[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1037-S1038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. WILLIAM J. PERRY

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and to 
pay respect to Dr. William Perry for his distinguished service as the 
19th Secretary of Defense. From his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on 
March 5, 1993, until his retirement on January 24, 1997, Dr. Perry has 
successfully faced many challenges as he has advised the President and 
the Congress through the difficult and ever-changing post-cold war era. 
Clearly, he was the right man at the right time.
  Bill Perry brought to the Office of the Secretary of Defense a deep 
intellect, sound judgment, and a patient but effective leadership 
style. It is no surprise to me, and I am sure to others that know Bill 
Perry, how quickly he endeared himself to our men and women in uniform. 
His genuine concern for our service members has been the hallmark of 
his tenure as Secretary of Defense. Indeed, his initiatives in the area 
of quality-of-life have truly made a difference, and will serve as a 
fitting legacy of his exemplary service.
  I have known Bill Perry for many years. I have had the opportunity to 
work with him during his service in both the Government and the private 
sector. As he returns once again to the private sector, I look forward 
to continuing our relationship and I wish him and his family all the 
best.
  Mr. President, I ask that the eloquent remarks that Dr. Perry gave 
during his farewell ceremony be printed in the Record.
  The remarks follow:

       Farewell Address by William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense

     I shall be telling this with a sigh.
     Somewhere ages and ages hence.
     Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
     I took the one less traveled by.
     And that has made all the difference.
                                                   --Robert Frost.

       Four years ago, America faced a choice; a choice between 
     two roads that diverged. One road led to isolation and 
     apathy, the other road, to engagement and action. This 
     century has taught us that the road of isolation and apathy 
     leads to instability and war.
       President Clinton chose the road of engagement and action. 
     He strove to bridge the Cold War chasms; to reduce its 
     nuclear legacy; to reach out to former adversaries, to 
     prevent the conditions for conflict, and to create the 
     conditions for peace. And that, as Robert Frost has said, has 
     made all the difference.
       It has made all the difference in Europe, where, by 
     establishing the Partnership for Peace we have replaced an 
     Iron Curtain which divided the nations of Europe with a 
     circle of security which brings them together.
       It has made all the difference in our own hemisphere, where 
     all nations, save one, have chosen democracy, and by 
     establishing the Defense Ministerial of Americas we have 
     forged new links of trust and cooperation.
       It has made all the difference in the Asia Pacific, where 
     by establishing a Framework Agreement we froze the North 
     Korean nuclear program and prevented a nuclear arms race; and 
     where, by strengthening the Security Agreement with Japan, we 
     have ensured America's security presence--the oxygen that 
     fuels the region's prosperity.
       Choosing the right road has made all the difference around 
     the world. By executing the Nunn-Lugar program, we have 
     dismantled 4,000 nuclear weapons that once targeted America's 
     cities. Today, the threat of nuclear holocaust no longer 
     hangs like a dark cloud over the heads of our children.
       Four years ago, the Department of Defense faced a choice. 
     One road was well-traveled and easy to follow, but it would 
     have allowed our forces to atrophy as we completed the post-
     Cold War draw down. The other road was less traveled by, 
     twisting and bumpy with hard choices--hard choices to ensure 
     that we had strong capable military forces ready to respond 
     in a world of new dangers.
       Twice before in this century when faced with that same 
     choice, we chose the well-traveled road of neglect. And we 
     paid the price--in Korea with Task Force Smith, and after 
     Vietnam with a Hollow Army. This time we chose the road less-
     traveled by--the road of readiness. We established training 
     as our highest priority. Training designed to make the 
     scrimmage tougher than the game. We established the iron 
     logic that quality of life for our forces meant quality 
     people in our forces. We reformed our acquisition system to 
     give our quality people the most effective technology. 
     Technology that enables them to dominate the battlefield; 
     to win quickly, decisively, and with minimum losses. And 
     that has made all the difference.
       It made all the difference wherever we sent our forces to 
     prevent, deter, or defeat aggression. In Haiti, where we 
     restored democracy. In the Arabian Gulf, where we contained a 
     brutal dictator. In the Korean Peninsula, where we stood firm 
     with an ally. In Bosnia, where we have stopped the killing 
     and brought to a war-ravaged people the blessings of peace. 
     The readiness road ensured the success of each of these 
     missions. Readiness made all the difference.
       Four years ago, I faced a personal choice between a well-
     traveled road to a quieter life, centered around family and 
     friends; and a less-traveled road that led to turmoil, 
     tension, and tough decisions. But it also led to an 
     opportunity to serve our nation, to support the troops I 
     cared for, and to achieve the dreams I cherished.
       I thought long and hard upon that choice and took counsel 
     from sage friends. I questioned my wisdom, my patience and my 
     ability to endure. But the courage to meet the test came from 
     the advice of a tough sergeant major: ``Take care of the 
     troops,'' he said, ``and they will take care of you.''
       I have followed that advice, and that, for me, has made all 
     the difference.
       It made all the difference every time I advised the 
     President on when and how to use military force. It made all 
     the difference when I negotiated with ministerial colleagues, 
     when I met with Presidents and Kings. It made all the 
     difference when I decided on force levels, mission goals and 
     rules of engagement every time we put our troops in harm's 
     way. It made all the difference when I met with soldiers, 
     sailors, airmen and marines, in distant lands, on domestic 
     bases, on training fields, ships at sea, in cargo

[[Page S1038]]

     planes, or fighter jets. It made all the difference when I 
     shared Thanksgiving meals with them in Haiti, in Macedonia, 
     in Bosnia.
       That advice--``Take care of the troops, and they will take 
     care of you''--has made all the difference as I learned from 
     my mistakes, as I took pride in my achievements.
       Today I say farewell to the President who honored me by 
     asking me to serve as Secretary. I say farewell to my 
     colleagues in the administration who worked with me to 
     achieve common goals. I say farewell to my friends in the 
     media, and in the Congress, and to the wonderful friends I 
     have made in the embassies.
       And I say farewell to our military leaders who have served 
     our country so brilliantly. They have prepared our forces for 
     war, but they are dedicated to peace. Elie Wiesel has said, 
     ``Peace is not God's gift to mankind. It is our gift to each 
     other.'' And for the last four years peace is the gift we 
     have given the American people.
       But the hardest farewell to say is to the troops who have 
     served me and whom I have served. Words cannot adequately 
     describe my pride in you. So my farewell to you is a simple 
     benediction:

     May the Lord bless you and keep you.
     May the Lord cause His face to shine upon you,
     and give you peace.

                          ____________________