[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12916-S12918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AWARDING THE MEDAL OF HONOR POSTHUMOUSLY TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2263, which is at the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 2263) to authorize and request the President
to award the congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to
Theodore Roosevelt for his gallant and heroic actions in the
attack on San Juan Heights, Cuba, during the Spanish-American
War.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the bill?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, as the Senate considers H.R. 2263, a
bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to Theodore
Roosevelt for his actions on San Juan Heights in cuba during the
Spanish-American War, I want to clarify what we are doing. This bill
does not award the Medal of Honor to Theodore Roosevelt. It does
authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to then Colonel
Roosevelt.
Colonel Roosevelt's actions on San Juan Heights may well merit the
award of the Medal of Honor. However, in order to make such a
determination, one must carefully review the historical record,
including any eyewitness
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accounts that may be available, and evaluate the record against the
criteria for award of the Medal of Honor that was applied to other
members of the Armed forces who were recommended for the Medal of Honor
during the Spanish-American War. In my opinion, this is a task that can
only be performed by the military services.
In fact, in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
1996, we established a procedure in which the military services would
evaluate recommendations for awards for past actions and notify the
Committee on Armed Services of those found to be meritorious. Each
year, in the National Defense Authorization Act, we waive the time
limits for those awards recommended by the Secretaries of the Military
Departments so that the award may be made.
Mr. President, Senator Levin and myself, as well as Congressmen
Spence, Skelton, and McHale have agreed to and signed a letter to the
President regarding this issue. This letter makes it clear that we
believe the President should consult with the Secretary of the Army,
who is reviewing the accounts of Colonel Roosevelt's actions before
deciding to award the Medal of Honor to Theodore Roosevelt. I ask
unanimous consent that this letter be printed in the Record following
my remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, this bill should not be seen as a
precedent for Congressional decisions on military awards. Our
legislation in 1996 established a procedure designed to ensure that
heroic and meritorious actions do not go unrecognized solely due to the
passage of time. However, the procedure also preserves the integrity of
the military award system which is important to our military services
and the American people.
Mr. President, in closing, I want to commend Congressman McHale for
his determined efforts in bringing this matter to our attention. It is
my fervent hope that Colonel Roosevelt's action will be appropriately
recognized while preserving the time honored processes and traditions
within our military services for awarding our Nation's most hallowed
award for valor, the Medal of Honor.
Exhibit 1
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, October 20, 1998.
The President,
The White House, Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President: We want to share our views with you on
H.R. 2263, a bill that authorizes and requests you to award
the Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt for his
actions in the attack on San Juan Heights, Cuba during the
Spanish American War.
We supported this legislation with the intent and
understanding that: (a) prior to reaching a decision on
awarding the Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore
Roosevelt pursuant to this legislation, you will seek the
advice of the Secretary of the Army; (b) Theodore Roosevelt
will be considered for eligibility for the Medal of Honor
based on the same standard of merit that was applied to other
members of the armed forces who received this medal during
the Spanish American War; and (c) the Secretary of the Army
will prepare a full and formal record of Theodore Roosevelt's
valor, inviting public submissions, with emphasis on the
eyewitness and contemporaneous accounts of Roosevelt's
battlefield courage.
If an injustice was done to Theodore Roosevelt in
withholding the Medal of Honor, we believe it should be
corrected.
Sincerely,
Carl Levin,
Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Armed Services,
United States Senate.
Strom Thurmond,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, United States
Senate.
Ike Skelton,
Ranking Minority Member, Committee on National Security,
United States House of Representatives.
Floyd Spence,
Chairman, Committee on National Security, United States
House of Representatives.
Paul McHale,
Member, Committee on National Security, United States House
of Representatives.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I support this legislation that authorizes
and requests the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to
Theodore Roosevelt for his actions in the attack on San Juan Heights,
Cuba during the Spanish American War. I support this legislation
because the letter to the President that Senator Thurmond has put in
the Record makes clear the congressional intent in passing this
legislation.
I want to briefly summarize the key points of this letter. It is our
intent and understanding that: prior to reaching a decision on awarding
the Medal of Honor posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt pursuant to this
legislation, the President will seek the advice of the Secretary of the
Army; Theodore Roosevelt will be considered for eligibility for the
Medal of Honor based on the same standard of merit that was applied to
other members of the armed forces who received this medal during the
Spanish American War; and the Secretary of the Army will prepare a full
and formal record of Theodore Roosevelt's valor, inviting public
submissions, with emphasis on the eyewitness and contemporaneous
accounts of Roosevelt's battlefield courage.
