[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1499-E1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE COMMISSIONING OF THE U.S.S. ``HARRY S TRUMAN''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 1998

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, July 25, 1998, I attended the 
commissioning of the U.S.S. Harry S Truman, CVN 75. It is our Navy's 
newest and most advanced nuclear aircraft carrier. It was a special day 
not only for me, but for Missouri and for the United States of America. 
This vessel bears the name of a fellow Missourian and family friend, 
and I feel that it is most fitting and appropriate that an aircraft 
carrier be named for this great man. Harry Truman provided heroic 
leadership and set a standard of personal accountability during a 
critical period in our nation's history. This son of rural Missouri 
possessed common sense and decency.
  I share my remarks of that day with the Members of the House.

 Remarks of Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) Commissioning of the U.S.S. 
             ``Harry S Truman'' July 25, 1998--Norfolk, VA


                     THE TRUMAN-SKELTON CONNECTION

       This may well be the largest gathering of Missourians 
     outside our state since the inauguration of Harry S Truman as 
     President on January 20, 1949, in Washington.
       As a teenager, I was fortunate to accompany my father to 
     that momentous event on the east front of the United States 
     Capitol. President Truman began his inaugural address by 
     saying, ``I accept with humility the honor which the American 
     people have conferred upon me.'' Were he with us today, I am 
     convinced that President Truman would again be humbled by the 
     honor of having this great naval ship named for him.
       I am able to speak from a personal point of view because of 
     the friendship that was formed some seventy years ago--on 
     September 17, 1928, to be exact. The occasion was the 
     dedication of the Pioneer Mother Statue--the Madonna of the 
     Trail--located in my hometown of Lexington, Missouri. Two 
     speakers on the program met that day--the President of the 
     National Old Trails Association and a representative of the 
     Lexington American Legion Post. The former was County Court 
     Judge Harry S. Truman, from nearby Jackson County, and the 
     other was the young Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney, 
     Ike Skelton, my father. Because of the lasting friendship 
     that was formed that day, my wife and I in later years came 
     to know the genuinely nice person we call the ``Man from 
     Independence''.


                         HARRY TRUMAN--THE MAN

       My task today is to speak of the man--Harry S. Truman--and 
     I direct my remarks especially to the sailors of this ship 
     who will be known as ``Truman sailors'' from this day 
     forward.
       Truman once wrote, ``Great men and women are assayed in 
     future generations.'' So as this ship is commissioned in his 
     name today, let us take measure of Truman the man and reflect 
     on the traits of his character that allowed him to lead this 
     great nation and be recognized as one of America's finest 
     Presidents.
       Harry Truman was bedrock American. He remains a role model 
     for Americans of all ages and generations.
       Underlying Truman's political accomplishments was the 
     strength of his personal character. When faced with 
     challenges, Truman put his shoulder to the task, used 
     his Missouri good sense to ``call it as he saw it'', and 
     forged ahead with the serious business at hand. And unlike 
     those who assign blame to others, he believed in personal 
     responsibility, as the sign on his desk and the motto of 
     this ship declare--``The Buck Stops Here.''


                 HARRY TRUMAN WAS DEVOTED TO HIS FAMILY

       Harry Truman was a man of great devotion to his wife and 
     lifelong sweetheart, Bess, and to his daughter, Margaret. The 
     hundreds of letters exchanged by President and Mrs. Truman 
     during their courtship and throughout their married life give 
     testimony to their close relationship. And who can forget the 
     letter written by a loving father who, coming to the defense 
     of his daughter's vocal talents, threatened to blacken the 
     eyes and break the nose of the music critic that published an 
     unflattering review?


                     HARRY TRUMAN LOVED HIS COUNTRY

       Harry Truman had high regard for the Armed Forces of our 
     country, having served in combat during the First World War 
     as an artillery battery commander and later rising to the 
     rank of Colonel in the Army Reserve.
       He loved America and the American people, ever keeping the 
     public interest uppermost in his decisions.
       He was an avid reader and student of history. My friend, 
     the late Congressman Fred Schwengel, told me about meeting 
     Senator Truman in 1935 while Schwengel was a college student 
     in Missouri. Truman advised him that to be a good American, 
     ``. . . you should know your history.'' That story is 
     consistent with my experience. I well remember taking a group 
     of grade school students to visit the Truman Library in 1963, 
     and though President Truman was of advanced age, he spoke to 
     them in the library auditorium about American history and the 
     Constitution. He wanted young people to learn as much as they 
     could about America.


                HARRY TRUMAN WAS POLITICALLY COURAGEOUS

       Like the Presidents who came before and after him, Truman 
     was burdened with the loneliness that goes along with being 
     the Chief Executive. But President Truman did not shy away 
     from difficult, often politically unpopular, decisions. He 
     once said, ``Do your duty and history will do you justice.''

