[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5630-S5631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NICK MURNION OF GARFIELD COUNTY, MONTANA--PROFILE IN COURAGE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, on May 29, during the Memorial Day recess 
last week, the Kennedy Library Foundation held its annual ``Profile in 
Courage'' Award Ceremony at the Kennedy Library in Boston. The 1998 
Profile in Courage Award was presented to Nickolas C. Murnion, the 
County Attorney of Garfield County, Montana, for his courageous 
leadership in the confrontation earlier in this decade with the militia 
group called the Freemen.
  The Profile in Courage award takes its name from President Kennedy's 
Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' which my brother 
wrote in the 1950's, while he was still a Senator. The book told the 
stories of elected officials in American history who showed 
extraordinary political courage by doing what they thought was right, 
in spite of powerful resistance and opposition.
  Nick Murnion clearly demonstrated that quality of political courage, 
and he did so at great physical risk to himself as well. His small 
rural community in Montana came under siege, beginning in 1993, from 
the Freemen, a belligerent anti-government militia that took root in 
the area. The members of the Freemen refused to abide by local laws or 
pay taxes. They harassed and threatened public officials, and 
threatened the life of Nick Murnion and anyone else who challenged 
them.
  But Nick Murnion stood his ground, and armed with the rule of law and 
the strong support of other citizens in the community, he prevailed. 
Finally, in 1996, the FBI came to provide assistance, and after a 
dramatic 81-day siege, the militia members surrendered peacefully.
  Today, as the nation struggles to deal with extremist groups, hate 
crimes, church bombings, schoolyard shootings, and other distressing 
acts of violence in our society, Nick Murnion's inspiring story reminds 
us of leadership at its best in our democracy.
  In accepting the Profile in Courage Award, Nick Murnion delivered a 
truly eloquent address at the Kennedy Library in Boston, and I ask 
unanimous consent that his remarks be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the remarks were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Address of Garfield County Attorney Nickolas S. Murnion, 1998 Profile 
                in Courage Award Ceremony, May 29, 1998

       Members of the President's family, Trustees of the John F. 
     Kennedy Library Foundation, family and friends.
       I was both shocked and delighted four weeks ago when 
     Caroline Kennedy called me in a little town in Montana to 
     give me the great news that I had been selected as this 
     year's John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage recipient. I had a 
     vague awareness of the award, but my first reaction was 
     disbelief. I couldn't figure out how I could be selected for 
     such a prestigious honor, when I had no idea I was even being 
     considered. I will also admit that at the time, I was almost 
     more in awe in talking with Caroline Kennedy than in getting 
     the great news about the award.
       My first recollection of any political race was in 1960, 
     when at the age of 7 I asked to see pictures in the newspaper 
     of who was running for President of the United States. My 
     first impression was that there was no question I would have 
     voted for John F. Kennedy. Later I remember a schoolteacher 
     telling us to remember President Kennedy as having made some 
     of the most eloquent speeches in our time. Looking back at 
     those speeches now, I believe she was right. The Kennedy 
     presidency was one that I remember very fondly for the ideals 
     expressed and the vision of a future where everyone could

[[Page S5631]]

