[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 89 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1293-E1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 TRIBUTE TO HON. ROBERT C. McEWEN, M.C.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 1997

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you 
and our colleagues of the passing of my good friend, Robert C. McEwen 
of Ogdensburg, NY, on Sunday, June 15. Bob McEwen served as a Member of 
the House of Representatives from northern New York from 1965 until 
1980. Prior to that, he served as a member of the New York State senate 
for 11 years. Elected to the 89th Congress, Bob McEwen first served on 
the Committee on Public Works and the Committee on House 
Administration. As he gained seniority, he served with distinction as a 
member of the Committee on Appropriations. At the time of his 
retirement, he served as the ranking minority member of its 
Subcommittee on Military Construction.
  Bob McEwen was not the kind of man who could easily retire from 
public service, however. President Ronald Reagan called him back into 
public service in 1981, appointing him to serve as the U.S. chairman of 
the International Joint Commission, an assignment he undertook with 
enthusiasm.
  I feel privileged to have occupied his seat in the New York State 
senate and am honored to represent today the district which he served 
with such distinction for so many years. Bob McEwen served in elected 
office for three quarters of his adult life and never lost an election. 
In making his retirement announcement in 1980, Bob McEwen said, 
``Serving in an elected office is more than a way of making a living, 
it is a way of life.'' He dedicated his life to public service and 
exemplified the very best traditions of this institution. He is 
survived by his wife, Peg, and two daughters, Mrs. Nancy McEwen Wax of 
Easton, CT, and Mrs. Mary McEwen Fitzpatrick of Lawrenceville, NJ.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that three members of Bob McEwen's 
original staff are still serving his North Country Congressional 
District as members of my staff, Cary R. Brick, my chief of staff; Miss 
Donna M. Bell, my administrative secretary, and Mrs. Joann Ellis 
Humphries, my caseworker and office manager, all served Bob McEwen with 
distinction and join me in expressing our most sincere sympathies to 
the McEwen family.
  Mr. Brick delivered a eulogy for Bob McEwen at the interment service 
which was held on Friday in Ogdensburg. It spoke eloquently of the high 
regard in which he was held by all of those who were privileged to know 
him. Mr. Brick's remarks follow:

                      Tribute to Robert C. McEwen

                           (By Cary R. Brick)

       Thirty-seven days ago, many of us gathered at the Robert C. 
     McEwen Customs

[[Page E1294]]

