[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING PRESIDENT KEN WOLLACK OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2018

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and work of Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic 
Institute (NDI), who is stepping down after a career in foreign 
affairs, journalism, and politics that has spanned 46 years.
  An Illinois native and graduate of Earlham College, Ken broke into 
national politics as a member of the national staff of the McGovern 
presidential campaign in 1972. From 1973 to 1980 he was legislative 
director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He 
then became a co-editor of the Middle East Policy Survey, a Washington-
based newsletter, and wrote regularly on foreign affairs for the Los 
Angeles Times.
  Ken joined NDI as executive vice president in 1986 and was elected 
president by the Institute's board of directors in 1993. He has now led 
the Institute for more than two-thirds of its history, working on five 
continents to strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard 
elections, promote citizen participation, and champion openness and 
accountability in government.
  Through his years of service, Ken has testified before numerous 
congressional committees and has appeared on national television and 
radio as a trusted authority on world affairs. He has served on various 
task forces sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace, the 
Council on Foreign Relations, the Brookings Institution, the Bipartisan 
Policy Center, the Center for U.S. Global Engagement, and the Atlantic 
Council. He currently serves on USAID's Advisory Committee on Voluntary 
Foreign Aid, sits on the Commission on Presidential Debates' Board of 
Directors, and was chairman of the development program of the U.S. 
Committee for the United Nations.
  In a speech given at the 10th Anniversary of Georgetown University's 
Masters Program in Democracy and Governance Ken reflected, ``I confess 
to be an incurable optimist who for 32 years has worked in the optimism 
business.'' His optimism and tireless dedication to promoting and 
protecting democracy, good governance, and human rights have earned 
respect and appreciation across the political spectrum in our country 
and abroad.
  I have been honored to work with Ken and the entire team at NDI in 
implementing this hopeful vision through the bipartisan work of the 
House Democracy Partnership (HDP). From the time HDP began its work in 
2005, NDI and its partner organization within the National Endowment 
for Democracy, the International Republican Institute (IRI), have been 
indispensable partners in strengthening legislative institutions in 
twenty emerging or reemerging democracies--ranging from Indonesia and 
Kenya to Ukraine, Georgia, Peru, Tunisia, and Sri Lanka. HDP has 
engaged member-to-member and staff-to-staff, while NDI and IRI have 
helped us organize workshops and exchange visits and have carried out 
mentoring and consultation aimed at improved legislative practice day-
to-day in our partner countries.
  This work simply could not have occurred without steadfast leadership 
from Ken. We have learned a great deal from him and have been 
strengthened and sustained by his unfailing support. I will forever be 
grateful to him.
  It is a pleasure, Mr. Speaker, to join with friends and colleagues in 
commending Ken for his remarkable career and for the commitment he has 
shown to our country's highest ideals and purposes. In turn, he has 
enjoyed the steadfast support and love of his wife Leslie, his 
daughters Lauren and Alison, and his grandson, Cooper.
  We thank Ken Wollack for his exemplary service and wish him and his 
family well as he begins the next chapter in his life.

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