[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FAREWELL TO SENATOR MARK HATFIELD

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in the time that we have, prior to the 
time the majority leader comes back to the floor, I have a couple of 
statements that I would like to make with regard to two very respected 
colleagues.
  Mr. President, in the study of political courage, ``Profiles in 
Courage'', Senator John F. Kennedy observed that ``in the United States 
of America, where brother once fought against brother, we do not judge 
a man's bravery under fire by examining the banner under which he 
fought.''
  With this in mind, I say farewell to a Senator who has been a study 
in political courage, the Senior Senator from Oregon, Mark Hatfield.
  His has, indeed, been a career of bold stands. From his early days in 
the Senate, when he cosponsored legislation to limit American's 
involvement in the war in Vietnam, to his votes on the Persian Gulf 
war, to his recent vote against the balance budget constitutional 
amendment, Senator Hatfield has consistently taken independent, 
courageous stands.
  I have not always with him. But that is not the issue.
  The issue is the courage each Senator shows in taking a stand for a 
principle he or she holds dear. The willingness to place principle 
above politics. The country over one individual career.
  Indeed, Mr. President, Senator Hatfield's entire life has been one of 
courage, responsibility, devotion to country. As a young naval officer 
in World War II, he saw battle at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and was one of 
the first Americans to enter the rubble of what was left of Hiroshima 
following the atomic bombing.
  His deep aversion to weaponry and war following World War II led him 
to cast the lone dissenting vote on resolution at the 1965 and 1966 
National Governor's Conferences supporting President Johnson's policies 
in Vietnam. And it lead him to sponsor legislation, like the Nuclear 
Freeze Resolution, to half the nuclear arms race.
  He became the youngest Secretary of State in Oregon's history, the 
State's first two-term Governor in the 20th century, and the longest 
serving Senator in the history of his State.
  While serving in the Senate for nearly three decades, Senator 
Hatfield has never allowed himself to be confined to or consumed by 
institutional duties, as he has maintained a life outside this Chamber. 
As a former political science professor and dean of students, for 
example, he has retained his intellectual interests and pursuits. This 
includes authoring three books and authoring four others.
  But I also point out that Senator Hatfield's career in public service 
has been one of cooperation and reconciliation, as well as hard, 
tenacious work. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he 
has earned the respect and admiration of Senate Democrats and Senate 
gains like Senator Robert Byrd.
  He has struggled to maintain that delicate balance between protecting 
the precious, beautiful environment of his home State, while preserving 
the economic viability of Oregon's industries.
  His efforts have obviously been recognized and appreciated by the 
people of his home State. In four decades in Oregon politics, he has 
never lost an election.
  In announcing his retirement, Senator Hatfield spoke of the one great 
sacrifice of having served five terms in the Senate--``30 years of 
voluntary separation from the State'' he loves. Now, as he says, it is 
``time to come home to Oregon.'' I wish him and his wife, Antoinette, 
peace and prosperity in returning home. I can only say that the 
Senate's loss is Oregon's gain.

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