[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4789-S4791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SENATOR HOWELL HEFLIN OF ALABAMA

  Mr. KOHL. Thank you very much.
  Mr. President, I would like to take just a minute or two to say a few 
words about our friend, Howell Heflin.
  I was not able to get here earlier when Senator Heflin was on the 
floor. Along with all the many kind things that were said about him, I 
would like to add my own strong feelings of affection for one of the 
finest Members of the U.S. Senate that we have ever had in our country. 
And that is, of course, Howell Heflin who is retiring.
  I have gotten to know Howell very well over the last 6 years. He is a 
man of unquestioned integrity and intelligence. Howell Heflin is a 
person who has the capacity for great friendship and compassion for 
people. He is a person who always has dealt straightforwardly and 
honestly with his colleagues and with his constituents. He is the kind 
of a man that--if we had 100 people like him, this would be an even 
finer institution by far than it is today, and it would be a much 
better country even than we are today.
  He sets an example of all the best things in public service, for his 
constituents in Alabama, and for people all across this country.
 You have been a role model to me, a mentor and a friend. I, along with 
our colleagues, am going to miss you and the qualities that you 
represent as a legislator, as a Senator, and as a human being.

  So along with the rest of us, I send you my respect and my affection 
and, indeed, my love.
  I thank the Chair.
  Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to join my many colleagues in 
paying our profound respect to the judge.
  When I first came to the Senate, I was told to look out for those 
Senators who were colorful, Senators who would always be there to kind 
of give a helping hand when you needed it.
  Howell Heflin and I came to the Senate together, and from the first 
day the chief judge became one of those colorful Senators for most of 
us. He stood out tall in our freshmen Senate class, and now he stands 
even taller as he announces today his intention not to seek another 
term in the Senate.
  That was a sad message for me. For all Members of our Senate class 
who came in with him, his friendship, indeed his wisdom, is something 
we have sought and relied on through these many years.
  I should like to also add that the Heflin family as a whole, his 
lovely wife, who has been an active member, are beloved members of the 
Senate family. When the judge did not have a smile, she would have a 
smile. And I say to my good friend, how fortunate you have been in this 
life of yours of many accomplishments to have had that very strong and 
faithful partner by your side these many years.
  (Mrs. SNOWE assumed the chair.)
  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, as one who was privileged--and I say 
this with a great deal of humility--to have worn the green of the 
Marine Corps, Howell Heflin is indeed one of those unheralded, true 
heroes of the U.S. Marines. He fought in the Pacific. He distinguished 
himself. He was recognized for his heroism, his leadership, his courage 
by the United States of America, and I have always valued those days 
when in the course of the Senate life we had to address issues relating 
to the Marine Corps. Many times have we gone to the Marine Corps to 
attend meetings, to attend breakfasts, the two of us, to always express 
our gratitude to the corps. So I say to my good friend, ``Semper fi.''
  I yield the floor.
  Mrs. BOXER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.
  Mrs. BOXER. Thank you very much, Madam President.
  As Judge Heflin, as we call him, is walking over to Senator Warner to 
shake his hand, I just wanted to add a couple of words.
  If any American did just one or two of the things that Howell Heflin 
has done in his life, that individual would be so blessed--to be a war 
hero, to be a great and respected judge, to be a great U.S. Senator, 
one who has respect from both sides of the aisle and, indeed, 
affection.
  I just want to say to you, Judge Heflin, that you have been my pal 
and my friend, that I have gone to you with the issues that perhaps 
were not in your best interest to support but you always listened to me 
and you always made a judgment that you thought was right for the 
people you represent but also what was the right thing for you to do as 
a human being.
  I just wanted you to know one more thing. I have served in the 
Congress for a long time, in the Senate just a few years, and I 
remember an incident that occurred on the floor when there was an 
amendment brought before this body that on the surface maybe one did 
not understand its true meaning and how much it would impact certain 
people in this country.
  Judge, you voted for that amendment, and then when our friend from 
Illinois came to the floor, Senator Moseley-Braun--I am so happy that 
she is here--and she made the case to the Senate that that amendment 
would really tear apart many of our people and bring back memories that 
haunt them, you stepped back and you led this Senate in its reversal of 
that amendment. You did not think about whether it would make you 
popular or whether you would win that vote, which you did. You led us 
onto the right path.
  Judge, you are a leader, and we will miss you. There are not enough 
people in politics who are willing to take the risks that you have 
taken. God bless you. And myself, I find already that there is a void 
in the Senate just knowing you will not be here in a year and a half. 
