[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12987-12988]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF LEW WASSERMAN

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, this is not a happy day for America. On 
this day occurs a memorial service for Lew Wasserman, who died in his 
89th year. He is one of the two giants of the American free enterprise 
system who for over 60 years helped shape and build one of America's 
greatest export trade prizes and an extraordinary engine of economic 
and creative growth: The American film industry. He was a pioneer of 
great intellect and innovation. He could see what others could not, for 
he had the gift of vision, both rare and valuable.
  He was more than that. He was a patriot in a shining sense of that 
word. He cared about his country and all who live in it. He believed in 
the American free market system. He was appalled at the behavior of 
those executives who knowingly soiled the honor and integrity of that 
system.
  He and his wife, Edie, believed in young people and lavished millions 
of dollars in scholarships on them at a dozen universities on a 
continuing basis. His heart and his purse went without hesitation to 
the Motion Picture Home and Hospital, giving it millions of dollars so 
that those in the movie industry, hard-working craftsmen, artisans, and 
creators, when they became old and sick, could be cared for.
  More millions were conferred anonymously. Lew never sought the 
spotlight because fame was not his goal nor publicity his guide. He had 
an old-fashioned view about loyalty. He never turned his back on a 
friend nor did he ever break his word once given to an individual, to a 
cause, to his country. Those who worked with him revered him because he 
never considered himself their leader but, rather, one who

[[Page 12988]]

served his employees and their company.
  There are many in this Congress today who can bear personal witness 
to his commitment to be of service to the Nation. He was the personal 
friend of Presidents from John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, to Bill 
Clinton. I daresay if God granted him the time, he would have known and 
served George W. Bush. To me, personally, he was invariably kind, 
thoughtful, responsive to my requests for counsel and his wise 
judgment. He never asked me for a thing. He was, to my mind, the 
exemplar of the man who wants to give back more than he gained, to give 
back to his neighborhoods, his industry, to the young whose hopes are 
slender, to offer more than he has asked for, to strive always to try 
to make the future of this country a favorite and favorable place for 
generations of Americans yet unborn.
  He shunned tributes, but he was proud of the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom bestowed on him by President Clinton. If he had not just bought 
Universal Studios, he would have accepted the Cabinet post offered to 
him by President Johnson. He is truly one of those unique human beings 
whose like is seldom found, which is why his loss is so profound to 
this Nation. I miss him. I thank him for being my friend. And I wish 
his family Godspeed during these difficult times.
  I yield the floor.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, on June 3, our Nation lost one of its 
finest citizens. Lew Wasserman, long time president and chairman of MCA 
and friend of Presidents, died at the age of 89.
  Lew came from humble roots, but never forgot those less fortunate 
than he. An entertainment industry visionary and modern day mogul, Lew 
Wasserman, along with his wonderful wife, Edie, used their position and 
resources to support hospitals and cultural institutions; to provide 
scholarships to young people; to fund research to prevent blindness; 
and to support political candidates in whose leadership they believed. 
In a rough and tumble industry, he believed in fairness and thoughtful 
mediation, and he cared passionately about our political system and 
democratic ideals.
  Lew Wasserman was a mentor and role model to an entire industry and a 
great friend to Presidents of both parties, including my husband. I was 
honored that he was my friend; but, even more than that, I was grateful 
for his many contributions to America.
  On September 29, 1995, my husband awarded Lew Wasserman the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom. In his remarks, the President said of 
Lew:

       I have met a lot of philanthropists and successful people 
     in my life. I don't know that I ever met anybody that more 
     consistently every day looked for another opportunity to do 
     something for somebody else, to give somebody else the chance 
     to enjoy the success that he had in life. I thank you, Lew 
     Wasserman.

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