[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7609-H7610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO CHARLES C. DIGGS

  (Mr. STOKES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to advise the House of the recent 
passing of our former colleague and friend, former Congressman Charles 
C. Diggs, Jr. Former Congressman Diggs passed on August 28, 1998.
  Charlie Diggs was elected to the United States Congress from 
Michigan's 13th Congressional District in 1954. He was Michigan's first 
black Member of Congress.
  During his Congressional career, he was one of the founding members 
of the Congressional Black Caucus and served as the first chairman of 
that group.

                              {time}  1215

  He is also credited with establishing home rule for the District of 
Columbia, as well as authoring legislation to create the University of 
the District of Columbia.
  Mr. Speaker, at the funeral services for Charlie Diggs, I was honored 
to offer remarks on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus. I want to 
share my remarks and a copy of Charlie's obituary with his friends 
across the Nation.
  Charlie was a giant in the Black political history of America. We 
extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Darlene, and members of the 
Diggs family. He will never be forgotten.
  The materials referred to are as follows:

 Remarks of the Honorable Louis Stokes, Member of Congress--a Special 
                 Tribute to the Honorable Charles Diggs

     Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, Fort Washington, MD, September 1, 1998

       Darlene and members of the Diggs family. I speak here today 
     to pay tribute to a giant in the black political history of 
     America. I speak on behalf of the 39 black Members of 
     Congress who inherit his legacy. The entire Congressional 
     Black Caucus, chaired by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, liken 
     his passing to the falling of a giant oak in the forest. 
     Present today are Ms. Waters, Congressman Clay of Missouri, 
     Albert Wynn of Maryland, former Congresswoman Cardiss 
     Collins, and myself.
       Long before many of us came to Congress, Charlie Diggs was 
     a legend to us. Both his father's and his own political 
     career had made the Diggs name a prominent family name among 
     blacks all over America. We, too, had taken pride in 1955 in 
     seeing this young State senator, join William L. Dawson and 
     Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, as Michigan's first black 
     Congressman. He hit the ground running in Congress and 
     quietly established his reputation as a fighter for civil and 
     human rights.
       In the same year he was sworn in to Congress, Charlie 
     received national attention for monitoring the trial of two 
     white Mississippians accused of murdering Emmett Till. 
     Following the trial, he proposed that the representation in 
     Congress from Mississippi be reduced. He also called upon 
     President Eisenhower to call a special session of Congress to 
     consider civil rights issues.
       Charlie endured fire bombings at homes he was staying in in 
     Selma and Mississippi while taking up the cause of tenants 
     being evicted from a slum. He investigated racial disputes at 
     a Job Corps camp and in the United States Army. In fact, 
     Congressman William Clay, who would not come to Congress 
     until 1969, was one who was affected by this. In his book 
     entitled, ``Just Permanent Interests,'' Clay first speaks of 
     ``Diggs' long and glorious career,'' and then tells that ``In 
     late 1954, when I was a member of the Army Chemical Corps, 
     stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, I was prompted to call 
     upon him for assistance even before he was sworn into 
     Congress.''
       Between 1955 and 1968 John Conyers, Robert Nix and Augustus 
     Hawkins had come to Congress. So, in 1969 when Bill Clay, 
     Shirley Chisholm and I came to Congress, for the first time 
     in history there were nine black Congresspersons. By 1971, we 
     had been joined by Charlie Rangel, Ron Dellums, Parren 
     Mitchell, George W. Collins and Ralph Metcalfe. This was the 
     beginning of the Congressional Black Caucus and we elected 
     Charlie Diggs as our first chairman.
       Charlie's speech at our first Congressional Black Caucus 
     dinner in 1971 established the creed under which the 
     Congressional Black Caucus exists. He said, ``We meet to 
     assert the common bonds that unite men and women of all 
     races, creeds and generations who share a fierce 
     determination to liberate the legions of the oppressed. We 
     come together to arm and equip ourselves to fight more 
     effectively than ever before for those who are too seldom 
     victors, too often victims.''
       Under Charlie's leadership, we became a formidable force in 
     the United States Congress. One of our finest hours was the 
     meeting with President Richard Nixon following our boycott of 
     him for neglecting the legitimate needs and rights of black 
     Americans. At this historic meeting, in his quiet, dignified 
     manner, Charlie Diggs told President Nixon. ``Our people are 
     no longer asking for equality as a rhetorical promise. They 
     are demanding from the national administration and from 
     elected officials without regard to party affiliation, the 
     only kind of equality that ultimately has any real meaning--
     equality of results.''
       President Nixon's failure to adhere to our demands forced 
     Charlie to make a dramatic and brilliant move. He appointed 
     the Diggs ``shadow cabinet'' which consisted of black 
     professionals who were experts in government, and whom 
     Charlie gave titles similar to that of each member of Nixon's 
     Cabinet. Whenever a Nixon Cabinet member presented an 
     administration policy or position, the Diggs ``cabinet'' 
     counterpart would respond from the black perspective.
       It was during this period of time that Vice President Spiro 
     T. Agnew, while traveling in Africa, verbally attacked 
     America's black leaders and the Congressional Black Caucus. 
     Under Charlie's leadership, the caucus responded on the floor 
     of the House. Charlie said, ``Although his statements are 
     very difficult to follow with any degree of logic, it is not 
     hard to understand that times and the people have indeed 
     passed him by--the matter of black leadership is not within 
     his province to decide.''
       In two areas, Charlie's legislative accomplishments will 
     remain etched in history. Under his chairmanship of the House 
     District of Columbia Committee, home rule was established, 
     giving the District of Columbia the right to elect their own 
     mayor and city council for the first time in more than a 
     century. He also authored the legislation creating the 
     University of the District of Columbia. The other area was 
     his tenure as chairman of the Subcommittee on African 
     Affairs. He was acknowledged and respected by everyone as 
     Capitol Hill's foremost elected official on Africa. He was 
     loved all over Africa.
       So, Charlie, we benefitted from your leadership, your 
     friendship, your letters, your phone calls and your visits. 
     You walked tall and quietly carried a big stick. Good night, 
     Dean. We'll miss you.
                                  ____


