[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            EDMUND S. MUSKIE

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, during a speech in the 1968 Presidential 
campaign, Senator Edmund Muskie, who was the Democrat nominee for Vice 
President, told his audience, ``you have the God-given right to kick 
the Government around--don't hesitate to do so.''
  That remark was pure Ed Muskie. Blunt. To the point. And leaving no 
doubt that Americans should expect the best of their public officials.
  And the best is just what the people of Maine and America received 
from Ed Muskie during a public service career that spanned five 
decades.
  Along with all Senators, I join today in mourning the death of Ed 
Muskie, who passed away here in Washington early this morning.
  The son of a Polish immigrant, Ed Muskie grew up knowing about the 
blessings of freedom and democracy, and he spent a life time standing 
up for those blessings, beginning with serving for 3 years in the 
Atlantic and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters in World War II.
  After the war, he returned to his beloved Maine, and soon began his 
political career as a Democrat in a State that for over a century had 
rarely elected anybody but Republicans.
  Ed Muskie changed all that. During his 6 years in the State house of 
representatives, his 4 years as Governor, and his 21 years in the U.S. 
Senate, Ed Muskie's intelligence and integrity changed the voting 
habits of Maine--many of whom called themselves Muskie Republicans.
  Ed's years in the Senate were highlighted by his service as the first 
chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. I was proud to be on that 
committee with him at that time. In that role, Ed took some criticism 
from those of his party who believed he was too tough in his opposition 
to increased spending.
  He handled this criticism by saying that America would not get its 
fiscal house in order if we continued to have public servants who--and 
I quote--``talked like Scrooge on the campaign trail, and voted like 
Santa Clause in the Senate.''
  Ed Muskie was a patriot who always answered the call of his Nation. 
He resigned from the Senate when President Carter asked him to serve as 
Secretary of State. And when Ronald Reagan--the man who defeated 
President Carter--asked him to serve on the Tower Commission, Ed was 
there, as well.
  Mr. President, the State of Maine and America are better because of 
Ed Muskie's life and career.
  I know all Senators join with me in extending our condolences to his 
family and friends.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want to thank and commend the majority 
leader for these comments. I join in the feeling which he has spoken so 
very eloquently about.
  I wanted to speak very briefly on Senator Muskie. I do not know 
whether others wanted to speak on this matter, but I have some remarks.
  I ask unanimous consent that we extend our recess time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I thank the leader very much.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I simply wanted to commend the majority 
leader for his comments about the late Senator Muskie. I did not know 
him well. I had met him a number of times. This was an era when there 
is often a caricature created about those involved in public service. 
He represented, I think, what is the best of public service. He was 
smart, tough, strong. He served not only the State of Maine but this 
country with great distinction.
  All of us who had met him, or those of us who had crossed paths with 
him over the years will miss him. We extend our sympathies to the 
Muskie family. I yield the floor.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I join in thanking the majority leader 
for his comments about Senator Muskie, and I would like to express my 
appreciation to others for their comments.
  Ed Muskie was a fellow New Englander, and over his long and 
distinguished career, his friendship for the members of our family and 
for my brothers was very real, ongoing, and based upon our very high 
regard and great respect for Senator Muskie.
  As has been pointed out here in the Senate, he was a Senator's 
Senator. I like to think of him as being the foremost authority on 
preserving the environment. Senator Muskie inherited this extraordinary 
commitment because he represented one of the most beautiful States in 
our country, the State of Maine. He spent a good deal of time on that 
issue as Governor and gave it very special attention in the Senate, 
where he championed the Clean Water Act and other environmental 
reforms. We made great progress in preserving the environment in those 
years, and Ed Muskie deserves the commendation and the gratitude of a 
nation.
  He also took on challenging responsibilities as the first chairman of 
the Budget Committee, in trying to ensure that the Nation acts 
responsibly in its financial affairs. With his extraordinarily gifted 
mind and his ability to analyze and understand complex issues, he was 
able to get at the heart of the problem and master the details of a 
budget in a way which all of us admired and respected. He played an 
enormously important role in trying to put this country on a path 
toward a more sensible and responsible fiscal policy.
  His work as Secretary of State was outstanding as well. His key role 
in the release of the American hostages in Iran was an extraordinary 
diplomatic initiative and achievement. It was when he served as 
Secretary of State that this Nation achieved new heights in the 
preservation of human rights around the world, a cause which he 
championed.
  Many commentators have described Ed Muskie as Lincolnesque. He was 
Lincolnesque in stature and character--a tall, lean man, a towering 
figure, with those piercing eyes and strong features that characterized 
an enormously gifted mind and a backbone of steel and courage.
  He was a great public servant for our time. The people of Maine were 
well served, the Senate was well served, and the country was well 
served in a range of different responsibilities that he undertook.
  Mr. President, I join with those expressing our sense of sorrow and 
loss to his wife Jane and the other members of the Muskie family. We 
will be saying our prayers for Ed Muskie and for his family. I yield 
the floor.

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