[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 159 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13150-S13151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE PASSING OF MAYER ``BUBBA'' MITCHELL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to share with my 
colleagues the sad news that Mayer ``Bubba'' Mitchell, a great American 
and a great humanitarian, passed away on September 26, 2007.
  I was lucky to know Mayer for many years. He was a successful 
businessman from Alabama, a philanthropist who supported groundbreaking 
cancer research and a strong voice here in the Halls of Congress. An 
advocate for a strong friendship between the United States and Israel, 
Mayer served a term as president of the American Israeli Public Affairs 
Committee, AIPAC, and he impressed all who met him with his clear and 
passionate convictions.
  I had the honor of attending Mayer's memorial service last month, in 
the USA Mitchell Center at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, 
AL. I heard many moving tributes from many distinguished guests. But 
there was one that stood out to me above the rest, so much so that I 
wish to share it with my fellow Senators.
  My good friend Howard Kohr, the executive director of AIPAC, 
delivered the following remarks at Mayer's memorial service. Howard so 
aptly described the man we had all come to know and love that I would 
like to ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record his words.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There being no objection, the remarks were 
ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

[[Page S13151]]

                 A Tribute to Mayer ``Bubba'' Mitchell

       Arlene, I cannot begin without expressing the deep love and 
     affection that we all have for you. Throughout your life--and 
     in particular in this past year--which I know was especially 
     trying--you have been an ``eshet hayil'' a true woman of 
     valor. Having known you and Bubba so long and having spent so 
     much time with both of you, I know that you feel blessed to 
     have had a life with Bubba--but, Arlene, it was equally a 
     blessing for Bubba to have you.
       To you Arlene, and to you, Abe--his partner and best friend 
     Fannie, Ann--and to Joy, Melinda, Richard, Lisa, and the 
     entire family I want you to know that I consider this to be 
     one of the great honors of my life to be asked to speak and 
     pay tribute to your husband, brother, father, and 
     grandfather.
       You know, I spent a lot of time walking the halls of 
     Congress with Bubba. Often, after an election, I would 
     introduce some of the new members of Congress. Inevitably, a 
     few of them would call me a day or two later and ask if I 
     could get them back in touch with the Mayor of Mobile. I 
     would laugh and let them know that they had met the Mayer 
     from Mobile, not the Mayor of Mobile. But, as you can 
     imagine, after just one more meeting, as the bonds of 
     friendship began to take hold, he became to them what he was 
     to all of us--Bubba. And, once you had Bubba in your life, 
     you knew you had something special.
       Bubba was a planner.
       He had a clear idea of how things should be and a 
     discipline that allowed him to realize his vision. It was in 
     that spirit that he called me last spring when he heard that 
     his good friend the Republican Leader in the Senate, Mitch 
     McConnell, would be the keynote speaker at AIPAC's Annual 
     Policy Conference in Washington. He wanted to be sure that he 
     would be able to introduce the Senator--who honors us with 
     his presence here today--I of course agreed, because you just 
     did that when Bubba called. However, as important as 
     providing a proper introduction for his friend Mitch was, 
     this time Bubba had more he wanted to say. He said, ``Howard, 
     I'm not feeling too well and for all I know this could be my 
     last conference, and I have something I want to say.''
       He began his remarks at the conference that evening with a 
     simple question. Bubba asked: ``Have I made a difference?'' 
     He went on: ``It is a question that many of us ask ourselves, 
     particularly as we advance in age. For me,'' Bubba said, ``it 
     is a question that has become persistent--and the answer more 
     important--in a year of personal health difficulties.''
       If you were there that night you know that in asking that 
     question Bubba wasn't really speaking about himself. He was 
     holding himself up as a standard bearer of the pro-Israel 
     movement in America--he was asking everyone if we have done 
     enough. In challenging himself he was challenging us--to make 
     the most of the opportunities that God has given us and 
     realize that we have a sacred obligation to ourselves and to 
     each other.
       It was vintage Bubba: Make yourself the example. Challenge 
     others to follow.
       Bubba was a humble and wise man.
       Despite his many accomplishments, Bubba was a man of great 
     humility. In a world of politics, where it is so easy to 
     become cynical or jaded, Bubba remained respectful and 
     grateful for the opportunity to play a role in history. He 
     never lost his sense of awe.
       How many times did he put his arm around one of us at a 
     particular historic moment or in a place of renown and remind 
     us to appreciate that moment--to remember how blessed we are 
     to live in America and to enjoy the freedoms and 
     opportunities we are afforded.
       It was September of 1991. Bubba and I were about to meet 
     with the President of the United States in the Oval Office--
     we were there to ask him not to link urgently needed loan 
     guarantees for Russian immigrants to Israeli politics and 
