[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 140 (Thursday, September 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11849-S11850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTES TO RUTH MULAN CHU CHAO

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to remember a woman whose 
life, to a remarkable degree, traced the very arc of the American 
dream. Ruth Mulan Chu Chao returned home to the Lord on August 2, 2007, 
and today is the Seventh Seventh Day of her departure, an important day 
in Chinese tradition.
  The story of her struggle to bring hope and opportunity to a family 
that had verged on losing both is an inspiration to all who knew her. 
On August 11, 2007, I had the honor of retelling my mother-in-law's 
life story at a private celebration of life and thanksgiving service in 
New York City that was attended by her many family, friends, admirers, 
and acquaintances.
  It is my hope that by preserving my tribute, along with that of my 
wife, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, that the memory of this 
remarkable woman will live on not only for the benefit of those who 
knew her but for all who cherish the promise of America. May its 
placement in the Congressional Record serve as a lasting tribute to the 
millions of men and women who, like Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, struggled to 
see that promise fulfilled. Ruth's story is the story of America. It 
deserves to be heard.
  I ask unanimous consent that my tribute and that of Secretary Elaine 
Chao be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                      Tribute by Senator McConnell

       Sophocles said that ``One must wait until the evening to 
     see how splendid the day has been.'' And we could say the 
     same thing about the modest woman we mourn today. Ruth Chao 
     put the lives of others ahead of her own for as long as 
     anyone could remember. And, in the end, we all knew that this 
     was the secret of her truly remarkable life.
       As a young girl, she was torn from the beauty of her native 
     home by an invading army, then secretly returned at great 
     risk to herself to retrieve the family's belongings. As a 
     young wife and mother, she was separated from her husband for 
     three years, but consoled him with letters of encouragement, 
     optimism, and hope. And as a loving mother of six daughters, 
     she would diligently devote the rest of her years to them.
       She had been at sea for more than a month in the summer of 
     1961 when she leaned over the rail toward the giant woman in 
     New York harbor, and prayed that her family would be safe in 
     this new and foreign place. There was no guarantee that the 
     journey would end well. But in the years to come, Ruth Chao 
     would quietly do all she could to ensure that her family 
     lived up to the promise of America.
       The cultural divide was as wide as the ocean that brought 
     them here. One early shock came at the end of October, when a 
     group of children showed up at the front door with masks on 
     their faces. The neighbors knew it was Halloween. The Chao 
     family thought they were being robbed. Most of the cultural 
     difficulties were harder to bear. But they made it through. 
     They had their anchor. It was Ruth.
       In time, the family would learn the language and the 
     culture. The daughters would go on to the best universities 
     in the country, and anyone who visited the house in Harrison 
     would learn the wisdom of the Chinese Proverb which says that 
     ``Those who plant melons grow melons; those who plant beans 
     produce beans.'' Ruth's devotion to her husband and her 
     daughters was complete and total. And it showed.
       She was never more herself than when she fell ill. She said 
     that if someone in the family had to be sick, better that it 
     be her. She had fewer responsibilities than the others, she 
     said. It was an astonishing thing to hear. But it didn't 
     surprise anyone who knew her. From the shadow of the Purple 
     Mountain of Nanjing, to the bitterness of exile, to the 
     uncertainty of a new life in a strange place, to the 
     heartbreak of a long illness, she put herself last so that 
     others might be first.
       The Scriptures that she loved tell us that ``Unless a grain 
     of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains itself 
     alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.'' Ruth Chao made 
     this promise her own. She left this life as she lived it, 
     giving of herself, even at the end, for others. And all of us 
     are grateful for the harvest that she reaped.

