[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1108-E1109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                JOE PETERSON: TEACHER, SCHOLAR, VOLUNTEER

                                 ______


                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 23, 1995
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, in these days when we hear too many voices 
ask ``What's in it for me?'' It is always refreshing to hear of those 
who freely donate their time and efforts for the good of their fellow 
citizens--in other words, volunteers.
  Volunteers can be found in every community. They are both male and 
female, of all races and faiths. They come from all walks of life and 
from all economic strata, and they range in age from elementary 
students to senior citizens. However, these volunteers all have one 
attribute in common: they ask for no compensation other than the good 
feeling they got from helping their fellow citizens.
  One such volunteer is Joseph Peterson, of Carlton, MN in my 
congressional district. Mr. Peterson is an amateur scholar in American 
history, particularly in the history of the Presidency. He is an 
amateur in the root sense of the word: he is a true lover of his chosen 
field of study.
  Like all volunteers, Mr. Peterson does not hide his light under a 
bushel. He happily shares his knowledge of our Government and our 
Presidents with schools, churches, social groups, and libraries in 
Carlton County and throughout Minnesota. A democratic society relies on 
an educated electorate, and Joseph Peterson is one man in one American 
community who is doing what he can to inform, educate, and stimulate 
interest in our democratic process.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like at this time to share with you and my 
colleagues a newspaper article about Mr. Peterson from the Cloquet 
Journal and a sampling of the letters I have received recognizing his 
activities in the community. I'm sure you will join me in recognizing 
the importance of this volunteer's contribution to our society.
                  [From the Cloquet Minnesota Journal]

                   Presidential Buff Continues Hobby

                           (By Wendy Rockvam)

       February is the month the nation traditionally honors its 
     presidents. For one Cloquet resident, however, Presidents' 
     Day is a year-round observance.
       Joe Peterson, a presidential history buff whose pursuits 
     have taken him to President Bush's State of the Union Address 
     and President Clinton's Inauguration, has been interested in 
     the lives of the presidents since he was in second grade. 
     During that year, President Kennedy was assassinated, and 
     Peterson put together a detailed report on it for his class 
     at school. His teacher gave his efforts high praise, and thus 
     began a lifetime interest in the presidential office and 
     those who have held it.
       Peterson's hobby has involved an extensive amount of 
     reading and study as well as a vast amount of correspondence. 
     He has received Christmas cards, birthday cards, and 
     autographed photos of several presidents, and he is 
     constantly on the lookout for presidential memorabilia of all 
     sorts.
       Peterson said he tries to view presidents as people rather 
     than political figures and finds them all fascinating in 
     their own respect. His personal favorites are Pierce (``He 
     kept the same cabinet for all four years of his presidency'') 
     and Polk (``He was the only Speaker of the House to go on to 
     become President'').
       He is also a collector of presidential trivia.
       ``For example,'' he asked ``did you know that there are 
     only three states--Ohio, Nebraska, and Hawaii--that actually 
     recognize all the presidents on President's Day? All the 
     others honor only Washington and Lincoln.''
       ``Another thing I've uncovered that most people don't 
     know,'' he said, ``is the fact that no left-handed president 
     has ever been re-elected to office. President Clinton, by the 
     way, is left handed. . . .''
                                                                    ____

                                                  Billy Graham

                                     Evangelistic Association,

                                                  Minneapolis, MN.
       For many years Joe has researched and studied about our 
     United States Presidents [[Page E1109]] and collected 
     memorabilia which he has displayed at various functions. He 
     prepared a small display here for our employees one 
     President's Day as well as another on the July 4 Independence 
     Day.
       He is an unusual man who has done a service to others by 
     reminding us of our government, our freedom and our history 
     in this special way.
       I hope you will be able to give him an opportunity to again 
     show his collection.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Doris A. Horton,
     Director, Human Resources.
                                                                    ____

                                 Washington Elementary School,

                                                      Cloquet, MN.
       I have known Joe Peterson for over ten years and during 
     that time he has worked on a history of Washington Elementary 
     School, talked in our Grade 4 classrooms on state symbols for 
     Minnesota Day, and visited various classrooms discussing our 
     presidents. His drive and enthusiasm are self evident in his 
     thorough presentations.
           Respectfully,
                                                       T.M. Walsh,
     Principal, Washington Elementary School.
                                                                    ____

                                 Our Savior's Lutheran Church,

                                                      Cloquet, MN.
       Joe has done extensive work in researching the lives and 
     accomplishments of our presidents. He deserves recognition.
       Joe Peterson has also done much valuable work with the 
     history of our congregation. He has articulate knowledge 
     about each of the pastors, significant congregational 
     members, and specific dates. He has also helped considerably 
     in this work in the history of other congregations. He has 
     put much time and effort into all of the above.
           Sincerely,
                                                Dennis C. Morreim,
     Senior Pastor.
                                                                    ____

                                   Cloquet Co-op Credit Union,

                                                       Cloquet MN.
       In our community, Joe has become quite a historian and was 
     recognized just one week ago in our local newspaper for the 
     historical work that he has done. Joe does outstanding work 
     and is highly committed to the endeavor of becoming an expert 
     on our past presidents. I write this letter to you on behalf 
     of Joe Peterson and should you have any questions as to his 
     reputation or work ethic, please by all means feel free to be 
     in touch with me.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Del D. Prevost,
     President.
                                                                    ____



                            Carlton County Historical Society,

                                                      Cloquet, MN.
       Joe has been a member of our Society for a long time. He 
     has done research on the presidents and other sources.
       We have all gotten along very well with Joe and he is 
     always willing to pass on help when he can.
           Sincerely,
     Fern M. Olson.
     Kathleen Monson.
                                                                    ____

       I have known Joe Peterson for about five years. He is a 
     very nice young fellow, ambitious and always willing to give 
     a helping hand.
       He gave several programs at the senior center about the 
     presidents. It was very moving to hear him talk about them. 
     He knows where and when they were born, about their history 
     and backgrounds. Then, a couple of months later, he put on 
     one about their wives, which was very interesting also.
       He's put on programs at several other places, too.
       He is a very smart young fellow and well liked by everyone.
                                                Violet I. Lomprey.
                                                Duluth, Minnesota.
     

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