[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3374-S3375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO BILL GARDINER

  Mr. HEFLIN. I rise today with much sorrow to lament the passing of my 
great friend Bill Gardiner, who passed away on February 21, 1995 at the 
age of 68. William F. Gardiner, Sr., was my chief of staff in charge of 
my Alabama offices.
  The U.S. Marine Corps has as its motto the latin words ``Semper 
Fidelis,'' which mean ``Always Faithful.'' These words are descriptive 
and indicative of the spirit and life of Bill Gardiner. He was always 
faithful to his principles and to his friends. He also possessed the 
unfailing values of hard work, patriotism, and spirituality.
  He loved politics. He relished being in the political arena as much 
as anyone I have ever known. He enjoyed the bonding that brings people 
with common likes, dislikes, feelings, philosophies, and goals 
together. He thrived on the excitement of politics. He especially 
delighted in political gatherings. On many occasions, he would stay up 
all night cooking meat for a barbecue or some other event where 
politicians would gather.
  He believed politics and public service were ways to bring about 
improvements in the quality of life of all people; a way to increase 
the standards of living for our citizens; a means of rectifying wrongs 
and injustices; and a way of improving the future for generations that 
would follow. These principles were his guideposts in his own public 
service.
  As mayor of the city of Tuscumbia, AL he took a leadership role in 
improving its educational system. He used Federal money and programs to 
benefit the citizens of his community in many different ways, such as 
substituting decent and good housing for shacks in blighted areas and 
providing homes for the elderly. He expanded and improve the 
infrastructure of the city. Every municipal service, including police 
protection and fire-fighting, improved under his leadership.
  He loved to be kidded about ``Gardiner's Lake.'' A short time after 
he became mayor, a body of water was named for him. For generation 
after generation in Tuscumbia, every time a big rain came, a deep dip 
in Cave Street near the football stadium would become flooded with 
water that made traffic impassable for several days. Many of his 
friends kidded him about this body of water and jokingly named it 
``Gardiner's Lake.'' He vowed to eliminate this, and he soon did with 
superb drainage engineering. He made many other vast improvements to 
his city during his years as mayor.
  He made mistakes like all of us do. At one point, he was persuaded to 
carry out an urban renewal program in the center of the city. Parking 
was substantially reduced, water fountains and pools were established, 
and a beautification project was created with a fish pond and series of 
flag poles at the Palace drugstore corner. Some wag soon labeled this 
project ``Three Flags 
[[Page S3375]] Over Palace.'' There were so many complaints about the 
loss of parking, the program was soon abandoned. Bill wasn't alone, 
however, because many mayors had the same unpleasant experience with 
urban renewal projects.
  His year and a half as president of the Alabama League of 
Municipalities was a period he really cherished. He had sincere 
affection for mayors and councilmen from all over the State and they 
loved him in return. When he become my chief of staff, he renewed his 
closeness with the Alabama League of Municipalities and would come to 
Washington with Municipal groups for conferences with the National 
League of Cities. He was always in attendance at the State conventions 
of the Alabama League of Municipalities.
  Bill and I went through many campaigns together. He was my campaign 
manager in my election for chief justice and my three elections for 
U.S. Senate. No one could ever hope to have a greater friend. In the 
words of the 66th Psalm, ``We went through fire and through water.'' He 
was like a brother to me. His service as my chief of staff was superb. 
He was my eyes and ears in Alabama. I will indeed miss his outstanding 
judgment and motivation.
  Bill spent approximately 35 years in public service, either as a 
public official or as my chief of staff.
  He loved his friends and was always loyal to them. We know that loyal 
people themselves inspire loyalty among others, and Bill leaves behind 
many who were loyal to him. A great many of them were present at his 
funeral on February 23, 1995 at the First United Methodist Church in 
Tuscumbia. Those who attended, as well as many others who could not, 
were a testament to the kind of man that he was and to the kind of 
persons which he surrounded himself and depended on.
  At the visitation the night before the funeral thousands of people 
came to the funeral home to express their affection to his family and 
pay their respects to him. People were lined up for blocks to get into 
the funeral home. Members of my staff who were there told me they 
waited in line for 2 hours in order to speak to his family. In the line 
were people from every walk of life, including farmers, garbage truck 
drivers, street cleaners, policemen, bankers, and government officials.
