[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING 90TH BIRTHDAY OF REV. THEODORE M. HESBURGH, C.S.C.

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2007

  Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, today I rise as a proud alumnus 
of the University of Notre Dame law school and ask my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H. Res. 687, recognizing Reverend Theodore M. 
Hesburgh, C.S.C., for his contributions to the civil rights movement in 
the United States, his tireless work to reduce the threat of nuclear 
conflict, and his efforts to secure the peaceful resolution of 
international conflicts.
  As president of Notre Dame, Father Hesburgh worked to bring the 
university to the forefront of American institutions of higher 
education. Over the 35 years that he served as president, the 
university's enrollment, degrees awarded and the size of the faculty 
all greatly increased. Additionally, under Father Hesburgh's tenure, 
women were first admitted to the undergraduate program in 1972.
  Father Hesburgh is known as one of the 20th century's most 
influential figures in higher education. He served on many commissions 
and study groups, including serving as chairman of the International 
Federation of Catholic Universities from 1963 to 1970. In this 
capacity, he led a movement to redefine the nature and mission of the 
contemporary Catholic university, drawing trom his experiences in 
American Catholic universities.
  Father Hesburgh's accomplishments, however, are not limited to higher 
education. Throughout his distinguished career, Father Hesburgh has 
devoted himself to the cause of justice and human rights throughout the 
world. He has held 16 Presidential appointments for 10 presidents--
President Eisenhower through the current President Bush. In these 
positions, Father Hesburgh was involved in shaping policy on major 
social issues including civil rights, peaceful uses of atomic energy, 
campus unrest and treatment of Vietnam offenders.
  Furthermore, Father Hesburgh served four Popes, three as permanent 
Vatican City representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency 
in Vienna from 1956 to 1970. He was a charter member of the U.S. 
Commission on Civil Rights, created in 1957, and he chaired the 
Commission from 1969 to 1972. In 1971, he joined the board of the 
Overseas Development Council, a private organization supporting 
interests of the underdeveloped world, and chaired it until 1982. 
During the 1980s he was involved in a private initiative that sought to 
unite scientists and religious leaders in condemning nuclear weapons. 
In 1982, he helped organize a meeting in Vatican City of 58 scientists 
who called for the elimination of nuclear weapons and then brought 
together six spiritual leaders who endorsed this view.
  In recognition of his many efforts in America and throughout the 
world, Father Hesburgh was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2000 
and the Medal of Freedom in 1964, the Nation's highest civilian honor. 
His service to his country is an inspiration to all and it has been my 
honor to know him.
  Father Hesburgh once said, ``My basic principle is that you don't 
make decisions because they are easy . . . you make them because 
they're right.'' He has certainly lived his life by those words and it 
is an honor to be recognizing today the outstanding life of this great 
man.

                          ____________________