[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10904-S10905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      REMARKS OF THE HONORABLE JOHN DALTON, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

 Mr. DODD, Mr. President, I want to take a moment to draw the 
attention of my colleagues to some very eloquent and pertinent words 
recently delivered by the Secretary of the Navy John Dalton in my home 
State of Connecticut.
  The text I am about to insert in the Congressional Record is the 
speech delivered by Secretary Oalton at the christening of the first 
Seawolf submarine on June 24, 1995, in Groton, CT. I believe it speaks 
volumes about our country and our future.
  Therefore, I now ask that the text be printed in the Record and I 
commend it to my colleagues.
  The text follows:

                       For Our Children's Freedom

       Thank you admiral Boorda for those very gracious and warm 
     comments. And thank you even more for everything you said 
     about Margaret. Let me say that I agree with every word.
       One of my great privileges as Secretary of the Navy is to 
     name ships and appoint sponsors of those ships. It is a 
     responsibility I take very seriously. I chose a very special 
     lady to be the sponsor of this most special ship.
       Let me give you an example of what kind of sponsor Margaret 
     will be. She knew that today would be a day filled with such 
     activity that she wouldn't be able to meet every member of 
     the crew, and she wanted to know every member of the Seawolf 
     crew.
       So last week she got up in the middle of the night and 
     caught the 4:30AM train to Groton and spent the day and 
     evening with the Sailors of this ship. She will be your 
     sponsor and champion for the life of this ship over the next 
     thirty-five years.
       It is said that a ship is imbued with the spirit of its 
     sponsor and that indeed is a blessing for Seawolf. Through 
     the course of its life this ship will have many fine 
     commanding officers, and many outstanding Sailors in its 
     crew. But throughout the life of this ship their will be but 
     one sponsor. Seawolf and the United States Navy are very 
     fortunate to have Margaret.
       This is indeed a historic day, and I want to thank everyone 
     who is here, I am told there is some twelve to thirteen 
     thousand strong in number. I would lie to make each and 
     everyone of you an honorary Seawolf sailor.
       I am also very proud to have some people who are special to 
     me here today. It is rare that I have the opportunity to have 
     close members of my family around, but my sons John Jr. and 
     Chris are here today. I would like for them to please stand. 
     My brother and my sister, Margaret's brother and her parents. 
     We have lots of family and friends from Louisiana, Texas, 
     Arkansas and Virginia. I would like for all of you to stand 
     and be recognized.
       Obviously, Margaret and I are very proud to be here. . . .  
     But not simply because of the honor of participating in the 
     christening of this submarine--the finest submarine in the 
     world. . . .  Not simply to applaud the men and women of the 
     shipbuilding trades here at Electric Boat and the many 
     contractors who contribute to the building of this ship. . . 
     . Not just to honor the brave officers and sailors who will 
     serve through the life of this vessel. But to also take an 
     opportunity to recognize why we are building this submarine 
     and why we need to build more.
       A number of years ago, a public official--entrusted with 
     the best interests of the citizens of his nation--reflected 
     his personal judgement and the common wisdom with the 
     following words:
       ``There is no excuse for [building] submarines . . . So far 
     as naval armament is concerned, it will not be long until 
     [we] recognize that the torpedo is obsolescent; the submarine 
     out of date; and the seaplane of so limited utility that 
     expenditure [should] not 

