[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 58 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4604-S4606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EULOGY TO SENATOR JENNINGS RANDOLPH

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, it is my sad duty to announce to the Senate 
the death on last Friday of our former colleague, U.S. Senator Jennings 
Randolph. With countless West Virginians, and with his many friends 
across America, I am saddened by the passing of my longtime friend.
  Jennings Randolph was a man possessed of a profound love for West 
Virginia and for the Nation. More, he was a man of seemingly boundless 
energy and limitless horizons. Both in Government and in his several 
other fields of interest and expression, Senator Randolph seemed 
constantly to be looking for ways to assist other people to achieve 
their own potential, or for avenues by which others might attain a 
better life for themselves. He was, paradoxically perhaps, an 
indefatigably optimistic realist. Jennings Randolph knew that life 
often demands struggle and many times ends in defeat; but for every 
problem, Jennings believed that good-willed, intelligent, and decent 
men and women could find solutions to their mutual and individual 
problems, if they united their talents in a mutual effort to overcome 
frustration or evil, or if they but reached into their deepest 
resources of character.
  An educator, writer, public speaker, aviation enthusiast, corporate 
executive, a Representative and a Senator, Jennings Randolph was a 
master of many talents. I was honored to serve with him as a colleague, 
and honored to call him my friend.
  If events can foreshadow destinies, perhaps Jennings Randolph's 
destiny was outlined at his birth, 96 years ago, in 1902. One of 
Senator Randolph's father's closest friends was the great William 
Jennings Bryan. Jennings was fond of recounting the anecdote that his 
father was with Bryan shortly after Jennings' birth. When told of the 
arrival of a new Randolph male, Bryan asked Mr. Randolph, ``Have you 
named this boy?'' ``No,'' the father replied. ``Then why don't you give 
him part of my name as a good Democrat?''
  So Jennings Randolph received his name from the perennial 
Presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan--a name that Randolph 
never tarnished and that he burnished brilliantly in his own career.
  I recall another story that Jennings Randolph sometimes told out of 
his boyhood in Salem, West Virginia. According to Jennings, Salem had a 
water tower that stood high on a hill above the town.
  Jennings said that he told his father and mother, ``If I could just 
get a long pole and * * * climb up on that tank, and hold out that 
pole, I believe I could touch the sky.'' That is a story that shows the 
theme of this man's life--the tale of a boy who wanted to touch the 
sky. And when that boy became a man, touch the sky he did.
  Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College in 1924. From there he 
went into newspaper work in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and later in 
Elkins. A short step more took him onto the faculty of Davis and Elkins 
College as a professor of speech and journalism, and the director of 
athletics. Working in that capacity, in 1932 Jennings Randolph was 
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, entering as a strong 
supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt's ``New Deal,'' and serving in the 
House until January 3, 1947.

  In 1947, he accepted a position as assistant to the President of 
Capital Airlines and Director of Public Relations. In 1958, however, 
Jennings Randolph returned to politics. He loved politics; he loved to 
``Press the flesh.'' He couldn't get politics out of his blood. So he 
won election to the U.S. Senate to complete the unexpired term of the 
late Senator Matthew Mansfield Neely from West Virginia. On November 5, 
1958, Jennings took the oath of office as U.S. Senator.
  Elected in that same election for a full Senate term, for 26 years, I 
shared with Jennings Randolph the privilege of representing and serving 
West Virginia in the United States Senate. That partnership I shall 
cherish always. No man could have asked for a more generous, dedicated, 
or thoughtful colleague than I had in Jennings Randolph. And I know 
from my own experience that Jennings Randolph was certainly a man whose 
touch reached the sky. In West Virginia to this day, thousands of 
people bless his name for the deeds that he did for them as a friend 
and as a faithful public servant.
  One of Jennings Randolph's greatest areas of ongoing contribution was 
to the development and advancement of air flight.
  Some may recall the ancient Greek myth of the flight of Icarus. 
According to that legend, Icarus attempted to fly, using wings attached 
to his body with wax.
  Icarus flew, to be sure. But Icarus flew too close to the sun. The 
sun melted the wax on Icarus's wings, and he fell into the sea.
  Early on, Jennings Randolph became interested in flight. Fortunately 
for him and for us, Jennings went about getting into the air more 
safely than Icarus did.
  As I mentioned, in 1947, Jennings Randolph became an assistant to the 
President and Director of Public Relations for Capital Airlines--one of 
the companies that later formed United Airlines. In that position, for 
the next eleven years, Jennings Randolph advanced the airline industry 
here and abroad. While Jennings was with Capital Airlines, however, he 
undertook one mission that places him on an equal footing with Icarus--
in bravery and, of course, Jennings was far more successful than 
Icarus. On November 6, 1948, with a professional pilot at the controls, 
Jennings Randolph flew from Morgantown, West Virginia, to the 
Washington National Airport in a propeller plane fueled with gasoline 
made from coal. Now, that was just like Jennings Randolph--out there 
pioneering, not only in flight, but also in the use of fuel in that 
plane that had a West Virginia Source--coal. Certainly, that project 
was an act of faith, for which many remember Senator Randolph.
  Not as well remembered is Congressman Jennings Randolph's 
introduction in 1946 of legislation to create a National Air Museum. 
Three decades later, on July 4, 1976, Senator Randolph dedicated the 
National Air and Space Museum complex on the Mall in Washington--noted 
today as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Nation's 
Capital.
  Jennings Randolph was an advocate of numerous other items of vital 
legislation as well--legislation to aid the handicapped and black lung 
victims, legislation to promote clean water and clean air, legislation 
to provide vocational and career education, and the legislation that 
created the National Peace Academy in 1983.

