[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1114-S1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMBASSADOR SAMUEL G. WISE, JR.

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to do again something 
I have done many times in the past--to say good things about Sam Wise. 
Sam passed away during the early morning on Tuesday, January 21, 1997, 
after a short illness. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to his wife, 
Mary, and the rest of his family in this most difficult time.
  I first met Sam in 1981, when I came to the Senate as a freshman and 
joined the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is 
better known as the Helsinki Commission. I have worked with him, 
traveled with him, relied upon him, trusted him as a staff member, a 
diplomat, and a friend.
  When I first served as the Helsinki Commission's chairman, in 1985 
and 1986, Sam was already the pillar of wisdom, the font of all 
Commission and CSCE knowledge, and the balance wheel of good judgment 
that kept things under control. At the Vienna CSCE Review Conference, 
which began under my chairmanship, Sam became the deputy head of the 
U.S. delegation, and was awarded the personal rank of Ambassador by the 
President. It was an honor hard-earned and richly deserved.
  With the start of the 105th Congress, the Commission is suddenly and 
sadly lacking Sam's leadership, professionalism, and gravitas. The 
obituary published in the Washington Post on Thursday, January 23, 
1997, summarizes the facts of his life. But it doesn't tell the story 
of the arduous travel, the late nights, the haggling over bracketed 
text, the personal integrity and ex-marine toughness that made seasoned 
diplomats trust him and rely upon him and allowed him to close the deal 
when other people couldn't.
  The measure of his loss will test us. In life, he taught and led, and 
gave of himself unstintingly in the service of his country, and in the 
service of humanity. Retired from the Department of State in 1982, 
after serving with the Commission on detail since 1977, the year after 
the Commission's founding, he had his greatest impact on U.S. policy 
with the Commission. He subsequently served as the Commission's staff 
director, and later as its director of international policy.
  His skillful, steady hand helped guide the Helsinki Accords from a 
contentious and little-known artifact of detente to a living, growing 
international process and organization that has brought much good to 
many people, and has helped build peace, prosperity, and security for 
the United States, our allies, and all of the people of Europe.
  His work with the Commission specifically advanced the cause of human 
rights to its highest level of achievement in international relations. 
During the cold war, prisoners of conscience, refuseniks, persons whose 
families had been separated, the oppressed of all kinds, had a friend 
and a skillful ally in Sam. Many cases were resolved--among them those 
of Anatoly Scharansky and Yuri Orlov--and many families were reunited. 
We can make a list of individual people he helped, and every one of 
these cases in whose resolution he had a hand adds luster to his name.
  More importantly, in international meeting after international 
meeting, Sam did the hard work of diplomacy, out of the spotlight, 
helping bring together the United States, Canada, and the nations of 
Europe to agree, word by painfully negotiated word, on commitments that 
made human rights a legitimate issue in international relations, not 
one that an oppressive state could easily dismiss as outside 
interference in its internal affairs.
  This is hard work, building the foundation of human civilization. 
That's what Sam helped do. The modern Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, and especially the established human rights 
standards it embodies and advances, are a product, in larger part than 
the world knows, of his dedication, skill, tireless effort, and 
commitment to principle. While the world at large may little note his 
passing, those of us who know the Helsinki process and the demanding 
work of establishing and protecting human rights, we know we have lost 
one of the people who count. His achievements in life will serve as a 
lasting tribute to him, and will continue to do good for his country, 
our friends, and humanity in general for many years to come.

[[Page S1115]]

  Nothing I can say, nothing anyone can do, can make up for his loss. 
We can all, however, take some comfort in his accomplishments in life, 
and rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and to the 
advancement of those causes we shared with him.
  Sam, I will miss you. God bless you and God speed you home to His 
care.

                          ____________________