But let me tell you, I am going to look forward to working with you in 
the remaining time that we have together in the Senate.
  I yield the floor.
   [[Page S4790]] Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. I thank the Chair.
  Madam President, I rise to associate myself with the remarks of my 
colleagues and to join in saluting Judge Heflin as he is known to all 
of us who have had a chance to work with him. He is truly a beloved 
figure.
  A moment ago, I walked over and gave Judge Heflin a big kiss. Now, I 
do not know if that is the way things have occurred in the Senate over 
time, but the fact is that just as the Senator from California and I 
and the Presiding Officer represent the new Senate, Judge Heflin 
represents the new South, and he has given rise to the kind of 
leadership, the kind of moral force that has lifted up this body 
certainly and, indeed, this entire country. His integrity, his 
intelligence, his commitment and faith in the Constitution of these 
United States, faith in what the American dream has always stood for 
and can be in the future, has led Judge Heflin in a direction that I 
think is without peer and without parallel in this body.
  He has provided constant leadership and always had the time to be 
nice. He has always had the time to listen. He has always had the time 
to take a junior Member under his wing and talk with them about the 
issues, no matter how arcane.
  I remember working with Judge Heflin on the Judiciary Committee and 
going over issues having to do with ALJ's and bankruptcy reform and 
things that really do not rise to the level of the press releases and 
the things that make the news but that are vitally important in the way 
we execute and administer the laws of the United States. He paid 
attention to the details with a sense of the law and history, with a 
sense of the philosophy and the right way to go in such a way as to 
give leadership and guidance to those of us who had just joined this 
august body.
  I can tell you that the Senate is going to miss Judge Heflin. I 
personally am going to miss Judge Heflin. I know the people of Alabama 
are going to miss having Judge Heflin's service in the Senate because, 
if nothing else, he has been an advocate for Alabama like I have never 
known. My mother would have been very proud to know Judge Heflin.
  My mother, by the way, Madam President, was originally from Alabama, 
and I consider myself to be--in fact, it is interesting. Judge Heflin 
is sitting on the floor with the Senator from Louisiana. Together they 
represent my parental ancestral homes, both Louisiana and Alabama.
  But my mother came from Alabama. I used to spend summers there as a 
girl. I grew up on a farm there in the summertime. I have a great love 
for his State.
  But certainly no one has loved Alabama more than Judge Heflin has. He 
has worked for that State. He has worked for the people of that State. 
He has worked to give the people of that State the kind of leadership, 
the kind of guidance, the kind of strong advocacy in this body over 
time.
  I know his service in behalf of the people of Alabama will be greatly 
missed. We will certainly miss him, precisely because he provided the 
moral leadership and really the voice of what the South can be and what 
the South is today. He has provided the leadership in regard to issues 
having to do with race, Madam President, in a way that was always 
consistent, always fair, always straightforward. And he did so with 
courage.
  And I want to end by saying that I think if one thing distinguishes 
Judge Heflin, it is his courage. He stood on this floor about a year 
ago and made probably one of the most eloquent speeches I have every 
heard in my life. He made it from the heart and he made it with great 
courage. It was that courage, I am sure, that the people of Alabama 
recognized when they elected him to serve in this body. He certainly 
has done his best to fulfill the sacred trust that the people of 
Alabama put in him and in so doing he has provided a great service to 
all of the people of the United States.
  He has been a force for good, he has been a force for the light. We 
will all miss him. Even as we all make promises now, Judge, to come 
visit you and see you, the fact of the matter is we are going to miss 
not having you here every day in the next few years. So, farewell in 
that regard, and my salute to you.
  We love you. We cherish you. We cherish what you have done for all of 
us. And we will never, ever forget the tremendous role that you have 
played in leading this country in the right direction.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. CHAFEE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I join in the tributes to Senator 
Heflin. It has been my great privilege to have participated on a couple 
of trips with him and his wife, Mike. He is a wonderful traveling 
companion and a wonderful friend.
  The eloquent remarks that were made by the Senator from Illinois in 
connection with Judge Heflin are certainly true. She mentioned his 
courage. He has not only courage in debate, but he has physical courage 
that was demonstrated by his receiving the Silver Star in World War II 
in the Marine Corps.
  So, Judge, you have not packed your bags yet. You are going to be 
around for a year and a half, so we do not want to say farewell yet. 
But we just want to say what a great treat it has been to have been 
associated with you and with your wife on various occasions. We look 
forward to more of those instances arising in the future. We will 
certainly miss you when you leave.