[[Page E1500]]

       Today we applaud Truman's controversial decision to 
     integrate the Armed Forces. In the face of opposition from 
     military leaders and much of the American public, Truman had 
     the courage to reject their arguments and do what he thought 
     was right.
       The state of the world prompted Truman to move away from 
     America's established pattern of peacetime isolationism in 
     order to assist European economic recovery through the 
     Marshall Pan and to protect Western Europe under the umbrella 
     of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
       Truman also had the courage to stand up to the communist 
     aggression that marked the beginning of the Cold War. The 
     Truman Doctrine made clear that the United States would not 
     stand idly by in the face of communist aggression in Greece, 
     Turkey, and elsewhere. Truman's commitment to the democratic 
     rights of free people was clear as the U.S. provided 
     essential supplies to the people of Berlin during the Soviet 
     blockade and when Truman made the agonizing decision to use 
     American troops to lead the United Nation's resistance to the 
     communist invasion of South Korea. These actions earned the 
     praise of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said 
     to Truman, ``You, more than any other man, have saved Western 
     civilization.''


        HARRY TRUMAN WAS TRUE TO HIS PERSONAL BELIEFS AND VALUES

       Truman learned about hard work and the value of a job well-
     done while growing up as a Missouri farm boy. His mother 
     claimed that he plowed the straightest furrow of anyone in 
     the community.
       His handshake was firm, reflecting his farming background. 
     His posture ever remained that of a soldier, and his early 
     morning, fast-paced walks--in Washington and later in 
     Independence--were legendary.
       His honesty and personal integrity were never questioned. 
     Though not a great orator, his speeches and conversations 
     were direct and to the point.
       He was a kind and compassionate man. At a campaign 
     whistlestop in 1952, I saw him purposefully step down from 
     the train to greet a severely disabled man who had struggled 
     to the front of the crowd to catch a glimpse of President 
     Truman.
       His loyalty to his friends was enduring. While Vice 
     President, he attended the funeral of Tom Pendergast, the 
     disgraced Kansas City machine politician who had supported 
     Truman early in his career. Truman, refusing to allow outside 
     critics to weaken the bonds of his personal ties, attended 
     the funeral and showed that he was a loyal friend to the end.
       He was positive in nature and optimistic about the future.
       Truman never forgot his Missouri roots, and reflected poet 
     Rudyard Kipling's description of the man who could ``. . . 
     walk with kings'' without losing ``the common touch.''
       He was a man of determination. Prior to the 1948 
     Presidential election, pundits and pollsters had written off 
     Harry Truman. Just before the election, I asked my father if 
     President Truman had a chance to win. My Dad replied, 
     ``Ike, don't count Harry Truman out.'' Truman didn't let 
     others convince him that his race for a term in his own 
     right would fail. Instead, he took his message directly to 
     the American people during his trademark whistlestop 
     campaign tour. Then, as now, America loved a man with 
     guts, and Truman's persistence was rewarded with a 
     tremendous victory on election day.
       Election night reports indicated a solid vote for Truman, 
     but well-known radio commentator H.V. Kaltenborne repeatedly 
     predicted, in his then familiar shrill voice, that Harry 
     Truman would be defeated by Thomas Dewey. Fortunately, Truman 
     had a keen sense of humor. His wry wit was on display during 
     1949's inaugural events. While in Washington for the 
     inauguration, I attended the Electoral Dinner. Although at 
     the time my attention was a bit distracted by the beauty of 
     Hollywood actress Joan Bondell, who was sitting at a table a 
     few feet away from me, I will never forget President Truman's 
     mocking impersonation of H.V. Kaltenborne, which brought down 
     the house with laughter.


                         CHARGE TO THE SAILORS

       My mere words today cannot do justice to President Harry S. 
     Truman. But you sailors--you Truman sailors--who will serve 
     aboard this ship named for him can do justice to his memory.
       You can do your duty as if Harry Truman were looking over 
     your shoulder. You can reflect all that was good and decent 
     about him: take responsibility for your actions; be honest 
     and direct in your dealings with others; humble in your 
     demeanor; straight in your posture and brisk in your walk; 
     thoughtful and considerate of others; loyal to your friends; 
     devoted to your family; determined in your endeavors; know 
     the history of our country; appreciate humor; proud of the 
     uniform you wear; and love America.
       From the earliest times, all sailors at sea have felt a 
     sense of loneliness. On such occasions, I urge you to reflect 
     on the loneliness of Harry Truman when he made momentous 
     decisions while doing his duty for our country. During your 
     lonely times, may the spirit of Harry Truman be an 
     inspiration to you.
       Keep in mind one more thought. President Truman liked to 
     tell the story about the grave marker in Tombstone, Arizona, 
     that read, ``Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damndest.'' 
     Missouri's President always strived to do just that--to do 
     his damndest--that is, to do his best. So I charge you, 
     Truman sailors, to heed the wisdom of that epitaph by doing 
     your damndest. By doing so, your dedication will ensure that 
     American freedom continues to shine like a polestar in the 
     heavens.
       It is now my pleasure to introduce the man who put his 
     shoulder to the wheel by appointing and leading the 
     Commissioning Committee--Missourians all--to the highly 
     successful conclusion that we are witnessing on this 
     occasion. I am proud to call him my friend. He is Trumanesque 
     in his character and is a truly dedicated public servant--The 
     Governor of our State of Missouri, the Honorable Mel 
     Carnahan. At the conclusion of his remarks, he will pass the 
     traditional long glass.
       God bless.

       

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