[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 57 (Monday, April 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4157-S4158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SENATOR ROMAN L. HRUSKA

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to recall a towering 
public servant, Senator Roman L. Hruska, who spent 22 years of his life 
in this body and who died yesterday at Omaha, NE, at the age of 94. 
Senator Hruska served with my friend, the distinguished Senator from 
South Carolina.
  In a day when some might question the morality of public service, the 
civility of public service, the genuineness of public service, and the 
goodness of public service, they did not know Senator Roman Hruska. 
Senator Hruska was one of 11 children, born in David City, NE, 94 years 
ago. His father had emigrated from Czechoslovakia, and moved his family 
to Omaha where he felt they would have a better opportunity to get an 
education and a better opportunity for a better life.
  Senator Hruska's father was a teacher. Senator Hruska went on through 
public schools in Nebraska, attended a number of graduate schools, the 
University of Chicago, and obtained his law degree in Nebraska. He 
started a law practice in south Omaha.
  When there became a vacancy on the Douglas County board of 
commissioners in Omaha, NE, his fellow citizens came to him and said, 
``Will you serve for one term?'' That one term began in 1944.
  A year later, he became chairman of the Douglas County board of 
commissioners, and until 1952 he served the Greater Omaha area and the 
State of Nebraska with great distinction.
  In 1952, a House seat opened up. It was the seat of Howard Buffett. 
Mr. President, that name ``Buffett'' may ring a bell. Howard Buffett 
was the father of Warren Buffett. Howard Buffett decided not to run for 
reelection.
  Again, Roman Hruska's friends and colleagues said, ``Will you run for 
Congress?'' Roman Hruska said, ``Well, I will do that for a short 
period of time.'' Roman Hruska was overwhelmingly elected to the 
Congress in 1952. Two years later, the Senate seat opened and, again, 
the same people asked Roman Hruska to serve. He ran for the Senate in 
1954 and never looked back. He retired from the Senate in 1976.
  I recall my first exposure to Senator Hruska as a young chief of 
staff to Congressman John Y. McCollister in the early 1970s. I would 
come to the Senate once or twice a week to get a delegation letter 
signed by Senator Hruska and then Senator Curtis. Senator Hruska would 
see me occasionally standing outside a hearing room and would never 
fail to accord me not only some recognition, which as we know around 
here does not always happen with junior staffers, but he was beyond 
gracious. He always had time for young people, always had time to talk 
a little bit about what we thought and what was on our minds.

  I really came to cherish those times when I had an opportunity to 
come over and see Senator Hruska. Senator Hruska was often in meetings, 
I say to Senator Hollings, with some of Senator Hollings' favorite 
colleagues, such as Senator Goldwater, Senator Eastland, Senator Long.
  As a young staffer, I would be invited in to the outer ring of those 
distinguished United States Senators and would stand and watch and 
listen. Senator Hruska would never fail to introduce me to his 
colleagues and make me feel not only welcome but a part of Government, 
a part of what he was doing.
  The dignity that Senator Hruska brought to his service is something 
well remembered by not just those of us who were privileged to have 
some relationship but all who served with Senator Hruska. He made this 
body a better body. He made America stronger. He believed in things.
  Senator Hruska did not believe in governance by way of calibration of 
the polls. You knew where Senator Hruska was and why. He was always a 
gentleman--always a gentleman. He would debate the issues straight up. 
He won most of the time; he lost his share. But the relationships that 
Senator Hruska developed and the respect that underpinned his service 
is rather uncommon. We are all better for it. America is stronger for 
it. Nebraska loses a very wise counselor. America loses a great public 
servant.
  When I ran for the Senate in 1996, one of the first people I went to 
see was Senator Hruska. The advice he gave me was consistent with his 
service and his life. He said, ``Chuck, I would not feel competent to 
judge or give you counsel on the issues of our day, but I will tell you 
this: Play it straight, say it straight, respect your colleagues and 
respect yourself, but most important, respect the institution of the 
U.S. Congress and always understand the high privilege it is to be part 
of that great body.''
  He was much too modest to go beyond what he gave me as good, solid 
advice on issues, but I can tell you that on the big issues over the 
last 3 years, not only I, but many of my colleagues, have constantly 
gone back to Roman Hruska and asked for his judgment and his thoughts.
  He will be greatly missed. I say to Senator Hollings, I will leave 
these remarks on behalf of your former colleague and friend and my 
friend, Senator Roman Hruska, by referring to Senator Hruska the way 
your former colleague, Everett Dirksen, once referred to Roman Hruska, 
and that is: A salute to the noblest Roman of them all--Roman Hruska.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Nebraska, 
Mr. Hagel, reminds me of a happier day. I say a happier day most 
sincerely in the sense that we had not become subject to all the 
consultants, all the pollsters to the point whereby today, in large 
measure, we more or less are marionettes to the consultants' hot-button 
items and issues and not the needs of the people.
  There was a tremendous respect on both sides of the aisle. I was 
elected in 1966. At that time, Senator Hruska was the ranking member of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senator Jim

