[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3994-S3995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO WALTER ``PEANUT'' KENNEDY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Walter ``Peanut'' Kennedy, the late Speaker 
of the House of Representatives came from the district of Chelsea, VT. 
They used a version of Vermont's old mountain rule. In a local form, 
mountain rule came from the town's unwritten agreement that State 
representatives alternate between the sides of the mountain that 
divided the town at every biennial election. It was about as good a 
reason for term limits as many I have heard argued on this floor in 
recent years.
  It followed the real mountain rule in Vermont which alternated 
Governors from one side of the Green Mountains to the other side. Madam 
President, the Governor would come from the eastern side of the 
mountains in one election cycle and then from the western side in the 
next. Of course, they were all Republicans so it worked out very well 
throughout those years.
  Since the town was overwhelmingly Republican and the candidate from 
either side of the mountain could not hope to succeed under any other 
party preference--the tradition more or less held until reapportionment 
of the legislature along the one man-one vote decision of the U.S. 
Supreme Court changed the nature of Vermont's system forever.
  I preface my remarks today with this brief history so that you can 
appreciate the background from which this rough hewn, shrewd, humorous, 
and eminently fair gentleman rose to become a legislator, Speaker of 
the

[[Page S3995]]

House, and his party's candidate for Governor in 1974.
  With Peanut Kennedy's passing, we close the book on a period in 
Vermont when character, common sense, and honesty were alone sufficient 
to insure personal triumph and political success.
  Peanut sold used cars--and they weren't all good cars. He would tell 
his customers--especially enthusiastic young farm boys who were making 
their first major purchase with hard earned money--to look beyond the 
flashy chrome and white wall tires. If necessary, he would further curb 
their enthusiasm by suggesting the vehicle had an estimated lifespan of 
the distance to the grocery store a half mile down the road.
  Those were cars he kept on the lot only to have the pleasure of 
selling them to folks like you and me who could afford a lesson in the 
perils of used car negotiations.
  ``You don't want this car,'' he would finally tell a local customer 
and move him toward another part of the lot.
  Peanut, rising to the chairmanship of the House Highway Committee, 
then Speaker and finally rewarded as his party's gubernatorial 
candidate, was rarely addressed as Walter. He retained his earthy sense 
of humor and Yankee mannerisms, offensive to the few--loved by the 
many. He was an antecedent of political correctness--fixed in his ways, 
colorful in his language, and prone to startle constituents, 
legislators, Governors and lobbyists with the frankness of his 
responses.
  He hated ad hoc committees which he said were merely ways for 
political leaders to transfer decision malting responsibility to 
another body.
  ``Ad hoc,'' he once challenged a leader of his own party on the House 
floor, ``Sounds like someone clearing his throat.''
  He once publicly described a Governor, who was concerned over a 
prolonged and politically debilitating debate over enacting his 
proposal for a sales tax as ``nervous as a whore in church,'' over the 
prospects of passing his legislation. Kennedy never doubted the tax 
would be enacted, once the talking was over and the nervous legislators 
regained their courage to an unpopular, but necessary broad based tax 
to finance State government programs.
  He was never a man to go off the record, he was never a man to go 
against his word.
  When he ran for Governor in 1974 he traveled through southern Vermont 
extensively for the first time in years and became aware of the change 
taking place as a result of a revolution in transportation systems--
many of which he had helped put in motion himself from Montpelier.
  I think it was the first time he realized that Vermont was changing 
so dramatically from the community or farms and small, self-governing 
communities that settled problems at town meetings and pot luck 
suppers.
  ``It's not Vermont anymore,'' he told friends. The visit seemed to 
inhibit his candidacy and he failed to give Vermont a spirited campaign 
against a popular incumbent.
  I traveled with Peanut Kennedy when he ran for Governor in 1974, and 
is probably an indication of the bipartisan nature of the man. Even 
though he was running for Governor on the Republican ticket, I for the 
Senate on the Democratic ticket, we would have occasions just because 
we wanted to be in each other's company that we would ride together 
from one function to another.
  He had his big old black Imperial. I would hop in the car with him. 
Somebody would drive my car along behind. And I would be laughing so 
hard by the time I would get to the next place, I could barely remember 
my own lines as he would tell one story after another.
  At home, with his wife Sylvia, he was a very private man and devoted 
husband. Vermonters shared his grief over the tragic death of his son 
in a fire. After the election in 1973, Kennedy returned to his business 
and quietly retired from the political arena which had taken him so 
far. But the State had changed and Peanut's beliefs and principles were 
too deeply ingrained.
  Out State has lost a great public servant, and to those of us 
fortunate enough to have known him a great friend as well.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.

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