  In announcing his decision not to run for reelection to the Senate in 
the 1984 race, Jennings said, ``* * * It's been a happy road. I have no 
regrets. * * * I believe the Bible says there is a season and a time 
for every purpose. It is time for me not to run for reelection.''
  That ``happy road'' was an unparalleled example of citizenship and 
public service. In an era in which so many seem preoccupied primarily 
with grasping and grabbing for themselves, Jennings Randolph was 
committed to exerting himself--his intellect, his energy, and his 
considerable talents--on behalf, and in behalf, of his fellow citizens, 
his fellow West Virginians, his fellow Americans, his fellow human 
beings.
  Jennings lived a long time--a full and active life. But all of us, 
high and low, rich and poor, must one day say goodby to friends and 
loved ones in this earthly life and make our journeys to that unknown 
bourne from which no traveler returns.
  It was on last Friday morning that the pallid messenger with the 
inverted torch beckoned Jennings to depart.
  Jennings' passing reminds me of Thomas More's lines.

     When I remember all
     the friends so linked together

[[Page S4605]]

     I've seen round me fall
     like leaves in wintry weather
     I feel like one who treads alone
     some banquet hall deserted
     whose lights are fled
     whose garlands dead
     and all but he departed . . .

  Whether Jennings, on that last morning, saw a more glorious sun rise 
with unimaginable splendor above a celestial horizon; whether his 
dexterous and disciplined faculties are now contending in a higher 
senate than ours for supremacy; whether he yet remembers us as we 
remember him, we do not know. These questions are much like the 
question that came from the lips of that ancient patriarch, a man of 
Uz, whose name was Job, ``If a man dies, shall he live again?''
  But we have the consolation expressed by that same man of Uz,

     Oh that my words were written in a book and engraved
     With an iron pen, and
     lead in the rock forever,
     For I know that my
     Redeemer liveth and that
     in the latter day he shall
     Stand upon the earth.

  So, Jennings Randolph has crossed the Great Divide.
  I think of others who were serving here when Jennings Randolph and I 
took the oath of office to serve in this Chamber. It was almost 40 
years ago. I remember Senators on both sides of the aisle: Senator 
Aiken, Senator Anderson of New Mexico, Senator Harry Byrd, Sr., of 
Virginia, Senators Capehart of Indiana, Chavez of New Mexico, Cooper of 
Kentucky, Dirksen, Douglas of Illinois, Eastland, Ellender, Fulbright, 
Hayden, Hennings of Missouri, Hickenlooper of Iowa, Hill of Alabama, 
Holland of Florida, ``Scoop'' Jackson of Washington, Johnson of Texas, 
Johnston of South Carolina, Langer of North Dakota, McClellan of 
Arkansas, Magnuson of Washington, Wayne Morse of Oregon, Murray of 
Montana, Willis Robertson of Virginia, Richard Russell, Saltonstall of 
Massachusetts, Stennis of Mississippi, Symington of Missouri, and 
Milton Young. All of these, and others, were here.
  Of that illustrious band which sat in this Chamber when Jennings 
Randolph and I first entered the Senate, only Strom Thurmond and I 
remain here.

     They are drifting away, these friends of old
     Like leaves on the current cast;
     With never a break in their rapid flow,
     We count them, as one by one they go
     Into the Dreamland of the Past.

