[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1487-E1489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. HAMILTON FISH
______
HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
of new york
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 23, 1997
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago today marked the passing of one
of our outstanding Members of Congress.
Congressman Ham Fish was part of a disappearing breed--an individual
dedicated to public service for no purpose other than helping others.
Ham was devoted to creating a better nation for all of us.
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During his congressional career, Hamilton Fish became the ranking
Republican on the Committee on the Judiciary. It was in this capacity
that he earned a nationwide reputation as a leading proponent of civil
rights for all Americans. He was the champion of our minorities and the
downtrodden.
Ham Fish was also a member of the Select Committee on Children, Youth
and Families.
Ham Fish's experiences on these panels exposed him to school
administrators, teachers, parents, criminal justice officials, and
students who alerted him to the escalating levels of violence in and
around our schools. In his largely suburban and rural Hudson Valley, NY
congressional district and in other areas of the country, Congressman
Fish recognized a steady decline in safe and secure environments in
which young people could learn, free from fear of violence and crime.
During the development of the crime bill of 1992, Congressman Fish
utilized his practical experience to propose funding for an institute,
comprising experts in education, health care, and juvenile justice
which would determine effective antidotes and intervention strategies
that would be made available nationally to schools and communities in
crisis.
Although not accomplished before he left public office at the end of
the 103d Congress, Hamilton Fish continued his advocacy for this
institute, actively working on its behalf with his former colleagues up
until a week before his death.
Bipartisan congressional support for his dream was achieved with
passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1997. The U.S. Department
of Justice has now begun funding the institute.
The institute has now been renamed ``The Hamilton Fish National
Institute on School and Community Violence'' in recognition of much
that characterized the man and the Congressman: total commitment to
country, family, the young, as well as integrity, dialog, and
reconciliation.
The Hamilton Fish National Institute on School and Community Violence
is a living memorial to an outstanding legislator and remarkable
individual whose career is an example to us all.
Mr. Speaker, two individuals have eloquently captured the essence of
Ham Fish. The first was Ralph G. Neas, a longtime family friend who
delivered the eulogy at St. Albans Chapel here in Washington a year ago
next week. The second was William L. Taylor, who spoke a few words of
tribute at the Hamilton Fish Library in Garrison, NY, earlier this
year. I request that both of these tributes be inserted in the
Congressional Record at this point:
Remarks of Ralph G. Neas at the Memorial Service for Congressman
Hamilton Fish. Jr.--St. Albans Chapel, Washington, DC, July 30, 1996
Mary Ann, Hamilton, Alexa, Nicholas, Peter, others in the
Fish family, Speaker Gingrich, Members of Congress, and
distinguished guests, I am profoundly grateful and deeply
honored to have this opportunity to help celebrate the
extraordinary life and legislative career of Congressman
Hamilton Fish, Jr.
As the Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on
Civil Rights, the legislative arm of the civil rights
movement, I had the privilege of working with Ham Fish on
nearly two dozen legislative campaigns between 1981 and 1995.
Hamilton Fish was a civil rights champion, a mentor, and a
close friend.
During the past week, the press coverage of Ham's thirteen
terms in Congress has accurately characterized his personal
integrity, his principled leadership, and his courageous
commitment to equal opportunity for all Americans.
But, frankly, what I have read does not capture the sheer
magnitude of Ham Fish's legislative accomplishments or, very
importantly, the manner in which he achieved them. For a few
minutes, I would like to share with you my perspective on
this great man.
First, let us look at Ham Fish's civil rights record. It
was legendary in its scope and breadth. Propelled by an
awesome sense of justice and a determination not to rest
until he had completed his mission. Ham Fish played an
important role in virtually every civil rights law enacted
over the past two and a half decades.
Even during the Reagan and Bush presidencies, when Ham
often faced formidable odds, he helped shepherd through
Congress nearly a score of civil rights laws. Indeed, during
this remarkable era, Ham, along with Don Edwards, his
Democratic partner in guarding the Constitution, actually
strengthened all the major civil rights statutes.
To sum up all these legislative successes would take up
most of the morning. But I would like to mention specifically
five landmark laws where Ham Fish was either the House author
or the lead Republican sponsor. And, with respect to several
of them, Ham was the legislator who fashioned the bipartisan
compromise that catapulted the bill toward passage.
The 1982 Voting Rights Act Extension. Extended the Voting
Rights Act for twenty-five years, overturned an adverse
Supreme Court decision, and extended for ten years bilingual
ballot assistance for language minorities.
The Civil Rights Restoration Act (1988). Overturned the
notorious 1984 Grove City Supreme Court decision and once
again made it illegal to use federal funds to discriminate
against women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and
older Americans.
The Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988. Provided at long
last an effective enforcement mechanism for the 1968 Fair
Housing Act. The 1988 Amendments also prohibited
discrimination in housing against families with children and
people with disabilities for the first time.
The Civil Rights Act of 1991. Overturned eight Supreme
Court decisions that had dramatically weakened our nation's
equal employment opportunity laws. And provides, for the
first time, monetary damages for women and persons with
disabilities who are victims of intentional discrimination.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). Prohibits
discrimination against 49 million Americans with disabilities
in employment, public accommodations, communications and
transportation.
