[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      GRATITUDE TO SENATOR McCAIN

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to call attention 
to a significant day in our Nation's history. Not only is this St. 
Patrick's Day, but it was 25 years ago today, St. Patrick's Day, March 
17, 1973, that our friend and colleague, Senator John McCain, was 
released from the Hanoi Hilton. Senator McCain was shot down over 
Vietnam on October 26, 1967, and spent almost 6 years in a North 
Vietnamese prison. Most of that time was in solitary confinement.
  It is appropriate today that we not only recognize that 25-year 
anniversary of Senator McCain, but recognize the leadership, the 
inspiration and what he has meant to this country. In a day when I know 
many people sometimes question whether values do count and standards 
and expectations do count, our colleague, our friend, Senator McCain, 
is an embodiment to what is best in this country, what has always been 
best, and what always will be important--that is loyalty and commitment 
to your country, that is dedication, it is values and standards, it is 
having high expectations in oneself.
  It is a rather unique example of how someone has been able to take 
the experience that he has had and harness that energy and focus that 
energy for something very positive for this country and to help make 
this world better. That is Senator John McCain.
  This morning, some of our colleagues--I see one on the floor, our 
friend, Senator Cleland from Georgia, who, too, gave so much to his 
country in the Vietnam war--recognized John McCain in a surprise visit 
to his office at 9:15. One of the things that we gave him was a United 
States Navy A-4 jet fighter ejection seat. I reminded him when he came 
to campaign for me in 1996, as we flew across Nebraska in a small 
plane, one of the copilots said, ``Now, let me explain to you how you 
get out of this plane if you need to,'' and I interrupted this young 
pilot by saying, ``Senator McCain never uses the door, he gets out 
another way.'' As that young pilot went up into the cockpit, the other 
pilot said, ``You dummy, that is Senator McCain. Don't you know the 
story how he ejected and crash landed and did these incredible 
things?'' We reminisced about that this morning and then presented 
Senator

[[Page S2084]]

McCain an actual A-4 ejection seat. I don't know what he does with 
that, but a couple of old infantry men like Senator Cleland and I were 
out of our league dealing with the ejection seats and we didn't go near 
that seat.
  Suffice it to say that this Nation owes Senator McCain and all the 
POWs a great debt. We recognize their service, their commitment, their 
loyalty, but mostly we recognize their leadership and what they have 
meant to us when times are tough and when we dig down deep in our 
society and we look for standards and leadership and commitment and 
role models. Mr. President, that role model is John McCain.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. CLELAND. I associate myself, first of all, Mr. President, with 
the marvelous remarks from the Senator from Nebraska. He is a 
distinguished Vietnam veteran himself. It was a wonderful experience to 
be with Senator McCain, Senator Hagel and Senator Kerrey this morning--
all of us Vietnam veterans.
  It was a marvelous experience to be there with Senator John McCain as 
he celebrated his 25th homecoming ``back to the world'' as we used to 
call this country, when we were in Southeast Asia. Senator Hagel has 
spoken eloquently, and I associate my remarks with his. I hope that 
Senator McCain won't be ejected from the Senate for many, many years to 
come.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 15 minutes of the time 
allocated to Senator Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has that right to be recognized 
for 15 minutes.

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