[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2618-S2619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF HAROLD STASSEN

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
accomplishments and contributions of a great Minnesotan, Harold Edward 
Stassen, as he approaches his 90th birthday.
  Harold Stassen began to make his mark on our Nation's history when he 
was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1938 at the young age of 31. He 
was known as the Boy Governor, he was twice reelected and remained the 
youngest chief executive of any State until 1943.
  In 1943, Mr. Stassen resigned from office as Governor to accept a 
commission in the U.S. Navy. There, he served honorably on the staff of 
Adm. William Halsey until 1945 and attained the rank of Captain. During 
World War II, Mr. Stassen earned the Legion of Merit award, was awarded 
six major battle stars, and was otherwise decorated three times.
  One little known fact about Harold Stassen is that he was personally 
responsible for freeing thousands of American prisoners of war in Japan 
shortly before that country surrendered in World War II.
  According to a 1995 newspaper account, Mr. Stassen spent 2 weeks 
planning the evacuation of some 35,000 prisoners from POW camps 
scattered throughout Japan. At the time, there was considerable anxiety 
that Japanese soldiers would choose to retaliate against the prisoners 
for their country's loss in the war.
  On August 29, 1945, before the official surrender date, Mr. Stassen 
actually set foot in Japan and began what would be the largely 
successful implementation of his evacuation plan.
  After World War II, Harold Stassen was appointed by President 
Franklin Roosevelt as a delegate to the 1945 San Francisco conference 
on the founding of the United Nations. He is now the only living 
American who participated in the drafting, negotiating, and signing of 
the United Nations Charter.
  Mr. Stassen went on to become an influential advisor throughout the 
administration of President Eisenhower. This included serving as a 
member of the National Security Council, as the Director of the Foreign 
Operations Administration, and as the Deputy Representative of the 
United States to the United Nations Disarmament Commission.

[[Page S2619]]

  Mr. Stassen also has made many contributions outside of public life, 
including his service as the president of the University of 
Pennsylvania from 1948 to 1953.
  However, he will be best remembered for his life-long interest in the 
United Nations. Since his involvement in the founding of the United 
Nations, Harold Stassen has maintained a dedicated and passionate 
commitment to bettering this international organization.
  In fact, he has published numerous proposals for reforming the United 
Nations Charter and has made it his personal mission to educate the 
American public about the U.N.
  Just 2 years ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United 
Nations. On April 13th of this year, Harold Stassen will celebrate his 
90th birthday. A wide array of national and State officials will come 
together on this day in St. Paul, MN, to recognize Mr. Stassen.
  As we continue our bipartisan efforts to renew and strengthen the 
relationship between the United States and the United Nations, I think 
it is fitting to honor one American with a distinguished record of 
public service who has long supported that effort.
  As the chairman of the International Operations Subcommittee, the 
U.S. Congressional Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and 
also a fellow Minnesotan, I want to wish Harold Stassen a very happy 
90th birthday and congratulate him for his accomplishments and many 
positive contributions to the history of the State of Minnesota, the 
United States, and the United Nations.
  Thank you very much, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

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