[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 56 (Monday, April 9, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                        Mo Udall and John McCain

  Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, last Wednesday, in Arizona, at the Grand 
Canyon, a number of us gathered to honor Mo Udall and John McCain and 
their friendship and partnership, which made America a lot better.
  For months, John was looking forward to this gathering. He mentioned 
it to me several times last year. He was very excited. You could kind 
of see the sparkle in his eyes, but he was unable to attend because of 
the battle he is fighting. Looking back, the friendship between Mo and 
John was remarkable--how different they were but how well they got 
along.
  In 1982, Arizona could not have elected two more different Members to 
the U.S. House of Representatives. Mo Udall was elected to a 12th term. 
A third-generation Arizonan, Mo was a tall, lanky, Lincolnesque, one-
eyed Mormon who tried to cheat his way into serving in World War II; 
self-effacing and humorous, a liberal Democrat in a conservative State 
who championed the environment and Native Americans and one of the most 
powerful and respected Members of the House, who chaired the Interior 
Committee critical to Arizona's welfare.
  And John McCain, an easterner and newcomer to Phoenix, having arrived 
only 2 years before running for Congress; a carpetbagger, some said; a 
stocky, handsome son and grandson of four-star Navy admirals who easily 
made his way into the U.S. Naval Academy, only to graduate 894 out of 
899 in his class, due to his extreme rebelliousness. John is a man 
self-described as a ``freshman right-wing Nazi'' when he entered 
Congress but as a naval officer who could have been freed from 
imprisonment as a POW in Vietnam, yet refused to leave his men behind 
and instead suffered unimaginable torture and pain for over 5 years.
  Despite his novice as an Arizona politician, John McCain knew enough 
to beg to secure a place on the Interior Committee. At that point, Mo's 
decency and John's courage met. While John was new to Arizona politics 
and, by his own admission, could not tell a copper mine from a cotton 
field, he had promise, being elected president of his minority 
Republican class.
  Mo graciously, and with no political gain in sight that Mo could see, 
took John under his generous, broad wing. Mo taught John the power of 
consensus and bipartisanship, and, in turn, John had the guts to buck 
his own party. Together, they forged a remarkable partnership.
  Mo is marked by graciousness, humility, and humor; John by bombasity, 
independence, and courage. They were a perfect match. They sided 
together to protect the Grand Canyon. They sided together to protect 
Arizona wilderness. They sided together to improve the lives of our 
first Americans. They sided together to upend the campaign finance 
system, to try to make sure politicians are beholden to their 
constituents, not to special interests.
  John took these positions in sharp contrast to his party. After Mo 
retired from the House and John had entered the Senate, John continued 
to take fearless positions. He championed immigration reform. He 
supports curbing methane emissions.
  Many Americans will never forget--and I was standing right about here 
when this happened--when, on July 28, 2017, John McCain stepped into 
the well of the Senate and gave an unexpected thumbs down to his 
party's desperate attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
  In 1982, Mo and John appeared to be worlds apart--Arizona politicians 
representing liberal Tucson and conservative Phoenix, who would 
necessarily be at odds, yet they shared so much. Both stood by their 
principles, but both believed in working across the aisle to get things 
done for the American people. Both put country over personal ambition, 
fame, and fortune. Both were men of integrity, and both were 
courageous. All of us can learn from their duty to country over selves, 
their commitment to working for all Americans, and their dedication to 
working with the party across the aisle to reach consensus.
  Morris King Udall and John Sidney McCain III were unlikely political 
allies and even more unlikely friends, but they were both, and both are 
true American heroes.
  Heroism is not born of words and bravado and bragging; heroism is 
born of silent deeds that help others. Mo and John accomplished much by 
deed. Both are true Arizonans, true Americans, and true heroes.
  I am privileged to have known both men--to have grown up with Uncle 
Mo, to have campaigned with him, and to have shared his stories and 
stolen his jokes and to have served in the Senate and to serve with 
John McCain.
  John and I have worked together on many issues. We have traveled 
internationally. Our work together on the Senate Indian Affairs 
Committee has produced real results for Native Americans.
  After this Grand Canyon event I described in some of the remarks up 
there, I went to visit John at his ranch in Sedona. He is working hard 
to recover and wants to return to the Senate. His spirits are good. He 
was returning calls and working on statements while we visited. He was 
planning ranch projects right in front of us that had to do with the 
cottonwoods that were out in front of us as we were looking out at his 
place. His wonderful wife Cindy, a strong and talented woman in her own 
right, was at his side and working to make sure things were shipshape 
at the ranch. What a unique and loving partnership.
  John, we wish you and Cindy the very best and look forward to your 
speedy return.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.