     share in the American Dream. Politics was a noble profession 
     to which a young person could aspire.
       One of my biggest honors in being chosen to receive this 
     award is to represent the Big Sky State of Montana. 
     Apparently, John F. Kennedy also was fond of our state. When 
     he addressed the Montana Democratic Convention in 1960, he 
     quoted Thoreau: ``Eastward I only go by force. Westward I go 
     free.'' Then he added, ``That is why I have come to 
     Montana.''
       President's Kennedy's last stop was in Great Falls on 
     September 26, 1963, where he closed his final speech by 
     saying: ``This sun in this sky which shines over Montana can 
     be, I believe, the kind of inspiration to us all to recognize 
     what a great single country we have--50 separate states, but 
     one people living here in the United States, building this 
     country and maintaining the watch around the globe. This is 
     the opportunity before us as well as the responsibility.''
       As I appear before you today in the great state of 
     Massachusetts and in this historical city of Boston, I am 
     proud to be part of these 50 great states. My experience the 
     last five years in dealing with the Montana Freemen has 
     instilled in me a great appreciation for our democratic form 
     of government. Until you have to fight for your government 
     you tend to take it for granted. In 1994 in a small county in 
     Montana with only 1,500 residents and one sheriff and one 
     deputy, our people had to make a decision to take a stand 
     against 30 armed insurrectionists, even though it put their 
     own lives and property at risk. Even with the knowledge of 
     the risks, 80 people signed up to assist law enforcement in 
     whatever was needed to be done to deal with a situation which 
     was rapidly escalating into an armed confrontation. In 
     accepting this award I wish to acknowledge the courage of 
     those 80 people and of the rest of the community which 
     overwhelmingly condemned this movement.
       In ``Profiles in Courage'' I was struck by the stands taken 
     by different people in history which left them alone to fight 
     the battle. Everyone seemed to desert them at one time or 
     another. I never felt completely alone in this struggle. I 
     had the people of Garfield County for support. I had Attorney 
     General Joe Mazurek assisting on behalf of the State of 
     Montana. When times got real bad, I knew I could always call 
     on Senator Max Baucus for help.
       The story of Edmund G. Ross who cast the deciding vote in 
     stopping the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson 
     particularly touched me. Ross voted against the impeachment 
     to save the Union against those who wanted to continue the 
     struggles brought on by the Civil War. Years later the Kansas 
     newspapers finally praised the actions of Ross. ``By the 
     firmness and courage of Senator Ross, it was said, the 
     country was saved from calamity greater than war, while it 
     consigned him into a political martyrdom, the most cruel in 
     our history. Ross was the victim of a wild flame of 
     intolerance which swept everything before it. He did his 
     duty knowing it meant his political death. It was a brave 
     thing for Ross to do, but Ross did it. He acted for his 
     conscience and with a lofty patriotism, regardless of what 
     he knew must be the ruinous consequences to himself. He 
     was right.''
       There is a growing wave of intolerance in this country by 
     those groups, which call themselves patriots, militias, 
     constitutionalists, common law courts, posse commitatus, and 
     freemen. Their numbers are estimated at between 5 and 20 
     million. They appear to be the disenfranchised Americans who 
     believe the government has gotten so corrupt that the only 
     solution is revolution. They were not taken very seriously 
     until the Oklahoma City bombing. They have not gone away, 
     although their movement has gone more underground. They will 
     be back with the same hate-filled message filled with 
     scapegoats and conspiracy theories for all their problems.
       As a prosecutor, I am not sure I did anything in this 
     situation that any other prosecutor in America would not have 
     done. Everyday, all across this country, men and women in law 
     enforcement put their lives on the line to enforce the law, 
     so that the rest of us can live in peace. They are the true 
     unsung heroes.
       For many months before the FBI finally came to Garfield 
     County, we tried to devise ways to serve our arrest warrants 
     on fugitives residing in an armed camp. In those meetings, I 
     learned the immense pressure felt by our leaders when they 
     have to send men into harms way. The decision to make any 
     attempt to serve our arrest warrants could result in the 
     death of law enforcement personnel and of those people you 
     previously considered to be your friend and neighbors. Most 
     importantly, you learn that contrary to the television and 
     the movie portrayals, sending armed men into an armed camp 
     almost always results in something going wrong.
       I also learned that those in law enforcement who are 
     trained to take these actions are much like you and me. They 
     are married with families, and their biggest desire is to go 
     back to their families. I salute all of the fine men and 
     women in the F.B.I. who came to our aid in Garfield County. I 
     also want us to remember F.B.I. agent Kevin Cramer, who lost 
     his life in an automobile accident on his way to the standoff 
     area. He left behind a wife and two small children and we 
     should not forget that we did have a fatality caused by the 
     standoff.
       I want to share this honor with the people of the great 
     state of Montana who have over the past few years had to deal 
     with different types of hate groups in different communities. 
     In almost every case, the communities have come together to 
     condemn the hate-motivated activities. In Billings, we had 
     the wonderful example of a community showing support by 
     placing menorahs in the windows of hundreds of homes after a 
     Jewish family had a brick thrown through their window.
       In other parts of Montana, we have had other Freemen-type 
     activity which law enforcement has vigorously prosecuted. 
     Lately, we had a fire set on one of our Hutterite colonies, 
     which has led to condemnation by our Congressman and an 
     intensive criminal investigation.
       In Billings, Montana a campaign to deal with hate groups 
     used the message ``Not in our Town.'' In Garfield County, the 
     message our people sent was clear. ``Not in our County.'' In 
     the State of Montana, I am proud to say we have sent a 
     message ``Not in our State.'' I stand before you today in the 
     great state of Massachusetts and say ``Not in this Country.''
       Those groups who look with envious eyes at the vast open 
     spaces of Montana with the idea of making it some type of 
     refuge for white supremacists need to understand: We know 
     about you and your hate-filled ideas. We will expose the 
     truth about you and the truth will defeat you. To the rest of 
     America, let Montana be an example of how hate can be 
     conquered.
       Finally I share this award with my wife and children who 
     have had to endure the threats for the past 5 years. They 
     have quietly stood by me and I thank them for that. I am 
     deeply honored to accept this award and hope that I can live 
     up to the ideals behind it each day of the rest of my life.

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