[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 53 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH

                                 ______
                                 

                              TOM LANTOS-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the United States lost an intellectual giant 
in the passing of economist and public figure John Kenneth Galbraith.
  Both he and I were immigrants to the United States--he from Canada, I 
from Hungary--and we both earned a Ph.D. in economics from the 
University of California, Berkeley. But I came to find that we had much 
more in common than that.
  When I ran my very first race for Congress in 1980, Mr. Speaker, I 
received an unsolicited contribution--and as my colleagues know, that 
is truly remarkable for a challenger seeking to upset an incumbent 
member of Congress. The contribution was from John Kenneth Galbraith. 
The hand-written message with the check said, ``From one economist to 
another.'' He added that he was delighted to see economist leaping into 
the political arena.
  I cannot tell you how touched I was, not only at receiving an 
unbidden sign of support from someone so well-known and respected, but 
also to realize that a man of his caliber was in my corner.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Galbraith was a profoundly influential American 
economist and a prolific author. His four dozen books and more than 
1,000 articles covered an amazing breadth of subjects, from Keynesian 
economic theory to political progressivism and fiction. Many of his 
volumes were bestsellers in the late 1950s and during the 1960s; they 
including memorable titles such as The Affluent Society and The 
Industrial State.
  He is widely quoted. Some of his most pithy observations are among 
the most profound. For example, he once noted that ``all successful 
revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.'' And who can forget 
that it was Galbraith who said, ``In economics, the majority is always 
wrong.''
  John Kenneth Galbraith was a dynamic presence with a nimble political 
mind. He advised U.S. Presidents from Roosevelt to Clinton and was 
actively engaged in the Presidential campaigns of John Kennedy and 
Eugene McCarthy. And he served with great distinction as U.S. 
Ambassador to India from 1961-63.
  In the year 2000, President Clinton awarded him the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award recognizing 
exceptionally meritorious service. He was also awarded the Padma 
Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for his contributions 
to strengthening ties between India and United States.
  It is difficult today to recall another man whose judgment and advice 
was valued by so many for so long, and who also managed to touch so 
many personally. My wife Annette and I extend our heartfelt condolences 
to his devoted wife of nearly 70 years, Catherine, and their sons Alan, 
Peter, and James.
  Mr. Speaker, John Kenneth Galbraith was an extraordinary human being 
and a dear friend whose prodigious life's work helped shape American 
politics and economics. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to this astonishing individual.

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