Mr. President, military awards and decorations--particularly
decorations for valor--are a hallowed part of the military services'
core values and traditions, and are critical to the morale and esprit
of the men and women who serve in our armed forces. In my view, the
decision to award a medal of valor is the prerogative of the military
service, not the Congress. That is why Congress recently enacted
section 1130 of Title 10 United States Code. This section allows
Members of Congress to request a Service Secretary to review proposals
for military decorations that were not previously submitted in a timely
fashion, but leaves the final determination as to the merits of
approving the decoration to the Service Secretary.
There are many people who believe that Theodore Roosevelt's actions
in the attack on San Juan Heights are deserving of this high honor, and
that this honor was withheld from him at the time despite the
recommendation of his military chain of command. I believe that a
complete record should be assembled and the entire issue should be
carefully reviewed by the Army. Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera
recently pledged to Congress that the Army is conducting this review,
and he has agreed to review personally all of the material in this
case.
Mr. President, if an injustice was done to Theodore Roosevelt in
withholding the Medal of Honor, it should be corrected. But the
legislation we are passing today is advisory and not directive. Before
the President reaches a final decision on whether to award the Medal of
Honor to Theodore Roosevelt, our letter to the President makes clear
the congressional intent that he should consult with the Secretary of
the Army.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R.
2263, legislation that encourages the posthumous award of the Medal of
Honor to Theodore Roosevelt.
The courage demonstrated by Col. Theodore Roosevelt as he led the
First US Volunteer Cavalry in an attack on San Juan Heights, Cuba, has
rightly become a part of American folklore. That day, on July 1, 1898,
in one of the most famous military actions in our nation's history,
Roosevelt showed why he is rightly regarded as an American hero.
Roosevelt had every reason to expect to be awarded the Medal of
Honor. Award of this most prestigious medal to ``TR'' was recommended
by his commanding general.
Unfortunately, political considerations at the time stood in the way.
As Roosevelt's great grandson, Tweed Roosevelt, testified before
Congress last month, however, TR did not take the occasion of his
assumption of the presidency to retaliate against those who had denied
him an award he clearly deserved. The same character he showed in
battle during the Spanish-American War continued to be evident once
Roosevelt reached the pinnacle of power in the United States.
Fortunately, today the Senate is taking legislative action that will
allow this injustice to be corrected. One century after TR and his
Roughriders
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charged up San Juan Heights, the Senate stands ready to pass
legislation that would authorize and request that the Medal of Honor be
awarded posthumously to Theodore Roosevelt. I was pleased to work with
the distinguished leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee on
this matter, and thank them for their good work.
As those of my colleagues who have studied Roosevelt's life are
aware, my state has a special connection with Theodore Roosevelt. TR
liked to say that the years he spent in the Badlands of North Dakota
were the best of his life. Today, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
stands as an enduring reminder of TR's love for North Dakota and the
profound impact that my state had on this remarkable American.
As a North Dakotan and an American, I am pleased that the life and
ideas of Theodore Roosevelt are receiving renewed attention. TR's
ruggedness, patriotism, optimism, and spirit reflect what is best about
our country. He also articulated a vision of America that remains
compelling today, and merits a new look. Teddy Roosevelt called for
maintaining a strong national defense, protecting our environmental
treasures, encouraging entrepreneurship, and, by broadening access to
education and health care, ensuring that every American has a viable
shot at realizing their dreams. This is a vision we all would do well
to pursue.
Again, Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues for their support
of the legislation before us today, and congratulate the Armed Services
Committee for its leadership in seeing that an historical wrong can be
righted before the end of this session of Congress. Theodore Roosevelt
was a great American who displayed remarkable courage in battle. It is
good to know that the bill we will pass today will help get him the
recognition he deserves.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise to indicate my
strong support for this bill. It is my sincere conviction that we are
today making right a historic wrong. One hundred years ago, Theodore
Roosevelt was denied the Congressional Medal of Honor simply because he
attempted to force the War Department to return sick veterans of the
Spanish-American War to their homes in the United States. In so doing,
he embarrassed a political rival, who it just so happened was also the
Secretary of War. As a result, despite the unanimous recommendation of
his uniformed superiors, his political superior denied him the nation's
highest military honor.
