[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4104-S4106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DECLARATION OF CONSCIENCE DAY
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 536, which was
submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 536) designating June 1, 2010, as
``Declaration of Conscience Day'' in commemoration of the
60th anniversary of the landmark ``Declaration of
Conscience'' speech delivered by Senator Margaret Chase Smith
on the floor of the United States Senate.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, unwavering in principle and hewing always
to her Maine roots and hallmark independence, Margaret Chase Smith
exemplified the finest qualities of our great state of Maine which she
represented with the highest distinction in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate. A true American political icon and
esteemed stateswoman, she was and remains the embodiment of Maine's
motto, Dirigo or ``I Lead.'' And lead she did.
As I said 10 years ago, on the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking
remarks, in order to lead, one must first be able to follow--follow
one's conscience, follow one's own ideals, and follow what you know in
your heart to be right. In taking the path less travelled, Senator
Smith became a truly distinguished leader, not just of her time, but
for all time, and delivered what we remember as her signature
contribution to America and the very freedoms we cherish.
Indeed, on this momentous occasion, we pay tribute to a political
giant and legend, who rose from the most humble of beginnings to the
highest corridors of power--the heights of which she never sought for
personal gain, but rather in order to serve the state she loved and the
Nation she revered. And we honor her uncommon courage in confronting a
scourge no other Senator sought to challenge, which she demonstrated
without equivocation on June 1, 1950.
During a time enveloped by a crucible of hatred and fear, it was
Senator Margaret Chase Smith who became the first U.S. Senator to speak
the words that much of America had been thinking to itself back in the
dark spring of 1950--as Senator Joseph McCarthy made sensational and
unsubstantiated charges that, through blatant opportunism, had turned
him into a national celebrity.
But while her colleagues hid behind their silence, with her famous
``Declaration of Conscience'' speech, Margaret Chase Smith articulated
the truth and, in so doing, courageously challenged a giant of
demagoguery. Senator Smith stood and bravely defended what she termed
``some of the basic principles of Americanism.'' She managed to
accomplish in 15 minutes what 94 of her colleagues had not dared to do,
prompting American financier and presidential adviser, Bernard Baruch,
to say that, ``had a man made that speech, he would have become the
next President of the United States.''
Margaret Chase Smith was a teacher, a telephone operator, a newspaper
woman, an office manager, a secretary, a wife, a Congresswoman, and a
U.S. Senator. She was a visionary of endless ``firsts'' . . . the first
woman to be elected to both Houses of Congress . . . the first woman to
be nominated for President by a major party . . . even the first woman
to break the sound barrier in an F-100F Super Sabre Air Force jet.
But because of her bravery--both in politics and in life itself--she
inspired millions of young girls, and became a role model for countless
more women across America who never before thought they could aspire to
any kind of public office. She certainly paved the way for Senator
Collins and me--after all, who could have predicted that, one day,
Maine would make history by electing two Republican women to serve
concurrently in the U.S. Senate. That is why, as direct beneficiaries
of Senator Smith's groundbreaking public service in the U.S. Congress,
it is a tremendous privilege to introduce this resolution.
In the end, the measure of Senator Smith's life is in the standard of
leadership established by her resonating words and powerful actions. We
cannot begin to overstate the legacy she has bequeathed to us, the
hallmark of which was her Declaration of Conscience speech. In the
words of the ancient Greek, Aeschylus, she ``was not to seem, but to
be, the best.'' Simply put, she was and she will always be! Her example
will forever illuminate this chamber and light our way.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Margaret Chase Smith's
``Declaration of Conscience'' speech be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Margaret Chase Smith
Declaration of Conscience
June 1, 1950
(In the Senate)
Mr. President, I would like to speak briefly and simply
about a serious national condition. It is a national feeling
of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide
and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear. It is
a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership
either in the legislative branch or the executive branch of
our government.
[[Page S4105]]
That leadership is so lacking that serious and responsible
proposals are being made that national advisory commissions
be appointed to provide such critically needed leadership.
I speak as briefly as possible because too much harm has
already been done with irresponsible words of bitterness and
selfish political opportunism. I speak as simply as possible
because the issue is too great to be obscured by eloquence. I
speak simply and briefly in the hope that my words will be
taken to heart.
Mr. President, I speak as a Republican. I speak as a woman.
I speak as a United States senator. I speak as an American.
a forum of hate and character assassination
The United States Senate has long enjoyed worldwide respect
as the greatest deliberative body in the world. But recently
that deliberative character has too often been debased to the
level of a forum of hate and character assassination
sheltered by the shield of congressional immunity.
It is ironical that we senators can in debate in the
Senate, directly or indirectly, by any form of words, impute
to any American who is not a senator any conduct or motive
unworthy or unbecoming an American--and without that non-
senator American having any legal redress against us--yet if
we say the same thing in the Senate about our colleagues we
can be stopped on the grounds of being out of order.
