[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1928-S1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      THE DEATH OF ALBERT SHANKER

 Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the untimely death of Mr. Albert 
Shanker is a moment of great sadness for this Nation and for me 
personally. He lost his 3-year struggle with cancer Saturday evening on 
February 22, 1997. Since 1974, Mr. Shanker served as the president of 
the American Federation of Teachers. Prior to his election to that 
post, he was president of New York City's United Federation of 
Teachers, transforming it into one of the Nation's greatest unions. He 
was the first

[[Page S1929]]

teacher to become a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council and at his 
death, chaired the education committee and was chairman of the general 
board of its department for professional employees.
  Mr. Shanker was well known not only in this country, but also 
internationally and was the founding president of Education 
International, an organization with some 20 million teachers from 
democratic countries around the world. He also established American 
Federation of Teacher projects assisting teacher unions in South 
Africa, Chile, Poland, and Russia.
  Mr. Shanker was a driving force in the education reform movement and 
was well known for his column ``Where We Stand'' in the Sunday New York 
Times. He was also a leader in promoting civil and human rights. 
Several times over the last few months, as I prepared for Education 
hearings, I requested his participation, and even though his health 
kept him from appearing in person, his presence was always there--
through his statements which he prepared and which were read by his 
designee.
  This Nation has lost a great leader, a great friend of education, and 
a great man. I send my regrets and my sympathy to his wife Edith and 
his children Adam, Jennie, Michael, and Carl.

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