                       Tribute by Secretary Chao

       My father, Dr. James S. C. Chao; sisters: Jeanette, May, 
     Christine, Grace, Angela; the rest of our family, and I want 
     to thank you so much--especially those who have traveled so 
     far--for coming and helping us celebrate the life and legacy 
     of our beloved mother, Ruth Mulan Chu Chao.
       My mother is a modest and humble person who never wanted to 
     trouble anyone. We did not notify many people formally but 
     the volume of condolence wishes have been so spontaneous, 
     heartfelt, and overwhelming. We are very touched.
       Mother went home to the Lord a week ago last Thursday, 
     after a heroic seven-year battle with lymphoma. In fact, her 
     initial diagnosis came on the same day that the President 
     announced my nomination as the Secretary of Labor. Our mother 
     confronted this struggle as she did every challenge in her 
     life--with courage, selfless concern for others, and a 
     serenity that came from the belief that God had a purpose for 
     her in life.
       She and my father are part of a generation that experienced 
     much suffering, but achieved great things. Mother and Father, 
     like so many Chinese in the 20th century, endured the terror 
     of foreign invasions, the chaos of domestic turmoil, and the 
     heartbreak of dislocations in their native land. Despite all 
     the terrible things they saw, they refused to be defeated by 
     them and remained positive and optimistic their entire life.
       Mother's courage in the face of great suffering was the 
     product of a strong faith, rooted in a deep love for the 
     Lord, her husband and her family. It gave her the strength to 
     be a pioneer for women of her generation, and to leave a 
     legacy that extends far beyond her immediate family.
       Mother was ahead of her time even as a young woman, when 
     she saw the promise of her future husband, James S. C. Chao, 
     long before others, and pledged her love and her life to him 
     unconditionally. Her American name, Ruth, which was given to 
     her by a missionary, is very appropriate because--as the 
     Biblical Ruth promised in Chapter 1:16--``whither thou goest, 
     I will go.''
       For my father's part, her graceful bearing, dignity, 
     cultured upbringing and beauty ensured that his heart was 
     hers forever. As Proverbs 31:10-12 say, ``When one finds a 
     worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, 
     entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She 
     brings him good . . . all the days of her life.''
       Mother's virtuous character was the foundation of our 
     family and all that we have been able to achieve. Her loving, 
     steady leadership at home alleviated all of Father's worries 
     and enabled him to travel far and wide to seek opportunities 
     to better life for the family. Mother was seven months 
     pregnant with my sister, May, when Father left to go to 
     America. During their three long years of separation, they 
     were faithful to one another, to God and to every promise 
     that they made.
       Three years later, Mother risked everything, leaving her 
     family and all that was familiar behind to join him, taking 
     another great leap of faith. Moving to America may seem more 
     commonplace now, but back then it was a courageous and bold 
     step, especially because America was not nearly as ethnically 
     diverse as it is today. Mother was a pioneer who led the way 
     for those who came afterwards, and their contributions helped 
     our country grow in the diversity and strength that makes it 
     the envy of the world today.
       Resettled in America, Mother paved the way for her 
     daughters' successes by nurturing us physically and imbuing 
     us with thinking and attitudes that were, again, ahead of 
     their time. Mother always believed that women could be just 
     as valued and accomplished as men. She also believed that the 
     most important adornments for a woman were virtue, intellect 
     and achievement. In fact, at the age of 51, she went back to 
     school to St. John's University to earn a master's degree in 
     Asian literature and history. She taught us to lead virtuous 
     lives by her own example of being virtuous in everything she 
     did and said. She is our model of dignity, propriety and 
     purity of heart.
       Mother gave expression to her strong faith and love not 
     only through the example she set for us, but in giving 
     herself wholeheartedly to her church and to her community. 
     She touched the lives of many outside our family through her 
     volunteer work in the church and in the community, often done 
     quietly and without fanfare.
       Mother's life spanned two worlds--Asia and America--and she 
     played a role in building bridges of understanding between 
     them. She never forgot where she came from, establishing 
     several charitable foundations with Father that are helping 
     young people in Asia and America access higher education and 
     opportunity. She has planted thousands of seeds throughout 
     her life that will blossom over time and produce many 
     improvements in our world in the future.
       As Mother faced the final challenge of her life, she never 
     complained even though the ravages of the illness ensured 
     that she was never without pain. Her only thoughts and words 
     were always expressions of concern for others. When I would 
     accompany her in the hospital, she would look quizzically at 
     me and ask, ``Shouldn't you be at work? The people and the 
     country are depending on you.''
       During her illness, my parents switched roles. Mother had 
     taken care of Father throughout her life. Now, he took care 
     of

[[Page S11850]]

     her, ferociously and protectively monitoring every detail of 
     her care at every stage. So much so that one of the doctors 
     joked that my father was practicing medicine without a 
     license. Throughout this difficult time, the devotion of my 
     parents to one another was like a shining beacon, drawing 
     everyone to them with its intensity and warmth.
       Nearly half a century ago, Father came to America to 
     prepare a place for his young wife and their children. Now, 
     Mother has gone to prepare a place for him and for us--an 
     everlasting home with the Lord that will never end and where 
     every tear will be wiped away. We are consoled by the 
     knowledge that we will see Mother again with her usual smile, 
     healthy and strong.
       Until then, Mother is with us every day in our hearts and 
     in our lives as an enduring inspiration, spurring us forward 
     to contribute to society and make a difference in this world.

     

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