[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               JOHN KLUGE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John W. Kluge for 
his constant and unwavering support for the Library of Congress.
  Mr. Kluge is the greatest individual benefactor in the history of the 
Library of Congress.
  He came to this country as a young boy from Germany, with virtually 
nothing but a china Dresden Horse--which he still has. From these 
humble origins, and through hard work, he received a full scholarship 
to Columbia University. After service in the United States Army during 
World War II, he went on in the business world to create a vast media 
empire which he converted into a great engine of philanthropy, 
supporting many educational programs, aimed in particular toward 
helping minorities.
  Mr. Kluge is the founding chairman of the James Madison Council, the 
Library of Congress's private sector philanthropic organization, where 
he has inspired many others to join in support of the Library and its 
programs.
  Through his generosity, John Kluge helped the Library of Congress 
bridge the gap into its third century by enabling it to invest heavily 
in technologies that bring the vast collections of the Library to 
people all over the world.
  Thanks to an endowment from Mr. Kluge, the Library of Congress 
established the John W. Kluge Center, which brings some of the world's 
best minds--the Kluge Scholars--into residence to use the rich 
resources of the Library and interact with national policy makers. The 
Kluge Center also accommodates Kluge post-doctoral Fellows who are 
pursuing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural subjects using the 
Library's rich and diverse collections. The first million dollar John 
W. Kluge Prize in the Human Sciences will be awarded this fall for 
lifetime achievement in the humanities.
  The work and the generosity of spirit of this great American will 
live on for generations. For years to come, individuals will be able to 
attend college on a John W. Kluge Scholarship who might otherwise be 
unable to afford it. Countless future national leaders will benefit 
from the intellectual stimulation that this man has made possible 
through his work at the Library of Congress. He is a man who has made a 
difference. During a lifetime of philanthropic activity and quiet 
assistance for those in need, John W. Kluge has touched countless lives 
and truly deserves the recognition of this body.

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