These historic civil rights laws have benefitted, and will
continue to benefit, millions of Americans. And let me state
this as unequivocally as possible: these laws would not have
been enacted without Congressman Hamilton Fish. His
leadership during the most challenging of times was
absolutely indispensable.
But it was not just the quantity and quality of these civil
rights laws, or the legislative skills that made them
possible, that made Hamilton Fish so special. In fact, his
other attributes are what truly set him apart, providing
standards of leadership that should serve as a model for
everyone.
First, Ham Fish always understood thoroughly the need for
bipartisanship. He knew how to build coalitions and forge a
consensus. He knew the art of the timely compromise, the good
compromise made at the right time that will produce the
requisite number of votes, either a simple majority or a
super majority, that is needed to enact a law.
The numerical results of the legislative victories I cited
previously ample demonstrate this commitment to
bipartisanship. The average final passage vote on these five
laws was 90 percent of both Houses of Congress. Thanks to Ham
Fish and his allies, the past decade and a half has been,
legislatively, a bipartisan reaffirmation of civil rights
laws and remedies.
Second, while Ham Fish was passionate in his beliefs,
civility characterized his every action. He treated everyone
with dignity. Few in Washington have matched his ability to
command both the respect and the love of his peers. Time and
again he proved that a nice guy can finish first.
Third, Ham Fish revered the institution in which he served.
He enjoyed immensely being a member of the House of
Representatives and always strove to make the House work. And
while the House held his primary allegiance, he also
respected the other institutions that comprise the federal
government.
When the need arose, Ham Fish could be a fierce partisan.
But he knew that bipartisan cooperation, not partisan
confrontation, must ultimately prevail if government is to
function at all.
Finally, and perhaps most significantly, Ham Fish was
courageous. Whether it was voting to impeach a President of
his own party or standing firm on civil rights legislation,
Ham Fish did what he believed to be fair and just.
Last week, Congressman Maurice Hinchey summarized
eloquently how Ham carefully balanced loyalty and
independence in order to further the national interest. He
stated:
``Ham was very proud to be called a loyal Republican, but
he knew that loyalty does not mean surrender of one's own
judgment and temperament . . . He believed that he served his
party best when he served his country best, and that he
served the country best by bringing the best of his own mind
and heart to every issue he addressed.''
After he retired from the House, Ham Fish continued to work
on behalf of his favorite issues. Just last month the two of
us visited Senator Nancy Kassebaum and Congressman Amo
Houghton lobbying on behalf of affirmative action and legal
services.
As you can tell by now, I cherished my friendship with Ham.
He was always there to help, performing any task with
graceful enthusiasm. I will miss so much his warm smile, his
mischievous sense of humor, and his calm and gentle presence.
As I sat praying at St. Albans chapel this morning, I
thanked God for allowing Katy and me the opportunity to get
to know Ham. And I was thankful that we all had the benefit
of Ham's leadership at critical moments during our nation's
past quarter of a century. As we leave the chapel shortly,
let us all pray that God will bless America with a few more
Ham Fishes.
____
Tribute to the Late Hamilton Fish--Garrison, N.Y., April 27, 1997
(By William L. Taylor)
It is truly a great honor and privilege for me to be asked
to say a few words of tribute to the memory of Rep. Hamilton
Fish.
I have worked as a lawyer in the field of civil rights for
more than 40 years, starting as an attorney on the staff of
Thurgood Marshall in 1954. During that time I have
established my own private hall of fame for people
[[Page E1489]]
who have made important contributions to providing
opportunity to millions of citizens who have suffered
discrimination. It is not a very large hall of fame and
several of those in it are people whose names or
contributions are not well known to the American people,
because they did not seek to draw public attention to
themselves or seek acclaim for their work.
One of those people is Judge Robert L. Carter who was
Thurgood Marshall's chief deputy in bringing the case of
Brown v. Board of Education and other landmark cases that
started the legal revolution in civil rights and then went on
to a distinguished career as a federal judge in New York. Bob
Carter was my first boss at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He
is celebrating his 80th birthday at an event in New York City
that starts in a few minutes and that is the reason I can't
stay with you this evening.
Another of the people in my hall of fame is Ham Fish.
Although I had met him before, my first substantial encounter
with Ham Fish came under somewhat dramatic circumstances in
1981. I was working with the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights in seeking a reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act
of 1965 which many people think is the most effective piece
of civil rights legislation passed in this century. But in
1981 we were in a tough fight because many in Congress
thought the time had come to end the special provisions of
the Voting Rights Act. An agreement that had been made by
civil rights forces with another Republican member of
Congress fell apart just as the House Judiciary Committee was
to meet to consider the bill. Mr. Fish was a senior member of
the committee and a supporter of the extension of the Voting
Rights Act, but he had not been intimately involved with the
legislation. I spent all night with other civil rights
lawyers redrafting the bill and Rep. Don Edwards arranged for
me to see Mr. Fish at 10 am, just before the Committee was
scheduled to meet.
