[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S957-S959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR JAMES A. McCLURE

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, Senator Risch and I are here today--in 
fact, I note we are joined on the floor by our former colleague Senator 
Larry Craig--to honor one of Idaho's greatest statesmen who passed away 
on Saturday. We rise to honor the distinguished life of Senator James 
A. McClure, a mentor and a dear friend of mine. As I indicated, Senator 
Craig is here. Senator Craig is the one who followed Senator McClure 
into the seat in the Senate. We appreciate him making the effort to get 
here to also share his concerns and condolences, and frankly, to help 
honor Senator McClure.
  I join Senator McClure's wife Louise and their family and friends and 
all of Idaho in mourning the passing of Senator McClure and honoring 
his great legacy. His sound guidance, strong advocacy for Idaho, and 
his personal encouragement will be missed by all of us, but definitely 
not forgotten.
  Throughout his decades of public service, Jim McClure set a standard 
for public servants that will endure for generations. Senator McClure 
dedicated much of his life to honorable service to our Nation. At the 
age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy and served honorably in World War 
II. He then returned to Idaho and attended law school at the University 
of Idaho, worked as a prosecuting attorney for Payette County, and 
served in the Idaho State Senate. With 6 years in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, his exemplary service 
in the Congress spanned 24 years.
  His unfailing good will, respect for others, and his essential 
Western conservatism helped him to maintain throughout his life the 
kind of service that is still the best model for how to engage in 
today's public policy debates. He was recognized by all as a gentleman 
but a powerful advocate.
  Senator McClure's legacy as a Congressman and a Senator is broad, and 
on many issues, such as energy and natural resource management, his 
service to Idaho is historic. Jim utilized his service as chairman of 
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to advocate for 
Idaho issues and their ideals. He also helped to guide the Senate 
through his chairmanship of the Senate Republican Conference from 1981 
to 1985. Jim worked diligently to achieve solutions to Idaho and 
national challenges. He also had a forward-thinking focus on fiscal 
discipline--one that we could well use in the Senate today--and on 
energy independence, another critical issue which we continue to battle 
for today. These are critical issues he helped set the foundation for 
and, frankly, which his wisdom would have helped to solve.
  Jim was a friend and a role model for me and I am sure for many 
others in Idaho and throughout the Nation. His dedication, kind 
treatment of others, and skillful proactive and principled approach are 
long going to endure. He will be sorely missed, but his lifetime of 
accomplishments will be with the people of Idaho forever.
  I offer my sympathy and my love to Louise and to the entire McClure 
family and to Jim's many friends and associates.
  Mr. President, I yield the time to Senator Risch.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, we have come to the floor to mourn the loss 
of a great statesman in Idaho. Jim McClure was loved uniformly across

[[Page S958]]

the State of Idaho and had dedicated his entire life to public service, 
first as a prosecuting attorney in Payette County, ID, and then, of 
course, the State senate and Congress--the House of Representatives and 
then the Senate of the United States.
  From a little historical background, Jim McClure, when he was elected 
to this body, was elected to the Shoup seat. The Shoup seat was first 
held by Senator Shoup, who was the last territorial Governor of Idaho, 
the first State Governor of Idaho, and the first Senator to hold that 
seat. Jim McClure was the ninth person to hold that seat. In the 
interim, it was held by Borah. Both Shoup and Borah have statues in 
Statuary Hall.
  Prior to my election as the 11th person to hold this seat, the seat 
was held by our distinguished colleague, Senator Craig, who has joined 
Senator Crapo and I on the floor and I am sure joins us in our remarks 
and condolences to the McClure family.
  Jim McClure was a family man. He was truly dedicated to his wife 
Louise and his children. Back when Jim served here, many of the Members 
actually moved here as opposed to going home on the weekends, as most 
of us do today. The McClure family spent a lot of time here. But they 
did spend their summers--that is when the Senate was out most of the 
summer--they did spend their summers in Idaho and other times in Idaho.
  Jim McClure was very dedicated to a couple important issues, the 
first one being fiscal. Jim McClure would come back to Idaho and warn 
about the spending habits this Congress had. In fact, I knew Jim 
McClure since I was a young prosecutor in the 1960s. I think Jim 
McClure was the first one I ever heard speak directly about the danger 
this Congress was leading this country into with its spending habits. 
Had his advice been followed back then, we would not be, as a country, 
in the difficulties we are today.
  Secondly, Jim's issue was energy. Jim spent time as chairman of the 
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Indeed, I sit on that 
committee today. Senator Craig sat on it before me, Senator McClure 
before him, and Senator Jordan before Jim McClure. Indeed, we cannot 
recall when we did not have anyone from Idaho serving on that 
committee. Indeed, it was the Shoup seat that has sat on that committee 
for as long as any of us can remember.
  As a testament to the larger-than-life persona that Jim McClure had, 
the following are named after Jim McClure in Idaho. In 1995, the 
College of Mines and Earth Resources at the University of Idaho was 
dedicated as the James A. McClure Hall. In December of 2001, the 
Federal building and U.S. courthouse in Boise, ID, was renamed for Jim 
McClure. In 2007, in Moscow, ID, the University of Idaho named their 
bureau of public affairs research the James A. and Louise McClure 
Center for Public Policy Research.
  All of this recaps in certainly an inadequate way the many things Jim 
McClure did for the people of Idaho, indeed for the people of America 
and the people of the world, as he led in the Senate.
  I wish to close, briefly, with what I knew about Jim McClure and I 
think what those of us here knew about Jim McClure and what he is 
remembered for in the Senate.
  In the media today, we see a lot of rancor and we see a lot of 
arguing and a lot of hostility involved in the political process. If I 
can say one thing about Jim McClure, it is that what he brought to the 
entire process was civility. No matter how tough sledding got, no 
matter how disagreements escalated, Jim McClure always kept it level. 
He always kept it at a very civil tone, and Jim McClure approached 
everything with a gentle sense of humor, which many times diffused 
things that could have gotten out of hand.
  To his family, again, we express our deep condolences, and the people 
of the State of Idaho mourn today.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, Senator Risch's comments prompted me to 
think of a time when I was first elected to the House of 
Representatives. Senator McClure had long been counseling and working 
with me and helping me to see the kind of civility about which Senator 
Risch talked and also that strong, powerful leadership he brought to 
issues.
  When I was first elected to the House of Representatives--I began 
thinking as Senator Risch was talking--Jim McClure and Louise invited 
me to go to dinner. Jim and Louise sat with me for an evening right 
here in Washington, DC, at a local restaurant. We just talked about 
politics, about Idaho, about America, about the world, and about how 
one should lead on issues as they dealt with them in Congress.
  I have to tell you, it would take too long to repeat all the lessons 
I learned that night that were taught to me by Senator McClure as he 
made that extra step to reach out. I said in my initial remarks he was 
a mentor and a role model for me. I truly mean that.
  I had to add those comments as I thought about that while Senator 
Risch was talking.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
consideration of S. Res. 78, relative to the death of Senator James A. 
McClure.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 78) relative to the death of James 
     Albertus McClure, former United States Senator for the State 
     of Idaho.

