[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S669-S670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S669]]



        COMMENDING AND THANKING THE HONORABLE WARREN CHRISTOPHER

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 
4, submitted earlier today by Senators Conrad, Dorgan, Dodd, Biden, 
Moseley-Braun and Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 4) commending and 
     thanking the Honorable Warren Christopher for his exemplary 
     service as Secretary of State.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the concurrent resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a great American 
on the occasion of his retirement from Government service, the Hon. 
Warren Christopher.
  Anyone who has been reading the headlines for the past 4 years is 
well familiar with Secretary Christopher's many accomplishments. 
Through negotiations on ending the war in Bosnia, restoring elected 
government in Haiti, and advancing the peace process in the Middle 
East, Secretary Christopher has kept a steady, reliable hand on the 
ship of state. His calm demeanor, good humor, and sharp intelligence 
will be missed by all who knew him. America has benefitted from his 
able leadership, and it is my hope that he will continue to be active 
in the affairs of our Nation in his retirement.
  Less widely known than Secretary Christopher's negotiating acumen is 
the fact that he hails from my home State, the Great State of North 
Dakota. Born in Scranton, Secretary Christopher has made proud a State 
which prides itself on hard work, quiet strength, and doing the right 
thing. Secretary Christopher is one of my State's most distinguished 
natives sons, and will always have a home in North Dakota.
  In light of his many important achievements, today I am introducing a 
resolution which commends and thanks Secretary Christopher for his 
excellent service to the Nation. The resolution highlights his 
``indefatigable commitment to advancing peace and justice, protecting 
and promoting United States interests, and preserving United States 
leadership in international affairs.'' I trust that all of my 
colleagues will agree that Secretary Christopher deserves to be so 
honored, and will support my resolution.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, earlier today on the third day of the 105th 
Congress, we cast a historic ballot--on behalf of the first woman to be 
confirmed as Secretary of State in our Nation's proud history.
  But, as we prepare to usher in Madeleine Albright as America's new 
Secretary of State, I wanted to take this opportunity to voice my 
strong support for the pending resolution that honors the man whose 
shoes she will soon be filling--Warren Christopher.
  Over the past 4 years, Warren Christopher provided the steadying hand 
and reservoir of experience that helped President Clinton successfully 
weave his way through the minefield of international diplomacy.
  Through these efforts, he earned a revered statute--as the elder 
statesman of the President's Cabinet.
  In the more than 200-year history of our Republic, no Secretary of 
State traveled more miles in the pursuit of democracy, open markets, 
and the promotion of American international interests than Warren 
Christopher. From Beijing to Buenos Aires, Johannesburg to Jakarta, and 
Mali to Moscow, no journey was too far and no effort unworthy of his 
personal diplomacy.
  In the Middle East, his diplomatic endeavors paved the way for the 
first steps toward reconciliation and cooperation in the age-old 
conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
  Generations from now, Bosnians, Serbs, and Croats will look back with 
fondness and appreciation at his tireless efforts to bring the warring 
parties together at Dayton. In fact, at Dayton, after the bags were 
packed and the participants had all but given up, it was Warren 
Christopher who convinced all sides that a peaceful resolution was the 
only true hope for the Balkans.
  Under his watch, the Haitian people were able to finally cast off the 
evils of dictatorship for the fruits of democracy. The Korean Peninsula 
took its first tentative steps toward limiting the development of 
nuclear weapons and curbing tensions in one of the cold war's last 
hotspots.
  What's more, over the past 4 years--with the strong support of Warren 
Christopher and the Clinton administration, democracy spread its wings 
across every corner of the globe.
  Today in Latin America every nation but one is a full-fledged 
democracy. In Russia, 70 years of totalitarian rule are giving way to 
free elections and open markets. And in Africa, a region scarred for so 
long by war, famine, and political instability, the seeds of democracy 
are beginning to take root.
  However, for all the accomplishments that Warren Christopher achieved 
overseas, we must not forget the impact of his impressive contributions 
here at home. Besides helping to make America more secure and 
protecting our vital national interests, Warren Christopher presided 
over a period of great economic liberalization--a period that brought 
greater prosperity and limitless economic opportunity to millions of 
Americans.
  Secretary Christopher built on the passage of NAFTA and GATT by 
working to create a framework for regional-wide trading blocs in all of 
Latin America and the Pacific rim. The result is increased 
opportunities for export, and new developing markets for American 
commerce.
  But, most of all, Warren Christopher brought a quiet dignity, grace, 
and gentle demeanor to his role as Secretary of State.
  At a time when public debate in our Nation is becoming coarser and 
more partisan, when style seems to take precedent over substance and 
when shrill voices garner more attention than quiet deliberation, 
Warren Christopher proved that you can still speak softly, yet carry a 
big stick.
  A recent editorial in his hometown Los Angeles Times by Tom Plate 
describes the traits that define Warren Christopher best:

       Extreme loyalty to friends and colleagues; a faith in the 
     institutions of government and the Constitution; respect for 
     careerists in the State Department as well as on his personal 
     staff; discretion approaching squareness.

  These are the attributes that inspired him through four Democratic 
administrations and years of public service. What's more, they are 
virtues that every American should expect from their leaders.
  As he prepares to return to his beloved California with his wife, 
Marie, to spend more time with his children and grandchildren, I join 
all my colleagues in wishing him the best.
  What's more, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution honoring a man who in all his travels--from the Great Plains 
of Scranton, ND, to the corridors of power in Foggy Bottom--never lost 
his sense of dignity, grace, and conviction to principle.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, and the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 4) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                             S. Con. Res. 4

       Whereas Secretary Warren Christopher served as Secretary of 
     State from 1993 until 1997, and maintained the tradition of 
     that Office by representing the international interests of 
     the United States with great dignity, grace, and ability;
       Whereas Secretary Christopher, during his tenure as 
     Secretary of State, engaged in more international travel than 
     any other Secretary of State in United States history, 
     reflecting his indefatigable commitment to advancing peace 
     and justice, protecting and promoting United States 
     interests, and preserving United States leadership in 
     international affairs;
       Whereas Secretary Christopher has played a key leadership 
     role in United States foreign policy achievements, including 
     ending the war in Bosnia, restoring an elected government in 
     Haiti, and advancing peace in the Middle East;
       Whereas Secretary Christopher served with distinction as 
     Deputy Secretary of State from 1977 until 1981 and, among his 
     accomplishments as Deputy Secretary, is credited with 
     skillfully negotiating the release of American hostages in 
     Iran;

[[Page S670]]

       Whereas Secretary Christopher has had a distinguished 
     career in law and public service in California;
       Whereas Secretary Christopher, born in Scranton, North 
     Dakota, is one of North Dakota's most distinguished native 
     sons and has always displayed the quiet strength and work 
     ethic associated with the people of the Great Plains;
       Whereas in 1997 Secretary Christopher leaves his position 
     as the 63d Secretary of State; and
       Whereas Secretary Christopher has earned the respect and 
     admiration of Congress and the American people: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress commends and thanks the Honorable 
     Warren Christopher for his exemplary diplomatic service, and 
     for his skillful and indefatigable efforts to advance peace 
     and justice around the world.

                          ____________________