[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LATE DAVID BRINKLEY

  Mrs. DOLE. Mr. President, I am honored today to talk about a pioneer 
for North Carolina in the field of journalism . . . the late David 
Brinkley. David died on June 12, at the age of 82, from complications 
resulting from a fall. He was laid to rest in his beloved home, 
Wilmington, North Carolina . . . beside his father--William Graham 
Brinkley and mother--Mary MacDonald West Brinkley.
  David was born in Wilmington . . . He attended high school at New 
Hanover High School. While there . . . and after several long hours 
pouring over books in the Wilmington Library . . . David got an itch 
for journalism.
  He didn't wait. He took a part-time job while still in high school, 
working for the Wilmington Morning Star and its afternoon edition, the 
Wilmington News. He said he made about $11 a week.
  But the young boy, who once made extra money by changing light bulbs 
and running a soft-drink stand at Wrightsville Beach's Lumina 
Pavillion, went on to become an icon for millions of viewers who 
watched him each night. He and co-anchor Chet Huntley had the highest 
rated news program on American television during the 1960's with ``The 
Huntley-Brinkley Report.'' Many of us still remember their familiar 
sign-off of ``Good night, Chet,'' ``Good night, David.''
  David went on to host ``This Week With David Brinkley,'' until he 
retired in 1996.
  Mr. President, at a time when we often get news that is too short, 
too sensationalized and sometimes too slanted, David Brinkley was the 
consummate newsman. He knew the issues, and his intelligence, quick wit 
and thirst for answers kept us all glued to the television.
  I had the pleasure of personally knowing David Brinkley, and in 
addition to sharing a distinctive Southern twang, we shared a fondness 
for our home state. David wrote about Wilmington in his 1995 memoirs 
and even with all this success, all his fame, David and his wife, 
Susan, returned to his home in North Carolina often and supported his 
hometown. He was an ardent supporter of downtown Wilmington 
preservation. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington presented 
him with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1974. He was added to 
Wilmington's Walk of Fame in 2001.
  As much as David loved North Carolina--North Carolina loved him, too. 
His life has been a model for so many North Carolinians--the local boy 
doing good . . . remembering his roots.
  We will forever be indebted to David Brinkley for solid Washington 
reporting and his wry sense of humor. The Senate passed a resolution, 
which I co-sponsored, honoring the life and accomplishments of David 
Brinkley. May his legacy live on and inspire those who follow in his 
footsteps.
  In an interview 11 years ago, David said this of his profession, 
``People go and find out what is happening, and then tell what they 
have seen. That's all a reporter ever did. I think it's a very 
honorable thing to do.''
  Indeed, it is, David, indeed, it is.
  Mr. President, I send out my heartfelt condolences--and those of all 
North Carolinians--to Susan and to David Brinkley's family.

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