[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17455-17456]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            ``FOUR TRIALS''

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as we approach the end of this Congress, we 
will reach a point when a number of us will make statements reflecting 
on those who will not be returning to the Senate next year. I will miss 
a number of Senators who have chosen not to seek reelection. Today, I 
want to focus on a Senator who is responding to the country's call by 
joining with another extraordinary American leader, John Kerry, in this 
year's national campaign. I speak, of course, of John Edwards, whose 
energy, optimism and good sense have been a great asset to the Senate 
over the last 6 years.
  I read that political partisans at corporate business and insurance 
organizations have established a ``November Fund'' of $10 million to 
seek to smear John Edwards. I hope that before the American people or 
the media fall prey to these attacks, they consider the facts. In that 
regard, I urge Americans to read ``Four Trials''. This extraordinary 
book is an autobiographical account of John Edwards's life and some of 
the cases in which he represented ordinary citizens who had suffered 
grievous wrongs. John is rightly proud of his hard work as the lawyer 
representing E.G. Sawyer, Jennifer Campbell, Josh Howard, Valerie Lakey 
and so many other middle class and working class families against 
powerful interests that both harmed them and then refused to 
acknowledge responsibility for causing that harm.
  I wish that those preparing to launch attacks against John Edwards 
and other trial lawyers would read ``Four Trials.'' It has recently 
been released in paperback, so now for only $13 they may save 
themselves millions in negative attack ads. No one who knows the story 
of John Edwards's legal career can have anything other than admiration 
for what he was able to achieve through hard work, persistence and 
belief in the American people who serve on our Nation's juries. That 
faith in ordinary Americans and commitment to justice is what he is now 
bringing to American voters across the Nation.
  My plea may be futile when addressed to the rabid partisans who, 
again this year, will apparently stop at nothing. Those who will foster 
and promote attacks on John Kerry's military service and on John 
Edwards's representation of injured, ordinary citizens in need of a 
voice have likewise savagely attacked John McCain during the Republican 
primaries 4 years ago and Max Cleland 2 years ago.
  They promote attacks to divide us. They lessen America by fostering 
squabbles for partisan gain. I was pleased to see John Kerry and John 
Edwards issue a call at the Democratic nominating convention in August 
for the Republican ticket and its supporters to abandon negative 
attacks. I am disappointed that Republican partisans have not risen to 
that challenge but continue to engage in what is rightfully termed a 
``smear and fear'' campaign. George Bush could have and should have 
called a halt to the scurrilous attacks upon John Kerry's heroic 
military service but seems more than willing to see Karl Rove's well-
known smear tactics dominate this fall's campaign.
  The upcoming wave of attacks against John Edwards will be one 
financed by those who oppose lowering drug prices for seniors, oppose a 
real patients' bill of rights and oppose accountability for misconduct 
that shatters the lives of ordinary Americans. Let them tell David and 
Sandy Lakey that John Edwards, and lawyers like him who fight for 
victims, should not be allowed to seek justice in America.

[[Page 17456]]

  I urge fair-minded Republicans and independents as well as Democrats 
to consider John Edwards's life and work and to read ``Four Trials.'' 
It will make you cry. It will remind you that good-hearted people like 
John and Elizabeth Edwards do the right thing and seek to help their 
neighbors. It will make you proud to live in a country where ordinary 
Americans can take on the powerful with the help of a committed legal 
advocate and achieve some measure of justice.
  I look forward to the days and weeks ahead when more and more of the 
country will have the opportunity to get to know John Edwards. I have 
every confidence that come the inauguration in January, John will 
return as President of the Senate as a part of his duties as Vice 
President of the United States. It has been a pleasure and a privilege 
to serve with him, and I look forward to working with him on behalf of 
the American people in the years to come.

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