[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 118 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING CONGRESSMAN EMILIO DADDARIO

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of former 
Connecticut Congressman Emilio Daddario who passed away on July 6, 
2010.
  One of the unique strengths of the United States of America is that 
our government derives its power from the people. It is dependent upon 
an educated populace, engaged in public affairs, and prepared to offer 
their services to make our society better and fairer for all of our 
benefit.
  That system has worked well for more than 200 years thanks to 
citizens such as Emilio Daddario.
  He was born in Newton Center, MA, on September 24, 1918. As a young 
man, he moved south to Middletown, CT, to attend Wesleyan University 
where he starred on the baseball and football teams. He was an 
exemplary athlete who twice received MVP honors in football, and was 
named team captain in 1938.
  Upon his graduation in 1939, Emilio chose to pursue a career in law. 
After beginning law school at Boston University, he graduated from the 
University of Connecticut in 1942. He successfully passed the bar and 
moved back to Middletown to begin private practice. But then the call 
to serve his country came.
  In 1943, he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. He was sent to 
the Mediterranean theater during World War II. There he was a key 
member of the team which captured Rodolfo Graziani, then-chief of staff 
to Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini, at the Hotel Milan in 1945. His 
distinguished service earned him the rank of captain, as well as the 
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and the Italian Medaglia d'Argento.
  After the war, he could have easily gone back to private legal 
practice and no doubt would have been very successful at it. Instead, 
he chose to continue his military service as a member of the 
Connecticut National Guard and to pursue a life in the public arena by 
running for mayor of Middletown.
  At just 28 years old, fresh from his service overseas, Emilio 
Daddario won that election. He served as mayor from 1946 until 1948 and 
was appointed judge of the Middletown Municipal Court.
  In 1950, the Nation called on him again. This time, the 43 Division 
of the Connecticut National Guard, of which he was a member, was sent 
to engage in the Korean war. His military service in that conflict as a 
member of the Far East Liaison Group earned him promotion to the rank 
of major.
  Upon returning to the United States in 1952 he chose to resume 
private law practice, this time in Hartford, CT. But the call to serve 
proved to be too strong, and in 1958, Daddario ran for the opportunity 
to serve the people of Connecticut's 1st Congressional District.
  He won that election, as well as five more, serving as a member of 
the U.S. Congress until 1971. While in Congress, he sat on the House 
Science Committee where he became an advocate for science and 
technological innovation. He chaired two subcommittees and also in the 
planning and development of the Apollo missions to the moon.
  In 1970, Emilio decided not to run for reelection to the House, and 
instead ran for Governor of Connecticut. He did not win that race. But 
he sought ways to remain involved in public policy, in particular 
issues related to science and technology. He returned to Congress in 
1973, not as a member, but as the Director of the Office of Technology 
Assessment.
  He also went on to serve as the president of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science, and as cochair of the American Bar 
Association's Association for the Advancement of Sciences, Conference 
of Lawyers and Scientists.
  Emilio Daddario was just the sort of American citizen that our 
Nation's Founders were hoping for, and his legacy is one of exemplary 
public service, and commitment to making our Nation a better place for 
future generations. He was a devoted husband and father, and I know 
that he will be deeply missed. My deepest sympathies and prayers go out 
to his children, Richard, Anthony, and Stephen, and to the rest of his 
family.

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