On July 1, 1898, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, commander of the 1st
U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment--the famed ``Rough Riders''--was just
39 years of age. He had resigned his position as Assistant Secretary of
the Navy so that he could help organize the regiment. American forces,
battling both the Spanish and the Cuban jungle, prepared to storm San
Juan Hill and the heights surrounding the strategic port city of
Santiago, Cuba. within the protected walls surrounding the port of
Santiago sat the Spanish fleet, which had to be neutralized if the
United States was to win the war.
The American attack against Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill was pinned
down immediately by the merciless fire of the Spanish forces entrenched
on the heights above. According to one participant, ``the situation was
desperate. Our troops could not retreat as the trail for two miles
behind them was wedged with men. They could not remain where they were
for they were being shot to pieces. . .'' U.S. forces still hunkered
down at the foot of the hill were unable to return fire.
After long delay, Roosevelt received orders to advance. With
Roosevelt at their lead, the Rough Riders advanced to the front of the
American line. Determined to rally the American forces to victory,
Roosevelt shouted: ``If you don't want to go forward, let my men
pass.'' Roosevelt dared and goaded men in the rear forward until they
crowded the ones in front of them. The whole line, tired of waiting and
eager to close with the enemy, was straining to go forward.
Leading the charge up the hill, Roosevelt waved his hat and went up
the hill with a rush. With Roosevelt in the lead, thee American forces
reached the summit of Kettle Hill and swept aside the last of the
Spanish defenders. Without hesitating, Roosevelt directed his men to
fire against the Spanish defenders on nearby San Juan Hill, where
another American force was advancing in the face of heavy fire.
Rallying his forces, Roosevelt leapt forward advancing into the valley
between Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill. In his excitement to charge the
Spanish position, Roosevelt soon realized instead of the entire
regiment following him, only five other men had joined him in the
charge.
Roosevelt then proceeded to run back to Kettle Hill, where he angrily
yelled at the regiment to follow him. The Rough Riders responded by
shouting: ``We didn't see you go! Lead on and we will follow!'' Lead he
did. Once again, Roosevelt, this time with the Rough Riders behind,
rushed up San Juan Hill for a second time. Once again, Roosevelt led
his men into the Spanish line on the top of the height. Roosevelt then
succeeded in organizing and leading the defense of the heights
throughout the night. Out of four hundred men in the regiment, 86 had
been killed or wounded, six were missing and another 40 were struck
with heat exhaustion.
Military experts, historians, and everyone who had witnessed both the
charge up Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill agreed that they had occurred
and succeeded because of the man who had led them. For his actions,
Colonel Leonard Wood, 1st U.S. volunteer Cavalry, recommended Roosevelt
for the Congressional Medal of Honor. The recommendation received
endorsement throughout the chain of command.
After the cessation of hostilities, the American forces remaining on
Cuba, including the rough riders, were ravaged by malaria and fever.
The commanders on Cuba, including Roosevelt and Leonard Wood, pleaded
with the War Department, to bring the men home. But Secretary of War
Alger, who believed the troops were infected with yellow fever, wished
to delay their return until the disease had run its course. Fearing
that the continued stay of the troops on the island would result in the
death of thousands, Roosevelt, with the support of the other commanders
on the island, drafted a letter demanding that the troops be brought
back home lest thousands die in Cuba.
The letter was published in the press, and was a great embarrassment
to President McKinley and Secretary of War Alger. Although subsequently
Roosevelt received credit for bringing the troops home, Alger rejected
the recommendation of Roosevelt's superiors that he be awarded the
Medal of Honor for his actions. Roosevelt's wife would later write that
Alger's rejection of Roosevelt's recommendation for the Medal of Honor
``was one of the bitterest disappointments of his life.''
I will admit that I approached the prospect of legislating the
nation's highest military award for valor with some concern. However,
my review of the facts of this case have convinced me that Teddy
Roosevelt earned the Medal of Honor on the battlefield, only to see it
denied for political reasons. I am pleased, one hundred years later, to
be a part of correcting this injustice today.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I commend Congressman McHale and a number of
House Members that took the time and stayed committed to this until we
did get it accomplished. From what I have learned about it, it is the
right thing to do.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the
third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table,
and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at the
appropriate place in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (H.R. 2263) was considered read the third time, and passed.
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