                                Obituary

       Charles C. Diggs, Jr., State Senator, Congressman and 
     Mortician, was born December 2, 1922, and departed this life 
     August 24, 1998. He was the only child of the late Mayme E. 
     Jones Diggs and Charles C. Diggs, Sr. The Diggs Seniors were 
     Morticians, pioneers in business, public service and 
     community activists.
       Charles C. Diggs, Jr. began his political career in 1951 
     when he was elected to the Michigan State Senate. The 
     youngest member of the Senate, he served a total of two 
     terms. During this tenure, he compiled a record that brought 
     the admiration of leaders throughout the state. An advocate 
     and firm supporter of social legislation, he did much to 
     assist Governor G. Mennen Williams promote a constructive 
     program of human relations for the state. He was instrumental 
     in pushing legislation through the Senate that brought about 
     good business and labor relations, compulsory school 
     attendance, and a re-evaluation of restrictions to age 
     limitations on voting.

[[Page H7610]]

       In 1954, his popularity in his state as a leader led him on 
     to defeat the favored incumbent, George O'Brien. He then 
     became the Democratic candidate for Congress from the 
     Thirteenth District. Arriving in Washington as a federal 
     legislator, he found it relatively easy adjusting to what he 
     described as ``the way of life on Capitol Hill.'' He also 
     found time to utilize his literary skills, serving as radio 
     commentator on a program sponsored by the House of Diggs, 
     Inc., and their insurance company. He was the owner and 
     president of the House of Diggs, which was recognized as the 
     state's largest funeral home.
       As a Congressman, he identified himself with the problems 
     of the Southern Blacks. This association resulted in his 
     being described as the ``Mississippi Congressman-at-large.'' 
     In 1955, as a freshman Congressman, he was propelled across 
     the international scene by his attendance at the Emmit Till 
     murder trial in Mississippi, next to Issaquena County where 
     his father was born and grandfather, Reverend James J. Diggs, 
     founded the Woodland Baptist Church. Charles was a staunch 
     supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and wrote legislation 
     supporting the movement. During his first four years in 
     Washington, he was assigned to the House Veterans Affairs 
     Committee. He also served on the House Interior and Insular 
     Affairs Committee promoting Statehood for Alaska and Hawaii. 
     In 1959, he became the first Black Member of Congress to 
     serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. One of the 
     prime considerations at the time was to authorize 
     establishment of the Peace Corps. Because of his strong 
     support, he later became Chairman of the Subcommittee on 
     Africa.
       Congressman Diggs attended all the Democratic National 
     Conventions beginning in Chicago in 1957. He traveled 
     throughout the U.S.A. speaking on behalf of the Kennedy/
     Johnson ticket. In 1969-1970, he was the founding Member and 
     first Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 1973, he 
     became the Chairman of the House District Committee and in 
     less than a year, he persuaded Congress to grant District 
     citizens the right to elect their own Mayor and City Council 
     for the first time in over a century. Home Rule, the 
     establishment of the University of the District of Columbia, 
     the Frederick Douglas Home designation as a National 
     Historical Site are all chiefly the results from that 
     Committee and his Chairmanship.
       Congressman Diggs is a double life member of the NAACP, and 
     a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, East Coast Chapter and, has 
     received numerous awards and recognitions. His congressional 
     papers were given to Howard University's Moorland-Spingarn 
     Research Center. In Detroit, he was a member of Hartford 
     Memorial Baptist Church. In 1986, he became a member of 
     Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he 
     accepted Christ as his personal Savior and maintained strong 
     religious ties until his death.
       Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr., is survived by his wife 
     of 15 years, Darlene Expose Diggs; six children: Charles C. 
     Diggs, III, Denise Diggs Taylor, Alexis Diggs Robinson, 
     Douglass J. Diggs, Carla Diggs, and Cindy Carter Diggs; 13 
     grandchildren: Charles IV, Nicole, Diamond, Dorian, Dominic, 
     Itta, Juanita, Marshall, Alexandria, Ryan, Evan, Jonathan, 
     and Jacqueline; and a host of relatives and friends.

                          ____________________