[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 49 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2225-S2226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING SENATOR HOWARD METZENBAUM

  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to one of the 
giants in Ohio history, Senator Howard Metzenbaum. On March 12, Ohio 
and our Nation lost a public servant who dedicated 19 years of his life 
to this institution and to defending and advocating the principles and 
ideals he held so passionately.
  Though our political views differed, I admired and respected Howard's 
tenacious work for those things he felt would make a difference for 
Ohio and our country. One always knew where he stood.
  Much has been said about how Howard was a self-made man. He 
epitomized the nose-to-the-grindstone, Midwestern work ethic. As a 
fellow Clevelander, he grew up poor. But that did not prevent Howard 
from seizing opportunities as they presented themselves. And he seized 
those opportunities even as a young boy. Howard graduated from the Ohio 
State University College of Law, working the entire time to put himself 
through school.
  As public servants for Ohio, Howard and I were brought together on 
many issues and occasions. Many times we did not see eye to eye. 
However, there were also times when we worked together. While I was 
Governor of Ohio, then-Senator Metzenbaum, Representative Marcy Kaptur 
and I worked together in a bipartisan fashion to plant the seed for the 
Veteran's Glass City Skyway bridge in Toledo, Ohio. Through his 
leadership, we were able to dedicate the bridge this past summer.
  Some of my colleagues today were here for parts of Howard's 19 years 
in

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the Senate. Those who were here and were on the opposite side of an 
issue quickly found out what a formidable challenge and powerhouse he 
could be. Howard did not go along to get along. Howard did what he 
thought was right and what he thought was in the best interests for the 
people he represented.
  It was with respect for his service and convictions that Howard was 
honored in 2005 by renaming the renovated United States Courthouse in 
Cleveland the Howard M. Metzenbaum Courthouse--a fitting tribute to a 
man who, when he perceived an injustice, fought so hard to make a wrong 
right. Howard Metzenbaum made a difference.
  Howard will be missed. His family, including his wife Shirley and his 
four daughters, Shelly, Amy, Susan and Barbara, are in our prayers.
 Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, a great son of Ohio, Senator Howard 
Metzenbaum passed away March 12, in Florida. He was personally 
inspirational to so many. He changed the lives of Ohioans. He changed 
the lives of so many Americans through his lifetime commitment to 
public service. I am honored to hold his seat in the Senate and I am 
honored to follow in his footsteps. Senate tradition dictates that many 
Members of the Senate carve their names in the desk drawers of the 
desks that have been lining the rows of the Senate. Whoever has Senator 
Metzenbaum's desk can, with all of us, share in the legacy of his 
greatness.
  Senator Metzenbaum and Senator John Glenn, who served together for 
almost two decades, made an unparalleled team for Ohio. In the Senate, 
as Senator Reid mentioned, Metzenbaum was a child of poverty. He was a 
child of prejudice growing up in the east side as a Jew and suffered 
both from his family's poverty and anti-Semitism, in all too many 
cases. He worked his way at a job, as a 10-year-old. He worked his way 
through Ohio State.
  In the Senate, Senator Metzenbaum was a master of a constant presence 
in an often empty Chamber. Once, when a 2-week filibuster was cut off, 
Metzenbaum was still determined to block action on lifting natural gas 
price controls. He and a partner sent the Senate into round-the-clock 
sessions by demanding rollcall votes on 500 amendments. He didn't care 
if he angered his colleagues. He didn't care if he was liked every day 
by his colleagues. What he cared about is fighting for economic justice 
and social justice for the 10 million citizens whom he represented and 
for the 250 million Americans or so when he served in the Senate.
  According to the Washington Post, in 1982, the Senator saved $10 
million by blocking special interest tax breaks and porkbarrel 
programs. I remember watching him. I served in the House, the beginning 
of my House career and the end of his Senate career, and I watched him 
as a younger elected official in State politics. He stood in front of 
an audience; the energy just burst from him, and the fiery passion for 
economic justice and social justice poured forth from him. He would 
start on the podium, the first politician I saw do this, and as he 
worked his way into the speech, he would come from the podium and he 
would walk into the audience. People would always respond with the same 
kind of passion and be inspired by him. That is my clearest, favorite 
memory of him.
  His legislative record, of course, was so important too. One of the 
most important things he did was the plant closing legislation, giving 
a 60-day notice to workers who, too often, have seen their jobs 
disappear with nothing to show--pensions and more. He fought for people 
who had less privilege than he did, and he always fought for 
opportunity for people of both genders. That is what he will be 
remembered for.
  I particularly admire his family. Howard was a great family man, a 
man who cared very much about Shirley, his wife, and four daughters, 
Shelly, Amy, Susan, and Barbara. He will be greatly missed. He later 
became head of the Consumer Federation of America, never giving up his 
passion for fighting for ordinary people and being a warrior for social 
and economic justice.

                          ____________________