[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF MIKE ROYKO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 1997

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, when Mike Royko passed away this week, 
America lost more than a syndicated newspaper columnist. We lost one of 
the greatest writers and most consistent voices of reason in modern 
journalism. This loss is especially hard for Chicago, a city where he 
was born, whose people he loved, and who loved him right back. At the 
time of his death, Mike was also a resident of Winnetka in my 
congressional district, and I am very proud to have represented a 
journalist of his caliber.
  For an entire generation of newspaper readers, Mike Royko captured 
the daily wonders and absurdities of life like no one else. From his 
early days at the former Daily News to his work at the Chicago Sun-
Times and then the Chicago Tribune, Mike made millions of faithful 
readers laugh, cry, and most of all, think. He wrote with an 
understated eloquence that touched us and made us confront the most 
difficult issues of our time.
  Mike was especially quick to expose the foibles of elected officials 
and the ridiculous excesses of bureaucracy. But while the targets of 
his columns would gnash their teeth, they had to admit that, more often 
than not, Royko was right on target. He was keeping the politicians and 
the bureaucrats honest. And in those rare instances when he made an 
error, Mike was the first to correct it.
  Back in 1994, I became incensed about the treatment of Hyde Park 
restaurant owner Hans Morsbach, who was being unfairly charged with 
discriminatory hiring practices by the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission. I decided to address this matter in the House, went down to 
the floor, and talked about this crazy situation at the EEOC.
  Well, my comments were brought to Mike Royko's attention--who had 
been writing about the Morsbach case--and the very next day he devoted 
his column to my floor statement. Being included in Mike's column is 
one of the great honors of my career in public service * * * especially 
since I was fortunate enough not to be the target of his razor-sharp 
wit.
  Throughout Chicago and the Nation, there are many, many people who 
knew and worked with Mike over the years who are paying tribute to him. 
One of the most fascinating comments, which I understand was shared on 
a Chicago radio show recently, was about the richness and enduring 
insight of Mike's writing. The observation was something like this: 100 
years from now, if a student wants to understand what life was like in 
America during the latter half of the 20th century, there is only one 
thing he or she has to do--read Mike Royko's columns.
  Mr. Speaker, Mike Royko set standards for all journalists to admire 
and a legacy of work that will long endure. I know that I speak for 
many when I say that when I read the Chicago Tribune from now on, there 
will be a void on page 3 that can never be filled.
  Thanks for all you added to our daily lives, Mike. We will miss you 
more than words can say.

                          ____________________