  Erma and I extend our condolences to Jennings' two sons, Jay and 
Frank, and to others of his family.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, it probably would not have been 
within the nature of the Senator from West Virginia, Senator Jennings 
Randolph, to object to something that was about to be said about one of 
his departed colleagues. He was not like that. But I need to report to 
you, as of course our colleagues know, that Senator Randolph has died. 
My colleague, Senator Byrd, spoke to the subject, and did so very 
eloquently.
  I think the sad news, of course, is that he is no longer with us. The 
good news is, in talking with one of his two sons Jay and Frank--and 
the Senator from West Virginia talked with Jay--he said he died very 
peacefully on Friday. He was a great defender of all 13 States in the 
Appalachian Regional Commission, including the State of Mississippi.
  It was a very interesting decision, in fact, when Senator Randolph 
decided to resign. I now can tell a story which I have never told 
before because it was one of such exquisite sensitivity on the part of 
the then-senior Senator from West Virginia, Senator Randolph.
  No Governor has ever been elected to the U.S. Senate from the 
position of Governor of West Virginia. It has never happened in our 
history. There are reasons for that. In any event, my term was expiring 
as Governor in 1984, and I wanted very much to run for the Senate, but, 
on the other hand, Senator Randolph was a very, very formidable 
Senator, obviously a powerful committee chairman, had been in the 
Congress longer than anybody. He was the only person to reach back to 
the original first days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr., and he was 
literally at Franklin Roosevelt's side on a number of occasions when he 
signed bills. This is an enormous bridge of history and bridge of 
spirit. I think he wanted to rerun for another term. I don't know that, 
but it is my feeling that he did, because he was a very young 84. 
Anyone who knew Jennings Randolph knew him to be hardy, vigorous, 
strong, and very much in love with his job.
  He, understanding my interests, and my understanding his interests, 
he being obviously by far in the stronger position, asked me to come 
have breakfast with him at his hideaway. Being senior, he had a very 
nice hideaway. I had never been to a hideaway before, and rarely have 
been to one since. He had a nice breakfast served there. There was 
pleasant conversation. He was very relaxed. Then he simply turned to me 
and he said, ``Jay, would you like to be the next Senator from West 
Virginia?''
  I said ``Senator, yes, I would, but not if you, Senator Randolph, 
want to run for reelection.'' And I meant that.
  Without really pausing anymore than I had, he said, ``Well, I think 
you should be the Senator.''
  If one thinks back as a Senator of what one has known over the years, 
it is very rarely that a Senator who has spent virtually all of his 
life in public service willingly, generously, and warmly gives up his 
seat, which probably could have been his again, in order to step aside 
for somebody somewhat younger.
  That is not a story I have ever heard told before because I am not 
sure it has happened before, but it is a story that I am very proud to 
say today because I told Senator Randolph's son, Jay, that I wanted to 
tell it today. Jay knew about it because his father had told him about 
it. It is something that, better than anything I could say, 
characterizes the nature of the generosity of this man, which was 
counteracted on the other side by a ferocity of intensity about his 
work.
  It is very hard to make any other case, but this man was a giant in 
legislative history, and one could say for no other reason than he 
served for as long as he did, simply to say, ``I served with Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt.'' How many times did I hear him talk about Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt?
  He was by nature a man who believed in government--and he was very 
much a Democrat that way, although he was a conservative Democrat on 
many social issues--in terms of what is it the people need, what is it 
the people shall have, what is it that I think I can help them get. In 
fact, when he made that decision not to run, our unemployment rate in 
West Virginia was somewhere around 17 or 18 percent. Government was 
very important to Senator Randolph, and he led his life and his 
legislative life very much with that in mind.

  He and Senator Byrd were elected at the same time in 1958 because 
there was a special vacancy because of a special circumstance.
  Positive, civil, courteous, and kind he was. I asked, before I arose 
to make these remarks, where he sat, and I was informed that he sat in 
five different desks. One of them, I think, is the desk from which 
Senator Levin from Michigan just spoke.
  Over his time here, he insisted on courtesy in the Senate, something 
which has been paralleled by his colleague, Senator Byrd, for so many 
years. I am told by my father-in-law, Senator Percy, who was also his 
very close friend, that he would often get up and insist on order in 
the Senate. He was very much a stickler for protocol and order and also 
for voting from his or her desk, which is something that Senator Byrd 
also feels very strongly about.
  I remember a Senator of kindness, of good humor who was always in an 
ebullient mood, who actually bounced sometimes when he talked he was so 
enthusiastic about what he was doing. But he demanded dignity in the 
treatment of others. He demanded respect in the treatment of others. He 
was very old-fashioned in his ways and, thus, I think we miss him even 
more these days.
  He did many things. He was always open to new ideas. He actually, 
more than 50 years ago, flew an airplane for some distance that was 
powered entirely by methanol. One, he knew how to fly an airplane, 
which was unusual; two, he flew an airplane which was powered by 
methanol, which was almost unprecedented. He involved himself at a very 
early age, and he did so with extraordinary effectiveness.
  I could talk for an hour, which I will not, about what he 
accomplished. Everybody knows that he really was the

