[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING GENERAL ANDREW J. GOODPASTER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2019

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize the following 
letter submitted to the Daily Herald newspaper by my constituent Frank 
G. Splitt of Mount Prospect, Illinois. Mr. Splitt rightly acknowledges 
the contributions to our nation made by General Andrew J. Goodpaster, 
who amongst other things, served as the Supreme Allied Commander, 
Europe, and superintendent of West Point. I encourage all my colleagues 
to learn about the contributions made by this legendary general from 
Illinois.

                 [From the Daily Herald, Mar. 9, 2019]

                 An Illinoisan Too Important To Ignore

                    (Letter to the Editor, Opinion)

       In a recent Wall Street Journal column, ``Five Best Books 
     on American Generals'' Winston Groom recommended works about 
     military leaders. C. Richard Nelson's book, ``The Life and 
     Work of General Andrew J. Goodpaster,'' was conspicuous by 
     virtue of its absence from Groom's list--so too was the 
     absence of General Goodpaster from the Herald's March 3, 2019 
     supplement, ``Illinois' Rich History, People Places & Things 
     that Make Illinois Stand Out.''
       Readers of Nelson's biography will find that Goodpaster 
     (1915-2005), born in Granite City, Illinois, graduated from 
     West Point in 1939. He was a soldier, engineer, and scholar 
     who led and fought with uncommon valor in World War II, 
     advised several presidents, most notably President Dwight D. 
     Eisenhower, and served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, 
     Europe (1969-1974). He has been called the finest officer of 
     our era.
       Goodpaster was brought out of retirement in 1977 to serve 
     as the superintendent of West Point as it was reeling from a 
     cheating scandal. In his four-year tenure at the academy, he 
     sought to substitute ``positive leadership'' for hazing and 
     personal abuse.
       Subsequent to Goodpaster's government service, among other 
     things, he served as the Chairman of the George C. Marshall 
     Foundation and as a senior fellow at the Woodrow Wilson 
     International Center for Scholars. He was the recipient of 
     the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Reagan in 
     1984, for ``lifetime accomplishments that changed the face 
     and soul of our country.''
       Goodpaster's approach to analysis and decision making 
     provides valuable lessons for current and aspiring leaders. 
     His life story should serve as an inspiration to others who 
     are challenged with the task of resolving complex domestic 
     and foreign policy issues. It has been said that General 
     Goodpaster remains ``too important to ignore.''

                                                  Frank G. Splitt,
     Mount Prospect.

                          ____________________