[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REGARDING THE TWIN OAKS ESTATE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2008

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, the Twin Oaks estate at 3225 Woodley 
Road in D.C. is a historic landmark. Situated on 18.1 acres in 
northwestern Washington, the estate was built in 1888 by the founder of 
the National Geographic Society, Mr. Gardiner Greene Hubbard, as a 
second residence for his family. At one time, Mr. Hubbard's son-in-law, 
Mr. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, also resided 
at Twin Oaks.
  The Twin Oaks property was first rented to the Republic of China, 
ROC, also known as Taiwan, government in 1937, and later was sold to 
the ROC government in 1947. Over the last six decades, many American 
dignitaries and friends have met with ROC ambassador and 
representatives to chart the course of friendship and cooperation 
between our two countries through times both good and bad. For example, 
American Secretaries of State such as John F. Dulles, Dean Rust, George 
Schultz, and Colin Powell have all at some point dined as guests at 
Twin Oaks. Important agreements such as parts of the Sino-American 
Defense Treaty have been negotiated at the estate.
  The Twin Oaks estate has contributed greatly to the friendship 
between the Americans and our friends in the ROC. Today, U.S.-Taiwan 
relations have experienced decades of steady growth. President Bush has 
made a number of positive statements about Taiwan; telling one 
interview: ``I am candid in my support of the Taiwan Relations Act 
(TRA). . . . I'll say it right now: That our nation will help Taiwan 
defend herself. . . . I will do what ever it takes to help Taiwan 
defend herself, and the Chinese must understand that.'' President 
Bush's feelings about the TRA are strongly echoed in the U.S. Congress. 
Madam Speaker, we too believe in the importance of U.S.-Taiwan 
relations. As we celebrate Twin Oaks' 120-year history, we hope that 
our friendship with the ROC shall remain just as robust and healthy in 
the future as it has been for the last seven decades.

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