[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 49 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1821-H1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TERRY SANFORD FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 911) to designate the Federal building located at 310 New Bern 
Avenue in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the ``Terry Sanford Federal 
Building'', as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 911

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at 310 New Bern Avenue in 
     Raleigh, North Carolina, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Terry Sanford Federal Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in law, map, regulation, document, paper, or 
     other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Terry Sanford Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 911, as amended, designates the Federal building 
located in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the ``Terry Sanford Federal 
Building.''
  Senator Sanford was successful in many pursuits during his life. He 
was the founder of three law firms and held positions on the boards of 
numerous universities and colleges, and several positions on boards of 
corporations in the technology industry.
  Senator Sanford was also President of Duke University from 1969 to 
1984, and continued as President Emeritus from 1995 until his passing 
in 1998. During his tenure, Governor Sanford presided over Duke, which 
was and continues to be recognized as a world-renowned center of higher 
learning. Its medical center is a premier health care facility and 
research center.
  In addition to his pursuits in the private sector, Senator Sanford 
also was a dedicated public servant. From 1950 to 1953, he served on 
the North Carolina State Ports Authority. In 1953, he was elected to 
the North Carolina State Senate and served there until 1955.
  In 1961, he was elected Governor of North Carolina for a term, 
returning to private practice in 1965. After several years out of 
public office, Senator Sanford returned in 1986 with a successful bid 
to the United States Senate where he served until 1993.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant. 
I know of no other North Carolinian who has dedicated himself any more 
fully or honorably in so many endeavors, in law, in public service, in 
education, and in private pursuits. I support the bill, as amended, and 
urge my colleagues to the support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 911 is a bill to designate the Federal building in 
Raleigh, North Carolina, as the ``Terry Sanford Federal Building.''
  Senator Sanford served his country and his State for over 6 decades 
and this designation is a fitting acknowledgment of his devoted 
service.
  FBI agent, World War II paratrooper, college president, governor, and 
United States Senator are all designations given to Terry Sanford.
  As Governor of North Carolina from 1961 to 1965, Sanford advocated 
and supported a number of nationally recognized innovations in 
education, including establishing technical and vocational schools. He 
championed State support for performing arts schools and dedication of 
revenues for public schools and teachers' pay.
  His leadership and diligence led Harvard University to name him as 
one of the most effective governors of the 20th century. Hard work and 
loyalty to the interests of his constituents distinguish his service in 
the United States Senate from 1986 to 1992.
  Duke University benefited enormously from his tenure as university 
president. With wisdom and vision, he guided that educational 
institution to becoming a leader in the fields of medicine and law.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill has bipartisan support. The gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Etheridge) have been particularly supportive. It is with great pleasure 
that I join in broad, bipartisan support for H.R. 911 and urge its 
passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), sponsor of the bill.

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for yielding me this time, 
and I also thank my friend, the gentleman from Guilford, North Carolina 
(Mr. Coble), for his support in helping get this bill to the floor and 
for his leadership in this important bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would say that every member of our delegation joins me 
in support of this important legislation. I would also like to thank 
the chairman and ranking member of the committee for bringing this bill 
to the floor in such a timely manner. The number of the bill would 
indicate that it is receiving expedited treatment to get here, and I 
thank them for that.
  Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, April 18, will mark the 1-year anniversary 
of the passing of a truly great and courageous North Carolinian and 
American. Former United States Senator and North Carolina Governor 
Terry Sanford died last year of complications associated with cancer. 
Terry Sanford lived a life that has served as a shining example of 
excellence to an entire generation.
  Terry Sanford learned growing up that hard work reaped rewards, that 
boldness is a requirement of leadership, and that possibilities exist 
that are only bound by the size of one's imagination.
  Throughout his life, he fought to improve education, to promote 
racial healing, eradicate poverty, promote economic development, 
promote the opportunity for every person, no matter what their economic 
background, their creed or color might be, to have economic 
opportunity.
  Known as North Carolina's ``Education Governor,'' Terry Sanford 
inspired teachers and students to excel with his unrelenting commitment 
to public education. It was his many contributions to education that 
led Harvard University to name him as one of the top 10 governors in 
the 20th century.
  As President of Duke University, as we have heard, Terry Sanford 
challenged a small regional university to dream big and reach for the 
stars. And reach them it did. When Terry Sanford left Duke University, 
it became known as the world leader in research and higher education in 
law, medicine, business, and the arts.
  It was his many contributions to create what is generally regarded as 
the ``Harvard of the South'' that led Duke University to name its 
Institute for Public Policy after this great American, known as the 
Terry Sanford Institute for Public Policy.
  Called to serve in the public arena once again, Terry Sanford was 
elected to the United States Senate in 1986. In its years in the 
Senate, Terry Sanford distinguished himself as a passionate advocate 
for public education and for the poor and less fortunate.
  In addition to his many vital roles as a statesman, politician, and 
university president, Terry Sanford served the people of North Carolina 
and this country in many other ways. He served as a paratrooper in 
World War II, as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as 
a State senator, and in many other capacities.
  He also participated in many charities, too many to cover here today. 
He was one of North Carolina's leading patrons of the arts. His passion 
for the arts endured until his death, as he spearheaded efforts to 
bring a world-class performing arts facility to North Carolina.
  Terry Sanford was also a committed husband to Margaret Rose, a 
devoted father to Terry, Jr., and to Betsy.
  Mr. Speaker, Terry Sanford inspired me personally as a student and 
also in

