[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S3911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  ON THE RETIREMENT OF GORDON C. KERR

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
member of my staff, an advisor, and a man I feel honored to call my 
friend, Gordon Kerr.
  Gordon, who has served as my Chief of Staff since 1982, has retired 
from government service to join the National Trust for Historic 
Preservation as the Director of Congressional Affairs. His 17 years as 
my top aide made him the dean of Senate Chiefs of Staff.
  Gordon has served me for these many years in a variety of ways. He 
has been an invaluable advisor on issues of public policy and 
legislative strategy, as well as on personal and political matters. He 
has a clear-eyed, straightforward, right-in-your-face way of evaluating 
issues and events, and expressing his opinion about them which makes it 
nearly impossible to walk a bad idea past him. At least not without his 
calling you on it.
  And yet, the first thing that anyone who knows Gordon immediately 
says is, ``what a wonderful human being''. How does a plain-speaking, 
realist like Gordon, come to be so uniformly regarded with such warmth 
and affection? It's simple when you think about it. Gordon is so open, 
principled, ethical and kind-hearted in his approach to the people he 
comes in contact with that it is nearly impossible to take offense at 
his candid advice. I'm reminded of what I've read about Robert Kennedy 
who also was known both for his brusque, sometimes harsh candor, but 
also for his high principles, and thoughtful consideration of others. 
``My, he is unassimilated, isn't he?'' poet Robert Lowell was reported 
to have said when he first met him.
  In all, Gordon spent more than 30 years on Capitol Hill, beginning as 
a Legislative Assistant for former-Congressman James Scheuer of New 
York in 1970, joining former-Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas in 
1973, and then working for former-Congressman Jonathan Bingham of New 
York from 1973 until 1982, when he joined my staff as Chief of Staff. 
Gordon is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. degree in Political 
Science and he holds a Masters degree in Public Administration with 
Distinction from American University, awarded in 1980. He served in the 
United States Navy as an Intelligence Officer for three years.
  In 1990, Gordon served as my campaign manager. Former Senator Eugene 
McCarthy, with his wonderful irreverent sense of humor, once remarked 
that practicing politics is a little ``like being a football coach; you 
have to be smart enough to understand the game, but dumb enough to 
think it's important.'' Well, Gordon is a brilliant strategist, an 
outstanding ``coach'', and although his acute sense of humor would 
appreciate Senator McCarthy's self-deprecating quip, nonetheless he's 
always known the importance of the game. He's proud of the work he's 
done in the Senate as a public servant, and rightly so. And, he's proud 
of his work in the world of campaigns and politics, doing his part on 
that tough battleground. He was ever-conscious of the role of politics, 
which we sometimes tend to forget, in the accountability which is at 
the heart of the democratic system.
  Characteristic of Gordon is his ability to see things from a new, 
fresh, sometimes unique angle. In a time when even the public policy 
debate is increasingly driven by political polls, television sound-
bites, and oversimplified sloganeering, it was particularly valuable to 
me to have his contributions. Even when I did not ultimately adopt his 
viewpoint or accept his recommendation, having the benefit of Gordon's 
input nearly always informed my decisions.
  While Gordon has been a dedicated public servant and loyal and hard-
working employee, his first priority has always been his wonderful 
family. His love of his wife Suzy, his son Charlie and daughter Sarah 
were evident in his voice whenever he spoke of them and in the special 
sparkle in his eyes when he was with them. I know I speak not only for 
myself and the Levin family, but for the entire Levin staff and many in 
the Senate family, when I say we will miss Gordon and the Kerr family. 
Fortunately, in his new role at the National Trust for Historic 
Preservation he won't be too far away.
  Mr. President, I owe Gordon Kerr a great debt for the loyal service 
which he has performed; and I believe that all of us here in the 
Senate, in my home state of Michigan, and in the nation, owe a debt of 
gratitude to him and the many like him who serve us here. This tribute 
to Gordon Kerr, in a small way, is an effort to recognize that 
role.

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