[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 69 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S5194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NOTE FROM SENATOR SASSER

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I wonder if my distinguished friend from 
Utah will indulge me. I ask unanimous consent for 1 minute to read a 
note that I just received from our former colleague, Senator Sasser.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, many of us served here with Jim Sasser, the 
very distinguished former chairman of the Budget Committee, now our 
Ambassador to China at a very difficult time.
  We have seen the photographs of Ambassador Sasser under siege in the 
Chinese Embassy. I faxed him a note the other day, saying how proud I 
was, and I mentioned the comments of many Senators saying how proud 
they were, of his grace under fire and the fact that he would not leave 
the American Embassy that is under siege. When there were Embassy staff 
there, in the true and best tradition of the State Department and the 
Senate and the Marine Corps and everything else, he said he would stay 
until it was safe. So I faxed him this note.
  This morning I got back this note from him, and I will read it for my 
colleagues. It is handwritten. It says:

       Dear Pat: My sincere thanks for your wonderful note. Please 
     tell all my former colleagues that Mary and I are well and 
     safe. Things have stabilized after a turbulent few days. Last 
     night I got a good night's sleep in a real bed. All the best, 
     Jim.

  I just wanted everybody to hear that.
  I thank my friend from Utah.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
  Mr. HATCH. I am glad my friend from Vermont read that letter. I 
visited with Senator Sasser a couple of years ago over there. He is 
doing a very good job in China.

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