[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S7188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              December 19

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, on another subject, even though I am very 
close to this subject in that I chaired the Armed Services Committee, 
and that is where all of this really began, I do want to mention one 
thing about what happened this morning. I think our leader over here, 
Mr. McConnell, did a superb job. He made it very clear on the 
impeachment that took place last night. It is something that has not 
happened before. It is the first time it has happened, in that there is 
no impeachable offense, and it is nonetheless, I think, all driven by 
hatred. When you stop to think, here it is right before Christmas, and 
the hatred that is driving that, it is wrong.
  I want to mention something that is significant, that you haven't 
thought of, I say to the Presiding Officer. That is, this 153rd day of 
the year is very significant. That is December 19. People have not 
stopped to realize the significant things that have happened on 
December 19 throughout our history and the history of the world, going 
all the way back to December 19, at 11:54, Henry II became King of 
England. We haven't really thought about the fact what does that mean 
to us today, but we will before long.
  In 1843, December 19, again, Charles Dickens wrote ``A Christmas 
Carol.'' It is the most watched, listened to, and sung event every 
Christmas.
  In 1932, December 19, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC, 
began transmitting overseas. That was the beginning of a whole new 
world of knowledge and understanding.
  In 1950, December 19, NATO named General Dwight D. Eisenhower as 
supreme commander of the Western European defense forces.
  Then in 1972, December 19, Apollo 17, the last of the Apollo moon 
landings returned to earth.
  December 19 of 1984--I remember this well because I was in Hong Kong 
when this happened--that was when China signed an accord returning Hong 
Kong to the Chinese sovereignty. A lot of people thought it was good at 
the time to accept people from Hong Kong. I was there, and look what 
has happened now after all these years. I would have to say that 
hysteria has continued to this day.
  Then, in 1998, December 19, the U.S President Bill Clinton was 
impeached. I was there at that one, too. We have something to compare 
it with now, but that was December 19, 1998.
  The event that is more significant by a landslide is what happened on 
December 19, 1959. On December 19, 1959, my wife Kay and I got married. 
That makes this the 60th anniversary of our wedding. Just look at all 
the beauty that has followed us, 20 kids and grandkids. All of that in 
that 60-year period of time.
  What I want to say is the beautiful life that we are still having 
together--and I would like to say at this point that Kay, after 60 
years, is still loving, and I wish you a happy anniversary; and to 
everyone out there as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, Merry 
Christmas, and God bless you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.