[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 108 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8201-S8202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Abraham, Mr. 
        Akaka, Mr. Allard, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mr. 
        Breaux, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Coats, Mr. Cochran, Ms. 
        Collins, Mr. Craig, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
        Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Faircloth, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Ford, 
        Mr. Glenn, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grams, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hagel, Mr. 
        Hatch, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
        Jeffords, Mr. Kempthorne, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. 
        Mack, Mr. McCain, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. 
        Murray, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roth, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Smith of Oregon, 
        Ms. Snowe, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Thurmond):
  S.J. Res. 36. A joint resolution to confer status as an honorary 
veteran of the United States Armed Forces on Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope; 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

[[Page S8202]]

 LEGISLATION TO CONFER STATUS AS AN HONORARY VETERAN OF THE U.S. ARMED 
                   FORCES TO LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) HOPE

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, it is with a particular sense of 
privilege that I introduce legislation today to confer the status of 
honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces to Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope. 
If any person in this country merits such an unprecedented honor--and 
Mr. President, it is my understanding that no person has ever before 
been conferred the status of honorary veteran--surely, it is Bob Hope.
  Bob Hope's contributions to this Nation--and, particularly, to its 
soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen--are well known to all of our 
citizens. Less well known to many is the fact that Bob Hope is a 
naturalized U.S. citizen, having emigrated to this country from England 
when Bob was just a boy. I am the son of a naturalized American--an 
immigrant who walked across Europe with barely a ruble in his pocket so 
that he could make his way to this country. So I know first hand that a 
person of humble origins can scale the heights of this country. Few, 
though, have scaled the heights that Bob Hope has scaled.
  When I say Bob Hope has scaled the heights, I am not referring to his 
success as an actor, a comedian, or businessman--though his success in 
all three areas has been considerable. When I say Bob Hope has scaled 
the heights, I am thinking of his place in the hearts of his adopted 
countrymen.
  Who in this country is more beloved by a broader spectrum of his 
fellow citizens than Bob Hope--people of all ages, races, religions, 
and beliefs? Perhaps, none more than Bob Hope. For the past 50 years, 
this country's fighting men and women could count on Bob Hope to lift 
their spirits and morale when they faced the prospect of making the 
ultimate sacrifice. In World War II, in Korea, in Vietnam and, most 
recently, in the Persian Gulf, Bob Hope and his troupe were there to 
entertain the troops. More importantly, they were there to remind our 
fighting men and women that they were not forgotten, that their 
suffering was appreciated. Bob Hope was always with the troops--
especially during the holidays--enduring hardship, and often 
significant physical danger, so that he might encourage those facing 
greater hardship and danger. Three generations of veterans will never 
forget how much he cared.
  Those three generations of veterans wonder how they might properly 
recognize Bob Hope. He is already a recipient of the Nation's highest 
civilian decorations, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom. President Carter hosted a White House reception in 
honor of his 75th birthday. President Clinton bestowed upon him the 
Medal of the Arts. He has received more than 50 honorary doctorates, 
and innumerable awards from civic, social, and veterans organizations. 
But Bob Hope cannot say that he is a veteran--in my mind, one of the 
most honorable appellations one can carry. This legislation will remedy 
that.
  I ask that all of my colleagues join me in supporting legislation to 
designate Bob Hope an honorary veteran. And I thank the former 
Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and the current president of the 
USO, Gen. Carl Mundy, for spearheading this effort.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the joint 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 36

       Whereas the United States has never before conferred status 
     as an honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces on 
     an individual, and such status is and should remain an 
     extraordinary honor not lightly conferred nor frequently 
     granted;
       Whereas the lifetime of accomplishments and service of 
     Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope on behalf of United States military 
     servicemembers fully justifies the conferring of such status;
       Whereas Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope is himself not a veteran, 
     having attempted to enlist in the Armed Forces to serve his 
     country during World War II, but being informed that the 
     greatest service he could provide the Nation was as a 
     civilian entertainer for the troops;
       Whereas during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the 
     Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War and throughout the Cold 
     War, Bob Hope traveled to visit and entertain millions of 
     United States servicemembers in numerous countries, on ships 
     at sea, and in combat zones ashore;
       Whereas Bob Hope has been awarded the Congressional Gold 
     Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Distinguished 
     Service Medal of each of the branches of the Armed Forces, 
     and more than 100 citations and awards from national veterans 
     service organizations and civic and humanitarian 
     organizations; and
       Whereas Bob Hope has given unselfishly of his time for over 
     a half century to be with United States servicemembers on 
     foreign shores, working tirelessly to bring a spirit of humor 
     and cheer to millions of servicemembers during their 
     loneliest moments, and thereby extending for the American 
     people a touch of home away from home: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) extends its gratitude, on behalf of the American 
     people, to Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope for his lifetime of 
     accomplishments and service on behalf of United States 
     military servicemembers; and
       (2) confers upon Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope the status of an 
     honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces.

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