[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MURIEL HUMPHREY BROWN

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Muriel 
Humphrey Brown, who was the widow of the late Senator and Vice 
President Hubert Humphrey and known to many throughout my state as 
Minnesota's ``First Lady.''
  Mrs. Humphrey Brown passed away on Sunday at the age of 86. 
Throughout her life, she remained steadfast in her dedication to family 
and her interest in politics. In her last public appearance, just 5 
days before her death, she was on hand to congratulate her son, Skip 
Humphrey, for winning the Minnesota DFL gubernatorial primary.
  Many of my colleagues knew her, respected her, and join me in 
offering our heartfelt condolences to her husband, Max Brown, her sons 
Hubert, Doug and Bob, her daughter Nancy, and the entire Humphrey 
family.
  Muriel Humphrey Brown was born on February 20, 1912, in Huron, SD. 
After marrying Hubert Humphrey, she became a devoted mother and 
enthusiastically took on the role of a political wife.
  She played an active part in her husband's numerous campaigns. After 
Hubert's death in 1978, Muriel was appointed to his Senate seat, the 
same Senate seat that I am proud to hold today. By finishing out her 
late-husband's term, Muriel Humphrey Brown became Minnesota's first and 
only female U.S. Senator and just the 12th woman to serve in the U.S. 
Senate. In fact, she was the only woman serving in the Senate at that 
time.
  In carrying out her husband's Senate term, Muriel Humphrey Brown was 
an inspiration to women throughout Minnesota as she accepted the call 
to public service even in her time of great personal loss. Rather than 
being known simply as the wife of the most popular politician in 
Minnesota, Muriel left her own mark on those issues of public policy 
about which she felt so strongly.
  Her calm and gentle manner did not mute her passionate voice on 
behalf of social programs, labor issues, and the mentally disabled. She 
once described her term in the Senate as, ``the most challenging thing 
I have ever done in my whole life.'' In 1979, she married Max Brown and 
lived the rest of her life out of the political spotlight. Her devotion 
to family and public service is truly an inspiration to all 
Minnesotans, and I am proud to say that her legacy will remain. It is a 
special honor for me to hold the Senate seat she once held, in the 
Chamber where she served with such grace, dignity, and honor.
  Thank you very much, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Hawaii.

                          ____________________