[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE CENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, on June 22, 1996, there was a celebration 
which was held in Detroit to mark the 100th anniversary of the 
automobile.
  And what a celebration it was.
  There was a parade with hundreds of cars that reflected the 
development of automotive production--from the 13 identical vehicles 
produced by the Duryea Bros. in Springfield, MA, and in June of the 
same year, the miraculous machine that Henry Ford drove amidst the 
horse and buggies in Detroit.
  There followed a centennial gala. Thousands from all walks of life 
connected with the modern American automobile gathered to take note of 
the revolutionary impact of the automobile on daily life, its key role 
in the American economy, and its growth into a global industry.
  The guiding spirit of the centennial, Keith Crain, presided over the 
gala's program. His remarks set the tone for the entire evening. They 
should be widely read, so it is my pleasure to place in the 
Congressional Record the speech given that evening by Keith Crain, 
chairman of the board of trustees of the American Automobile Centennial 
Commission and vice chairman of Crain Communications, Inc.

   Introductory Remarks at the American Automobile Centennial Dinner

                            (By Keith Crain)

       Good evening, it's my very pleasant duty to welcome you to 
     Detroit, and this gala dinner, honoring 100 years of the 
     American automobile industry.
       As so many of you know, automobile production was bred, but 
     not born, in Detroit.
       The Duryea Brothers manufactured 13 identical motor-wagons 
     in 1896, according that honor to Springfield, Massachusetts.
       But it was also in June of that same year, at a site within 
     walking distance of this Cobo Center that Henry Ford first 
     drove what he called a quadri-cycle around the horse and 
     buggy streets of this city and Detroit and the motor car 
     became forever linked in history, and in the collective 
     consciousness of people all around the world.
       Tonight we celebrate the American automobile, and the 
     heroic accomplishments of an industry whose business became 
     the business of the century, the business of America.
       We celebrate not only the history and lore of that amazing 
     industry this evening, but a victory of ideas, of national 
     will, of genius and muscle, of sweat, and blood, a victory of 
     men and women and organizations and corporations who bent the 
     way of living of an entire planet, in much the same way they 
     bent the steel, that they molded into the vehicles of the 
     world's dreams.
       It was my friend and publisher, Leon Mandel, who said, ``It 
     is important to understand how important the automobile has 
     been to our development as a country, whether we like the way 
     we developed or not.''
       I think I speak for those of us in this room tonight, and 
     for millions and millions more around a country connected by 
     highways from coast to coast, in saying that we very much 
     like the way America has developed over the past 100 years, 
     and we thank the American automobile industry for giving us 
     mobility and freedom and speed, and for making wheels the 
     pivotal symbol of the 20th century.
       The names of those responsible for this watershed 
     accomplishment in the social evolution of mankind, are 
     forever inscribed in the hearts of auto lovers. To list but a 
     few is to risk omitting so many, but listen to the history, 
     and the magic, those names inspire, Henry and Edsel Ford and 
     the Duryea Brothers, Billy Durant, Walter Chrysler, Randson 
     E. Olds, Maxim, Pope, Nash, Leland, the Dodge Brothers, 
     Packard, Marmon, Studebaker, Willys, Thomas, Jeffery, Pierce, 
     Stanley, Flanders, Chapin, Kettering, Sloan, Earl, Reuther.
       We salute these pioneers, and so many of their fellows--
     past and present--in our centennial observation tonight. And 
     among them, the name Walter Reuther. For it cannot be 
     forgotten, that the American automobile industry was forged 
     not just by celebrated men with revered names, but built 
     vehicle by vehicle, on the muscle and strength, the will and, 
     yes, the courage, of those that toiled in their shops.
       It has been a wonderful business, developed by and nurtured 
     by engineering geniuses, great designers, marketing 
     powerhouses, manufacturing marvels and financial wizards.
       That this business, our business, still exists and thrives 
     today, is testimony to the greatness of the American idea, 
     and testimony to the contributions of all those--known and 
     unknown--that have sustained it for these 100 years.
       In honoring this most American of enterprises, we must also 
     take time this evening, to welcome and acknowledge our 
     friends from overseas who join us here at the Cobo Center in 
     this great celebration. There can be no question, that the 
     global competition of the past quarter century, has been the 
     most positive development in recent auto history. The buying 
     public, the customer and the vehicles they purchase, have 
     been the beneficiaries of this competition, and that is the 
     ideal. It harkens back to the rivalries, and the pioneering 
     spirit, of the original days of motor car production.
       Who knows--were it not for this international influence, we 
     might all still be driving 1950 Studebakers.
       So we also salute America's newest manufacturers, and we 
     thank them for their contributions to this century of growth, 
     and for joining us tonight.
       And finally, on a local note, we hope you out-of-towners 
     will forgive us some parochial pride this evening in crowing 
     about our motor capital of the world, this arsenal of 
     democracy, this Detroit. Yes, it might have been Cleveland, 
     it could have been Flint or Auburn, but to our town's 
     everlasting credit and fame, it was Detroit.
       And so we welcome you to a celebration that is both 
     international and local at once, this 100th anniversary of 
     the industry that has shaped America, and all of our lives. 
     We thank those whose efforts over the decades have made this 
     evening possible, those who have gone before us, and those 
     who sustain this wonderful and world-changing business today. 
     And we thank you in attendance, for joining us tonight in our 
     centennial salute to the epic history, of the American 
     automobile.


                                 TOAST

       I'd like to propose a toast to the men and women who have 
     made the motor car in America, to the industry that has 
     changed all our lives, to a blessed and magical 100 years, 
     and to another 100 years that will rival the achievements of 
     the first.
       And finally, to the cars themselves, and the favorites we 
     hold in our hearts; it's been a wonderful ride.

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