  Mr. LEVIN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I hate to see Howell Heflin leave the 
U.S. Senate. We came here together. We were classmates. He and his 
wife, Mike, and my wife, Barbara, and I have had an awful lot of good 
times together.
  I do not know of any better mind or any greater heart in the U.S. 
Senate. Howell Heflin's mind is a tremendous instrument of good, of 
balance, of thoughtfulness, and compassion, but of logic.
  His background as a judge brought great wealth to this Senate. We 
have watched him over and over again tackle some of the most difficult 
issues that faced this country and bring to it a judicial temperament, 
a willingness to look at all sides of an issue, and many issues have 
more than just two sides. But we have stood in admiration as we watched 
him analyze an issue.
  And that great mind has been matched by a great heart. Howell Heflin 
has brought dignity and decency to this institution. We all, I think, 
would like to believe that we add a measure of that, but I do not know 
of anybody that has lived up to that requirement of public service that 
we not only bring talent of intellect but that we also bring a human 
decency to the job.
  And so, I am glad for you, Senator Heflin--I have to be formal 
speaking on the floor. Howell, I am glad for you. I am glad for Mike. 
But, I must tell you, I am sad for Barbara and sad for myself. The 
Senate will be poorer. Your life, I know, will go on and you will have 
more time to do things which you so long delayed. But we shall miss you 
terribly. And we will take full advantage of the year and a half left 
that we have of your talent here in the U.S. Senate.
  Mr. SIMPSON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Madam President, there are four of us here on the 
floor--Senator Pressler, Senator Levin, Senator Heflin, and myself. We 
all came here together in the class of 1978.
  Howell Heflin and I were immediately placed on the Judiciary 
Committee. Senator Levin, being more adroit, and Senator Pressler, too, 
managed to escape service there.
  But Howell Heflin and I went to the Judiciary Committee side by side, 
freshmen Senators. And we went immediately to work on the issues that 
always confronted a Judiciary Committee, things like--tough ones--
issues of judges, issues of immigration, issues of civil rights, the 
balanced budget amendment.
  One of the greatest privileges I had was watching this man work on 
the balanced budget amendment, day after day, year after year. The 
first bill out 
[[Page S4791]] of the chute every year was the balanced budget 
amendment. And we were very close and I feel we will get there this 
year. It will largely be a tribute to you, sir, when it occurs, to 
Howell Heflin.
  And always you were supportive and helpful to me. When I would seek 
your counsel, you would give it in a most honest and refreshing way, 
with that extraordinary honesty and integrity that is, sadly enough, 
sometimes lacking, but not always.
  But to me, you were a steady, thoughtful friend and very, very wise. 
I do not know many people who are wise. I know brilliant people. I know 
thoughtful people. I know intelligent people. You are a combination of 
all those things, but you have a wisdom and common sense which is 
enviable.
  And in our travels together, you and I have a great common bond, and 
that is humor; good humor.
  I will miss your no-tie Hawkins stories, but not much. And I will 
share with you the toast to water again, and the great story on 
whiskey, of course, which is memorable in itself.
  But, you and Mike have traveled side by side, as Ann and I have, 
through many years of life. And that remarkable woman at your side is 
one of the most special ones to me and to my wife, Ann.
  So as you go on to new things, knowing that the actual essence of 
your life is your good humor, it reminds me of what my mother said--
that humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of 
life.
  You have lived that way and you have helped us all by just saying, 
``Relax. Settle down. We have a job to do. Don't get swept up in the 
emotion of it.''
  The counsel, the friendship, the trust you gave to me are deeply 
appreciated. We have shared much together. You are a very dear friend 
and we wish you well. Good luck and Godspeed. We will enjoy these many 
months more of working with you on things that will come to pass simply 
because of your presence, and the fact that you have decided to leave 
us will impel us to do things that are left undone that we will get 
done as a tribute to you.
  I thank the Chair.
  Mr. PRESSLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.
  Mr. PRESSLER. Madam President, I join in the tribute to my good 
friend and colleague.
  I recall visiting his home in Tuscumbia, AL, and his lovely wife, 
Mike, receiving us there. I recall serving on the Commerce Committee 
and the Judiciary Committee with him over the years, and I believe we 
have been on a trip or two with some of these delegations.
  So I congratulate him on great service to the United States. It has 
been a pleasure to serve with you. I think you are an example to all of 
us of what a good U.S. Senator is. I wish you all my best.


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