[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7291-H7293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS JIMMY STEWART MADE TO THE NATION

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 109) recognizing the many talents 
of the actor Jimmy Stewart and honoring the contributions he made to 
the Nation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 109

       Whereas James M. (``Jimmy'') Stewart made more than 80 
     films including comedies, westerns, and dramas of suspense;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart won an Academy Award for best 
     performance by an actor in 1940 for his performance in ``The 
     Philadelphia Story'' and received four other Oscar 
     nominations for his performances in ``Mr. Smith Goes to 
     Washington'', ``It's a Wonderful Life'', ``Harvey'', and 
     ``Anatomy of a Murder'';
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart received a Screen Actors Guild Award 
     in 1968 for ``fostering the finest ideals of the acting 
     profession''; the American Film Institute's eighth life 
     achievement award in 1980, a Kennedy Center Honor in 1983, a 
     special Academy Award in 1984 for ``50 years of meaningful 
     performances'' and ``for his high ideals, both on and off the 
     screen'', and the annual tribute by the Film Society of 
     Lincoln Center in 1990;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart appeared in a number of television 
     shows and Broadway plays and received a Tony Award;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart's poetry was compiled into his 1989 
     book entitled ``Jimmy Stewart and his Poems'';
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the military and served 
     during World War II as operations officer, chief of staff, 
     and squadron commander of the Second Combat Wing of the U.S. 
     Eighth Air Force in England;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart's military decorations include two 
     Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal, multiple oak 
     leaf clusters, six battle stars, and the Croix de Guerre with 
     Palm;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart attained the rank of colonel during 
     World War II and the rank of brigadier general in 1959, 
     making him the highest ranking entertainer in the American 
     military;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart was active in national politics in 
     his later years and was a close personal friend of former 
     President Ronald Reagan;
       Whereas Jimmy Stewart testified before Congress in 1988 in 
     favor of a bill that was later enacted to require film 
     exhibitors and distributors to disclose to the public whether 
     certain culturally, historically, or aesthetically 
     significant films had been colorized or otherwise altered 
     from the original; and
       Whereas in 1985 President Ronald Reagan awarded Jimmy 
     Stewart the Nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential 
     Medal of Freedom: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes the many talents of the 
     late James M. (``Jimmy'') Stewart and honors the artistic, 
     military, and political contributions he made to the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Mica] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Cummings] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica].
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, from time to time the U.S. House of Representatives and 
our Congress honors the memory and talents of great Americans. Mr. 
Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Jimmy Stewart. As an 
actor, as a citizen, and in his personal life, Jimmy Stewart 
exemplified the best of America.
  Most Americans know Jimmy Stewart through his many movies. All of us 
have seen at least some of these movies, and he endeared himself to us 
by his performances. As laymen, though, we probably did not fully 
appreciate what a consummate craftsman he was. His acting appeared so 
natural that many wrongly believed that he was not acting at all, just 
being himself. But, according to biographers and critics, that was 
deceptive.

                              {time}  1245

  What appeared so natural to us was instead the result of talent 
magnified many times over by dedication and hard work.
  Frank Capra, who directed Jimmy Stewart in his most famous movies, 
``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' and ``It's A Wonderful Life,'' had 
this to say about Jimmy Stewart's acting ability:
       There is a higher level than great performances in acting. 
     The actor disappears and there is only a real live person on 
     the screen. There are only a few actors, very few indeed, 
     capable of that level of performance, and that tall string 
     bean sitting over there, he is one of them.

  He was referring, of course, to Mr. Stewart.
  Jimmy Stewart's personal life was also exemplary. He married his wife 
Gloria in 1949 and remained married to her until she died in 1994. That 
is no mean feat in Hollywood and in days where marriages sometimes seem 
to last only weeks or months. He also contributed to his community. He 
was an adviser to Princeton University's Theater in Residence, and 
served on the executive board of the Los Angeles Council of the Boy 
Scouts of America.
  Jimmy Stewart also set a model for all of us in citizenship and 
patriotism. He was already a famous actor when World War II broke out. 
Perhaps he could have used his influence to stay