I approached the meeting with some trepidation. What would
Rep. Fish think about our coming to him at the last moment?
Would he be able to master the details of a complicated piece
of legislation in so short a time and serve as its chief
Republican spokesman?
In his book Giantkillers, Mike Pertschuk describes what
happened:
``Taylor, on three hours sleep, briefed Fish just 15
minutes before the Committee meeting. Fish, a quick study,
quickly grasped the essential elements and later deftly
defended the bill in committee as if he had spent all night
writing it.''
The legislation passed and Fish proved ``an eloquent
advocate.''
Afterwards, I thought back on how remarkable that meeting
had been. The typical member of Congress of whatever
political persuasion would have spent at least some time
berating me for coming to him only when we were in dire
straits (and would have had some justification for saying
so). Ham Fish didn't waste any time massaging his ego.
Instead, he asked a few incisive questions about the bill
until he was satisfied he could support it and serve as its
spokesman. He knew that there was an important job in
fighting voting discrimination still to be done and he kept
his eye on the ball.
That first meeting in many ways typified the relationship
we came to enjoy over more than a dozen years. During those
years, Ham Fish was the Republican leader in the House
responsible for passing several pieces of landmark civil
rights legislation--including the Civil Rights Restoration
Act of 1988, the Fair Housing Amendments of 1988, the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Civil Rights
Act of 1991. It is fair to say that those laws have
benefitted millions of people--people of color, women,
disabled people, older people. The laws did not give people
special favors or breaks; rather they enable them to remove
barriers to achieving their potential and to their ability to
live in dignity. And though few may know his name, all of
these millions owe a debt to Ham Fish for his leadership in
passing these laws. Indeed, all of us who have led advantaged
lives owe Ham a debt for enabling us to live in a society
that is fairer, more just, less marked by ugly prejudice than
the world inhabited by our forebears.
But while I think about these great achievements, I also
think about the personal qualities of Ham Fish. He had both a
first rate mind and traits of modesty and humility. That is a
rare enough combination in the general population and it is
almost unheard of among politicians. Often, in his office or
in a committee meeting or on the floor of the House, someone
would put forth a proposition that would not bear scrutiny.
Instead of challenging the person aggressively, Ham would get
a twinkle in his eye and a slight hint of a smile and would
then ask in gentle, matter-of-fact tones a question or two
that would expose the flaws in the speaker's argument. And
that was his manner with people from all parts of the
political spectrum. I sometimes brought lawyers from our
civil rights coalition into his office who were very bright
people, but who may have been off on a tangent that was not
realistic or sensible. Ham brought them back to earth. In
fact, although I don't like to admit it, I may have been a
victim of that twinkle and amused smile once or twice myself.
The other legislative leader who comes to mind whose manner
was similar was Phil Hart from Michigan--another member of my
private hall of fame. Both he and Ham Fish genuinely deserve
the appellation used so freely in the Congress--gentleman.
This is not to say that Ham Fish was modest to the point of
self-abasement. He took a quiet pride in his work on civil
rights. I remember how touched he was when the NAACP decided
to honor him for his leadership. He shared a draft of his
acceptance speech with a couple of us because he wanted to be
sure that he was conveying adequately how important the cause
was and how appreciative he was of the honor.
Ham Fish was also courageous. By the 1980s, civil rights
legislation, although vitally needed, was not popular in many
places. Although there were 40 or so Republicans in the House
who joined with Ham Fish in providing the critical votes for
civil rights laws, by the mid-80s almost none of them were on
the House Judiciary Committee. That meant that Ham walked a
lonely path. Often, under circumstances when we would
ordinarily meet with staff, we met with Mr. Fish alone
because of concerns about the divided loyalties of the
committee staff. That isolation had to be difficult for Ham
although he never talked about it or said a bad word about
any of his colleagues. It surely would have been easier to go
along with fellow committee members who could, if they became
displeased enough, vote him out of his position as ranking
minority member of the committee. But Ham Fish followed his
conscience just as he did in that early vote to impeach a
President and on so many other matters.
Last year as I was leaving the moving memorial service for
Representative Fish at St. Albans Chapel in Washington, I ran
into a Republican Congressman I knew. He is a very bright and
capable legislator who had made an unsuccessful run for
higher office and then returned to the House and his record
on issues of civil rights and social justice is a mixed one.
As we were parting I said to him ``I hope you will carry on
in the tradition of Ham Fish.'' I hadn't planned to say that
and I wasn't sure how he would take it since he regards
himself as very independent. But he clearly was flattered and
he replied that he hoped he would be equal to the task.
In the months that followed, there was one clear test of
character in the House and this Congressman stood up with a
handful of other Republicans to go against his party's
demands and to vote his conscience. I like to believe he was
thinking of Ham Fish when he cast that vote. I don't know
that for sure.
But I do know that Hamilton Fish left his legacy in many
places--in the passion for justice of his children who I have
become acquainted with over the years, in the civil rights
and other communities he served, and in the Congress itself.
It is a legacy of commitment, of generosity of spirit and of
courage. And it should leave us all a bit more hopeful about
the future.
____________________