[[Page S 10905]]
     be enlarged by any useless absurdities as air-craft carriers . . .''
       Historians record that quite a few people applauded that 
     particular speech. In fact, it was published in the most 
     prestigious journal of the day. And why shouldn't those words 
     have been applauded and accepted? Most nations of the world 
     were at peace. An ``evil empire'' had been previously 
     defeated. There was no apparent threat. Government was moving 
     to reduce its budget. There were more important social and 
     economic challenges. Freedom was a given.
       Ten years later, a crisis threatened that nation and the 
     entire world. . . . A crisis of such magnitude that many 
     apparently wise men chose to sacrifice their very principles 
     to avoid war, a war they were unprepared to fight.
       Well, war came anyway--perhaps even sooner because of their 
     lack of readiness . . . their lack of such ``absurdities'' as 
     enough capable submarines or aircraft carriers. The war broke 
     with a fury that destroyed their budget plans, their economic 
     strength, their position of world leadership, and the very 
     lives of a great many of the citizens of that democratic 
     nation--whose freedom was ultimately saved through the 
     intervention of its Allies.
       When that war ended, fifty years ago this year . . . the 
     men and women of that nation--and many nations--would 
     somberly ask themselves: ``why were we so unprepared?''
       I am talking, of course, about World War Two . . . the war 
     our parents or grandparents had to fight. The public official 
     who made those unfortunate remarks belonged to one of our 
     Allies. But there were many in the United States who had 
     echoed the same
      sentiments for the same reasons. The irony is that the 
     submarine and the aircraft carrier--absurd and expensive 
     in the perspective of their critics--were the two weapons 
     that proved most effective in winning the naval war.
       Today, we face a situation not to much unlike the past. A 
     few years ago we won a war--a Cold War to be sure--but one 
     that nevertheless required a great deal of military 
     expenditure. We are now in the process of reducing our budget 
     deficit and tackling many challenges--economic and social--
     that are very worthy of our attention. There is no longer a 
     threat of global war. Many nations--though not all--are at 
     peace. Freedom seems secure. And like their predecessors, 
     some people think they can predict the future.
       I don't claim to predict the future. And I am not, by 
     training, a professional historian. But I do know what 
     history teaches. I do know that freedom is not free--it is 
     purchase by heroism and sacrifice in war, and by good 
     judgment and preparedness in peace. In a high-tech world . . 
     . the world of today . . . it is purchased by remaining 
     first-rate in technology and innovation.
       Having served as a naval officer and a submariner, I know 
     what it is like to go down to the sea--to face potential 
     enemies--in the most capable ship, and what it is like to go 
     down in a ship that would be considered second rate.
       As Secretary of the Navy, I am committed to ensuring that 
     the tools we give our Sailors and Marines--that their lives 
     depend on--remain first rate.
       As a businessmen, I know false economy when I see it.
       And as a citizen, with two fine sons--and maybe to be 
     blessed someday with grandchildren--I am not willing to 
     gamble their future, their freedom on the chance that there 
     will be no war, or that, if it comes, we will be suddenly 
     able to build tomorrow what some proposed to throw away 
     today.
       How do you preserve freedom? Do you preserve it by letting 
     an entire industry go out of business in the name of false 
     economy? Do you preserve it by allowing partisan politics to 
     blind your judgement? Do you do it by giving a pink slip to 
     men and women who have labored for many years to produce the 
     finest tools for our defense? Do you do it by creating 
     monopolies in the name of competition? Do you do it by 
     declaring new technology unnecessary . . . and the status quo 
     ``good enough.''
       You know that's not how you preserve freedom. We all know 
     that. So why are some ready to sacrifice an entire defense 
     industry and are willing to throw away hundreds of millions 
     of dollars to stop building capable submarines? How much 
     would we pay to start building them again when the next 
     crisis comes?
       This Seawolf is the finest submarine in the world. It will 
     regain the American lead in quietness and stealth. The second 
     Seawolf will be better still. And the third Seawolf which we 
     need will be the bridge that preserves this industry to build 
     a more affordable, littoral warfare-oriented New Attack 
     Submarine.
       You can't get across a chasm without a bridge. There is a 
     chasm in our defense industrial strength. If Congress does 
     not authorize and fund the third Seawolf, the depth of this 
     chasm will not simply be measured in lost jobs . . . or 
     dollars wasted in higher overhead and contracting fees . . . 
     but in the potential breakup of a defense industry that has 
     always served our best interest in preserving the peace. I 
     shudder at the thought that someday historians will say: the 
     United States was once the best builder of submarines.
       I do not predict that a global crisis is coming. I do not 
     claim that we are in danger today. I hate war. Every night 
     before I sleep, I pray that war never again occurs. I pray 
     that throughout their lifetimes, my sons will be blessed with 
     the gift of peace. But I know that--to paraphrase President 
     John F. Kennedy--God's work on earth must truly be our own. 
     We are the ones who are responsible for peace. We are the 
     ones who are responsible for freedom. The steps that we take 
     today will be the ones that may determine the freedom of our 
     children.
       The builders of this submarine . . . this mighty Seawolf . 
     . . are a national treasure in knowledge and skills. The 
     nuclear submarine-building industry represents an investment 
     we have spent over forty years to develop. We are gambling 
     with a national treasure if we do not take steps to preserve 
     it. That's why I want to take this opportunity to ask each 
     one of you in the audience--and all Americans--to urge 
     Congress to fund the third and final Seawolf as a bridge to 
     the submarine capabilities we will need in the future.
       Just before I left Washington to come to this ceremony, I 
     received a letter that I would like to read to you. The 
     letter is dated 22 June.
       ``Greetings to all those gathered for the christening of 
     Seawolf.
       Seawolf will strengthen and sustain the invaluable 
     contributions the Navy makes to America's leadership in 
     global affairs. Ready for any contingency, her combat power, 
     mobility, and flexibility will help to promote the cause of 
     liberty and protect our national security. This fine 
     submarine will stand as a reminder of our steadfast 
     commitment to maintaining a democratic world for the 
     generations to come.
       As we celebrate the christening of Seawolf, I want to 
     reemphasize my continuing support for the completion of the 
     third and final Seawolf-class submarine SSN-23. The Armed 
     Forces of the United States and our civilian defense 
     industries share an effective partnership; proceeding with 
     the construction of SSN-23 is the most cost-effective method 
     of retaining the vitality of these industries while bridging 
     the gap to the future New Attack Submarine.
       On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank those who 
     design and build the Seawolf submarines, as well as those who 
     will serve in them. Best wishes for a wonderful ceremony.''
       The letter is signed by President Bill Clinton.
       This is a wonderful occasion--this christening of a 
     Seawolf-class submarine. This is a great day for Margaret and 
     me, for the United States Navy, for all America. But--as 
     President Clinton says--we need to do it twice more--not once 
     more--if we are to guarantee that--as concerns the deterrence 
     of global war . . . as concerns war undersea or elsewhere--
     there will always be great days of peace, and freedom from 
     fear, for our children.
       No one can predict the future. But we can prepare. To stay 
     prepared, America requires a healthy nuclear submarine-
     building industry. Our Commander-in-Chief knows that. And 
     Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, the Chairman of the Joint 
     Chiefs, the CNO, these distinguished members of Congress and 
     I are convinced of that. We are convinced that we need to 
     build a third Seawolf to preserve this industry's health. And 
     to preserve this vital resource . . . to let everyone know 
     the real risks we take by gambling it away for false economy. 
     To reply to those who say a third Seawolf is not necessary, 
     to those who oppose our submarine program--my response is the 
     words of our founding father, John Paul Jones, ``We have not 
     yet begun to fight.''
       Thank you very much. God bless you.
       

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