[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 14, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6467-S6469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              J. JAMES EXON, NEBRASKA GOVERNOR AND SENATOR

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I am here today to pay tribute 
to a great American and a great Nebraskan. J. James Exon served with 
distinction in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1996 an as 
Governor of Nebraska from 1970 to 1978. Senator Exon passed away in his 
hometown of Lincoln, NE last Friday at the age of 83. His funeral 
services are tomorrow in Lincoln.
  Jim Exon understood Nebraskans like no one else which explains his 
popularity with the people of his State. He loved them and they loved 
him back.
  He was a Democrat in a highly Republican State, yet he never lost an 
election in 2 campaigns for Governor and 3 for United States Senate. He 
understood that Nebraska is a populist state more than it is a partisan 
state. Most Nebraskans judged him on what he said and what he did, not 
on his political registration.

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  Jim Exon was a common man. Nebraskans will remember Jim Exon as one 
of the greatest leaders Nebraska ever had. Anyone who travels around 
Nebraska today can see the continuing legacy from his quarter century 
of public service.
  Jim Exon built on the Nebraska tradition of working together. In that 
way he carried on the legacy of another giant in Nebraska history, 
Senator George Norris. Norris founded the unicamera legislature in an 
effort to improve the workings of government and to achieve results. 
Jim Exon had the same philosophy.
  I had the honor of serving in then-Governor Jim Exon's cabinet as 
Nebraska Director of Insurance. He has been a friend and mentor ever 
since even as I have followed him as Governor and U.S. Senator. I would 
frequently call him to seek advice and he would often call to offer it. 
Now, those calls will cease but I don't think I'll ever stop learning 
from Jim Exon.
  The people of Nebraska always appreciated Jim Exon in life as they do 
now in death. We will miss him but we can all take comfort in the fact 
that his fingerprints are on more than a quarter century of our history 
and Nebraska and the United States of America are far better places 
because of his generous service.
  As a former poker partner of Jim Exon, I can say that the man was 
driven to win. He was surprised by those who didn't try to beat him. 
That attitude carried over into his public life and is ``part and 
parcel'' of the reason so many Nebraskans are fond of him. He made you 
feel like he was on your side. He made you feel your issues were 
important. And most of all, he made you feel proud to be a Nebraskan.
  Those in public life must face the last great scrutiny when they 
leave this world for the next. Their careers are examined again. Their 
friends and foes get one last unanswered say. In the case of Big Jim 
Exon, who liked to have the last word, I know this must be driving him 
crazy.
  In the case of Jim Exon the last word goes to Nebraska, the State and 
the people he loved so dearly. The State of Nebraska will miss Jim 
Exon, his wisdom, his humor and his common sense. He is one Nebraskan 
who from start to finish, and through every day, truly did lead ``the 
good life.''
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record two editorials 
from Nebraska newspapers that captured the essence of Jim Exon so 
eloquently, one from my hometown paper, the McCook Gazette and another 
from the Omaha World Herald.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the McCook Gazette, Jun. 13, 2005]

                ``Common Man'' Exon in Touch With State

       The former editor and publisher of the McCook Daily 
     Gazette, Allen Strunk, played a key role in the political 
     career of J.J. Exon, the former Nebraska governor and senator 
     who passed away Friday at age 83.
       Strunk, a conservative Republican, broke with tradition in 
     1970 when he became the only daily newspaper publisher in the 
     state to endorse Exon in the race for governor against 
     Norbert Tiemann.
       Contacted at his Las Vegas home this morning, Strunk said 
     he was moved to support Exon because he was a ``common Joe'' 
     who was in touch with the people. ``Exon had been a 
     businessman in Lincoln and the 1970 campaign was his first 
     run for office,'' Strunk said. ``He impressed me as being 
     much more in tune with the wishes of the people than did 
     Tiemann, who came across as pompous.''
       The endorsement of Strunk was helpful in the hard-fought 
     race. Another factor was the negative feedback which Tiemann 
     received following passage of state sales and income tax 
     legislation.
       Exon's victory in 1970 launched a political career that 
     continued through two terms as governor and three terms as a 
     United States Senator. Whenever he was in Southwest Nebraska, 
     Exon made it a point to stop by the Gazette office for visits 
     with Strunk.
       Exon also was an important figure in the lives of two other 
     former McCook residents: the late Frank Morrison, a former 
     governor of Nebraska; and Ben Nelson, a former governor and 
     current U.S. Senator from Nebraska.
       Nelson struck the same theme as Strunk, saying, ``Jim Exon 
     was a common man who dearly loved the state of Nebraska and 
     that's why the people loved him. He was one of them and they 
     knew it and were proud of it. His fingerprints are all over 
     the history of Nebraska and he'll go down as one of the 
     greatest leaders this state has ever known.''
       During this lifetime, Morrison spoke highly of Exon, as did 
     Exon of Morrison. Exon was among the many mourners when 
     Morrison passed away in 2003 at age 98.
       Other than George W. Norris of McCook, Exon was the only 
     Nebraskan to win five consecutive elections. The state will 
     miss him, as will the McCook area, which had a significant 
     role in Exon's long political career.
                                  ____


