[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3686-S3688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 23--HONORING THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS OF 
                            JACKIE ROBINSON

  Mr. McCain submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                            S. Con. Res. 23

       Whereas Jackie Robinson was the first four sport letterman 
     at the University of California at Los Angeles;
       Whereas on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson was the first 
     African-American to cross the color barrier and play for a 
     major league baseball team;
       Whereas Jackie Robinson, whose career began in the Negro 
     Leagues, went on to be named Rookie of the Year and 
     subsequently led the Brooklyn Dodgers to six National League 
     pennants and a World Series championship;
       Whereas Jackie Robinson's inspiring career earned him 
     recognition as the first African-American to win a batting 
     title, lead the league in stolen bases, play in an All-Star 
     game, win a Most Valuable Player award, play in the World 
     Series and be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame;
       Whereas after retiring from baseball Jackie Robinson was 
     active in the civil rights movement and founded the first 
     bank owned by African-Americans in New York City;
       Whereas his legacy continues to uplift the Nation through 
     the Jackie Robinson Foundation that has provided 425 
     scholarships to needy students;
       Whereas Jackie Robinson's courage, dignity, and example 
     taught the Nation that what matters most is not the color of 
     a man's skin but rather the content of his character;
       Whereas Jackie Robinson, in his career, consistently 
     demonstrated that how you play the game is more important 
     than the final score;
       Whereas Jackie Robinson's life and heritage help make the 
     American dream more accessible to all; and
       Whereas April 15, 1997, marks the 50th anniversary of 
     Jackie Robinson's entrance into major league baseball: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That the achievements and contributions of Jackie Robinson 
     be honored and celebrated; that his dedication and sacrifice 
     be

[[Page S3688]]

     recognized; and that his contributions to African-Americans 
     and to the Nation be remembered.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I submit a Senate concurrent 
resolution honoring the lifetime achievements of Jackie Robinson. I 
urge its immediate consideration.
  After an already distinguished career in the Negro League, Jackie 
Robinson became the first African-American to play major league 
professional baseball and one of the best individuals ever to play the 
game. Just over 50 years ago, Mr. Robinson animated for the entire 
country the simple premise on which our Nation was founded--that all 
men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with 
certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness. Given that this animation occurred more than a 
decade and a half before Martin Luther King reminded us that man should 
be judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his 
character, Mr. Robinson's accomplishments were truly great.
  As his biographers have noted, Jackie Robinson began playing major 
league baseball 7 years before the historic Brown versus Board of 
Education Supreme Court ruling, 18 years before voter registration 
drives in Selma, Alabama. And 18 years before passage of the Voter 
Rights Act of 1965.
  At a time when African Americans were still being forced to walk to 
the back of the bus, Jackie Robinson was walking up to the plate and 
receiving cheers of Americans from all walks of life. But for the 
cheers given the efforts of Jackie Robinson, I doubt we would have 
heard the cheers given to Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordon, and Tiger Woods.
  While Jackie Robinson is best known for being the first African-
American to play major league baseball, his entire life was full of 
achievements. These are all detailed in this resolution.
  Jackie Robinson was the first four sport letterman at the University 
of California at Los Angeles.
  Jackie Robinson was named Rookie of the Year and subsequently led the 
Brooklyn Dodgers to six National League pennants and a World Series 
championship.
  Jackie Robinson's career earned him recognition as the first African-
American to win a batting title, lead the league in stolen bases, play 
in an All-Star game, win a Most Valuable Player Award, play in the 
World Series and be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.
  Beyond his accomplishments in baseball, Jackie Robinson was active in 
the civil rights movement and founded the first bank owned by African-
Americans in New York city.
  Jackie Robinson's legacy continues to uplift the Nation through the 
Jackie Robinson Foundation that has provided 425 scholarships to needy 
students.
  It is difficult to list the many heights obtained by Jackie Robinson. 
He was as successful off the playing field as he was on. It is fitting 
for the Congress of the United States to honor and celebrate the 
achievements and contributions of Jackie Robinson; that his dedication 
and sacrifice be recognized; and that his contributions to African-
Americans and to the Nation be remembered.

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