[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            CONDOLENCES TO THE KENNEDY AND BESSETTE FAMILIES

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to express my heartfelt sympathy to 
our colleague, Senator Ted Kennedy, and the whole Kennedy Family on the 
death of his nephew, John F. Kennedy, Jr.
  John Kennedy, Jr. was much admired by all Americans. The son of 
Camelot, he was aware of his own celebrity but did not flaunt it.
  His entry into politics--the Kennedy family business--would have been 
well paved for him, but he chose to go his own way. He succeeded in the 
extremely competitive publishing world. When failures in this industry 
outnumber successes, he created and built ``George'' into a popular and 
often insightful magazine. By all accounts, JFK, Jr. was a hands-on 
editor, had a fair hand, and had an eye for what would be interesting 
and fresh for American readers.
  His marriage to Carolyn Bessette took America's number one bachelor 
off the market. But, it also gave his life new dimension.
  We here in the Senate would be remiss if we did not also express our 
deepest sympathy to the Bessette family who lost two daughters in this 
terrible accident. As a father, this is a loss I cannot begin to 
imagine.
  It seems that no family should have to endure the level of tragedy 
that has befallen the Kennedys. I will say to the Senator from 
Massachusetts: America mourns with you and the Senate mourns with you, 
your family, and the Bessette family as well.
  Elaine and I want to express publicly what we have said privately, 
which is that you and your family and the Bessette family are in our 
thoughts and prayers. May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
  (The remarks of Mr. Hatch pertaining to the introduction of S. 1406 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, once again, I thank my dear friend from 
Illinois for allowing me to proceed, and at this point I yield the 
floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, under the order that was previously 
stated, I yield 3 minutes in morning business to the Senator from 
Maryland.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senator from Maryland 
is recognized.

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