It is strange that we can verbally attack anyone else
without restraint and with full protection, and yet we hold
ourselves above the same type of criticism here on the Senate
floor. Surely the United States Senate is big enough to take
self-criticism and self-appraisal. Surely we should be able
to take the same kind of character attacks that we ``dish
out'' to outsiders.
I think that it is high time for the United States Senate
and its members to do some real soul searching and to weigh
our consciences as to the manner in which we are performing
our duty to the people of America and the manner in which we
are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.
I think that it is high time that we remembered that we
have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. I think
that it is high time that we remembered that the
Constitution, as amended, speaks not only of the freedom of
speech but also of trial by jury instead of trial by
accusation.
Whether it be a criminal prosecution in court or a
character prosecution in the Senate, there is little
practical distinction when the life of a person has been
ruined.
the basic principles of americanism
Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in
making character assassinations are all too frequently those
who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic
principles of Americanism--
The right to criticize.
The right to hold unpopular beliefs.
The right to protest.
The right of independent thought.
The exercise of these rights should not cost one single
American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood
nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or
livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who
holds unpopular beliefs. Who of us does not? Otherwise none
of us could call our souls our own. Otherwise thought control
would have set in.
The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to
speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as
``Communists'' or ``Fascists'' by their opponents. Freedom of
speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so
abused by some that it is not exercised by others.
The American people are sick and tired of seeing innocent
people smeared and guilty people whitewashed. But there have
been enough proved cases, such as the Amerasia case, the Hiss
case, the Coplon case, the Gold case, to cause nationwide
distrust and strong suspicion that there may be something to
the unproved, sensational accusations.
a challenge to the republican party
As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the
aisle that the Republican party faces a challenge today that
is not unlike the challenge which it faced back in Lincoln's
day. The Republican party so successfully met that challenge
that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a
united nation--in addition to being a party which
unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs.
Today our country is being psychologically divided by the
confusion and the suspicions that are bred in the United
States Senate to spread like cancerous tentacles of ``know
nothing, suspect everything'' attitudes. Today we have a
Democratic administration which has developed a mania for
loose spending and loose programs. History is repeating
itself--and the Republican party again has the opportunity to
emerge as the champion of unity and prudence. The record of
the present Democratic administration has provided us with
sufficient campaign issues without the necessity of resorting
to political smears. America is rapidly losing its position
as leader of the world simply because the Democratic
administration has pitifully failed to provide effective
leadership.
The Democratic administration has completely confused the
American people by its daily contradictory grave warnings and
optimistic assurances, which show the people that our
Democratic administration has no idea of where it is going.
The Democratic administration has greatly lost the
confidence of the American people by its complacency to the
threat of communism here at home and the leak of vital
secrets to Russia through key officials of the Democratic
administration. There are enough proved cases to make this
point without diluting our criticism with unproved charges.
Surely these are sufficient reasons to make it clear to the
American people that it is time for a change and that a
Republican victory is necessary to the security of the
country. Surely it is clear that this nation will continue to
suffer so long as it is governed by the present ineffective
Democratic administration.
``the four horsemen of calumny''
Yet to displace it with a Republican regime embracing a
philosophy that lacks political integrity or intellectual
honesty would prove equally disastrous to the nation. The
nation sorely needs a Republican victory. But I do not want
to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the
Four Horsemen of Calumny--Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and
Smear.
I doubt if the Republican party could do so, simply because
I do not believe the American people will uphold any
political party that puts political exploitation above
national interest. Surely we Republicans are not that
desperate for victory.
I do not want to see the Republican party win that way.
While it might be a fleeting victory for the Republican
party, it would be a more lasting defeat for the American
people. Surely it would ultimately be suicide for the
Republican party and the two-party system that has protected
our American liberties from the dictatorship of a one-party
system.
As members of the minority party, we do not have the
primary authority to formulate the policy of our government.
But we do have the responsibility of rendering constructive
criticism, of clarifying issues, of allaying fears by acting
as responsible citizens.
As a woman, I wonder how the mothers, wives, sisters, and
daughters feel about the way in which members of their
families have been politically mangled in Senate debate--and
I use the word ``debate'' advisedly.
``irresponsible sensationalism''
As a United States senator, I am not proud of the way in
which the Senate has been made a publicity platform for
irresponsible sensationalism. I am not proud of the reckless
abandon in which unproved charges have been hurled from this
side of the aisle. I am not proud of the obviously staged,
undignified countercharges which have been attempted in
retaliation from the other side of the aisle.
I do not like the way the Senate has been made a rendezvous
for vilification, for selfish political gain at the sacrifice
of individual reputations and national unity. I am not proud
of the way we smear outsiders from the floor of the Senate
and hide behind the cloak of congressional immunity and still
place ourselves beyond criticism on the floor of the Senate.
