[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this is indeed a strange day on Capitol 
Hill--January 19, 1999--and I am sure that history will look back on 
this day as one of stark contrast. It is a day when the President will 
deliver his State of the Union Address, and of course that is a 
historic ritual which began with President Wilson and will continue 
with President Clinton this evening.
  The oddity, of course, is that some of the same Members of the House 
of Representatives who over the span of the last week have stood on the 
floor of this Senate Chamber and at various times described the 
President as being ``corrupt'' or ``felonious,'' as being ``one who has 
turned his back on the law'' will be, tonight, in the House Chamber 
applauding this President as he comes to the floor.
  Many people might view this as somewhat hypocritical. I do not. I 
think it reflects two basic values in American life: The first and most 
important is a presumption of innocence, a presumption which is 
extended to every person when they are accused by their accusers, be it 
government or otherwise, until proven otherwise.
  Today, there is a suggestion that we will hear for the first time the 
defense of the President and hear the other side of the story. That 
presumption of innocence, I think, argues that all of us come to the 
State of the Union Address tonight with an open mind to the issues at 
hand, serious issues facing the country.
  The second and equally important value that will be tested this 
evening is one which I have seen in my time on Capitol Hill tested time 
and time again. I can certainly recall at the height of the Iran-contra 
affair when President Reagan came to give a State of the Union Address. 
I had very serious concerns about the Iran-contra affair, the sale of 
arms to an avowed enemy of the United States, the diversion of proceeds 
from that sale to contras, rebels, in Nicaragua, in direct violation of 
the law, and all of that proceeding and all of that controversy which 
led to the eventual prosecution of members of the President's Cabinet.
  In the midst of that was a State of the Union Address by President 
Reagan. Many of us who were critical of the Iran-contra affair came to 
that State of the Union Address and gave appropriate respect to the 
President in his presentation to Congress and to the American people.
  I expect the same thing to occur tonight. And I expect that what we 
have heard this morning on the floor from the Democratic side about the 
agenda that we are hoping to propose and push forward during the coming 
months will be addressed by the President in his speech. At this point, 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming is recognized.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for seven 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Did the Senator request a period of time?
  Mr. THOMAS. Seven minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized for 7 minutes.
  (The remarks of Mr. Thomas pertaining to the introduction of the 
legislation are located in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. ROBB addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  (The remarks of Mr. Robb pertaining to the introduction of the 
legislation are located in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Ms. COLLINS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine is recognized.
  (The remarks of Ms. Collins pertaining to the introduction of the 
legislation are located in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Ms. COLLINS. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor. I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Enzi). The clerk will call the roll to 
determine the absence of presence of a quorum.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DeWINE. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. DeWine pertaining to the introduction of S. 5 and 
S. 61 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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