[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 89 (Friday, May 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7648-S7649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MARGARET CHASE SMITH

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. President, recently Senator Margaret Chase Smith 
suffered a severe stroke and is now in critical condition at her home 
in Maine. I just want to take a few moments to express my deep regret 
over this recent turn of events and to spend a few moments talking 
about Senator Margaret Chase Smith.
  I think as the Senator from Alaska knows, and virtually all the 
Members of this Chamber know, Senator Smith served with distinction in 
the Senate from 1949 to 1973 in the seat I now occupy. Directly before 
that she served four terms in the U.S. House of 
Representatives. [[Page S7649]] 
  Many in this Chamber know of this wonderful woman's accomplishments. 
She was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for 
President by a major political party; she cast an impressive 2,941 
consecutive roll call votes; she delivered her famous Declaration of 
Conscious speech in 1950 criticizing Senator Joseph McCarthy and his 
stormtrooper tactics in exposing suspected communists.
  During her Declaration of Conscience speech, Senator Smith remarked 
that Senator McCarthy's investigation was playing on Americans' worst 
fears and was chipping away at the soul of the country. She said the 
Senator and his supporters were parceling away individual freedoms and 
liberties in the name of a fight that history has proved to be 
wrongheaded. In that speech, she noted,

       Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in 
     making character assassinations are all too frequently those 
     who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic 
     principles of Americanism--The right to criticize; the right 
     to hold unpopular beliefs; the right to protest; the right of 
     independent thought. The exercise of these rights should not 
     cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right 
     to a livelihood nor should he be in danger of losing his 
     reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know 
     someone who holds unpopular beliefs.

  To understand the significance of the speech, and the courage of the 
woman who delivered it, we must remember the times during which it was 
delivered. These were days when it would have been easy to join the 
crowd--days when many were barking at every shadow, challenging and 
accusing anyone who disagreed with popular opinion as being disloyal. 
It was a phenomenon we have not seen since in American politics. It was 
not simply a group or a movement or a passing fad--it was a tidal wave 
of hatred and suspicion that engulfed many of the supposedly thoughtful 
politicians of the day.
  There have been many occasions when I also invoke the name of Joan 
Benoit. Joan Benoit, who hails from Maine, was the great marathon 
runner. Many of us can recall that moment when she broke out in that 
marathon, and she began so fast she moved away out ahead of the crowd 
and every one of the commentators said, ``She can never maintain that 
pace. She will fall behind.''
  To the astonishment of virtually everyone who watched that historic 
event, she not only maintained the pace but she continued it throughout 
the entire marathon race.
  Throughout her career, Margaret Chase Smith has set her own pace, 
charted her own course, ignored her critics and never looked back at 
those who followed far behind her leadership. She has known the glory 
and loneliness, I should say, of the long distance runner.
  When thinking of Senator Smith, I am reminded of an ancient proverb 
that says, ``When drinking water, don't forget those who dug the 
well.''
  Americans are, by nature, a forward-looking people. But, as the 
proverb suggests, we should also pay tribute to those who have gone 
before us, those who have paved the way for us and for future 
generations. We should remember those who have dug the well. Margaret 
Chase Smith dug the well for me and for many Maine politicians.
  Senator Smith has also remained politically active following her 
retirement from the Senate. With the Senator's support, the Margaret 
Chase Smith Center for Public Policy was created in 1989 to serve as a 
nonpartisan public service organization at the University of Maine. 
Through the center, university students and other scholars study public 
policy and work to improve the quality of dialog on policy issues. It 
has greatly enhanced the study of politics at the University of Maine, 
and it is a fine testament to the impact that Senator Smith had on 
Maine and the country.
  In America, every person stands equal before the law, but in 
politics, the aristocracy of talent is supreme. Maine can rightfully 
take pride in the fact that Margaret Chase Smith has stood at the top 
of that aristocracy.
  I thank the Chair and Senator Dole for yielding this time.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.

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