As an American, I am shocked at the way Republicans and
Democrats alike are playing directly into the Communist
design of ``confuse, divide, and conquer.'' As an American, I
do not want a Democratic administration ``whitewash'' or
``coverup'' any more than I want a Republican smear or witch
hunt.
As an American, I condemn a Republican Fascist just as much
as I condemn a Democrat Communist. I condemn a Democrat
Fascist just as much as I condemn a Republican Communist.
They are equally dangerous to you and me and to our country.
As an American, I want to see our nation recapture the
strength and unity it once had when we fought the enemy
instead of ourselves.
It is with these thoughts that I have drafted what I call a
Declaration of Conscience. I am gratified that the senator
from New Hampshire [Mr. TOBEY], the senator from Vermont [Mr.
AIKEN], the senator from Oregon [Mr. MORSE], the senator from
New York [Mr. IVES], the senator from Minnesota [Mr. THYE],
and the senator from New Jersey [Mr. HENDRICKSON] have
concurred in that declaration and have authorized me to
announce their concurrence.
The declaration reads as follows:
Statement of Seven Republican Senators
1. We are Republicans. But we are Americans first. It is as
Americans that we express our concern with the growing
confusion that threatens the security and stability of our
country. Democrats and Republicans alike have contributed to
that confusion.
2. The Democratic administration has initially created the
confusion by its lack of effective leadership, by its
contradictory grave warnings and optimistic assurances, by
its complacency to the threat of communism here at home, by
its oversensitiveness to rightful criticism, by its petty
bitterness against its critics.
3. Certain elements of the Republican party have materially
added to this confusion in the hopes of riding the Republican
party to victory through the selfish political exploitation
of fear, bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance. There are
enough mistakes of the Democrats for Republicans to criticize
constructively without resorting to political smears.
4. To this extent, Democrats and Republicans alike have
unwittingly, but undeniably, played directly into the
Communist design of ``confuse, divide, and conquer.''
[[Page S4106]]
5. It is high time that we stopped thinking politically as
Republicans and Democrats about elections and started
thinking patriotically as Americans about national security
based on individual freedom. It is high time that we all
stopped being tools and victims of totalitarian techniques--
techniques that, if continued here unchecked, will surely end
what we have come to cherish as the American way of life.
Margaret Chase Smith,
Maine.
Charles W. Tobey,
New Hampshire.
George D. Aiken,
Vermont.
Wayne L. Morse,
Oregon.
Irving M. Ives,
New York.
Edward J. Thye,
Minnesota.
Robert C. Hendrickson,
New Jersey.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that
the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions
to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 536) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 536
Whereas on June 1, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of
the State of Maine, in her first major speech on the floor of
the Senate, delivered a courageous and heroic speech
responding to the contemptible actions and words of Senator
Joseph McCarthy from the State of Wisconsin;
Whereas in 15 minutes, Senator Smith accomplished a task
that 94 of her male colleagues did not dare to attempt;
Whereas Senator Smith had the will and integrity to speak
out vigorously when silence was a safer course;
Whereas through the power of her iconic words, Senator
Smith challenged a giant of demagoguery, prompting financier
and presidential advisor, Bernard Baruch, to say that ``had a
man made that speech, he would have become the next President
of the United States'';
Whereas Senator Smith, because of her bravery both in
politics and in life, inspired millions of young girls, and
became a role model for countless more women across the
United States, who had never before thought that women could
aspire to any kind of public office;
Whereas Senator Smith was a legendary and undeniable force
of civic good and political courage, whose bravery, civility,
compassion, and integrity are woven indelibly into the fabric
of the greatness of the United States;
Whereas Senator Smith was a much-beloved and universally
admired daughter of the State of Maine and forever the pride
of Skowhegan, Maine, her birthplace and home;
Whereas Senator Smith was a teacher, telephone operator,
newspaper woman, office manager, secretary, wife,
Congresswoman, and Senator;
Whereas Senator Smith was the first woman to be elected to
both Houses of Congress; and
Whereas Senator Smith was--
(1) a timeless leader for the State of Maine and the United
States;
(2) a friend to freedom and the public trust;
(3) a fearless defender of democracy and the bedrock
principles of democracy; and
(4) above all else, a Stateswoman and public servant who
belongs not just to the State of Maine and the United States,
but to the ages: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 1, 2010, as ``Declaration of Conscience
Day'';
(2) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the landmark
``Declaration of Conscience'' speech delivered by Senator
Margaret Chase Smith;
(3) honors the heroism of the immortal words and actions of
Senator Smith; and
(4) pays tribute to the integrity and courage of Senator
Smith, which reverberates to this day.
____________________