     House, the oldest building in America occupied by agencies of 
     the Federal government, to commemorate National Historic 
     Preservation Week.
       I was honored to have been asked to participate in that 
     ceremony. I took the opportunity to speak about the man whose 
     name graces the historic structure, our friend, Bob McEwen. 
     Characteristic of Bob, he called both my wife and my mother 
     the next day to tell him how pleased he was with the event, 
     and being the consummate gentleman that he was, added some 
     gracious comments that any wife or mother would want to hear 
     about her husband or son.
       He called me, as well, to thank me. I remember his words: 
     ``Mr. Brick,'' he said, ``it is not every man who gets to 
     hear his own eulogy, thank you for letting me hear mine. I 
     hope I won't give you reason to change your opinion of me 
     when the time comes.''
       I responded by telling him he couldn't change anyone's 
     feelings for him!
       I didn't consciously prepare those remarks of 37 days ago 
     as a eulogy. I prepared them because I wanted Bob McEwen to 
     hear what I, and all of his friends, thought of him. But, I 
     guess Bob knew I would repeat some of those thoughts when the 
     time came.
       One of the displays in the Customs House notes ``historic 
     buildings serve as symbols of the patriotism and pride 
     Americans feel for their country.''
       I asked then and I ask again today that we acknowledge that 
     historic building as a permanent monument to one of 
     Ogdensburg's most prominent native sons, a gentleman who 
     spent more than a quarter of a century serving in legislative 
     bodies--11 years in the State Senate and 16 in the United 
     States Congress.
       May that building which Congress determined in 1980 should 
     bear his name always serve as a memorial to his public 
     service. May it stand strong and with dignity and class as he 
     did for so many years.
       He served more than three-fourths of his adult life in the 
     service of New York and the nation. Bob was an American 
     patriot and a North Country treasure whose senior statesman 
     status was deserved because it was earned through 16 
     successive victories in special, primary and general 
     elections. There might have been 17 or 18 or more, but Bob 
     McEwen knew when it was time to come home to stay. Today, as 
     Bob has made his final journey, we join together to celebrate 
     his life, his contributions and his lessons.
       Bob McEwen stood as a symbol of what makes our democracy 
     survive. He was selected by his neighbors to be their voice 
     in government, and he met their mandate with distinction. 
     Success came easily to him because, as several newspapers 
     have reported in the past few days, he never forgot where he 
     came from and who he represented. He knew his district, 
     whether it was one county or ten. His elections took him to 
     Albany and Washington, but he never forgot his roots.
       Bob knew that when the time came for him to answer his 
     final roll call, as a veteran and former Member of the House 
     of Representatives, he could be interred beside some of our 
     nation's greatest national heroes, statesmen, Supreme Court 
     Justices and other veterans from every American war in 
     Arlington National Cemetery. He knew that he was entitled to 
     an interment with pomp and circumstance.
       But Bob was a man of our North Country. He wanted it 
     simple. He wanted it here.
       And we honor his wishes today.
       Had he let us, we could have filled Ogdensburg's largest 
     house of worship to the rafters, and then some.
       He wanted it private and brief.
       And we respect his wishes today. We do so just as Bob 
     respected the people of the North Country--the men and women 
     who, he liked to joke, had the opportunity to renew his 
     employment contract every two years.
       Bob McEwen reflected the best of our public servants.
       His honesty, his personal integrity and high morals and 
     love for his family, combined with his respect for others--
     even those who may not have shared his beliefs or character--
     reflect what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they 
     created the experiment which we call the American democracy.
       I ask you to join me in thinking of the Customs House on 
     the shore of Bob's beloved St. Lawrence as a monument to his 
     countless contributions to the North Country. There is not a 
     community or institution in the vast landscape between Lake 
     Ontario and Lake Champlain which has not felt the influence 
     of Bob McEwen.
       It was Bob McEwen who singlehandedly laid the groundwork 
     for the creation of the new Fort Drum which occurred after he 
     retired from Congress. He built the foundation upon which 
     Dave Martin and the Army created the only military 
     installation in the United States built from scratch since 
     World War II.
       In an April, 1985, letter to his successor he called the 
     new Fort Drum ``the project that had been my greatest hope 
     for our North Country.'' At this very hour, as we pay tribute 
     to Bob, John McHugh and his colleagues in Congress are 
     continuing that effort by debating the 1998 defense bill 
     which contains nearly $25 million for additional Fort Drum 
     development.
       Bob McEwen served in the Congress during a remarkable and 
     exciting time in American history. He went to Congress in 
     1965 when Lyndon Johnson was transforming John Kennedy's New 
     Frontier into his own Great Society, creating hundreds of new 
     social programs and expanding the role of the federal 
     government to address every social ill. Like his neighbors 
     back home, he supported some and opposed others. He feared 
     that some of them could contribute to uncontrollable deficits 
     for future generations. Time has proven him to be a man of 
     foresight.
       He witnessed the expansion of our involvement in Vietnam 
     and stood behind our servicemen even when the tide was 
     turning against their involvement in an endless war on the 
     other side of the globe.
       He grieved when his President lost the faith of the 
     American people. He thought there was no greater offense than 
     abusing the trust of the people.
       Bob McEwen never served in the majority party in the 
     Congress, but there was never any doubt that he served the 
     interests of the majority of his constituency--which he saw 
     as his extended family.
       To his immediate family, I say we all share in your loss. 
     You have lost a husband, father and grandfather. We have lost 
     a friend.
       To Peg, we are grateful that you came into Bob's life when 
     you did and for being a devoted wife and partner. Illness 
     presented many challenges to Bob in recent years--challenges 
     which would have devastated a weaker man. Peg, you were there 
     to provide the emotional support which allowed Bob to fight 
     his illnesses with the same vigor that he demonstrated in 
     every campaign. You were challenged, as well, by illness and 
     demonstrated that there was always reason to hope for better 
     days.
       To Nancy and Mary: Bob so enjoyed your success as career 
     women and the successes of your husbands. Having lost your 
     wonderful mother, a warm and grand lady, you already know 
     that the loss of a parent creates a void which can only be 
     filled by memories.
       Your father frequently talked about his father, a man from 
     whom he drew great inspiration and learned many lessons. Your 
     father was a student of his family's heritage. I recall 
     walking through the McEwen cemetery in the Town of Lawrence 
     with him one summer evening and listening to him describe the 
     life and times of each of your ancestors buried there. (To 
     really know Bob McEwen, you had to know how to listen!)
       Your father understood that the McEwen family tree has very 
     deep roots, its branches are ever expanding, its leaves 
     sometimes colorful, as was he, and takes its strength from 
     the rich earth beneath it.
       As you mourn the loss of your father, you will draw upon 
     the strength of that heritage and you will find peace. You 
     are, after all, Bob McEwen's daughters. I can think of no 
     greater tribute to both of you.
       To all the McEwen grandchildren, I say you are blessed. I 
     hope in the years to come, as you become young adults and 
     mothers and fathers, you will study your grandfather's 
     career, learn from it, and if you are so inclined, emulate it 
     in any way you can while maintaining your individuality. 
     Whatever you do will make him proud.
       Lastly, to my mentor and our friend Bob:
       Speaking for all of those who were privileged to work for 
     and with you in Albany and Washington, I thank you for 
     allowing us the privilege of being a part of your team. We 
     are better people for having had that honor. We're not here 
     to say goodbye, as solemn as this moment is for all of us. We 
     are here to remember you, to celebrate your life and to find 
     joy in having walked the road of life with you. Our memories 
     of you shall live forever.
       We will pay tribute to you by cherishing your ideals and 
     your principles.
       May God grant that your memory ever inspire us.
       And may peace and bliss be granted to you until we meet 
     again.

     

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