[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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