[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 103 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following 
nomination, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, 
of the District of Columbia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 
District of Columbia Circuit.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. President, I rise today to offer a resolution expressing support 
for the Pledge of Allegiance as a historic and significant expression 
of patriotism.
  By the way, I did the same thing last year.
  In 2002, 19 years ago, Senator Tom Daschle raised a similar 
resolution with unanimous support from the Senate, and it passed on the 
floor uneventfully, without amendment.
  In a few days, this body can choose to do the same, to reaffirm our 
support for the Pledge of Allegiance.
  I rise today, too, to honor a Hoosier who understood the innate value 
of the Pledge of Allegiance to civic education.
  In 1969, Red Skelton, the American comedian and entertainer who was 
well-known for his program on CBS, ``The Red Skelton Hour,'' wrote a 
speech on the importance of the Pledge. Reflecting on his time in 
Vincennes, a neighboring community to where I live, he spoke about the 
value instilled by one of his high school teachers in the words of the 
Pledge of Allegiance.
  After the performance of the speech, CBS received several hundred 
thousand requests for copies. The speech would go on to be sold as a 
single by Columbia Records and performed at the White House for 
President Nixon.
  I think it would be an honor to Mr. Skelton's memory and to the 
importance of the Pledge of Allegiance if it were recited today on the 
Senate floor in the words of Red Skelton.

       When I was a small boy in Vincennes, [Indiana,] I heard, I 
     think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in 
     my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount, 
     Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Socrates' Speech to the 
     Students.
       We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and 
     he [Mr. Lasswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School] 
     called us all together, and he says, ``Uh, boys and girls, I 
     have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance 
     all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to 
     you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of 
     each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and 
     give you a definition of each word:
       I--Me, an individual; a committee of one.
       Pledge--Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without 
     self-pity.
       Allegiance--my love and my devotion.
       To the Flag--Our standard. ``Old Glory''; a symbol of 
     courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because 
     your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts ``Freedom is 
     everybody's job.''
       Of the United--That means we have all come together.
       States--Individual communities that have united into 48 
     great states; 48 individual communities with pride and 
     dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet 
     united to a common cause, and that's love of country--
       Of America.
       And to the Republic--a Republic: a sovereign state in which 
     power is invested into the representatives chosen by the 
     people to govern; [us] and the government is the people; and 
     it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to 
     the people.
       For which it Stands
       One Nation--Meaning ``so blessed by God.''
       Indivisible--Incapable of being divided.
       With Liberty--Which is freedom; the right of power for one 
     to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of 
     retaliation.
       And Justice--The principle and qualities of dealing fairly 
     with others.
       For All--For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much 
     your country as it is mine.

  Afterwards, Mr. Lasswell asked his students to recite the Pledge of 
Allegiance together, with newfound appreciation for the words.

       I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 
     America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one 
     nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

  Mr. Red Skelton concluded his speech by saying:

       Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our 
     country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of 
     Allegiance: [If you listened closely] ``Under God.'' Wouldn't 
     it be a pity if someone said, ``That is a prayer''--and that 
     be eliminated from our schools . . . ?

  Just as those students that day, Mr. Skelton included, recommitted to 
the meaning of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, I call upon the 
U.S. Senate to recommit to the meaning of these words.
  There are times today that the words of the pledge are tossed around 
without too much care. Other times, they are altered to remove what 
today is deemed offensive or antiquated. But Americans should not 
misuse or abuse our Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance is 
meant to remind Americans of our guiding principles and inspire 
adherence to those ideas which make our country great: equality under 
the law, recognized rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness. This is why today I am requesting that in a few days we pass 
this resolution with unanimous consent, and I am hopeful that occurs.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.