[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1999-S2000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA AFL-CIO PRESIDENT VICTOR BUSSIE

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, next week working men and women 
from all over Louisiana will pause to honor a great and visionary 
leader and a remarkable man who has led Louisiana's AFL-CIO for the 
past 41 years. On March 10, my good friend Victor Bussie will retire as 
president of my State's AFL-CIO--marking the end of a truly historic 
public career during which time he was widely regarded as one of the 
most powerful and respected men in Louisiana public life.
  Those of us who have known and admired Vic Bussie for many years 
understand that his power was not so much derived from the position he 
held, but from the force of his personality and the deep conviction and 
personal integrity that he brought to every debate or endeavor. Simply 
put, Vic Bussie will always be remembered as one of the most honorable 
and decent men who ever served in public life.
  Perhaps the greatest testimony to Vic Bussie's extraordinary career 
is the many tributes paid to him by those who often found themselves on 
opposing sides in legislative and political battles. Almost without 
exception, those who fought with Vic Bussie over the issues never had 
anything but the highest regard for his integrity and his

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tireless dedication to the cause of Louisiana's working men and women. 
Always aided by his wife, Fran, Vic Bussie was not only an effective 
and articulate spokesman for organized labor; he also brought his 
influence and moral persuasion to bear on a wide variety of issues, 
including civil rights, education, health care, government reform and 
economic development. In every case, I believe that the people of 
Louisiana are better off today because Vic Bussie took an interest in 
those issues and dedicated himself to making life better for all of our 
citizens, not just those in the labor movement.
  Perhaps one of the greatest testimonies to Vic Bussie's influence and 
power were the many national political leaders who relied on him during 
his 41 years at the helm of Louisiana's AFL-CIO. From John F. Kennedy 
to Lyndon Johnson to Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton, presidents of the 
United States have often sought Vic Bussie's counsel and have relied on 
him to build public support for their campaigns and their legislative 
initiatives. In the mid-1960s, when President Lyndon Johnson was 
attempting to persuade my predecessor, Senator Russell Long, to support 
his proposal to create the national Medicare system, he called on Vic 
Bussie. As the story goes, Vic was on the next plane to Washington and 
it was not long afterwards that Senator Long announced his support for 
Medicare. As Russell and I have learned so many times, it is awfully 
hard to say no to Vic Bussie.
  Mr. President, the late Adlai Stevenson once remarked that ``every 
age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of 
things that are to be.'' I suspect that Vic counted Adlai Stevenson as 
one of his friends. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that 
Stevenson had Vic Bussie in mind when he uttered those words. As leader 
of Louisiana's labor movement for the past 41 years, Vic Bussie has 
certainly redeemed his time well. All working men and women owe him a 
tremendous debt of gratitude and my wife, Lois, and I are very proud to 
be part of the chorus of well-deserved praise that is coming his way 
during the days leading up to his retirement.
  I know I speak for many others when I say that Victor Bussie will 
always be gratefully remembered for the outstanding service he has 
rendered to his State and his Nation.

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