[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A DARK CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Hayworth] is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the time this morning, 
and I in many ways endorse what the preceding speaker, the gentlewoman 
from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] had to say. I was listening with 
great interest this morning to my fellow newcomer, the gentlewoman from 
Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee], and indeed at the outset of her remarks I 
would endorse fully that no one, no one in this Chamber, would ever 
endorse the acts of violence, the unspeakable acts against those in 
Oklahoma City.
  History points a way for us, it compels us, it offers lessons, and at 
this juncture in human history, at this juncture in the history of this 
proud Republic, I believe it is important for all of us to remember the 
admonition of that great and good man, Dwight David Eisenhower, who led 
the most powerful army ever assembled in the free world against the 
most onerous and evil regime in human history. Eisenhower, when he 
stepped onto the beach at Normandy following the waves of invasion, 
noted that it was impossible to walk a step without stepping on dead or 
decaying human flesh, such was the magnitude of destruction there, and 
yet following the war's completion and the restoration of peace, when 
Dwight Eisenhower answered a clarion call to serve this Republic as its 
Chief Executive, he made some very valid points regarding political 
battles. To paraphrase Ike, he said, ``Always believe the best of your 
political adversaries. Always assume that they, too, want what is best 
for the American people and yet move in a different direction under a 
different philosophy to bring about their desired results.''
  I think those words are incredibly important for us to remember as we 
again come into this Chamber, the site of so much of our history. Let 
us note once again that good people may agree to disagree. Let us not 
impugn the motives of those duly elected by their respective districts 
to offer a point of view as we move to achieve a consensus. But by the 
same token, and perhaps it is somewhat ironic because, after all, the 
political process is the vehicle which brings us here. Let us never 
confuse dissent with hatred. Let us never politicize such a tragic 
event as the one that occurred in Oklahoma City in hopes of increasing 
our number for either side of the aisle. Let us truly join together in 
debate that is, yes, oft times contentious, but always with the 
knowledge of the inherent wisdom of what Dwight Eisenhower said, that 
good people may disagree.
  And I noted with some concern this morning the seeming implication 
that there was silence from this side, that there was an endorsement of 
violence, and, if I mistook the remarks, then I would stand corrected. 
But let us all avoid the temptation to politicize this dark chapter in 
American history, and let those who are working amidst the rubble in 
Oklahoma City to rebuild lives, to revitalize their community, let them 
stand as an example to the overwhelming goodness that is ours in this 
constitutional republic.
  To the people of Oklahoma City and to the people of the United States 
of America, Mr. Speaker, I say, Let us rejoice in this process of 
representative democracy that allows us to peacefully state our 
differences.


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