[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12254-S12256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              SENATOR NUNN

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, as Sam Nunn leaves this institution, he is 
going to be leaving a very, very large hole. He is a person of special 
integrity, intelligence, and independence.
  When I came to the Senate in 1979, I was assigned to the same three 
committees on which Sam Nunn served, and I have been with him on those 
three committees ever since: Armed Services, Governmental Affairs, and 
Small Business.
  In Sam Nunn's 24 years of public service as a Senator, he has 
compiled an extraordinary legislative record. He has had a major 
influence on national security issues, he has cast over 10,000 votes, 
and he has established a rock-solid standard for bipartisanship that is 
the envy of his colleagues.
  As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sam was a passionate 
advocate for a bipartisan approach to foreign policy, and as a Senator 
from Michigan, I can see the spirit of one of Michigan's great 
Senators, Arthur Vandenberg, reflected in Sam Nunn's approach.
  Mr. President, I want to describe a few of the key defense and 
foreign policy issues on which Sam Nunn was the leader, and for which 
he will undoubtedly be remembered. He was the godfather of the 
Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, more often known as 
``Goldwater-Nichols''. This seminal piece of legislation helped the 
Pentagon to organize our military forces in a very effective manner 
that emphasizes the central role of the theater commanders--the 
commanders who actually command our forces in war--as well as the 
critical need for our military services to work together jointly as a 
single team to accomplish their missions.
  Our military has often been commended for their extraordinary 
performance in the Persian Gulf war, and rightly so. But we should also 
recognize that it was the Goldwater-Nichols legislation that Sam Nunn 
helped put in place which assured our military was properly organized 
and prepared for that war. Sam Nunn has worked tirelessly to assure 
that the idea of joint cooperation that makes our military so effective 
is now ingrained as a core value throughout the military. For this, our 
Nation owes him a debt of gratitude.
  Sam Nunn took a deep interest in United States-Soviet relations and 
NATO-Warsaw Pact relations during the last decade of the cold war, and 
helped to ensure that this dangerous ideological confrontation ended 
peacefully. He recognized the unique opportunity to turn this moment of 
history into a positive benefit for United States and international 
security.
  After the end of the cold war, Sam Nunn saw clearly that our security 
was enhanced by the political developments in Eastern Europe and the 
former Soviet Union. He helped assure that we seized the opportunity to 
help the emerging democracies in Europe, and to foster democratization 
and stability. Perhaps the most concrete evidence of his efforts is the 
Nunn-Lugar program for cooperative threat reduction. This landmark 
legislation took advantage of the opening in United States-Russian 
relations and has advanced our security in a major way.
  Sam Nunn helped put into practice what now seems common sense: It is 
easier, cheaper, and more effective to cooperate with the former Soviet 
Union to reduce threats to each other than it is to seek security by 
mutual threat. The Nunn-Lugar program has permitted the elimination of 
hundreds of former Soviet nuclear weapons that used to be pointed at 
us, and has been instrumental in helping make three former Soviet 
Republics nuclear-free. That is a real, tangible reduction to the 
threat from former Soviet nuclear weapons. The Nunn-Lugar program is 
still in progress and still improving our security.

[[Page S12255]]

  Sam Nunn has also been an unequalled leader on preserving the 
security benefits of the United States-Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile 
[ABM] Treaty, which has permitted the United States and former Soviet 
Union to reduce our nuclear forces significantly since the mid-1980's, 
including the START I and START II Treaties. When fully implemented, 
these two treaties will reduce former Soviet nuclear weapons by two-
thirds from the level at the beginning of the 1990's. Thousands of 
nuclear weapons are being dismantled and will never threaten the United 
States again.
  So it is crucial that we not undermine the ABM Treaty, because that 
was, and still is, the foundation upon which these critical nuclear 
weapon reductions are taking place. Sam has had to defend and preserve 
the ABM Treaty against many opponents, whether they sought to 
reinterpret its provisions, to undermine it or to kill it outright. 
Fortunately for our Nation, he has done an extraordinary job.
  Sam Nunn has focused on the future threats to our Nation, as well as 
the cold war threats he helped to reduce so effectively, and has come 
up with very pragmatic and constructive steps to address those threats. 
Starting last year, he led the Governmental Affairs Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations on a rigorous examination of the threat 
of chemical, biological and nuclear terrorism, and our national 
preparedness to meet that threat.
  He chaired a series of more than five hearings that demonstrated the 
seriousness of the threat of terrorists using weapons of mass 
destruction, and the fact that we are simply not prepared to handle 
such a crisis. Imagine if the World Trade Center bombing had been a 
chemical weapon attack.
  Taking the chilling evidence from these hearings, Senator Nunn 
initiated new legislation designed to reduce the risk of such terrorism 
and to improve our defenses against such potential attacks. He joined 
forces with Senator Lugar again, his partner from the original Nunn-
Lugar program, and Senator Domenici to sponsor legislation that was 
supported without a single opposing vote in the Senate. That is the 
kind of bipartisan support that Sam Nunn commands. This legislation is 
a badly needed step toward reducing the threat of terrorists using 
weapons of mass destruction against our Nation.
  And finally, Mr. President, we should remember that when the 
situation in Haiti was reaching a crisis point, and the military 
leaders were reluctant to step down, it was Sam Nunn who personally 
went to Haiti, with Jimmy Carter and Colin Powell, to convince the 
Haitian military leaders to turn over power peacefully to Aristide. And 
although he succeeded in his mission, it was at some personal risk 
because while he was still negotiating with the Haitian military, our 
military planes were already on their way to Haiti to launch a military 
operation to force the military to step aside and return Aristide to 
power.
  There was no guarantee that Senator Nunn would not be caught in the 
middle of a fight and, along with former President Carter and 
former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, be exposed 
to the risk of violence and chaos. So in the interest of pursuing 
stability and a peaceful transition of Government in Haiti, Sam Nunn 
was willing to put himself at considerable personal risk. In the end, 
he helped avert the need for a forceable U.S. military operation, which 
undoubtedly saved lives of U.S. military personnel.

