[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR JACOB CHIC HECHT
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 481, which was submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 481) relative to the death of Jacob
Chic Hecht, former United States Senator for the State of
Nevada.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, yesterday morning in Las Vegas Chic Hecht
died. Chic Hecht was a former Senator and a fellow Nevadan. On behalf
of the entire Senate family, I extend condolences to Chic's wife, Gail,
and their daughters, Leslie and Lori.
Chic was a man very small in stature, but his life has left a big
shadow on the State of Nevada and the entire United States. Chic's
political career was outstanding, and I consider it a privilege that I
could serve with and know him.
When I was Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, Chic served in the Nevada
State Senate. When I was elected to the Congress in 1982, he was
elected to the Senate. A few years later, I had the good fortune of
joining him here.
Chic was someone who had no guile. He made it through his political
career recognizing that he was never going to be a dynamic speaker. He
spoke with a distinct lisp. But this is something that people in Nevada
came to admire and appreciate. People had great affection for him, as
you can tell from his first Senate race.
Chic's election to the Senate is described as being the biggest
political upset in the history of the State of Nevada. He beat a man
who had served in the Senate 24 years, Senator Howard Cannon, a man who
had been chairman of the Rules Committee, Commerce Committee and Armed
Services Committee. It was a tremendous upset.
Chic was rightfully proud of that election. ``Only in America could
this happen,'' he said the night that he beat Howard Cannon. ``Put that
down. That is what makes America great.''
Even Chic's opponents liked and respected him.
In 1988, Chic was beaten by Senator Richard Bryan. But as Senator
Bryan said, they were good friends during the race and continued being
good friends after. That was Chic Hecht.
As successful as he was in the political field, he was even more
successful as an entrepreneur. He made his money in a number of
different ways. One was selling women's clothing. The other was in the
banking business. He was extremely successful.
But public service called him. In addition to his Nevada legislature
and Senate experience, he also served as Ambassador to the Bahamas from
1989 to 1994.
During the 1950s, Chic was a member of the Army. At that time, Chic
was an undercover person--a spy. He was known for this his entire life.
During some of his campaigns, people checked to find out if, in fact,
this man of small stature really was a spy because if that was not the
case, they planned to use it against him in the campaign. But they
couldn't, because it was true. He served with distinction in the
military.
Here's another example of the kind of man Chic was.
We had today, as we have for many decades, our Tuesday caucuses.
During the time Senator Hecht served in the Senate, he attended the
Republican Tuesday caucus. Well, one Tuesday, John Kerry was late
coming to the Democratic caucus, and he came across Chic Hecht, who was
in a state of distress because while eating lunch with the Republican
caucus, he had some food lodged in his throat. He couldn't breathe. He
staggered out of the Republican conference and, fortuitously, John
Kerry recognized that something was wrong. Senator Kerry applied the
Heimlich maneuver, and the food came out. Chic Hecht was told by the
doctors that he had a matter of a few seconds to live.
Now, to show the kind of man Chic Hecht was, every Christmas, even
though he was proud of his Jewish faith, every Christmas thereafter,
recognizing that that was a day of celebration for Senator Kerry,
Senator Hecht called John Kerry to tell him that he appreciated his
having saved his life.
And what a life it was.
Nevada has had a great loss. I hope that Chic's family recognizes the
greatness of this man. I know there are many in Nevada who do.
As strongly as I feel about Chic Hecht, his friends run deep in our
state. My good friend Art Marshall, who is a good, strong Democrat and
has helped me on everything that I have ever done, spoke with
admiration of his deep friendship with Chic Hecht. They were from
different political parties, but always had a very good relationship.
Art called me nearly every day to tell me how Chic was doing while he
wrestled with cancer.
Today, Chic's suffering is over. He will be missed.
In time, the pain of his loss will pass, but never our memories and
appreciation for this man. Chic Hecht, Senator from Nevada.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider
be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 481) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 481
Whereas Jacob Chic Hecht served as a special agent in the
United States Army Intelligence Corps;
Whereas Jacob Chic Hecht served the people of Nevada with
distinction from 1983 to 1989 in the United States Senate;
Whereas Jacob Chic Hecht served as United States Ambassador
to the Bahamas from 1989 until 1994;
Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow
and deep regret the announcement of the death of Jacob Chic
Hecht, former member of the United States Senate.
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate
these resolutions to the House of Representatives and
transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the
deceased.
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand
adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the
Honorable Jacob Chic Hecht.
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