[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 127 (Monday, September 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO HOWARD J. RUBENSTEIN ON THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF RUBENSTEIN 
                               ASSOCIATES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 27, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
extraordinary talents and contributions of Howard J. Rubenstein. This 
evening, some two thousand government, civic, and corporate leaders 
will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Mr. Rubenstein's firm, 
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
  Howard Rubenstein has been dubbed by Newsweek Magazine as the ``Dean 
of Damage Control'', one of America's foremost public relations 
consultants. His clients constitute a cross section of influential 
individuals and organizations, from Disney/ABC to novelist Danielle 
Steel, from the New York Yankees to the Duchess of York. Rubenstein's 
brilliance, insights, and innovative strategies have earned him great 
respect in the United States and around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, my profound admiration for Howard Rubenstein is a 
consequence not of his public relations skills, but rather of his 
passionate commitment to using his talents for the benefit of his 
community and his country. His public service has affected a sweeping 
range of civic and cultural priorities. Mr. Rubenstein is currently an 
advisor to the New York City Commission on the Status of Women, and he 
is a member of the City University of New York Business Advisory Board, 
the board of directors of the Center for Democracy, and the Inner-City 
Scholarship Fund of the Archdiocese of New York.
  Howard has also served on the Mayor's Committee on Business & 
Economic Development for New York Mayors Abraham Beame, David Dinkins, 
and Rudolph Giuliani, and he is currently a trustee of the Alliance for 
the Arts, the March of Dimes New York Chapter, the Central Park 
Conservancy, and the Police Athletic League. In an era when business 
leaders all too often fail to demonstrate a devotion to the needs of 
our society, Howard Rubenstein's contributions stand as a model for all 
others.
  Mr. Speaker, one particular episode stands out in my reflection upon 
Howard Rubenstein's service to his community. In 1991, the Brooklyn 
community of Crown Heights exploded in a chain reaction of violence, 
riots, and ever-mounting divisions between the area's African-American 
and Hasidic Jewish populations. These disputes divided the city and 
received national attention, emphasizing the difficulties of racial 
reconciliation. Responding to a request for his assistance from Mayor 
David Dinkins and other city leaders, Rubenstein undertook the 
difficult task of diffusing the tensions between African-Americans and 
Jews.
  He organized a ``Peace Conference'' in Crown Heights, and then 
planned a special ``Neighbor to Neighbor'' event at the Apollo Theater 
in Harlem. More than 1,300 people--both Jews and African-Americans--
viewed a showing of ``The Liberators,'' a film which depicts the 
liberation of Nazi concentration camps by African-American soldiers. 
The screening was broadcast live on New York television, while 
simultaneously 500 ``Neighbor to Neighbor'' meetings were held in homes 
and community centers around New York City to discuss race relations. 
Rubenstein's efforts were critical to restoring civility and 
understanding in Crown Heights, and I believe that they speak volumes 
about the character and commitment of this outstanding man.
  Howard Rubenstein has come a long way since 1954, when he founded 
Rubenstein Associates, Inc., working on the kitchen table at his 
parents' home. In honor of the 45th anniversary of this event and in 
recognition of the outstanding contributions that he has made to his 
community and our country, I urge my colleagues to join me in extending 
warmest congratulations and our most sincere appreciation to Howard J. 
Rubenstein.

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