[[Page H7292]]

out of the armed forces, but he chose not to do so. To the contrary, 
when the Army rejected him because he was underweight, Jimmy Stewart 
ate fattening foods so he could pass the weight test.
  He served in the Army Air Corps, flying 25 missions over enemy 
territory and serving as commander of a bombing wing. His distinguished 
military performance earned him the Air Medal and the Distinguished 
Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. In 1945 he returned to the United 
States as a colonel. He continued serving in the Air Force Reserve, 
attaining the rank of brigadier general in 1959.
  Mr. Speaker, as an actor Jimmy Stewart could have used his wartime 
service to enhance his box office appeal, but he did not. True to his 
core values, he took the opposite track by insisting that his wartime 
exploits be kept out of his movie publicity.
  In all aspects of his life, Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Stewart set an example 
for us all to follow. It is therefore appropriate that this Congress 
take time today to recognize the great contributions that this man has 
made to our great Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Mica], our ranking member, for bringing this resolution to the 
floor in cooperation with our side of the aisle. I want to thank the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. King] for his leadership in guiding this 
bill to the House floor.
  James Stewart was born on May 20, 1908 in his parents' home in 
Indiana, PA, the only son of Alexander and Elizabeth Stewart. After 
Jimmy's arrival, the family expanded to include daughters Virginia and 
Mary.
  Young Jimmy graduated with honors from Princeton with a degree in 
architecture in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression.
  His first film was ``Murder Man'' with Spencer Tracy for MGM in 1935. 
He appeared in 24 movies over the next 4 years, with an Oscar 
nomination for ``Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.'' In 1940, the Oscar 
went to him for his performance in ``The Philadelphia Story.'' Within 
the next year his acting career was brought to an abrupt halt by World 
War II.
  Mr. Stewart enlisted in 1941 and became an air corps pilot and a 
squadron commander. His war record included 20 combat missions as 
command pilot. After being promoted to squadron commander, he became 
operations officer, and from 1944 to 1945 served as chief of staff, 2d 
Combat Wing, 2d Division, 8th Air Force.
  It was after the war that Jimmy Stewart, under the direction of Frank 
Capra, starred in ``It's A Wonderful Life.'' As we all know, it is a 
story of a small town and how one man's life really does make a 
difference. This was his favorite film, and for this he won his third 
Academy Award nomination.
  Jimmy Stewart is among Hollywood's most highly honored and deeply 
loved men. This is not only for his professional successes, but every 
bit as much for his integrity, his character, and the fact that he was 
a true humanitarian. He retained his all-American-boy image; the years 
only added to his stature.
  The American Film Institute recognized the magnitude of Mr. Stewart's 
accomplishments by awarding him the Life Achievement Award in 1980 for 
fundamentally advancing the art of American film. In presenting the 
award, the Institute so accurately declared:

       In a career of extraordinary range and depth, Jimmy Stewart 
     has come to embody on the screen the very image of the 
     typical American. Whether flying the ocean as Charles 
     Lindbergh, going to Washington as Senator Jefferson Smith, or 
     playing ordinary men who somehow never got around to leaving 
     their own towns, Stewart has captured the essence of American 
     hopes, doubts, and aspirations. His idealism, his 
     determination, his vulnerability, and above all, his basic 
     decency shine through every role he plays.

