[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 122 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO HON. ROBERT W. BLANCHETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 4, 2000

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the true 
leaders in the renaissance of America's rail transportation system. 
Robert Blanchette, who died last week, was literally present at the 
creation when our private-sector railroads suffered financial collapse 
in the 1970s, and then returned to financial stability after 1980.
  After graduation from Yale Law School and service as an Air Force 
legal officer, Mr. Blanchette began his legal career in railroading as 
the general counsel of the New Haven Railroad in the late 1960s. While 
serving in that post, he also became executive director of the 
America's Sound Transportation Review program, one of the first modern 
efforts to analyze the ills of the transport system and recommend 
needed changes.
  Bob's next major post was counsel to the bankruptcy trustee of the 
Penn Central Railroad, which entered bankruptcy in 1970 and collapsed 
in 1973. At the time, Penn Central was the largest corporate bankruptcy 
in U.S. history. Based on his outstanding performance as counsel, Bob 
was later installed first as bankruptcy trustee, then chairman of the 
board, and chief executive officer.
  As one who arrived in Congress in the midst of what became known as 
``the wreck of the Penn Central,'' I can personally attest to the 
gargantuan effort required to deal with massive creditor claims against 
the Penn Central estate, while at the same time helping to fashion 
Conrail as the federally created successor to the various bankrupt 
Northeastern freight railroads. Bob handled these daunting tasks with 
characteristic acumen and aplomb. Eventually, thanks to the groundwork 
laid during Bob's tenure with the Penn Central, Conrail became a 
thriving railroad that was fully privatized in 1987 and was recently 
purchased by Norfolk Southern and CSX.
  When Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, Bob was named Federal 
Railroad Administrator. This was an era of massive and long overdue 
change, when the entire freight railroad industry was being transformed 
and rehabilitated through the deregulation of the Staggers Rail Act. 
Bob was at the center of efforts to modernize all federal policies 
affecting the rail transport system.
  In 1983, Bob returned to private law practice, representing the 
French high-speed rail enterprise, TGV. Later, from 1990 to 1997, he 
served as general counsel to the Association of American Railroads.
  Those who worked in or with the railroad industry can attest to Bob's 
razor-sharp mind and analytical skills. He was able easily to grasp the 
most complex issues, and equally important, to fashion sensible 
proposals for addressing those issues. Without exception, Bob was the 
consummate gentleman, and a constant source of dry wit and good humor. 
He never shrank from discussing and dissecting the rail transport 
policy issues of the day, on or off Capitol Hill.
  Throughout his professional career, Bob remained intensely proud of 
his French heritage, and an unapologetic Francophile, always ready to 
discuss French culture, cuisine, and of course, wine. He was truly un 
homme extraordinaire, and will be sorely missed by all who had the good 
fortune to know him.

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