[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5496-H5497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO HENRY SALVATORI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, one of the great opportunities of 
this job of being a Member of Congress is to officially bid farewell to 
great people. One such great American recently passed away. He was a 
teacher, a patriot, and a friend. His name was Henry Salvatori.
  Many Americans have no idea who Henry Salvatori was, but to many of 
us who are politically active and followed behind the scenes what has 
happened in

[[Page H5497]]

America and some of the great developments in the oil industry and some 
of the great philanthropic works in California, we know very well who 
Henry Salvatori was. He was a great American, and it is an honor today 
for us to say a few nice words about him and to recall him for the 
American people, because he added so much to our way of life.
  Henry Salvatori died over the Fourth of July weekend at age 96. That 
date was fitting, because Henry was a man whose life epitomized what 
being an American is all about.

  He was, like many American patriots, a man who came to the United 
States from another country. Henry came to us from Italy. He came here 
when he was 5 years old, and during his lifetime, he enthusiastically 
embraced the ideals that are at the foundation of our country. Thus, he 
epitomized what being an American is all about, because we have always 
said that these American values are not just for the people of the 
United States and people born here, but being an American means those 
things that our Founding Fathers fought for and sought after.
  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding, and I 
would first like to congratulate him for taking out this time to talk 
about a great American hero, Henry Salvatori.
  I think the last point that my friend has made is really right on 
target here, because many have said that the very best citizens in this 
country are those who become American citizens by choice. Henry 
Salvatori really epitomized that, having been a member of Ronald 
Reagan's Kitchen Cabinet and having played such a key role in the 
conservative movement. He established at my alma mater the Salvatori 
Center, which has done a great deal of research.
  So, rather than simply being involved in politics, not a lot of 
attention has been focused on his tremendous philanthropic involvement 
and his support of education. He has provided to my friend and to me 
and many others tremendous inspiration, and a great deal of advice and 
counsel and support.
  I would simply like to join my friend and say Henry Salvatori will be 
sorely missed by so many of us. It is a great loss for the United 
States of America.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, we will be benefiting from his not 
only generosity, but the standards that he set for us. Henry Salvatori 
was a man who believed in free enterprise and free speech. He believed 
in honor, in truth, in decency and hard work and responsibility, and he 
took these principles to heart and into his hands. With them he built a 
very successful life, and this success Henry shared with everyone.
  Henry Salvatori's motto was ``whoever crosses my path, I will leave 
them at least as well off, or, if possible, better off than he was 
before.'' Henry's life is an inspiration, and he tried to follow that 
formula, not through one career, but through three careers. In each one 
of those he tried to better people's lives.
  Henry's first career was in the oil business, when as a young man he 
pioneered a new oil exploration technology of charting geological 
structures by sending shock waves through the ground. Inspired by the 
spirit of enterprise that he found in America, Henry invested all of 
his assets into a company based on the seismic method and the company, 
Western Geophysical, grew into a multibillion dollar corporation and he 
became its leader. The business remains a leader today even as Henry 
passes on.
  Henry's second career was that of an philanthropist. He believed that 
the best way to help others is not with Government entitlements, but 
through the private sector, through caring individuals who are taking 
the responsibility to help others. In this, he lent a hand to so many 
people to try to help them get the basics, but at no time trying to 
make any individual dependent on the Government or someone else's 
largess.
  He demonstrated this belief time and again by bestowing gifts on 
universities and colleges, hospitals, children's clubs, community 
groups, and the arts. He also supported civic education organizations 
which put forth ideas of limited Government and expanded individual 
opportunity, ideas that guide our society today.
  In particular, Henry supported the youth organizations like the Young 
Americans for Freedom and the Young Republicans and others. This helped 
a whole generation of young people meet the responsibility of picking 
up the torch and caring the torch of American freedom as it was passed 
from one generation to another. I am a beneficiary of that largess, as 
was Ronald Reagan and many others, as Henry Salvatori engaged himself 
in the political process in the United States he loved so much, and it 
was a tribute to all Americans at all times.
  It was during his third career--his career in politics--that I was 
fortunate enough to come to know Henry. He never sought, won or held 
elected office, but Henry served his fellow Americans honorably by 
effectively using one of the most powerful rights that the U.S. 
Constitution bestows upon its citizens: free speech. He engaged in 
debate on State and national issues, and financially supported 
candidates who shared his beliefs in freedom. In hindsight, Henry spoke 
out for some of America's greatest leaders.
  Henry became a respected and trusted advisor to Barry Goldwater, 
Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon. But he was best known for launching the 
career of the man who has ignited the political spirit of the modern 
generation: Ronald Reagan.
  Henry enticed Reagan to enter politics with two simple promises that 
to this day resonate with courage and integrity. He promised to take 
care of the campaign funding and promised to take nothing in return: no 
favor, no office, no appointment. Henry supported Reagan from the 
Governor's Mansion to the White House, and today the history books show 
he kept both promises.
  He remained close to President Reagan as part of a so-called Kitchen 
Cabinet. Though Reagan entertained all ideas, in the end the President 
made the decisions. Of course, it was through the support and 
dedication of patriotic Americans like Henry Salvatori that Ronald 
Reagan ever had a chance to lead.
  Henry did himself, his neighbors and this country many great 
services. He expanded access to our national energy supply. He funded 
charities that help people in need. He supported political ideas and 
candidates who brought our country closer to freedom, and expanded the 
opportunities available to average people.
  In doing so Henry Salvatori crossed all our paths. And rest assured, 
we are much better off.
  As we close this today, I would hope all people on the next Fourth of 
July will remember the great contributions this man made to our 
country.

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