[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 81 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6719-S6720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AN AUTHENTIC AMERICAN HERO IN OUR MIDST

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, those of us who serve with our 
distinguished colleague from Ohio, Senator John Glenn, have long known 
him to be a very special American. We have had the privilege of working 
with someone who, in his Senate service that might be characterized as 
his third career, has demonstrated his capability as an accomplished 
statesman and politician. He has capably provided strong leadership to 
the committees on which he has served, notably including but certainly 
not limited to his work as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee 
on Governmental Affairs in fields as diverse as counterproliferation 
and government efficiency.
  John Glenn's public service, of course, follows his other two 
careers--most recently as a very successful businessman in our free 
enterprise economy, and, of course, as an accomplished military pilot 
with a distinguished record culminating in the distinction of being the 
first American to orbit the earth in space as one of the original seven 
Mercury astronauts.
  This fall, Senator Glenn expects to return to space to participate in 
important experiments concerning the effects of space travel on senior 
citizens. In some ways to those of us who know him well, and watch the 
pace at which he works and his amazing capacity for the nearly 
interminable activity that consumes the lives of our nation's elected 
officials, it is difficult for us to see him as a senior citizen. But 
the calendar tells us that Senator Glenn is well into his 70's--and, in 
fact, will see his 77th birthday very soon. We wish him well, and, once 
again, many years after the first time our nation held its breath and 
offered him our prayers and best wishes, we will do so again later this 
year when he and his fellow Discovery crew members board the shuttle 
for the flight in which he will serve as a crew member.
  On Tuesday night of this week, we colleagues in the Senate honored 
Senator Glenn, and met his fellow crew members, at a dinner in the 
Capitol. On that occasion, the Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle 
delivered remarks in honor of John Glenn. Because Senator Daschle's 
remarks eloquently and succinctly captured much about John Glenn that I 
believe others should know, I ask that those remarks be printed in the 
Record. 

 Remarks by Senate Democrat Leader Tom Daschle Honoring John Glenn, an 
                      Old-fashioned American Hero

       Every time I hear John talk about wanting to go back up 
     into space to study the effects of space flight on aging 
     bodies I think, ``Right. What does he know about aging 
     bodies?'' John Glenn is the only person I know who can do 
     pushups with one hand and salute the flag with the other at 
     the same time.
       So, I appointed a task force to investigate the real 
     reasons John wants to blast back into space. Tonight, I'm 
     releasing their report. Here are the top three reasons, in 
     Letterman style:
       Number three: It turns out, he left his billfold up there 
     the first trip.
       Number two: Before he leaves Congress, he wants to pioneer 
     the ultimate CODEL.
       And reason number one: He wants to explore places to send 
     Ken Starr on his next assignment.
       Actually, the reason John is going back into space is the 
     same reason he's doing practically everything in his life. It 
     is, quite simply, to serve his country.
       We are here tonight to pay tribute to an old-fashioned 
     American hero, and to thank Annie, and all the Glenn children 
     and grandchildren, for sharing so much of John with America 
     for so long.
       About two years ago, Linda and I had the privilege of 
     flying to China with several other members, including John 
     and Annie. During the flight, we were able to persuade John 
     to recollect that incredible mission aboard Friendship 7.
       He told us about losing all communication during re-entry, 
     about having to guide his spacecraft manually during the most 
     critical point in re-entry, about seeing pieces of his 
     spacecraft splitting off in a big fireball.
       We all huddled around him with our eyes wide open. No one 
     said a word. Listening to him, I felt the same awe I had felt 
     when I was 14 years old, sitting in a classroom in Aberdeen, 
     South Dakota, watching TV accounts of that flight.
       I feel that inspiration now, when I think about what will 
     be the next chapter in the life of this amazing man.
       A lot of people tend to think of two John Glenns: Colonel 
     John Glenn, the astronaut-hero; and Senator John Glenn. The 
     truth is, there is only John Glenn--the patriot.
       Love for his country is what sent John into space. It's 
     what brought him to Washington, and compelled him to work so 
     diligently over all these years in the Senate. As he said, 
     when he announced that he would not seek re-election: Despite 
     all our problems--despite our sometimes inefficient 
     bureaucracies . . . or any of the other problems we love to 
     complain about, America--this grand experiment in democracy--
     this ongoing work in progress--is still the greatest nation 
     in the history of the world and still a shining beacon of 
     hope and opportunity.
       People who have been there say you see the world 
     differently from space. You see the ``big picture.'' You see 
     how small and interconnected our planet is. Perhaps it's 
     because he came to the Senate with that perspective that John 
     has fought so hard against nuclear proliferation. As a Wall 
     Street Journal reporter wrote recently, ``He has been the 
     Senate scold who lectured everybody who would listen, and 
     some who wouldn't, about the need to stop the spread of 
     nuclear arms.''
       I don't know about that ``Senate scold'' part. But I do 
     know that America is lucky that John Glenn went up the first 
     time and gained that perspective. And the country is very 
     lucky that he is going up again. And those of us who are his 
     colleagues are the luckiest of all, for having had the chance 
     to serve with, and be inspired by him, between his two 
     trips.

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