[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MAJORITY WHIP OWES AN APOLOGY

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened and 
chagrined to read in the paper the remarks of our colleague, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the Majority Whip, regarding slavery 
and the President's remark on the subject.
  According to my colleague, and I quote, ``Here is a flower child with 
gray hair doing exactly what he did back in the '60s. He is apologizing 
for the actions of the U.S.'' While there is nothing wrong with 
apologizing, that is not what the President did.
  What President Clinton did on his recent trip to Africa was express 
his regret over slavery. He said slavery was wrong, something we should 
all be able to agree on. At a time when the President and others are 
trying to nurture racial healing and reconciliation, it is unfortunate 
that there are those who would use the issue of race as a wedge to 
divide us.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) owes this House, 
the American people, and the President an explanation and an apology. 
He has said that the President cannot tell the truth about his mistakes 
and own up to them.
  Mr. Delay should admit his own error of judgment and apologize.




                          ____________________