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I note this resolution was submitted 
earlier today by Senator Risch and myself. In fact, our leadership 
helped in preparing it and bringing it forward. All 100 Senators are 
cosponsors of this resolution. I think it a fitting tribute to the 
respect and honor in which Senator James A. McClure is held by this 
Senate.
  Before I ask unanimous consent to take action on the resolution, I 
ask if Senator Risch has anything further he wishes to add.
  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, we have gone through the various attributes 
for which Jim McClure was known. It is a true loss to Idaho and a true 
loss to the Nation. He was held in such high regard by all Idahoans. I 
am proud to be the person holding his seat.
  He was a cofounder and a charter member of the steering committee on 
the Republican side. The steering committee is a group that was brought 
together to talk about and develop policies from a conservative 
standpoint for the Nation. It certainly is something that has been very 
helpful to the Republican Conference over the many years. Senator 
McClure will be remembered for that, and we certainly thank him for 
that.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. CRAPO. Before I ask unanimous consent, Mr. President, I know 
Louise and a number of Senator McClure's family and friends are 
watching. This is a short but meaningful resolution. I believe I should 
read it in its entirety:

       Relative to the death of James Albertus McClure, former 
     United States Senator for the State of Idaho.
       Whereas James A. McClure served in the United States Navy 
     during World War II;
       Whereas James A. McClure served in the state of Idaho as a 
     prosecuting attorney, a city attorney, a member of the Idaho 
     state Senate, and as a member of the United States House of 
     Representatives;
       Whereas James A. McClure served the people of the State of 
     Idaho with distinction for 18 years in the United States 
     Senate;
       Whereas James A. McClure served the Senate as Chairman of 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in the Ninety-
     seventh through the Ninety-ninth Congresses and Chairman of 
     the Senate Republican Conference in the Ninety-seventh and 
     Ninety-eighth Congresses;
       Whereas James A. McClure served his caucus as a founding 
     member and Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee in the 
     Ninety-fourth through Ninety-sixth and Ninety-ninth through 
     One Hundredth Congresses; Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
     and deep regret the announcement of the death of the 
     Honorable James Albertus McClure, former member of the United 
     States Senate.
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
     these resolutions to the House of Representatives and 
     transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
     Honorable James Albertus McClure.

  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to; that the preamble be agreed to; and that the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S959]]

  The resolution (S. Res. 78) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 78

       Whereas James A. McClure served in the United States Navy 
     during World War II;
       Whereas James A. McClure served the state of Idaho as a 
     prosecuting attorney, a city attorney, a member of the Idaho 
     state Senate, and as a member of the United States House of 
     Representatives;
       Whereas James A. McClure served the people of Idaho with 
     distinction for 18 years in the United States Senate;
       Whereas James A. McClure served the Senate as Chairman of 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in the Ninety-
     seventh through Ninety-ninth Congresses and Chairman of the 
     Senate Republican Conference in the Ninety-seventh and 
     Ninety-eighth Congresses;
       Whereas James A. McClure served his caucus as a founding 
     member and Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee in the 
     Ninety-fourth through Ninety-sixth and Ninety-ninth through 
     One Hundredth Congresses; Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
     and deep regret the announcement of the death of the 
     Honorable James Albertus McClure, former member of the United 
     States Senate.
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
     these resolutions to the House of Representatives and 
     transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
     Honorable James Albertus McClure.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

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