[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12323-12324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR J. JAMES EXON

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 170, which was submitted 
early today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 170) relative to the death of J. 
     James Exon, former United States Senator for the State of 
     Nebraska.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, on Friday, Nebraska lost one of the most 
dominant political figures in our State's history. Former two-term 
Governor and three-term U.S. Senator Jim Exon passed away in Lincoln at 
the age of 83.
  Many in this Chamber today served with him and knew him well. Those 
who served with Jim Exon remember a serious and dedicated public 
servant who enjoyed life and loved his State.
  Jim's voice was strong, and he spoke clearly and directly. No one 
ever had to guess where Jim Exon stood. As a Governor and a Senator, he 
fought for balanced budgets and restrained Government spending.

[[Page 12324]]

  In the Senate, from his seat on the Armed Services Committee, he was 
a passionate advocate for a strong national defense. As a member of the 
Commerce Committee, he was a protector of our natural resources, and he 
had the foresight to author the Communications Decency Act.
  Mr. President, today, when politics is too often a race to the lowest 
political common denominator, Jim Exon was a very effective leader, a 
partisan leader who always played it straight. He never lost an 
election. He won five statewide elections in Nebraska, more than any 
other Nebraskan. Under Jim Exon's leadership, the Democratic Party 
became the dominant party in Nebraska for 25 years.
  Anyone who knows Nebraska understands what a remarkable 
accomplishment that was. He did it by listening to the people. He did 
it by being a leader.
  I was Jim Exon's replacement in the Senate in 1996. Over the last 9 
years, I came to know him well and respect his judgment. We did not 
always agree, but I always appreciated the opportunities I had to visit 
with Senator Exon on a wide range of issues. A child of the plains and 
a veteran of World War II, he is part of a generation of Americans who 
understood leadership, sacrifice, and war. In his later years, Jim Exon 
had much to say. And I had an opportunity to listen.
  The voice and wisdom of Jim Exon and his generation is slipping away 
from us at a time of unparalleled change in our world. Just as with Jim 
Exon, while this great generation is still with us, we need to listen 
closely to them. I did listen to Jim Exon.
  As a small businessman, two-term Governor and three-term Senator, 
James Exon, along with his wife Pat, served his State, his Nation, and 
this institution with distinction. He will be missed by the Nebraskans 
he served so well and loved so much.
  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 170) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 170

       Whereas J. James Exon served in the United States Army 
     Signal Corps from 1942-1945 and in the United States Army 
     Reserve from 1945-1949;
       Whereas J. James Exon served as Governor of the State of 
     Nebraska from 1971-1979;
       Whereas J. James Exon served the people of Nebraska with 
     distinction for 18 years in the United States Senate where he 
     was a proponent of a strong national defense and 
     knowledgeable source on geopolitical matters;
       Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
     and deep regret the announcement of the death of the 
     Honorable J. James Exon, former member of the United States 
     Senate.
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
     these resolutions to the House of Representatives and 
     transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the 
     Honorable J. James Exon.

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