[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 164 (Monday, October 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S15492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CLINTON ANDERSON CENTENNIAL

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, 100 years ago, New Mexico was 17 years 
from becoming a State and Grover Cleveland was in his second term as 
President, the x ray was discovered, and O. Henry, who was a writer of 
great importance in this country, was charged with embezzlement. Also, 
100 years ago was the time that Senator Anderson, Clinton Anderson of 
my home State of New Mexico, was born. Senator Anderson was a man who 
would mean a great deal to this institution, to this country, and to my 
home State of New Mexico.
  Mr. President, 100 years ago today he was born in Centerville, SD. As 
a young man, he contracted tuberculosis and moved to New Mexico for 
treatment of that disease. I should note, Mr. President, that many 
other of my State's distinguished residents did the very same thing. 
The dry air of New Mexico revived more than one set of eastern lungs, 
and Senator Anderson's were among these. He recovered from his illness. 
He worked in journalism. He was active in Democratic politics. He was 
elected to the House of Representatives in 1941, served until 1945, 
when President Truman asked him to become Secretary of Agriculture. In 
1948, he ran for the Senate and came to this body in the famous class 
of 1948 that included Margaret Chase Smith, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert 
Humphrey, Paul Douglas, Russell Long, Robert Kerr, and Estes Kefauver.
  He served for 24 years, creating a very distinguished legislative 
record, as many of his illustrious classmates did.
  One of the finest studies of this outstanding Senator was written by 
Senate historian, Richard Baker, entitled ``Conservation Politics/The 
Senate career of Clinton P. Anderson.'' Dr. Baker perfectly described 
Senator Anderson's technique as a legislator. He said in that book, and 
I quote:

       Anderson saved his shots. He was not accustomed to 
     launching trial balloons. When he spoke, his colleagues 
     listened. When he decided that New Mexico could gain no more 
     by prolonged debate, he settled for the best package 
     available. And when he attached to a legislative measure the 
     full weight of his intellect and prestige, doubting solons 
     set aside their skepticism, and he prevailed.

  Mr. President, however many of us have the honor of representing New 
Mexico in the Senate, Senator Anderson provides a benchmark against 
which we will be measured. I am proud to have known him. My uncle, John 
Bingaman, was active in getting him elected and reelected to the Senate 
and felt when he died we lost a great public servant.
  Today we honor the fact of his birth and the value of his life. For 
us in New Mexico and in the Senate, his are the shoulders we stand on 
as we move into the future.
  Mr. President, I thank you for the chance to speak, and I yield the 
floor.

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