[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2015-E2016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THURGOOD MARSHALL COMMEMORATIVE STAMP RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 1, 1999

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced legislation urging the 
Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee and the United States Postal Service 
to issue a commemorative stamp to honor the late great Justice Thurgood 
Marshall.
  I'd like to start my tribute with a brief story.
  This story was told by Marshall during the installation of Wiley 
Branton as Dean of Howard University's Law School. It clearly 
exemplifies what Marshall's legacy means to me.

[[Page E2016]]

You'll see what I mean when you hear the story.
  This guy took a trip to Las Vegas and did what so many others do--he 
lost his money, including his fare home. While figuring out what to do, 
as sometimes happens, he had to go. When he got to the bathroom, he 
discovered that they had not a nickel or dime but quarter stalls. He 
didn't have any money, so he was in pretty bad shape. And then a 
gentleman came by and he told the gentleman his problem. The guy said, 
``I'll give you a quarter . . . I don't care if you give it back to me 
or not, it's no problem.'' He took the quarter and went back into the 
restroom, and just as he was about to put the quarter in, he realized 
the door had been left open. So he put the quarter in his pocket and he 
went in . . . He realized that a quarter wasn't going to get him back 
to Los Angeles and wouldn't even feed him. So, he put the quarter in a 
slot machine.
  And it wouldn't be a story if he didn't hit the jackpot.
  Then he hit the bigger jackpot . . . and he went to the crap table; 
he went to the roulette table. He ended up with about ten or fifteen 
thousand dollars. He went back home and invested in the right stock. He 
got the right business together. And in pretty short order, about 
fifteen years, he became the second wealthiest man in the world. He was 
asked about this story on television and began by saying, ``I am so 
indebted to that benefactor of mine. That man who made all of this 
possible. And if he comes forth and proves who he is, I will give him 
half my wealth in cash. So a man came forth . . . . He said, ``Are you 
sure you are the one I'm looking for?'' ``Of course, he said, I'm the 
man who gave you that quarter,'' The millionaire said ``I'm not looking 
for you. I'm looking for the man who left the door open.'' You see, if 
he hadn't left the door open, I would have put the quarter in the 
stall.''
  Marshall epitomizes the man who left the door open. We are all 
millionaires--even billionaires--rich from Marshall's legacy of opening 
doors for those less fortunate. As we close this era, we must not 
forget his impact on the events of the 20th Century.
  Marshall was instrumental in supporting the rights of minorities and 
immigrants; limiting government intrusion in cases involving illegal 
search and seizure, double jeopardy, and the right to privacy; and in 
creating new protections under the law for women, children, prisoners, 
and the homeless.
  His legacy has inspired Americans to name educational institutions, 
Federal Buildings, legal societies, libraries, and numerous academic 
achievement awards in his honor. It is indeed my honor to recognize a 
man whose career is a monument to our judiciary system and who has 
inspired so many to continue his quiet crusade.
  Marshall was born and raised in the Congressional District I 
represent--Baltimore City, Maryland--and lived in a home about eight 
blocks from where I live now. We both attended Howard University and, 
more significantly, he was once turned away from the law school I 
attended and graduated from--the University of Maryland. As such, I am 
especially proud to honor Thurgood Marshall, as I share a common 
background with him.
  Through his knowledge, advocacy and devotion to the cause of civil 
rights, Marshall contributed to the battle fought in the United States 
courts to eradicate the legacy of slavery. I believe, however, that he 
should be revered most for his courage and independent judiciary and 
for breathing life into the text of the Constitution. He worked 
tirelessly to guarantee all Americans equality and liberty in their 
individual choices concerning voting, housing, education and travel.
  In 1954, he argued the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 
Kansas before the Supreme Court, where racial segregation in public 
schools was declared unconstitutional.
  He won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the Supreme Court, 
including, cases in which the court declared unconstitutional:
  A Southern state's exclusion of African-American voters from primary 
elections (Smith v. Allwright, 1944); state judicial enforcement of 
racial ``restrictive covenants'' in housing (Shelley v. Kraemer, 1948); 
and ``separate but equal'' facilities for African-American 
professionals and graduate students in state universities (Sweatt v. 
Painter and McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, both 1950).
  I honor and praise him for his civil rights and professional 
achievements within our judicial system.
  President John F. Kennedy appointed Marshall to the United States 
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1961. Four years later, 
President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him Solicitor General of the 
United States.
  President Johnson nominated Marshall to the Supreme Court of the 
United States and the Senate confirmed the appointment on August 30, 
1967, making Marshall the first African-American justice to sit on the 
Court. Marshall served 23 years on the Supreme Court, retiring on June 
27, 1991, at the age of 82.
  After his death an article in the Washington Afro-American stated, 
``We make movies about Malcolm X, we get a holiday to honor Dr. Martin 
Luther King, but every day we live the legacy of Justice Thurgood 
Marshall.''

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