     policies. We knew it would not be an easy conversation to 
     have.
       In the moments before we headed to the White House, Bubba 
     told me, ``You have to get yourself ready for this. And to do 
     that, you have to do two things. You have to spend time to 
     realize the awesome power of this office. And then you have 
     to not be intimated by it.''
       Bubba was not one to dish out advice that he himself did 
     not live by. And a few hours later I listened as he spoke 
     truth to power, respectfully, carefully, but clearly. I 
     listened as he made his case, relaying to the President in 
     detail about his own parent's exodus out of Russia, fleeing 
     persecution and pogroms. ``Mr. President,'' he said, ``this 
     is not an abstraction for me. This is deeply personal. Mr. 
     President, you have an historic opportunity to make things 
     different for the next generation.''
       The son of Russian immigrants, the man from Mobile was 
     always able to say and do what he felt was the right thing--
     because he believed so passionately that he--and each of us 
     still--has a critical role to play to ensure the future of 
     the Jewish people, of America and of Israel.
       And so he reached out to governors and members of Congress, 
     presidents and prime ministers to better his state, his 
     country and our world--to improve all our lives. For Bubba 
     Mitchell, life wasn't only about him or his needs. It was 
     about stepping beyond himself to something far greater. Bubba 
     showed us that our actions can have meaning and our lives can 
     be significant as long as we never shy away from speaking the 
     truth or doing the right thing.
       Bubba was a man of quiet courage.
       Many in politics attempt to persuade with the belief that 
     volume and bravado are the key to making a point. But Bubba 
     understood that a few wise words, softly spoken, always 
     trumped the loud chatter. Yes, he was quiet, his manner was 
     all southern charm and understatement--but he was doggedly 
     determined to get results . . .
       . . . and he was stunningly effective.
       Bubba had the ear of presidents and prime ministers, and 
     they too would seek him out for information, counsel and 
     clarity. It is no surprise therefore, that in Bubba's last 
     days, President Bush, the Prime Minister of Israel, senators 
     and members of Congress, and countless elected officials--
     many of whom are honored guests with us today--called him to 
     thank him for devoting his life's work to his community, his 
     country and our world. And it is no surprise that each of 
     them thanked him for his unfailing friendship.
       Bubba was a man of action.
       He realized that we live in a time of miraculous promise, 
     but also real danger for America, for Israel, and the Jewish 
     people. He understood the stakes and the consequences if 
     leadership was lacking.
       When something needed to be done, he did it. And when 
     something else needed to happen, he stepped forward yet 
     again. And again and again. The cumulative effect of his 
     life's work was profound. Bubba built and sustained 
     friendships with literally dozens and dozens of elected 
     officials and decision makers that directly deepened the 
     quality and strength of the relationship between Israel and 
     the United States.
       Bubba was a leader.
       I had a conversation yesterday with a veteran member of the 
     House of Representatives whom I had called to inform of 
     Bubba's passing. This member said something that I have been 
     reflecting on ever since--something that says so much about 
     who Bubba was to all of us. She said, ``you know when I got 
     into politics I had a simple goal--gain the respect of Bubba 
     Mitchell. Because I knew that if I had his respect everyone 
     else would follow.'' The degree of respect that others had 
     for Bubba can be measured in many ways. But the fact that 
     over 25 current and former members of AIPAC's national Board 
     traveled from across the country to be here today is a 
     remarkable tribute to his leadership.
       It is very important to me that his 8 grandchildren hear 
     what I have to say. You should know that for the last 25 
     years at AIPAC there was no higher praise--and no greater 
     reward--than to have your grandfather tell me or one of my 
     colleagues or one of our fellow Board members in that soft-
     spoken way of his--that he was proud of us.
       Last March Bubba wondered out loud in front of 6,000 
     friends if his life had had meaning--if he had made a 
     difference. Well today we gather here to pay tribute--to 
     celebrate the life of someone whose accomplishments are so 
     many, so varied, and so valued that his legacy rises to 
     something greater than mere difference making. Bubba's 
     difference deserves its own category--Bubba was a Jewish 
     hero. Through his actions--through his courage, generosity, 
     leadership, determination, and wisdom--he came to define what 
     it meant to be a Jewish leader in America in this century. He 
     enriched all our lives--he took care of his family, he made 
     Alabama better, he made America stronger, and Israel safer.
       As with so many others in this room, Bubba was my mentor, 
     my teacher, my friend--my hero. How lucky I have been, how 
     lucky we all have been--to know and to love Bubba.
       So Bubba, I think we can all answer your question now.
       You made quite a difference.
       Your memory will forever be a blessing. And we pledge to 
     you that our continued work will be your lasting legacy.

                          ____________________