[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18453]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 18453]]

               TRIBUTE TO SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Senator, it is hard for me to stand up here and talk to 
you, of all people, who are so eloquent and has given so many wonderful 
and meaningful things to us over the years.
  Also I think of the words of John Lord O'Brien, who you remember was 
the great lawyer from Buffalo and was the head of probably the greatest 
law firm in the history of the country, which was the War Production 
Board during World War II. Somebody was saying very nice things about 
him one time, and he says, ``I accept that and I appreciate it. The 
problem I have is not inhaling them.''
  You have had so many nice things said about you, I know it must be 
very difficult. But as you know, no one person is indispensable, 
clearly you nor I nor anyone around here. But if anyone comes close to 
indispensability, it is you.
  I think of that wonderful story that Archibald McLeash told at one 
time. He was talking to a group of students, and one of the students 
said at the end of the lecture, ``Mr. McLeash, would you try to sum up 
what you have said?'' And he said, ``Yes, I will try.'' He said, 
``Don't forget the thing.'' And the student said, ``What do you mean, 
Mr. McLeash, by `the thing'?''
  Mr. McLeash said, ``I will tell you what `the thing' is. You know, so 
many times in life we judge ourselves, are we a Congressman, a Senator, 
a head of this or in charge of that, what we do. The thing is not what 
we do, but what we are.'' And what you are and what you are to us and 
will continue to be, this is not a finite thing, it is more than I can 
express.
  Obviously there are things that are important to me, what you have 
done in terms of our transportation in upstate New York, Route 17 or I-
86, to be exact, extraordinary. Not only have you been able to do 
things which have really helped and opened up what could be an economic 
wasteland, and is not because of your efforts; but you put it all in 
perspective, such as many times in discussions we have, going away 
back, 30, 40 years, Governor Dewey and some of the things he was trying 
to do. It was very, very helpful.
  I also remember being I think it was in the Cannon Caucus Room when 
Bob Dole decided he was going to step out of the race in 1988. And who 
was there from the other side? It was you. You did not have to be 
there. I do not know whether anybody asked you, but you were there to 
lend support to your colleague.
  Also I remember the times that we have been at Seneca Falls and the 
Women's Hall of Fame and the importance of women's issues in this 
country.
  I could go on and on, but I want to go back to what Mr. McLeash said, 
it is what you are, rather than what you have done.
  There was a wonderful statement that George Patton made to the Third 
Army in 1945, and it goes this way: ``The highest honor I have attained 
is that of having my name coupled with yours in these great events.'' I 
echo that now with you, sir.

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