[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7420-S7421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            JOHN O. PASTORE

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on Wednesday, the day before yesterday, I 
went with a delegation to the State of Rhode Island for the funeral of 
our former colleague, John O. Pastore. I was accompanied by Senators 
Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Ted Kennedy and John 
Kerry of Massachusetts, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Joseph Biden of 
Delaware. Former Senators Claiborne Pell and Harris Wofford were also 
present.
  The Catholic Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception was 
uplifting. John Pastore, Jr., and grandson, Gregory, spoke warmly of 
our former colleague. Senator Ted Kennedy was especially eloquent in 
his remembrance of Senator Pastore. It was obvious that this man was 
much beloved by his family and community.
  Mr. President, I can recollect John Pastore's departing speech from 
the Senate. There he remarked that he had wanted to be a physician, but 
that his father had died when he was nine, and he had to help raise his 
four brothers and sisters and support his mother, who worked as a 
seamstress. How proud he must have been of his son, John, Jr., a Notre 
Dame graduate, a physician and cardiologist. So the son became what the 
father--John O. Pastore, the Senator--had wanted to be.
  Instead of being a physician, Senator Pastore studied law at night at 
Boston's Northeastern University, eventually graduating with a Bachelor 
of Laws degree. This is an effort I can especially appreciate. At age 
36, he became Governor of the State of Rhode Island, and was reelected 
twice before winning a Senate seat in 1950, where he served for 26 
years.
  Senator Pastore was a strong supporter of the National Defense 
establishment, with a great appreciation for the U.S. Navy--and 
especially the nuclear Navy. As the Chairman of the Joint Committee on 
Atomic Energy, he was equally mindful of the power, and the terror, of 
all matters nuclear, and worked hard for passage of the first nuclear 
test ban treaty, which barred nuclear tests in the atmosphere.
  John Pastore and I served for some 18 years together in the Senate. 
John was an effective and fiery orator. My recollection is that not 
many members were willing to take him on in a debate, because of his 
quick mind and fierce demeanor. Sometimes he would finish his debating 
points, leaving his opponent's arguments in shreds, and stride off the 
floor. But, even then he maintained his self-deprecating sense of 
humor--sometimes remarking under his breath, ``If I had been a foot 
taller, I would have been president.''
  Mr. President, I wonder why he would have wanted to be President. He 
was an extraordinary Senator. But he may well have become President had 
he wanted to do so.
  He was the keynote speaker at the 1964 Democratic Convention. 
According to news reports, his 36-minute speech was interrupted by 
applause 36 times, and he enjoyed a brief consideration for the Vice-
Presidential nomination that eventually went to Senator Hubert 
Humphrey.
  John Pastore's priorities were love of, and dedicated service to, 
God, Country, and family--especially family. I am told that John had 
the desk in his office equipped with a special buzzer that rang out to 
alert him whenever Elena, his wife since 1941, would call. I am told 
that no matter how important a visitor he might have in his office even 
if it had been Admiral Rickover, if the buzzer went off John Pastore 
would interrupt his meeting to take the call from ``Mama''--as he 
affectionately referred to his wife--for a list of

[[Page S7421]]

groceries, perhaps, to pick up on the way home or some other domestic 
chore. After carefully writing down her instructions, he would turn to 
his visitor and resume the meeting.
  John Pastore was the Chairman of the Communications Subcommittee of 
the Senate Commerce Committee. He was instrumental in the formation of 
legislation that created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and 
the Public Broadcasting Service. John Pastore was opposed to violence 
on television and, especially, in children's programming. The 
deterioration of TV programming to what it is today must have been 
upsetting to him.
  John Pastore's commitment to God, to competence, and to compassion, 
set a high standard. He used these commitments, I believe, to promote 
justice and peace. He was so very proud that his son John, Jr., who 
served as secretary of the Boston-based International Physicians for 
the Prevention of Nuclear War, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 
1985.
  So on Wednesday, I took the opportunity along with my illustrious 
colleagues whom I have named, to extend, on behalf of the Senate, my 
sympathy and prayers to John's wife, Elena, his son, John, Jr., and his 
daughters, Francesca and Louise.
  What a great outpouring that was on Wednesday--a huge church 
auditorium, and a great crowd. What a wonderful family.
  I was so very impressed with Mrs. Pastore, by her grace and poise, 
and with the two daughters and with that son, John Jr., the physician, 
which John himself had wanted to be.
  I close with words by John Donne:

                           Death Be Not Proud

     Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
     Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
     For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
     Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill me,
     From Rest and Sleep, which but they picture be,
     Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow;
     And soonest our best men with thee do go--
     Rest of their bones and souls' delivery!
     Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
     And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
     And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
     And better than thy stroke. Why swell'st thou then?
     One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
     And Death shall be no more: Death, thou shalt die!

  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is recognized.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in 
morning business for about 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the Chair.

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