  Although not every Member agreed with him--or each other--on every 
issue, he was the undisputed master at bringing us together in 
agreement on bipartisan Defense bills.
  As my colleagues on the committee will recount, this was rarely an 
easy feat. We were wrestling with some of the most controversial, 
consequential, and complicated legislation of the last decade. And yet, 
through it all, year after year, Sam Nunn crafted bipartisan Defense 
authorization bills that promoted our Nation's security and our Armed 
Forces.
  It is often difficult to stand up against the majority of one's own 
party, but Sam Nunn did this when he felt it was necessary to advance 
the cause of American security. He stood in the same shoes that Richard 
Russell filled so well. And were Richard Russell here today, he would 
say to Sam Nunn, ``Well done, American patriot. You have faithfully 
served your country, America is stronger and the world is safer because 
you came along.''
  I also want to thank Senator Nunn for his very kind words the other 
day about our service together on the Armed Services Committee and the 
Governmental Affairs Committee. In his remarks he referred to the times 
in conference on the DOD bill when he would deputize me to resolve a 
House-Senate dispute. He was complimenting me on usually getting a 
reasonable outcome for the Senate position. What he was too modest to 
reveal, was that it wasn't my talent that got results. I would go into 
those meetings at Nunn's request and when the going got rough, I would 
force the agreement by threatening to bring in Sam.
  I also had the good fortune to work with Senator Nunn on the 
Governmental Affairs Committee. As chairman and ranking Democrat on the 
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Sam Nunn has left his stamp 
on major investigations. Under Nunn's leadership PSI, as we call it, 
disclosed massive management problems and wasteful spending in health 
insurance companies; the serious and unresolved threats to our Nation 
as a result of insecure computer systems in DOD, other Federal agencies 
and private companies; the threats of black market trading of nuclear 
materials; vulnerabilities of our student loan programs, and a host of 
law enforcement challenges and problems. He has been a dogged 
investigator.
  Sam and his wife, Colleen, will now begin a new chapter in their 
lives and hopefully will get some well-deserved time to themselves and 
with their family. All of us have come to rely on him on so many 
national security issues. We will surely miss the opportunity, when we 
come to the floor to vote on an amendment related to foreign policy or 
national security to look for Sam to find out what his position is on 
the issue. His strong legacy will require us in the future to consider 
the factors he would have weighed, were he still with us, before we 
vote on issues that are important to the security of our Nation.


                              senator pell

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, Senator Pell leaves us this year after 36 
years of service in the U.S. Senate. Only Senator Strom Thurmond and 
Senator Robert Byrd have served longer. Senator Pell has served with 
distinction on both the Foreign Relations Committee and the Labor 
Committee. Thousands of young people are in his debt as they move 
through college because of the availability of Pell grants.
  In this current culture of negativism and attack ads, Senator Pell 
stands out as a man of civility and gentleness. He has a wonderful 
inability to say anything unkind or negative about a fellow human 
being. He is determined to be positive about his own views and never to 
attack another Member. He has helped to maintain the Senate as a family 
institution with bipartisanship, particularly in foreign policy, as an 
overriding goal.
  I have also been able to personally observe his belief in and support 
for multinational organizations as a way to move to a more peaceful 
world and as a way to avoid America's becoming the world's policeman.
  I have had the privilege of traveling with Senator Pell to the 
farthest reaches of the world--including Tibet. And I know him to be a 
thoughtful, spiritual, caring man. His kindness and gentle ways will be 
deeply missed by this body as he and Nuala take a well-deserved rest.


