[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E71-E72]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DICK THORNBURGH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DWIGHT EVANS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 28, 2021

  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an influential and 
dedicated gentleman from Pittsburgh, Richard ``Dick'' Thornburgh, a 
devoted public official, former U.S. Attorney General and the 41st 
governor of Pennsylvania who died on December 31, 2020 at age 88.
  Dick Thornburgh dedicated his life and career to improving the lives 
of others through public service. Prior to being elected to public 
office, Thornburgh attended Mercersburg Academy then Yale University 
from which he obtained an engineering degree in 1954. He later received 
a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1957, 
where he served as an editor of the Law Review. He became a member of 
the Pittsburgh-based law firm Kirkpatrick & Lockhart in 1959. 
Additionally, Dick was awarded 32 honorary degrees from 32 other 
colleges and universities.
  Dick Thornburgh stands out as an honest, reform-minded public leader. 
He is universally regarded as an intelligent and empathetic leader. He 
built his reputation as a crime-busting federal prosecutor in 
Pittsburgh and as a moderate Republican governor. He is also well known 
for being a champion to those with intellectual disabilities. Both he 
and his wife were active in programs for the disabled. In 1985, the 
Thornburgh's were named ``Family of the Year'' by the Pennsylvania 
Association for Retarded Citizens. As Attorney General, Dick was 
instrumental in the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 
1990.
  Dick Thornburgh was the first Republican to serve two successive 
terms as governor. He was recognized by fellow governors in a 1986 
Newsweek poll as one of the most effective big-state governors in the 
nation. As governor, he oversaw the response to the Three Mile Island 
nuclear power plant accident. His calm and steady leadership helped 
with efforts to the partial meltdown at the nuclear power plant and 
played a major role in facilitating funding for the cleanup operation. 
Dick was responsible for consolidating all of Pennsylvania's state-
owned colleges and universities into the Pennsylvania State System of 
Higher Education. Furthermore, he is credited for creating the 
Governor's Schools, which were programs for talented and gifted high 
school students.
  In 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Dick Thornburgh as the 
United States Attorney General and held on to that position after 
President George H.W. Bush was inaugurated. Thornburgh was sworn into 
office

[[Page E72]]

after being unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate and 
served three years as Attorney General. He was steadfast in his pursuit 
against white-collar crime as the Department of Justice obtained a 
record number of convictions of savings and loan crisis and other 
securities officials, defense contractors and corrupt public officials. 
Dick also established strong relations with law enforcement agencies 
around the world to help combat drug trafficking, money laundering, 
terrorism and international white-collar crime.
  As an accomplished public leader Dick Thornburgh also worked at the 
international level, serving as a consultant to the United Nations, the 
World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to combat against 
corruption and fraud. He penned the book ``Puerto Rico's Future: A Time 
to Decide'' in 2007, where he argued for a change in the island's 
territorial/commonwealth status, and concluded it was a relic of 
colonialism. Throughout his career, Dick traveled widely, visiting over 
40 countries and meeting with leaders from Africa, Australia, Canada, 
China, Cambodia, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, New 
Zealand and Central and South America. He was a former member of the 
Council on Foreign Relations.
  As evidenced by his historic career Dick Thornburgh, dedicated his 
life to advocating and improving the lives of others. He was a model 
public servant. The 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends 
gratitude to Dick Thornburgh for his dedicated support and service to 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and mourns with his family and loved 
ones.

                          ____________________