[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 136 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10632-S10633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING MIKE MANSFIELD
Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, much has been said and much has been
written about the gentleman from Montana, Mike Mansfield. Books about
him have been written, and countless speeches about him have been
presented. For many years to come, more books will be written, and more
speeches will be made about him. This is to be expected because he was
a person worthy of emulating. He was a person we all looked upon
without hesitation as our leader. He was a person whose word was always
good, reasoned, logical, and fair. He was a rare person, deeply
religious, humble to a fault, and flawlessly honest.
It is certain that he will be more than a footnote in the history of
our great Nation. He helped to lead us out of the quagmire of the
Vietnam conflict. His leadership assured the enactment of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, and the following year, he led the fight for the
passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a former school teacher,
he became the education leader in the Senate. Medicare became a
possibility under his leadership. His contributions are too many to
recount.
Like many, I was especially intrigued and impressed by Senator
Mansfield's military service record. At the age of 14, he became a
sailor. When the authorities discovered the age discrepancy, he left
and enlisted in the Army. After the Army, he became a Marine. He was
especially proud of his title PFC Mike Mansfield. He once remarked that
he preferred that title to Senator or Ambassador.
[[Page S10633]]
Many of us have anecdotes and stories about Mike Mansfield. I, too,
have some, but I would prefer to keep them as part of my warm and happy
personal memories of my acquaintance with my Leader. Like all who have
known him, I will miss him. I know I am a better American for having
known Mike Mansfield. It is difficult to say goodbye to a good friend,
but in saying goodbye, I wish to assure him that his lessons will never
be forgotten.
I ask unanimous consent that an editorial piece that appeared in the
Honolulu Advertiser on October 6, 2001, be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Mike Mansfield Made His Mark Here, in Japan
It's a tossup whether the passing of Mike Mansfield, who
died yesterday at 98, will be noted more prominently in Japan
or the United States. He was widely respected and admired in
both countries.
The Montana Democrat was both the longest-serving U.S.
Senate majority leader and the longest-serving U.S.
ambassador to Japan.
Named ambassador in 1977 by President Carter, Mansfield was
reappointed by President Reagan in 1981.
When he returned home after 11 years in Tokyo, the
Washington Post reported, Japan's ambassador to the United
States said Mansfield ``could have run for prime minister and
won.''
Expressing condolences yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi called Mansfield a great contributor to
friendship between the nations.
Mansfield's service as Senate majority leader, from 1961 to
1976, gave him a central role in debates on civil rights, the
Vietnam War, which he strongly opposed, and the Watergate
crisis.
Mansfield exercised that role with a leadership style that
drew bipartisan praise.
``It's no coincidence that the Mansfield years remain among
the most civil, and the most productive, in the Senate's
history,'' Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said yesterday.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, said, ``We have had few
like him, but then with the good Lord's help, it takes only a
few.''
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, with the passing of Mike Mansfield, this
Chamber lost a man who embodied the true meaning of public service. And
while he will no longer be with us, his spirit and his commitment to
serving our Nation survives him and guides us. I rise today to pay my
respects for his service as well as to ask that we honor his life by
following his example.
Mike Mansfield's patriotism and commitment to public service resided
in the very core of who he was. At the ripe old age of 14, when most
boys are signing up for freshman football, Mike Mansfield was signing
up for his first tour with the Navy. After the Navy discharged him due
to his age, Mike Mansfield would reenlist and serve in the Army and
Marine Corps. For a young man from Montana, those experiences led him
to develop an interest and passion for defining America's role in this
world. Back in 1921, when the word ``globalization'' was not exactly in
vogue, Mike Mansfield was taking his first trip to Asia. His commitment
to United States-Asia relations was unprecedented, while his leadership
in this area was unparalleled. It is with awe that in an age of hyper-
partisanship, we look back at a life of service that always put
principles above partisanship. One can only look back with awe and
respect at a man who not only served as the longest serving Senate
majority leader but also the longest serving U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
While this Nation said goodbye this weekend to our modern day
ironman, Cal Ripken, it's only appropriate that the nation recognizes
the Senate's own ironman. Mike Mansfield's legacy will be found not
only in the accomplishments of his service, but equally in the vision
he left for his colleagues and the manner in which he demonstrated his
leadership.
Senator Mansfield once said that ``by exploring the cultural,
religious, and social forces that have molded a nation, we can begin to
better understand each other and contribute to the knowledge and
understanding that will strengthen our ties of friendship and lead to a
better world.'' As we lead this Nation into a more globally
interdependent future, it will serve us well to keep Mike Mansfield's
words, and his legacy, close to us.
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