[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                HONORING THE LIFE OF JERALD F. TERHORST

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN-

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2010

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and work of Mr. Jerald F. terHorst, longtime reporter, columnist, and 
White House Press Secretary, who passed away on March 31, 2010 at his 
home in Asheville, North Carolina. He was surrounded and supported by 
his four children in his final hours.
  Born in Grand Rapids in 1922, Mr. terHorst discovered his passion for 
journalism while at Michigan State University. While working at the 
State News, the MSU college newspaper, he met Louise, his companion, 
confidante and best friend through 64 years of marriage. Mr. terHorst 
was a proud veteran having served as a Marine in World War II. 
Following the war, Jerry jumped head-first into his passion, reporting, 
while working for the Grand Rapids Press. During his time there, he 
covered future-President Gerald Ford's early political career during 
his successful bid for Congress. A few years later, after a stint in 
the Marine Corps, Mr. terHorst took a job as a political writer for the 
Detroit News. He moved to their Washington bureau and shortly 
thereafter became bureau chief in 1961.
  In 1974, when then-Vice President Ford inherited the presidency after 
Nixon's resignation, Mr. terHorst signed on as Press Secretary for the 
man he had been closely covering for close to 20 years. It was to be a 
short-lived tenure, however, lasting one month. His resignation of the 
prestigious role was due to his strong disagreement with President 
Nixon's pardoning. In his resignation letter and personal statements in 
the years following, terHorst stated that his decision was ultimately 
because he believed Ford had displayed a double standard of justice in 
choosing to pardon Nixon, yet refusing to pardon conscientious 
objectors to the Vietnam War. Jerry's resignation, risking his entire 
career, was a testament to his strong ethical values that had brought 
him so far in his career. Mr. terHorst received the first Conscience-
in-Media Award for his decision. Following his tenure at the White 
House, Mr. terHorst reentered the profession he loved, signing on as a 
syndicated columnist for the Detroit News, finally retiring in 1981 
after a long and distinguished career.
  Mr. terHorst was a friend, strong advocate for truth and justice, and 
inspiration to those who knew him and read his work. He forever left a 
mark on reporting and the role of the White House Press Secretary. 
Jerry will be deeply missed but his legacy lives on, serving as an 
example for future generations of journalists to model themselves 
after.

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