                            senator johnston

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the Senate will lose an intelligent, 
capable, shrewd--and I use that term with respect and admiration--
Member with the retirement of Bennett Johnston. I have been with 
Bennett and opposed to Bennett and I can tell you it's much more 
comfortable to be with Bennett.
  Twenty-four years of service in the Senate have made Bennett one of 
the most experienced legislators in this body. He is a man of can-do 
spirit and one who approaches every problem with a how-to-fix-it 
attitude. I had the opportunity to work with Bennett this Congress on 
regulatory reform. He sat on the floor day after day while that 
legislation was pending taking on every problem, delving into every 
issue, trying to craft solutions to get

[[Page S12256]]

the legislation moving. He was dedicated to his task and willing to put 
in whatever time and effort it required. His ability to work long and 
hard was exceptional.
  We didn't succeed on that legislation, but it wasn't for want of 
effort. The stars weren't aligned right to reach a final product. But 
in working with Bennett Johnston on that legislation and several 
Congress' ago on similar legislation which was called the Johnston 
amendment, I was and continue to be impressed with Bennett's 
willingness to listen to ideas and concerns and work as hard as anyone 
to address the problem. He's been a notable addition to the U.S. 
Senate.


                             senator brown

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, Hank Brown would be a welcome member in any 
organization or effort. He is thoughtful, kind, and honest. He is 
earnest in his concern for a Government that works, and he takes on the 
issues in which he believes.
  To bridge the differences between the parties and develop bipartisan 
approaches to difficult problems, the Senate needs more Members like 
Hank Brown. He leaves the Senate after only one term. A strong 
supporter of term limits, Hank has lived by his creed. He has done so 
in many other ways and leaves with the respect of every Member of this 
body.


                          senator sheila frahm

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, we have had a very short time to come to 
know Senator Sheila Frahm. Just this past June, she was appointed by 
Governor Bill Graves of Kansas to serve the remainder of Senator Dole's 
term. Joining the Senate in midterm is a very difficult thing to do. 
Committees are in the midst of their work, the Senate is considering 
bills every day which have already had hearings and been reported by 
the various committees, and the requirements of representing a State, 
its interests, and most importantly, its citizens in the U.S. Senate is 
a big job which cannot await on-the-job training. Senator Frahm quickly 
impressed all of her colleagues with her seriousness of purpose, her 
energy, and her grace in meeting this difficult task.
  I served with Senator Frahm on the Armed Services Committee where she 
was attentive to the complex issues of national security. She 
established herself immediately as a hard worker who recognizes the 
importance of our Nation's defense and the well-being of our Armed 
Forces.
  Although we have just begun to know Sheila Frahm, I know my 
colleagues join me in saying that we will miss her friendly smile and 
her commonsense approach to the issues before us.


                            senator hatfield

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, finally, it is with a mixed heart that I 
say goodbye to Senator Mark Hatfield--mixed, because I am sad for the 
loss to the Senate and the people of this Nation but glad for Mark as 
he approaches a time of much-deserved rest and rejuvenation.
  As one of the most powerful Members of the Senate, chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Senator Hatfield has set a standard of 
humility and decency that few have matched. He has been able to wield 
great power without vanity. Indeed, he has shown us that power can be 
exercised with grace and genuine compassion.
  A World War II veteran, one who fought at Iwo Jima and entered 
Hiroshima shortly after the bomb, Senator Hatfield has dedicated his 
life to peace. His legacy is that of a legislative hero--bringing an 
end to nuclear weapons testing, protecting the valuable wilderness 
areas of his home State of Oregon, fighting for refugees across the 
globe, and opposing needless but expensive weapons like the MX missile.
  I've had two opportunities to work with Senator Hatfield in the last 
few years. We have both had the privilege to serve on the FDR Memorial 
Commission, and we have worked together on legislation to allow for 
greater flexibility in the implementation of Federal categorical grant 
programs. In both cases, Mr. President, I have been able to observe 
Senator Hatfield's skill in and commitment to achieving bipartisan 
solutions to problems. His role on the FDR Commission has been so 
valuable that we were able to amend the statute creating the Commission 
in order to allow him to continue to serve in the year after he leaves 
the Senate and so he can be present at the dedication next year as 
cochairman of the Commission. But for him and Dan Inouye, our other 
cochairman, the FDR Memorial would still be in the planning stage.
  Mr. President, Senator Hatfield has been a fighter for the 
underrepresented, for the compassionate use of the power of the Federal 
Government, and for greater efficiency and effectiveness. I 
congratulate him on his most distinguished record of public service. We 
will deeply miss his good judgment, his expertise, his decades of 
experience, his wisdom, and his commitment to making Government work 
for all the people, but most of all, his gentle manner.
  I thank the Chair and my colleagues, and yield the floor.
  Mr. SPECTER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed in 
morning business for up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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