              [From the Omaha World Herald Jun. 12, 2005]

                             J. James Exon

       Perhaps someone else would have made Nebraska a two-party 
     state in the second half of the last century if John James 
     Exon hadn't appeared on the scene.
       But it's hard to imagine anyone else doing the job nearly 
     as effectively, and with as much pure joy, as did the former 
     governor and U.S. senator, who died Friday at age 83.
       Starting in the 1950s J. James Exon breathed life into the 
     moribund Democratic Party with the force of his personality, 
     the clarity of his vision and the relentlessness of his 
     energy.
       He was a force in the candidacy of Govs. Ralph Brooks 
     (1959-60) and Frank Morrison (1961-67). He was guide and 
     mentor to Govs. Bob Kerrey (1983-87) and Ben Nelson (1991-
     99). In his own right, Exon was the first Nebraska governor 
     to serve two four-year terms (1971-79) and followed that with 
     an 18-year career in the U.S. Senate.
       Exon has earned lasting honor in the councils of his party. 
     He helped show Democrats how they could succeed in Nebraska: 
     be true to the better nature of their party while respecting 
     the political traditions and impulses of all Nebraskans. 
     Above all, be a straight shooter. Don't pussyfoot.
       But he belongs to all Nebraskans. Exon's presence on the 
     political scene demonstrated the wisdom of evaluating a 
     candidate's knowledge, character and ideas ahead of narrow 
     partisanship. Competition between the parties makes for a 
     better examination of ideas and philosophies, but only if the 
     voters are willing to listen before deciding.
       Exon simply would not be put down because the Republicans 
     had a big lead in voter registrations. He said what was on 
     his mind, and the electorate could not help but pay 
     attention.
       And thus when the time came to ask Nebraskans for their 
     votes, Republicans stepped forward by the thousands to cast a 
     vote for Jim.
       As governor, Exon embraced the mantra of holding the line 
     on spending. He was known for his strongly worded veto 
     messages. He fought his political battles with a gusto that 
     approached celebration.
       However, though he was a conservative on spending, he was 
     no skinflint. His dislike of careless spending was balanced 
     by an abiding sense of stewardship over the institutions of 
     state government. He was a man of moderation.
       In the Senate, Exon positioned himself as a proponent of a 
     strong national defense and as a knowledgeable source on 
     geopolitical matters. A veteran of World War II, he could 
     thus claim a legitimate share in the victory in the Cold War.
       He followed his stars, loved the outdoors, maintained the 
     loyalty of strong men and never wavered in his commitment to 
     fairness and his concern for ordinary people.
       Carved in the south facade of the Nebraska State Capitol, 
     facing the Governor's Mansion where the Exons resided for 
     eight years, are the words of Aristotle: ``Political society 
     exists for the sake of noble living.''
       Surely Big Jim Exon used that thought, or something very 
     similar, as part of the code by which he lived his life.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I heard the remarks of the distinguished 
Senator from Nebraska. I don't have time tonight to make my comments 
about the distinguished Senator, Governor Exon, but tomorrow I will.
  Suffice it to say, it was my privilege to serve with him. He was 
everything the Senator from Nebraska said and more.
  Tomorrow I will elaborate on my years of service on various 
committees. He truly was a wonderful man, a hard worker, a man of great 
common sense, and he contributed immensely to the years I knew him in 
the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, let me take a minute, also, and 
underscore the comments our colleague from Nebraska and Senator 
Domenici have made about Jim Exon. He was a great U.S. Senator and one 
with whom I was fortunate to serve on the Armed Services Committee for 
many years. He contributed a tremendous amount to his home State and to 
this country. He will be missed by all who served with him in the 
Senate.
  There is a service for him tomorrow in Nebraska, which I hope to 
attend. I will also have extensive comments to offer at a future time. 
It is a great loss to the country and a great loss, of course, to all 
those who knew him. He will be fondly remembered in this Senate.
  I yield the floor.

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