[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, with many of my colleagues, I traveled 
to Lowell, MA, last Thursday for the funeral of our friend, Paul 
Tsongas. He died at age 55. His battles were many, and so were his 
victories. His grace and courage will stand for many of us as beacons 
in our own lives.
  Paul befriended me when I was running for the Senate. His desire to 
spend more time with his family caused him to retire at the close of 
his first term here, and our Senate days overlapped by only a couple of 
years. Still, he was an influence on my life, and certainly on my 
career.
  There is no disagreement that Paul was one of the outstanding sons of 
Massachusetts. The affection for him and grief over his death which we 
all felt at the services are the kinds of emotions reserved for one of 
the family. The people of Massachusetts respected him, and valued what 
he stood for. We all did.
  When he served in the Senate, one of the items in his office was a 
framed quotation from one of John Adams' many letters to his wife, 
Abigail. The Massachusetts College of Art had produced it in January 
1980. I had admired it on visits to Paul's office and when Paul left 
the Senate, he sent it to me, with a handwritten note. I treasure them 
both, and the feeling behind John Adams' words:

       I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty 
     to study mathematics and philosophy * * * in order to give 
     their children a right to study painting, poetry, and music * 
     * * May 12, 1780.

  I believe Paul Tsongas took this message to heart, and that it guided 
much of what he did. The country is fortunate to have had such service 
from such a man.

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