[[Page S4606]]

founder of the Appalachian Regional Commission, which has done so much 
to help not only the State he loved, West Virginia, but 12 other States 
in addition to that. He was a principal architect of the Interstate 
Highway System which helps to place him in time, because that was done 
during, as we know, the middle and late fifties.
  I think the proudest of all of his achievements, or the one that 
caused him to talk the most and to be the most enthusiastic about, was 
the 26th amendment. He was the author and the driver of the 26th 
amendment which gave 18-year-olds the right to vote in this country.
  He protected the environment with ferocity. He was tremendously 
interested in coal, as well as the environment, in worker safety and, 
as I have indicated, in aviation issues, and in just simply countless 
other areas.
  He was prodigious in his volume of output. Of course, that was, in 
part, because he was chairman of a very powerful committee, and he was 
chairman of that committee for a very long time. That was in the days 
when the Senate tended to be more in control by one party than the 
other for a very long time. He worked with the Scoop Jacksons and the 
Lyndon Johnsons and all of the others. They were able to accomplish an 
enormous amount. He did that and he loved it--he simply loved doing 
that. He simply loved laying pavement out across the wide horizons of 
our country.
  There was an interesting aspect to Senator Randolph. He was intense 
about all of his work, but he was very much of a U.S. Senator from the 
State of West Virginia. He accepted full responsibility for the title 
``U.S. Senator'' and acted on all matters that related to that with 
incisiveness and careful thought. But he liked to say--and often said, 
and said with great pride--quoting him--``I essentially am a West 
Virginia Senator. I'm not what you'd call a national Senator or 
international Senator.'' I think if he were here today, I am not sure 
the words would be that different.
  And to understand that one has to understand his roots. He was born 
in this tiny community of Salem, WV, which is now the home of probably 
as many Japanese students in a Salem-Tokyo University setting as reside 
anywhere else in this country. His father was the mayor of Salem. He 
was born with very little money, and he worked his way in farm jobs. He 
knew agriculture very well. He worked for anybody who would give him a 
job to put a few dollars in his pocket so he could further his 
education and improve his possibilities. I liked that about him, 
because he was utterly a rural Senator, but with an urban reach when it 
came to the national part of his responsibilities.
  He started in journalism and was always a prolific writer. He married 
Katherine Babb and won election to the House of Representatives in 1932 
at the age of 30. One can do that these days, although one cannot go 
much younger than that legally. But then it was extraordinary, it was 
extraordinary to be able to do that. And I indicated he has two sons, 
Jay and Frank.
  So more than 50 years later, I think the occupant of the Presiding 
Officer's chair will understand that it is quite a feeling for me to 
have succeeded him, to have been allowed to succeed him by his own 
gesture of generosity and, frankly, just to be able to succeed him.
  He is long remembered in this body, as well as in the House, for the 
very exceptional nature that he had: High optimism, great confidence, 
enormous belief in country, and his absolute love for his State. He 
also--and I will say this in closing--he had a great love for his 
profession. And in that I think many of us join him. He was not one of 
those who felt being in public service was some kind of a second 
choice; I think he felt it was the best choice of all.
  He was somebody who honored his craft, who brought great distinction 
to his craft, who never compromised on his principles. And when he 
faced a West Virginia audience or a Senate Chamber, he could stand tall 
and strong and broad shouldered, as he was, and do his work, because he 
knew he was doing work which was enormously important for helping the 
people that he so loved from the State of West Virginia.
  So this is a day and a time that we have reason to reflect on 
Jennings Randolph and what made him an exceptional person. It is sad, I 
think, this tradition in the Senate when we do this about Senators when 
they die. It would be almost impossible to create a tradition where we 
did that while they were still living. But it would be nice if they 
could hear what it was that we say about them. And I suspect that 
Senator Jennings Randolph is able to hear and to know on this day, and 
days to succeed, what his colleagues think about him.
  I personally am grateful to him for many reasons, as I think should 
be very obvious. I am not sure that I would be here if it were not for 
Jennings Randolph. And I know that my colleagues join me in our prayers 
and our thoughts for his family and in thanking Jennings Randolph for 
his enormous contribution to a craft which we call public service. And 
we do that with honor and pride.

  I thank the Presiding Officer.
  Mr. WYDEN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.
  Mr. WYDEN. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Before the Senator from West Virginia leaves the floor, let me say I 
thought he was extraordinarily eloquent. I got a chance to know Senator 
Randolph a bit as a Member of the House. And the Senator's statement 
here today really sums up the extraordinary qualities of this great 
man. I am very pleased to have been able to be here for a few minutes 
to hear the Senator's very fine speech.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Roberts). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
distinguished Senator from Wyoming is recognized.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed 
to speak as in morning business for as much time as I may need.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. THOMAS. Thank you.

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