[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF MONROE SWEETLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the 
life of Monroe Sweetland, along with my colleagues Tom Lantos, Anna 
Eshoo, and many other of Monroe's California friends.
  The most important Oregonian most people have never heard of passed 
away earlier this month. Even though I knew Monroe would soon be 
leaving us, and even had quite a lucid farewell conversation with him 
shortly before, it's still hard to believe that he is gone.
  Here's a man whose lifespan of active political life stretched from 
the Hoover administration to George Bush the second. Monroe engaged in 
every single important political debate of our times from economics to 
foreign-policy to civil rights: He was in Indonesia, during the year of 
living dangerously; was one of the most powerful men in Oregon during 
the Truman administration as a Democratic national committeeman for a 
Democratic administration when every elected leader was Republican; 
and, he had tremendous influence on appointments and policy decisions 
from judicial appointments and personnel decisions to policy direction. 
He was a journalist, an educator, and a politician but most of all a 
passionate advocate for making the world a better place.
  From the time I first met Monroe Sweetland as a college student 
directing Oregon's campaign to lower the voting age, he was a steady 
presence in my political life and development. He always provided me 
good, sound advice, gentle but firm encouragement and tremendous 
support.
  He knew everyone who had made a difference in his party for three 
quarters of a century. Monroe earned the respect and affection of 
principled opponents, including Senator Mark Hatfield who defeated 
Monroe when they ran against each other for Oregon Secretary of State 
in 1956. It was great to hear and feel the respect these two Oregon 
giants had for one another, and one hopes that someday that can come 
back into fashion.
  As recently as 1998, Monroe ran for the State Senate mounting a close 
campaign against Verne Duncan, a longtime incumbent. To the end, Monroe 
conducted his campaign, as his entire career, with civility and 
affection, being able to point out differences with precision and 
civility that made people feel good about politics.
  Most of all, Monroe was tireless and effective. He was gentle and 
kind but resolute in what he believed in. He was a fierce partisan 
fighting for his party, his candidates, and his country but never 
approaching, let alone crossing the line in the 37 years that I knew 
him. He was unstinting in his beliefs but never cruel or unkind in his 
judgments.
  The sadness on his passing is tempered by the knowledge of his rich 
and full life and that thousands of Oregonians and people around the 
country are the better for his friendship and his life's work.

                          ____________________