[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ALAN CRANSTON

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, on December 31st the Nation lost a 
remarkable man.
  At his home in Los Altos, California, lands-end of the Nation and 
State he served, Alan Cranston did not witness the beginning of the new 
millennium.
  It has been said that death is the great leveler. But Alan Cranston's 
accomplishments in life have clearly set him apart.
  Nearly seven decades ago, a young American journalist from California 
published an unexpurgated version of Adolf Hitler's ``Mein Kampf'' ``My 
Struggle''--revealing, as few had previously done, the true depth of 
the danger and the evil that Hitler embodied. Hitler successfully sued 
for copyright violation, and Alan Cranston wore that loss as a proud 
badge throughout his life.
  After a career in journalism, service in the U.S. Army during World 
War II, business, and local politics, Alan Cranston joined the members 
of this U.S. Senate in 1969 by virtue of his election in the previous 
November.
  Here, Senator Cranston's vision and rich composition of experiences, 
talents, and wisdom enriched our Senate deliberations.
  In 1977, when I was elected Senate Democratic Leader, Senator 
Cranston won election as Assistant Democratic Leader, or ``whip.'' In 
all his years of working, first as my proverbial ``right hand'' and, 
subsequently, as a close colleague in the Senate leadership when I 
became President pro tempore, Senator Cranston was a conscientious 
adjutant and a congenial friend and partner in numerous legislative 
efforts. Unfortunately, words alone cannot adequately convey the 
respect in which I held Senator Cranston, nor the solid appreciation 
that I felt for Senator Cranston and for his loyalty, his supreme 
dedication, his high purpose, his contributions to the Senate's work 
through many years.
  He was a fine lieutenant, if I may use that term. He was always there 
when I needed him. And many times I said that he was absolutely the 
best nose counter that I had ever seen in the Senate.
  But friendship and respect are not always easily forged. Tragedy 
makes a bond. In 1980, Senator Cranston was dealt Fate's glancing blow 
with the death of a child, a loss of a promise to the future, when, his 
son, Robin Cranston, died in a traffic accident in 1980, at the age of 
33. Two years later, my wife, Erma, and I were dealt a similar blow 
with the death of our grandson, John Michael Moore, in a traffic 
accident.
  Mr. President, a valedictory is not always sad and it is fitting that 
Senator Cranston's final words on this Floor regarding his career be 
repeated here. On October 8, 1992, he made these short and poignant 
remarks:

       Mr. President, a Senator from California gets involved in 
     myriad issues. Just about every issue that exists has an 
     impact, somehow, in the remarkable State of 30 million 
     people that I represent. So I have been involved in 
     countless issues over my time in the Senate.
       Most of all, I have dedicated myself to the cause of peace, 
     and to the environment. In many a sense I believe that my 
     work on the environment is probably the longest-lasting work 
     I have accomplished here.
       When you deal with a social issue, or a war and peace 
     issue, or an economic issue, or whatever the results, the 
     consequences are fleeting. Whatever you accomplish is soon 
     changed, and often what you have done leads to new problems 
     that then have to be dealt with.
       But when you preserve a wild river, or a wilderness, or 
     help create a national park, that is forever. That part of 
     your State, our Nation, is then destined to be there forever 
     after, as God created it.
       I worked with particular dedication over these years, too, 
     on issues of justice, equal rights, human rights, civil 
     rights, voting rights, equal opportunity. I worked for 
     democracy and freedom in my country and in all countries. I 
     focused particularly on housing, and transportation, and 
     veterans.
       I thank the people of California for the remarkable 
     opportunity I have had to serve them in the Senate for almost 
     a quarter of a century.

  Today, I along with millions of Americans, thank my friend, Alan 
Cranston, for his work, his life, and his vision.

       No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece 
     of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed 
     away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a 
     promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of 
     thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am 
     involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for 
     whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be allowed to 
speak for up to 10 minutes in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________