  Once again, I thank the sponsors of this legislation, and I urge its 
unanimous passage.
  Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of our time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. King], the sponsor of this resolution, and 
I congratulate him for providing the House with the opportunity to 
recognize this great American patriot and hero.
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  At the very outset I want to thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. 
Mica] and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Cummings], for all of their support in expediting this matter and 
bringing it to the House floor, and for the support and assistance they 
have given me on this resolution. I also want to thank our majority 
leader, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey] for the assistance he has 
given me also and working with my staff in arranging to have this on 
the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Stewart's death on July 2nd of this year saddened 
millions of Americans of all ages. Not only was Jimmy Stewart an 
extremely talented actor, more importantly, he personified the very 
best of what it means to be an American. He appeared in more than 80 
films. He received an Academy Award and four additional Oscar 
nominations, and appeared on Broadway and on television.
  But Jimmy Stewart was also a man of great courage and a genuine war 
hero. As the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] and the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Cummings] have already brought out, Mr. Stewart enlisted 
in the Army Air Corps during World War II and flew more than 20 combat 
missions over Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross 
twice, the Air Medal, and six battle stars. Following World War II, 
Jimmy Stewart remained active in the Air Force Reserve and rose to the 
rank of brigadier general.
  Mr. Speaker, Jimmy Stewart never had the exalted sense of self-
importance that afflicts so many Hollywood stars, especially today. In 
his dealings with everyday people and in his private life Jimmy Stewart 
was, by all accounts, modest and unassuming, a man of innate decency 
and integrity.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1985 President Reagan awarded Jimmy Stewart the Medal 
of Freedom, which is our Nation's highest civilian honor. Today, by 
adopting this resolution honoring Jimmy Stewart's contributions to our 
Nation, this House, the people's House, is honoring a man who truly 
personified the essence of the American people and a man who did, 
indeed, lead a wonderful life.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Weldon].
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  I rise in strong support of this legislation. America was greatly 
blessed for the past 89 years to have had the privilege of knowing 
Jimmy Stewart. He was a committed family man and a role model on and 
off the big screen. He recognized his position as a role model and 
throughout his life taught us much. Those of us in this Chamber and the 
Chamber across the Capitol have a lot to learn from him and the roles 
he played.
  It has been said that what is said about a person upon one's death is 
very telling of the value of their life. As a nation we were saddened 
at the loss of Jimmy Stewart. What did his friends say about him?
  Charlton Heston, who starred with Stewart in ``The Greatest Show On 
Earth'' said, ``He was deeply patriotic, deeply professional, a fine 
actor, and more important than any of those things, perhaps, he was a 
gentleman.''
  Karolyn Grimes, who at the age of 6 played Stewart's daughter Zuzu in 
``It's A Wonderful Life'' recalled, ``I remember very distinctly that I 
did not learn the words to `Auld Lang Syne' at the end of the movie. I 
felt like a very silly fool. Stewart sort of didn't know the words, 
either. He made me feel really at ease about it. I will always consider 
him a movie legend and someone I can always respect and keep in my 
heart.''
  Ronald and Nancy Reagan said, ``He never really understood the 
greatness that others saw in him.''
  Bob Hope said, ``Jimmy was every man's hero and every woman's dream 
man. He wasn't just a talent, but a genius and a dear friend. America 
has lost its role model and I've lost a great friend. Jimmy represented 
the best in all of us in the characters he played. Who can ever forget 
his Mr. Smith? Yup, that was Jimmy. I love Jimmy for

[[Page H7293]]

his humor and warmth and for his commitment to our country. He was a 
great war hero and did so much for the USO. All that and he played a 
mean game of golf. I'm going to miss him.''
  Bob's wife Dolores said, ``His life was lonely without his beloved 
wife Gloria, who died in 1994. He missed her so, and now they're 
together again. What joy there must be.''
  ``It's A Wonderful Life'' and ``Mr. Smith Goes To Washington'' are 
stories of commitment to principle and to family. These movies are a 
far cry from many of the movies we see today, characterized by 
``Powder'', ``Pulp Fiction'' and ``Priest.''
  We need to continue to send Hollywood the message that America longs 
for movies in the spirit of Jimmy Stewart, movies about commitment to 
family, to a husband or a wife, commitment to children, to love them 
and care for them, to put them first, not our own selfish interests.
  Again, I commend the gentleman from New York for bringing forward 
this legislation, and the subcommittee chairman and the ranking member 
for supporting it.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to thank again the distinguished 
gentleman from New York [Mr. King] for bringing this resolution before 
the House. I also want to take a moment to thank the distinguished 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Murtha] for his leadership relating to 
this memorial to a great American, and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Cummings], my colleague and distinguished ranking member of our 
Subcommittee on Civil Service, for his assistance in bringing this 
resolution to the floor.

                              {time}  1300

  Of course, I also want to thank Chairman Burton, chairman of our full 
committee, and the ranking member, the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Waxman], who has also helped in expediting the consideration of this 
resolution.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I thought it would be interesting to read 
from ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' a 1939 classic about Congress, 
and Mr. Stewart's famous words as Mr. Smith. He said, as many of us 
remember, about his feelings, ``I wouldn't give you two cents for all 
your fancy rules if behind them they didn't have a little bit of plain, 
ordinary kindness and a little lookin' out for the other fella.'' And 
that is what Congress is sometimes about, and we remember that as we 
remember this great American today.
  Mr. Speaker, as we have heard on the floor today, Jimmy Stewart was 
an exemplary American. He personified the traditional American virtues 
of hard work, dedication to family, dedication to country, and personal 
modesty. He enriched our culture, and he enriched our civic life.
  He could have used his heroic military service during World War II to 
bring additional glory to himself, but like so many of the men and 
women of his era who served our Nation in war at a perilous time, he 
did not. Instead, he served his Nation quietly. I have read, Mr. 
Speaker, that Jimmy Stewart only once used his influence while in the 
military. He used it to request that he be treated the same as all 
other men and women in uniform.
  It is indeed a privilege for me, Mr. Speaker, to join my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New York [Mr. King], and 
all Members to support this resolution, recognizing the many and 
lasting contributions of James Maitland Stewart.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent 
Resolution 109.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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