[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.

                          ____________________