[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AMBASSADOR RICHARD GARDNER'S OUTSTANDING SERVICE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, too often we take for granted the 
exceptional work done by our Ambassadors and members of the foreign 
service. These individuals perform their duties in countries throughout 
the world, often in difficult conditions. Their service is a great 
tribute to their ability and their loyalty to our Nation, and they 
deserve America's enduring gratitude for the job they do so well in 
representing our country in other lands.
  Earlier this month, one of our most respected ambassadors, Richard 
Gardner, completed his service as Ambassador to Spain. Dick has 
previously served as Ambassador to Italy, and is widely recognized as 
one of the Nation's foremost experts on foreign policy. The knowledge, 
enthusiasm, and diligence he brought to his post in Madrid 
significantly strengthened the political, economic, and cultural ties 
between our Nation and Spain.
  I commend Ambassador Gardner for his outstanding service.
  Leaders in Spain have recognized the remarkable contributions made by 
Ambassador Gardner, and I ask unanimous consent that a recent article 
by Miguel Herrero de Minon be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the Article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                    [From ``El Pais'', July 1, 1997]

                         A Fortunate Ambassador

                     (by Miguel Herrero de Minion)

       The U.S. Ambassador, Professor Gardner, and his wife, 
     Danielle, will soon conclude their mission in our country. 
     The time for farewells is the time for praise and the 
     Gardners have made so many friends here, and even established 
     family ties, that they will receive more than enough 
     accolades. That is why I only want to bear witness to a 
     simple, objective fact: Ambassador Gardner has been a 
     fortunate ambassador and good fortune, an excellent attribute 
     for the one who has it and, particularly in the position he 
     holds, requires two ingredients: specific circumstance and 
     the ability to be able to navigate through to a safe port. 
     The former is mere chance; the latter comes through 
     character, good fortune consists of building a destination 
     between the two.
       The circumstance of Gardner's embassy in Spain is no less 
     than the maturation of the U.S.-Spanish relationship, which 
     led naturally to it becoming a truly ``special'' one. I think 
     I was the first, now a number of years ago, to suggest this 
     term, remarking that of all the countries in the European 
     Union with the exception of the United Kingdom, Spain is 
     potentially the one that has the most interests in common 
     with the United States. Accordingly, the sometimes 
     embarrassing security relationship begun over 40 years ago, 
     has been growing while increasing economic, cultural, 
     strategic and political ties have come to light.
       Massive student and teacher exchanges contributed to making 
     Spain better known in the U.S. and to doing away with 
     mistrust here; the restoration of democracy in our country 
     opened the way to fuller cooperation, and the Gulf War marked 
     a basic turning point, at least in Spanish public opinion.
       But Gardner has had the historic opportunity to contribute 
     decisively during these important recent years, to the 
     acceleration and maturation of this trend, by preparing 
     visits at the highest level in both directions, and 
     collaborating in common, bilateral and multilateral 
     undertakings, bringing the two societies closer together with 
     better knowledge of each other. It was during his tenure that 
     President Clinton launched the Transatlantic Agenda in Madrid 
     and, also in Madrid with the Spaniard Solana at the helm, 
     Atlantic Alliance reform took place, not to mention good 
     political collaboration in other areas of mutual interest. It 
     was also when economic and trade relations were intensified 
     between our two countries, and educational and cultural 
     relations between our two societies.
       Gardner has been not only the representative of one Nation 
     and its Government in another, but also an excellent mediator 
     between two societies. He has come to learn and to teach, 
     opened up possibilities and launched institutions, mobilized 
     initiatives that in many cases are more private than public. 
     His professorial talents--the ability to turn Embassy 
     breakfasts into seminars--and his intellectual talents--he 
     has even enriched our bibliography with a masterpiece of 
     economic-diplomatic history--have served his mission well, as 
     has his liberal patriotism in the best tradition of American 
     internationalism--as opposed to unilateralism and 
     isolationism--which has always held that the implementation 
     of manifest destiny involves making oneself known, understood 
     and making friends.
       The growing number of Spaniards who believe in the Atlantic 
     community will miss him, because good fortune, doing such a 
     good and timely job, is a rare and beneficent attribute.

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