[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11957-S11958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO THE JUDGE

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to add my voice to those of my 
colleagues in paying tribute to our distinguished and venerable 
colleague, the Judge, Senator Howell Heflin.
  I've had the great honor to serve--and here on the floor of the 
Senate, to sit alongside the Judge from Alabama--throughout my entire 
tenure as a U.S. Senator.
  Mr. President, Howell Heflin brought integrity, character, virtue and 
his folksy Southern humor to a body that is often devoid of such 
characteristics. What's more, his life has been consistently marked by 
a constant, single-minded devotion to public service and the love of 
his country.
  During WWII, like many of his contemporaries, he answered the call of 
his Nation and enlisted in the Marine Corps. In the process, he became 
a bonafide war hero.
  Lt. Howell Heflin joined in the initial assault to liberate the 
island of Guam from its Japanese occupiers. He was wounded twice and 
spent considerable time recovering in stateside hospitals. For his 
bravery, he was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star.

[[Page S11958]]

  After the War, Senator Heflin became a trial lawyer in his native 
Alabama, which began his career-long fascination and devotion to the 
law. In 1970, he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, where 
he received the moniker that many know him by in this body--Judge 
Heflin.
  That nickname describes well his tenure here in the U.S. Senate and 
provides context to the issues he championed as a Senator.
  As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he brought an 
unparalleled understanding of the judicial process and judicial 
interpretation to the Senate. Judge Heflin was instrumental in 
improving our Federal courts, and he worked tirelessly to improve and 
reform our Nation's judicial system.
  Howell Heflin also brought his wealth of legal knowledge to his role 
as chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. While largely a thankless 
and sometimes tedious position, he never shirked his responsibilities 
to his colleagues and to the reputation and integrity of the Senate.
  Most of all though, Howell Heflin was always looking out for the 
people of Alabama. Not surprisingly he's been dubbed the ``Spokesman 
for Southern Agriculture'' for his unwavering and vigilant support for 
Alabama's rich agricultural heritage.
  While often tagged as a conservative Democrat, he displayed the 
fervor of many a New Deal Democrat when he came to the Senate floor to 
speak passionately about issues that directly affected his 
constituents--from rural electrification, Federal crop insurance, the 
peanut subsidy program to the space station and civil rights 
legislation.
  But, most of all Howell Heflin brought a sense of quiet dignity and 
tolerance to this body. When he announced his retirement from the 
Senate, he spoke with great fervor about the need for a new level of 
political discourse and conduct in our Nation.
  He said: ``We must set a new course in this Congress and across the 
land--a course of moderation, tolerance, responsibility and 
compassion.'' These words epitomized Howell Heflin's service in this 
body, and in my view they are the essence of what service in the U.S. 
Senate is all about.
  This place will not quite be the same without Howell Heflin's 
indomitable presence, his deep Southern drawl and and his wonderful 
sense of humor. They will not easily be replaced.
  But for every Member of this body there comes a time to move on and 
embrace new challenges and new goals. That time has come for the Judge. 
I wish Howell and his wife ``Mike'' best wishes in their retirement and 
all their future endeavors.

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