[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to honor one of 
New Jersey's favorite sons, and one of America's great personalities 
who will be celebrating his 80th birthday today: Frank Sinatra. Mr. 
Sinatra hails from Hoboken, New Jersey and we are proud to call him one 
of our own.
  Mr. President, Frank Sinatra is one of the most recognized and 
revered artists in the world, admired not only for his unique style, 
but for his ability to reach people on a distinctly personal level. As 
a musician and actor, Mr. Sinatra has distinguished himself as one of 
the most notable figures in the history of entertainment.
  For more than five decades, Frank Sinatra has charmed people all over 
the world with his exceptional, distinctive voice. He began his 
impressive career in New Jersey, when he won an amateur singing 
concert. A few years later, he was the featured vocalist with the bands 
of Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. It was not long before Mr. Sinatra 
began to embark on a solo career.
  The sounds of Frank Sinatra played throughout the country while the 
Second World War was being fought abroad. Although he was unable to 
join the Armed Services, he was able to help the servicemen by 
entertaining them with his voice, known as the ``Voice That Thrilled 
Millions.''
  Frank Sinatra made his acting debut in 1943, and he then went on to 
appear in more than 50 motion pictures, among them, ``The Manchurian 
Candidate,'' a classic thriller reflecting his versatility as an actor, 
``The House I Live In,'' a sensitive documentary for which he received 
a special Oscar, and ``From Here to Eternity,'' the 1953 motion picture 
which brought him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  Today, Frank Sinatra maintains that same high visibility by singing 
and performing throughout the United States and the world. Over the 
years, he has received countless awards that attest to the greatness of 
his multifaceted career, including seven Grammies, a Peabody, an Emmy 
and an Oscar.
  Aside from his performing brilliance, Mr. President, Frank Sinatra 
should be recognized for his many selfless contributions. He played a 
key role in raising money for an AIDS program and a center for abused 
children during a special program taped last month in honor of his 
Eightieth Birthday Celebration. He also has earned awards for his 
humanitarian and social justice efforts, including; the Life 
Achievement Award from the NAACP, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts 
and Sciences' Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom.
  Mr. President, we are fortunate that Frank Sinatra's music will live 
on forever, for he is truly one of a kind. His voice penetrated the 
hearts of many, and changed the face of popular music in 20th Century 
America. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Frank Sinatra 
on this monumentous occasion and wish him continued success in the 
future.

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