[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18851]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO SENATOR JESSE HELMS AND SENATOR STROM THURMOND

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I am sorry I could not get the floor 
earlier. But I assume we are still in morning business, and that I may 
proceed with reference to a couple of our colleagues who are leaving. I 
was unavoidably detained in a conference meeting with the House of 
Representatives on the status of the energy bill.
  First, I think it is important as we see our friends depart from this 
body to talk about what is outstanding in our own minds relative to 
their contributions. One could go on at great length relative to the 
contributions of Senator Strom Thurmond and Senator Jesse Helms. But 
one of the things outstanding in my mind is the tours that Senator 
Thurmond used to give when we had a social event here in the Capitol. 
Upon the conclusion of the event, he would offer to take at least some 
of the guests on a night tour of the Capitol, and he would recite 
instances that occurred 30, 40, 50, and almost 200 years ago relative 
to the sacred surroundings and the Old Chamber where the Supreme Court 
originally was here in the Capitol, and reflect humorous stories of who 
sat where and what their personal traits might be.
  Looking back on my 22 years in the Senate, I treasure those moments. 
My wife Nancy and I often have talked about them. Unfortunately, his 
health does not allow him to conduct those tours anymore, but for those 
who were fortunate enough to share a few moments of his humor on those 
tours, the historical references, his magnificent memory, and the 
reference to the uniqueness of the Senate, and the outstanding 
highlights of the various careers of those who have come and gone, it 
was truly a memorable experience.
  Today, we set aside time for Members to comment on Senator Helms who 
is also leaving us. Again, it is a matter of individual impressions 
that Members leave you with.
  Without exception, Senator Helms' comments on this floor back in 1983 
stand out in my memory as certainly the most significant, most timely, 
and most on target references to a frightening situation that occurred. 
That was the shooting down of the Korean Airlines flight 007, which was 
shot down by a Soviet Sukhoi 15 fighter jet on September 1, 1983. That 
flight was on its way from Anchorage, AK, to Seoul, Korea. There were 
269 lives lost, including a Congressman, Larry McDonald.
  At that time, Senator Helms and Senator Symms, the former Senator 
from Idaho, were on another Korean Airlines flight that was in transit 
in Anchorage the same time as the Korean Airlines flight 007.
  I was in the Senate Chamber when Senator Helms delivered his floor 
statement on September 15, 1983. There were many who were commenting 
and making statements, but by far the most moving statement was Senator 
Helms'. I am going to take the liberty of quoting a bit of his 
statement at that time. Let me quote the statement of Senator Helms as 
follows:

       Mr. Helms. I was on the Korean airplane that landed in 
     Anchorage for refueling 20 minutes after the ill-fated plane. 
     Both planes were on the ground for more than an hour, meaning 
     that both planes were there together for the better part of 
     an hour. Most of the passengers on both planes went into the 
     terminal.
       It so happens that the distinguished Congressman from 
     Georgia, Representative Larry McDonald, did not, or I did not 
     see him. But in the lounge of the terminal I saw one of the 
     most delightful young families anybody could ever hope to 
     see. A young man and his wife--the young couple was going to 
     Seoul, as I understand, to head up Eastman Kodak's 
     organization there. They had two little girls, aged 5 and 3.
       The mother was sitting reading Bible stories to those two 
     little girls when we entered. The little girl was sitting on 
     her mother's lap and the 5-year-old was sitting on the arm of 
     the chair. And when the mother had finished reading to the 
     children, I went over and introduced myself.

  In the conversation, he offered to take the children and read them a 
story while their mother went to refresh herself. They were on his lap. 
They were playing games--the same games he played with his own 
grandchildren. He said:

       They were on my lap and we were playing little games that I 
     play with my grandchildren.
       If I live to be 1,000, I say to the Senator, I will never 
     forget those two little girls, who had a right to live and 
     love and be loved, but who will never have that right because 
     of this criminal, brutal, premeditated, cowardly act by the 
     Soviet Union.
       I will forever remember the giggles and the laughter--they 
     hugged my neck and they kissed me on the cheek. Finally, 
     their plane was called, and my last sight of them as they 
     scampered out the door was their waving ``bye-bye'' to this 
     fellow and blowing kisses to me.

  I tell you that you could have heard a pin drop in this body when he 
delivered that message. It was a tough message. But he was right on 
target. Those children had a right to live, a right to be loved, and it 
was finished--snuffed out in that premeditated act by the Soviet Union 
by the shooting down of Korean Airlines flight 007.
  Senator Helms is certainly known for calling a spade a spade. But 
that day I thought he was right on target in calling the atrocity what 
it was--a cold-blooded murder. I will never forget the comments the 
Senator made at that time, and they will live with me always.
  I admire Senator Helms, what he stands for, and the contribution he 
has made to this body.

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