  He was a fine family man. He loved to attend family reunions. He 
would tell me well in advance of a family reunion, ``Now mark that 
period down because I will be gone.'' He would gather at family 
reunions with members of his family who had grown up in Farley, AL and 
reflect upon their younger days, imparting to the younger members of 
the family a spirit of unity and a desire to be of help to everyone.
  He was completely devoted to his wonderful wife Betsy and their 
children, and he always put them first and foremost in his thoughts. 
Betsy's understanding always helped Bill in so many ways. She seemed to 
always know the right thing to say and do at the right time. She knew 
how to bring out the best in him. I firmly believe that his wonderful 
trait of loyalty was reinforced by her own loyalty to him. As his 
grandchildren grow and learn more about their ``Big Daddy,'' they will 
be very proud of him.
  At his funeral, as we said goodbye to Bill Gardiner, many of us were 
wondering silently how we would get along without him. We will really 
never find anyone to take his place. But we must persevere and be 
guided by his spirit of being always faithful. After all, that funeral 
was just as much a celebration of the life of a wonderful friend and 
family man who was an inspiration to all who knew him. We are all 
better because Bill Gardiner came our way.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the Senate made a mistake today in 
rejecting the balanced budget amendment. But make no mistake, that 
issue will be before the Senate before very long again. In failing by a 
single vote, the Senate rejected the overwhelming demand of the 
American people, as expressed in last November's election, that we need 
to exercise restraint in a constitutional context to live within our 
means. Today, on the motion for reconsideration entered by the majority 
leader, the procedural posture is now established so that the Senate 
can take up the issue again at any time.
  It is my prediction that the American people will respond to today's 
vote by a forceful declaration to the 34 Senators who voted against the 
balanced budget amendment that the American people want the balanced 
budget amendment passed. The procedure of the Senate is such that, if 
any one of those 34 Senators changes his or her mind, the amendment may 
be brought again to the floor of the Senate on short notice, giving 
Senators an opportunity to be present so all may express themselves, 
and the amendment could be passed.
  So my request, my plea to the American people, is to let your 
representatives, your U.S. Senators, the Senators who represent you in 
the U.S. Senate, know what your feelings are. A number of the Senators 
had been expected to vote in favor of the balanced budget amendment 
based upon prior votes or upon prior statements. I do not challenge in 
any way, shape, or form the good faith of any Senator who voted, in any 
respect, in any way. But there were six Senators who had previously 
voted in favor of the amendment and today voted against it. Those six 
Senators previously expressed themselves forcefully in favor of the 
principles of the balanced budget amendment, suggesting at least some 
indication of a favorable disposition. It is my thought that if their 
constituents express themselves, that there may well be a change of 
heart. Beyond that, there are 20 other U.S. Senators who might be 
persuaded to have a shift of position, based upon the will of the 
American people.
  I do believe the principle behind the balanced budget amendment is 
sound. I do not say so lightly, because changing the Constitution of 
the United States is a very major act. But it has been demonstrated 
that not only the Congress of the United States, but the people of the 
United States, need a discipline to have a framework which requires us 
to live within our means. Every State has to live within its means--
every county, every city, and every individual. If you and I do not 
live within our means, we wind up in a bankruptcy court. Within the 
context of the need for economy, constituents now come to us--and I am 
sure you, Mr. President, have had the same response in your State of 
Oklahoma as I have in my State of Pennsylvania--people are no longer 
asking for increases or even cost-of-living adjustments. But in many 
cases, they are saying, ``Do not make the cut too big.'' In other 
cases, they are saying, ``Do not zero out the program all the way in 
this year.''
  I think that mental attitude is very important. I think this 
amendment would have been a good thing for America, to have that kind 
of discipline imposed.
  Mr. President, in the absence of any other Senator in the Chamber, I 
ask unanimous consent I may proceed up to 10 minutes for the purpose of 
introducing legislation.
  THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania is so 
recognized.
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Specter pertaining to the introduction of S. 488 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. INHOFE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gorton). The Senator from Oklahoma.

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