[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S9030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CONFERRING STATUS AS AN HONORARY VETERAN OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES ON 
                        LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) HOPE

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 153, H.J. Res. 
75.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 75) to confer status as an 
     honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces on Leslie 
     Townes (Bob) Hope.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, it is my privilege today to ask that the 
Senate approve legislation to confer the status of honorary veteran of 
the U.S. Armed Forces to Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope. This resolution, 
House Joint Resolution 75, which was unanimously approved by the Senate 
Committee on Veterans Affairs on June 12, 1997, is identical to a 
companion resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 36, which I, as chairman 
of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, was honored to introduce on July 
28, 1997. I am pleased to say that the ranking member of the committee, 
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, and 47 other Members of the Senate 
joined me as cosponsors of this resolution when I introduced it.
  Mr. President, the Members of this body, and the American people as a 
whole, are acutely aware of the contributions Bob Hope has made to the 
Nation. His service to country--and; most particularly, to its 
soldiers, sailor, marines, and airmen over a period exceeding 50 
years--are legion. 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 of 
the U.S. Armed Forces--surely, it is Bob Hope.
  As I have stated, Bob Hope's contributions to this Nation are well 
known to all of our citizens. Less well known is the fact that Bob Hope 
is a naturalized American, having emigrated from his native England 
when he 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 
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 as scaled 
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 moral 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 
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 approving legislation 
designating Bob Hope an honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. 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. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the joint 
resolution be considered read a third time and passed, the preamble be 
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the resolution appear at this point in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 75) was considered read the third 
time and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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