[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF SENATOR ALAN CRANSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2001

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, earlier today several of my colleagues 
gathered in the Senate to pay tribute and celebrate the life of former 
Senator Alan Cranston. Like my colleagues, I marvel at the passion and 
commitment Senator Cranston brought to the issues he cared about during 
his 86 years.
  Senator Cranston's wide-ranging life experiences gave him an 
incredible insight on some of the most important events in the 20th 
century. We are fortunate that he shared his experiences and 
perspective with us as a journalist and an author, most notably with 
his 1946 book, Killing the Peace, which was an account of the Senate's 
failure to join the League of Nations. The Senator's distinguished 
career also included time as president of the World Federalists, 
comptroller of California, and as a leading figure in reforming the 
California Democratic party. His contributions will always be 
remembered in these fields by those who worked with him and benefitted 
from his work.
  However, I am most thankful for his commitment and leadership on 
issues of peace and nuclear disarmament. As many of my colleagues know, 
Senator Cranston and I share a common perspective and commitment to 
these issues. His leadership on disarmament and the abolition of 
nuclear weapons is truly admirable. After leaving the Senate in 1993, 
Senator Cranston continued his push for nuclear arms reductions. He 
launched a much-needed effort at the 1995 State of the World Forum to 
abolish nuclear weapons worldwide through educating U.S. citizens and 
world leaders. Senator Cranston took his message and crusade far and 
wide, including to former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev. 
Locally, my congressional district--home to many caring and dedicated 
peace and environmental groups--was fortunate enough 2 years ago to 
have Senator Cranston join us for an event highlighting the need to 
abolish nuclear weapons. Once again, he reminded us all that while 
nuclear weapons will not be eliminated overnight, the United States 
must be a leader and take the first steps toward elimination of these 
weapons. As the founder of the Global Security Institute, he was able 
to forge ahead with this dream of abolishing nuclear weapons.
  With his passing, the peace and nuclear disarmament community 
certainly lost a true friend and leading voice. On behalf of the 
thousands of citizen groups that will continue to campaign for the 
elimination of nuclear weapons, I thank him for his ground breaking 
work in this arena. And, everyone should know, we will continue in this 
shared quest to make the world safe from the dangers of nuclear 
weapons.

                          ____________________