[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 13074]]

                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following 
nominations on the Executive Calendar, Calendar Nos. 92, 93, and 94.
  I finally ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements 
relating to the nominations be printed in the Record, the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return 
to legislative session
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:


                  commodity futures trading commission

       Thomas J. Erickson, of the District of Columbia, to be a 
     Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for 
     the term expiring April 13, 2003.


                                  army

       The following named officer for appointment as the Chief of 
     Staff United States Army, and appointment to the grade 
     indicated while assigned to a position of importance and 
     responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., sections 601 and 3033:

                             To be general

     Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, 3256.


                              marine corps

       The following named officer for appointment as Commandant 
     of the Marine Corps, and appointment to the grade indicated 
     while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility 
     under title 10, U.S.C., sections 601 and 5043:

                             To be general

     Lt. Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., 2699.


                  Nomination Of Gen. Eric K. Shinseki

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the Senate Armed Services Committee 
reviewed the qualifications of General Shinseki. It was a memorable 
day. One of our most distinguished and revered colleagues, the senior 
Senator from Hawaii, introduced General Shinseki. I have said 
previously that it was one of the most moving statements I have ever 
heard by a Senator in my 21 years. I placed the statement of Senator 
Inouye in the Record of Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at Page S6813, and I 
urge all Senators to look at that. It was, indeed, one of the most 
extraordinary statements on behalf of another individual that I have 
ever witnessed.
  Basically, Senator Inouye referred back to 1942, the year in which 
General Shinseki was born. At that time, Senator Inouye was 
volunteering to serve in the U.S. Army. It was a very personal and 
moving statement, and I urge all Senators to look at it.
  As chairman, I asked Senator Cleland to note his signature on the 
nomination of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, given his most 
distinguished career as a soldier serving this Nation in the cause of 
freedom.


               Nomination Of Lt. Gen. James L. Jones, Jr.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I had the privilege of introducing on the 
same day General Jones to become the next Commandant of the Marine 
Corps, succeeding General Krulak who discharged the responsibilities of 
the Office of Commandant with great credit to the Nation and to 
himself. He is a most distinguished officer. His father served in World 
War II in the Marine Corps. His father served in the Pacific as a 
senior three-star Marine officer just before I became Under Secretary 
of the Navy. The Krulak family is a proud family, and they have done 
much for our Nation and, indeed, for the Marine Corps.
  General Jones served in the Senate in the Marine Corps liaison 
office. Thereafter, he continued a most distinguished career. His last 
post as a lieutenant general was the principal military adviser--of 
course, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the principal military 
adviser--but General Jones on the immediate staff of the Secretary of 
Defense, our former colleague, Mr. Cohen, was the principal adviser on 
his personal staff.
  This is recognition, again, of a distinguished marine who likewise 
had a family member, an uncle, who was a highly decorated marine in 
World War II. It is continuity in the Corps for those like myself, I 
say with great humility, who had the opportunity to serve at one time 
in the Marine Corps. It is a proud day today for the U.S. Marine Corps, 
for the soon retirement of the most distinguished Commandant and 
succession of General Jones whose potential equals any Commandant who 
ever served in that office in the history of this country.
  I asked that Senator Roberts pen his signature on the nomination of 
General Jones to be Commandant. Again, Senator Roberts is a former 
marine.

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