[[Page S4158]]

Eastland of Mississippi served as chairman. I remember the various 
measures that went before the Judiciary Committee for debate and action 
were those bills that were agreed upon by Senator Hruska and Senator 
Eastland.
  Senator Hruska was a profound lawyer, and I say that advisedly in the 
sense of a little quibble. Everybody will remember or the media friends 
will remember when we were trying to nominate a Supreme Court Justice, 
that maybe he was not a graduate of Harvard and, therefore, sort of 
what they would call ``mediocre talent.'' That nettled the Senator from 
Nebraska and he said, ``Well, there are a lot of people in the land and 
a lot of lawyers of mediocre talent and maybe they need representation 
on the Court.''
  I remember him as a very erudite counsel who worked on these measures 
seriously and with purpose and was most respected. He has been a loss, 
I say to Senator Hagel. He has been missed over the many years because 
he held the line. We deliberated in a bipartisan fashion, and he 
contributed to that bipartisan leadership which is so lacking today.
  We ought to be working together. It would be a happier day. But, 
unfortunately, here we go again. The downtown crowd thinks they can 
embellish a computer glitch problem into a reform of the State tort 
laws with respect to joint and several liability, punitive damages, and 
everything else. As a result, it is a nonstarter.
  Like last week, the folks thought it would be good, since the 
President said, ``I'm going to save 62 percent for Social Security,'' 
they one-upmanshipped and said, ``We'll save 100 percent,'' knowing all 
along the 100 percent going to pay down the debt was coming from Social 
Security, increasing the debt on Social Security, thereby savaging, not 
saving, the fund. But so it goes.
  We do miss Senator Hruska. Mostly we miss his habits and his 
leadership and his balance in service. I think more than the balanced 
budget, what we need is balanced Senators.
  With that, I yield the floor for a balanced Senator, the 
distinguished Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. McCAIN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I listened with interest to the comments 
of the Senator from Nebraska about the late Senator Roman Hruska. There 
is something unique about Nebraska. There has been a long line of 
outstanding Senators to represent that State on both sides of the 
aisle. I know my colleagues and I appreciate very much both of our 
Senators from Nebraska, and they have carried on the tradition of 
Senator Curtis and Senator Hruska for honesty and integrity and a 
forthright addressing of the issues.
  I know Senator Hruska is proud of Senator Hagel, as Senator Hagel and 
the rest of us who had the privilege of knowing Senator Hruska 
appreciate him and his service for 22 years in the Senate --a very long 
time.
  I agree with the comments of my old, dear friend from South Carolina 
that we do need more balance in the Senate. He and I occasionally find 
ourselves on different sides of an issue, as we do on this one. But our 
disagreements have been characterized with mutual respect and 
appreciation. And frankly, I enjoy the debates I have had over the 
years with the Senator from South Carolina because he marshals his 
audience, and not only that, he from time to time injects a degree of 
humor that illuminates as well as elevates the debate.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to former 
U.S. Senator Roman Hruska, who served Nebraska and our Nation with 
honor, dignity and ability for 22 years in the U.S. Senate, from 1954 
to 1976.
  I join my colleagues in mourning the passing of Roman Hruska. Roman 
was a man who embodied all the positive traits of a good public 
servant. He was selfless, a man of integrity and character, and someone 
who was committed to helping others.
  I had the pleasure of serving with Roman during his entire service in 
the U.S. Senate. He and I were both Members of the class of 1954.
  It is my hope that others will be inspired by Roman's commitment to 
public service and helping others. He was a good man who will be missed 
by a large circle of friends in and out of the Senate.

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