[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN MEMORY OF GOVERNOR GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN (1928-2018)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2018

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, on May 8th, one of California's best 
governors passed on. George Deukmejian as Governor showed us how to 
power up an economy, unleash private enterprise, keep taxes at bay, 
keep violent criminals behind bars while turning the Golden State even 
more golden.
  Like many Californians, George didn't come from our state. Rather, he 
headed west from his boyhood in New York to find opportunity, to earn 
his living, to dream the big dream and create a life for his wife 
Gloria and his kids George Jr., Leslie and Andrea.
  He took a risk to head west and make a new life. Once he got to 
California he quickly excelled as an attorney, then moved on to make 
laws as well as enforce them. He was first elected to the California 
Assembly from his home town, Long Beach. The voters then moved him on 
to the State Senate. From there he was elected statewide to the office 
of Attorney General. In 1982, the strong, yet quiet-spoken man was 
elected Governor of California.
  With George at the helm, California enjoyed a surge of new economic 
growth: Silicon Valley came into its own, churning out more chips and 
computers; Hollywood pumped out more movies and TV and other 
entertainment, agriculture produced more food that fed the country and 
indeed the world. And all the while, the California aerospace industry 
built the rockets that took us into space, and created state-of-the-art 
aircraft and high-tech innovations that continue to keep our nation 
safe and economically superior to all enemies and competitors.
  George Deukmejian, however, shouldn't be judged only by the state's 
startling economic record while he was Governor of California. His 
understanding and commitment to the rule of law and respect for our 
traditions and rules of civility defined him as a person and as a 
public figure. George Deukmejian knew that peace and safety were 
prerequisites of a happy life. He was, indeed, tough on crime, but his 
motives were based on protecting victims, and yes, the innocent. But 
even though his call sign was the ``Iron Duke'', he was a leader with a 
good heart and a strong belief in American democratic ideals. It is 
often overlooked, for example, that Governor George Deukmejian led a 
fight in California to divest the state of assets tied to the racist 
apartheid government of South Africa.
  This commitment to freedom was not an anomaly. George's family were 
survivors of the Armenian genocide of Ottoman Turkey. From the first-
hand accounts of his family of this monstrous crime, he opened his eyes 
to the evil that plagues the world. The Deukmejian family found refuge 
in America to start a new life. George learned from his family's 
experience to look forward with optimism and embrace the goodness and 
gifts that America had to offer. ``True North'' was George's moral 
compass in governance, while principles and integrity were his twin 
anchors. Folks across the political spectrum admired him as a great 
political leader. From humble beginnings he became one of California's 
great governors. Former Governor Deukmejian lived in retirement in his 
modest home in Long Beach. We shall miss him and we are grateful for 
his lifetime of service. He made California and America a better place.

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