[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 11 (Friday, January 20, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING KEN HECHLER

  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Ken Hechler, a 
former Presidential adviser, veteran, public servant, author, 
Congressman, West Virginia's 26th Secretary of State, and educator who 
left a significant imprint on my home State of West Virginia.
  Ken was born on September 20, 1914, in Roslyn, NY. Always a staunch 
advocate for engaging the public in politics, he helped organize 
support for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal while attending 
Swarthmore College. He later earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in 
political science, both from Columbia University.
  Shortly after the United States entered World War II, Ken was drafted 
into the Army where he trained as an infantryman and a tank commander. 
Eventually he was assigned as an Army combat historian and rose to the 
rank of colonel. He was one of five people assigned to interview 
leaders of Nazi Germany after the war.
  His experience as a war historian led to his joining the Truman 
administration as an adviser on local issues during his tours across 
the Nation. He remained on Truman's administration throughout the 
remainder of his tenure and briefly into the administration of Dwight 
D. Eisenhower.
  He was the author of ``The Bridge at Remagen,'' which detailed the 
Army's crossing of the Rhine River during World War II. This 
publication helped make him a household name.
  Ken later joined the American Political Science Association, with one 
of his jobs requiring him to find political science professors for 
colleges. His legacy in West Virginia began in 1957 when he got a 
request to teach political science at Marshall College, now Marshall 
University. Following one term at Marshall, he ran for Congress and 
won. He served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 
1957 to 1977.
  He saw West Virginia for the welcoming place it is. Once you have 
visited our little State, it never really leaves you. Most importantly, 
Ken recognized quickly the issues that matter in West Virginia--mostly 
concerning the coal industry and protection of our miners. In the wake 
of the explosion at the Consol No. 9 mine in my hometown of Farmington, 
Ken played a key role in the promotion of the Coal Mine Health and 
Safety Act of 1969. I personally lost many individuals who I knew well, 
including my dear Uncle John and several classmates, in that explosion. 
The implementation of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act set the 
groundwork for everything we have accomplished for our miners since 
then. I will always be grateful for Ken's contributions.
  Among his many history-making legacies, Ken joined the march to Selma 
with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1965. He was the only 
active Member of Congress to participate.
  After a successful tenure in Congress, Ken served as West Virginia's 
Secretary of State. He moved his desk out front so he could interact 
with visitors passing through. He loved to visit with all West 
Virginians. He fought for transparency in our campaign finance system, 
was passionate about protecting our democratic process, and fought to 
ensure that West Virginians had access to cast their ballots.
  Ken never gave up his commitment to public service and continued to 
be active on the issues that matter to the public. At the age of 85, he 
walked 530 miles with Granny D to show his unwavering commitment to 
campaign finance reform, shortly after the McCain-Feingold Act passed 
Congress. Put simply, Ken was never one to back down from a challenge. 
The man was fearless and fought tirelessly for causes he believed in.
  What is most important is that he lived a full life, surrounded by 
dear friends and family. It is my hope that Ken's loved ones are able 
to find peace, strength, and support in one another. This is a time to 
celebrate his life and vast accomplishments, as well as the countless 
lives he touched, and to honor his memory in our thoughts and prayers.
  Again, I extend my most sincere condolences to his loving wife, 
Carol, and the entire Hechler family and dear friends. I am honored to 
join the people of West Virginia and beyond in recognizing his memory, 
as well as the unwavering love he had for his loved ones and our great 
Nation. His legacy of service will live on forever.

                          ____________________