[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7329-S7330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Remembering George H. W. Bush
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, over the last few days, since the death
of
[[Page S7330]]
President George Herbert Walker Bush, we have heard about his life and
his legacy. It has been, really, a celebration of a life well lived. It
is hard to imagine someone packing more into 94 years than George H. W.
Bush packed into his life. We heard about his time in the Navy, when he
volunteered after Pearl Harbor, became a naval aviator, was shot down,
and was saved by a submarine that popped up and rescued him. We, of
course, know about his devotion to public service, but we also learned
a lot more about his sense of humanity, his humility, his loyalty, and
his optimism.
Sometimes in Washington it seems like the message is all negative,
and I think this has been a delightful contrast, reflecting on his life
and his contribution.
I have said previously, talking about President Bush, that there is
nothing as powerful as a good example. I think his example is one we
all ought to contemplate and perhaps strive to emulate in our own way
and in the way we conduct our business here.
When people disagree with us, it doesn't mean they are bad people;
they are just people with different ideas. We ought to respect one
another enough to actually debate those ideas, rather than engage in
name-calling and denigrating the level of discourse among us because
people watch us too. They watch how we conduct ourselves here, and they
take some cues from that in how they conduct themselves online, in PTA
meetings, in our communities, and in our States.
This has been a delightful week. It has been kind of an emotional and
exhausting week as we have grieved with the Bush family but at the same
time, as I said, celebrating an incredible life.