hearts and memories of untold millions of Americans who witnessed 
her fortitude and faith in the face of pitiless tragedy in the loss of 
three of her sons in the service of our country--her son Joe, Jr., in 
World War II, and her sons John and Robert to the mindless hatred of 
the previously nameless assassins on whom infamy will forever rest 
through the sins against our country and history itself that they 
committed in murdering these two outstanding men.
  Mr. President, I hope that the members of the Kennedy family will 
experience some degree of comfort in the condolences that we offer them 
today, and, more importantly, that the Kennedy family will find 
increased strength in consolation in recalling the strength and 
character that Rose Kennedy embodied and in realizing the affection and 
reverence in which she was held by the American people and by people 
around the world.

     Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy,
     Bright dreams of the past, which she cannot destroy;
     Which come, in the night-time of sorrow and care,
     And bring back the features that joy used to wear.
     Long, long be my heart with such memories filled!
     Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled,--
     You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you will,
     But the scent of the roses will hang round it still.

  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I would like to compliment the Senator 
from West Virginia for a beautiful tribute to a remarkable woman. I 
know that will be of great, soothing comfort to the family.
  I think on behalf of many people, I say how much we appreciate the 
tribute.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, I, too, would like to associate myself with 
the remarks of the Senator from West Virginia. It is hard to believe 
that Rose Kennedy in her 104 years comes close to encompassing almost 
half the time period that this country has been in existence--a little 
short of that, but not very much.
  It has been my pleasure to know her from some years ago. I have not 
see her in recent years, but we were visitors with the Kennedy family 
on a number of occasions years ago when she was there. We got to know 
her as a very gracious lady.
  I think Senator Byrd has very properly given the accolades that he 
has, that she has so well deserved. And I associate myself with his 
remarks at this time.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Ohio.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  

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