[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 68 (Thursday, May 8, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5978-S5979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JAMES A. JOHNSON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 137, submitted 
earlier today by Senators Frist, Daschle, Stevens, Kennedy, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 137) honoring James A. Johnson, 
     Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy 
     Center for the Performing Arts.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues, 
Senators Frist, Daschle, Stevens, and Kennedy, to cosponsor a 
resolution honoring a very distinguished American who I am proud to 
call my very dear friend--Mr. James Johnson.
  Minnesota has produced some extraordinary political individuals--
Harold Stassen, Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy and Walter Mondale, 
among others. But among those who have never sought public office, but 
are still devoted to public policy and the power of good government, 
Jim Johnson stands out.
  Born in the small town of Benson, Jim Johnson was exposed at an early 
age to Minnesota politics, where his father, Alfred Ingvald, was a 
leading figure in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, serving for 2 
years as speaker of the Minnesota House.
  A natural politician, Jim was elected student body president at the 
University of Minnesota when only a sophomore, then went to Africa on a 
grant from the Ford Foundation, and earned a masters degree from 
Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Government.
  After serving on his Senate staff, Jim served as Executive Assistant 
to Vice President Walter Mondale and served as campaign director of the 
Vice President's 1984 bid for the White House.
  In the private sector, Jim founded Public Strategies, with Richard 
Holbrooke, and later served as a managing director at Lehman Brothers.
  Most notably, he also served as chairman and CEO of Fannie Mae, with 
the goal of allowing more Americans to fulfill their dreams of home 
ownership, and then as the chairman of the Kennedy Center.
  For the last 7 years, Jim Johnson has done a remarkable job at the 
center.

[[Page S5979]]

During his tenure, Congress approved a $650 million construction 
project that will include two new buildings and a large plaza, to 
better connect the center with the rest of the city.
  He has made the center more accessible to the public, thanks to the 
free 6 p.m. performances that are held every day.
  And who could forget last year's superb tribute to the America 
master, Stephen Sondheim?
  At the same time, the Kennedy Center Awards have become nationally 
recognized and broadcast on prime time TV.
  Not only has Jim Johnson worked tirelessly on behalf of the Kennedy 
Center, he has also been one of the center's most generous benefactors.
  There is an old story about Jim Johnson, when he and former President 
Clinton were in their mid 20s and trying to gain their footing in the 
political arena.
  What was very clear to everyone who knew the two of them back then: 
both had a real shot of becoming President of the United States.
  Well, Jim Johnson never took the path of elected office. But he went 
on to serve our Nation with great distinction, in the public and the 
private sector, and he still has so much left to give. Wherever he goes 
and whatever he does, Jim Johnson will surely leave an indelible mark.
  His wife Maxine and their son Alfred are immensely proud of this 
extraordinary man, just as I consider myself so very fortunate to call 
him my friend.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, that any statements relating thereto be printed 
in the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 137) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 137

       Whereas James A. Johnson has served with distinction since 
     1996 as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the John F. 
     Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which is the national 
     center for the performing arts;
       Whereas under the leadership of Jim Johnson, the Kennedy 
     Center has earned impressive renown, and become one of the 
     finest performing arts institutions in the Nation and around 
     the world;
       Whereas Jim Johnson initiated free public performances each 
     evening on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, and 
     these performances have now included a total of 25,000 
     performers and reached an audience of 1,500,000 persons since 
     1997;
       Whereas the arts education programs of the Kennedy Center 
     have been significantly expanded under the inspired 
     leadership of Jim Johnson;
       Whereas Jim Johnson has launched a major renovation and 
     construction project to improve the physical structure of the 
     Kennedy Center and enrich the experience of all who visit and 
     attend performances; and
       Whereas Jim Johnson deserves the thanks of a grateful 
     Nation for his leadership at the Kennedy Center, and in 
     bringing new vitality to the cultural heritage of our Nation: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its appreciation for all that Jim Johnson has 
     accomplished; and
       (2) commends Jim Johnson for his extraordinary achievements 
     as Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
     Arts.

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