[[Page H1822]]

politics. In fact, when I was deciding to run for Congress, I went and 
sat down and talked with Terry Sanford. His words of encouragement 
helped me make up my mind, and they continue to inspire me and many 
others today.
  Last year, prior to his passing, I began searching for a way to honor 
Senator Sanford who has meant so much to me, my family, and so many 
North Carolinians and Americans. With the help of my colleagues here in 
Congress, we came up with the idea of naming the Federal building in 
downtown Raleigh, a stone's throw away from the governor's mansion 
where Terry Sanford may have made many of his most important 
contributions to a generation of North Carolinians and a generation of 
teachers and students who will continue to make a contribution for 
years and years to come. Naming this building in his honor will allow 
his influence to be felt by a whole new generation of leaders.
  Terry Sanford was more than a great and admired politician. He was 
one of the most accomplished Americans of our time. His North Carolina 
values and visionary leadership brought us through some of the most 
difficult challenges that beset our generation and set us forward in 
North Carolina on a path of tremendous progress that we enjoy today 
economically. This gesture is the least we should do for a man who 
allowed us to view the world from his broad shoulders.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Wise).
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) for yielding me this time, and I thank the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Chairman Coble) for bringing this bill 
to the floor and making it possible for us to be here.
  I want to rise in a little different capacity. Each one of us has one 
or two people that played major roles in our life that we can point to 
as a mentor in a formative stage in our life and development. In my 
life, I was fortunate enough to have Terry Sanford as one of those 
people.
  As a student at Duke University when Mr. Sanford became the President 
of Duke, and then having had the privilege of working with him not only 
as a student but then later in various political undertakings, I had 
the unique experience of getting to know him and to be affected by him. 
But my experience is no more unique than that of hundreds, perhaps 
thousands, of young people and that alone is a testament to why this 
building is aptly named for Terry Sanford.
  Terry Sanford was a progressive governor from 1960 to 1964 in a time 
when integration and the battle for civil rights was sweeping this 
Nation. And as some southern governors were standing in schoolhouse 
doors, Terry Sanford was opening schoolhouse doors. While North 
Carolina was in many ways the birthplace of the civil rights movement 
with the Greensboro sit-ins, at the same time it was not gripped by 
many of the same problems that affected others, and that is because of 
the leadership of Terry Sanford.
  As a college president, this was a college president who involved 
young people at every level, who challenged us by saying, ``You can be 
involved in whatever level you can rise to.'' During the late 1960s and 
early 1970s, there could be no more important leadership coming than 
that.
  He one time said, as some of us were sitting around criticizing 
someone one time, and he looked at us and he said, ``No one is going to 
be able to say that I did not give everybody a chance.'' That was what 
Terry Sanford was about: giving an opportunity.
  He was a dark horse presidential candidate and in 1972, we did not go 
on to the White House. But at the same time, he once again gave 
hundreds of young people, college students and those just out of 
college, he gave us a chance to express ourselves in times that were 
very frustrating and to feel that we were making some difference in 
what was happening on the national scene.
  Finally, of course, as a United States Senator, Terry Sanford 
provided the leadership that he had always provided reaching out to 
those of all persuasions, bringing them in.
  It is interesting today as we wrestle with concerns about education 
to meet the challenges of education, we are wrestling with many of the 
same concerns and areas that Terry Sanford worked on as Governor of 
North Carolina.

                              {time}  1530

  He understood well the role of the public university in his love of 
the University of North Carolina. At the same time, he guided a private 
university, Duke University, to all new levels of national prominence.
  So as a Governor, as a college president, as a presidential 
candidate, as a United States Senator, as a father, as a war veteran, 
as an FBI agent, as a citizen, Terry Sanford was an example to us all. 
The legacy to Terry Sanford is of course that, across this country, 
indeed I warrant across this world, there are thousands of young 
people, young then, much older now, there are thousands of people that 
directly felt his impact and feel it today and carry that on through 
their lives.
  That is why I thank the majority and the minority for bringing this 
bill to the floor, so that we can properly honor someone who had such 
an incredible impact on so many people.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the first political figure 
with whom I seriously identified was Terry Sanford. Indeed, he was a 
mentor and an inspiration to many of my generation who came of age 
politically during his governorship in the early 1960s. He taught us 
what democratic politics at its best could be. He was a model of 
energetic and innovative leadership, full of ideas, refusing to be 
bound by the shackles of the past, possessing a vision of future 
possibility that inspired and empowered others.
  This Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of Terry Sanford's death. 
Looking around the Triangle region that I represent and all of North 
Carolina, we must remember that our success story was made possible, in 
large part, by the vision of Terry Sanford. Our quality of life and our 
economic success is the legacy of his commitment to public education, 
to the movement for racial justice, to the development of our community 
college system, and to the growth of Research Triangle Park. Like Terry 
Sanford, our area is dynamic, vibrant, and full of hope.
  When we look back on the broad sweep of Terry Sanford's life--as an 
FBI agent, a World War II paratrooper, a state legislator, lawyer, 
author, university president, governor, and senator--we see a life 
committed to the greatest movements and deeply involved in the greatest 
accomplishments in this American century.
  I am proud to join the entire North Carolina delegation in sponsoring 
this bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation to 
name the federal building in Raleigh for Terry Sanford, an 
extraordinary citizen, visionary leader, and son of North Carolina.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill H.R. 911, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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