[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3402-3403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   ON THE PASSING OF LEO T. McCARTHY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this week the State of California and indeed 
the Nation has lost a great leader. Leo McCarthy was a statesman, he 
was a great champion for justice, and he was a dear friend and 
purposeful mentor to me. As speaker of the California State House and 
Lieutenant Governor, Leo McCarthy promoted a values-based agenda to 
educate our children, grow our economy and protect our environment.
  After he left office as the head of the Leo T. McCarthy Center for 
Public Service and the Common Good at the University of San Francisco, 
Mr. McCarthy taught children and students about promoting justice 
according to the highest ethical standard. He was brilliant, he was 
principled and committed to the future.
  I am proud to have called Leo a friend for more than 30 years. He 
encouraged me not only to support candidates and be involved in the 
political process, but he was the main force in encouraging me to run 
for office in the first place in my own right.

[[Page 3403]]

  Again, he was my friend and mentor, but he was that to so many people 
in California. Many who serve in this Congress today were mentored by 
Leo McCarthy, going back many years.
  As recently as Saturday night when I spoke to Leo, he was optimistic 
about the future. He said, ``My morale is high. I am surrounded by my 
children and my grandchildren,'' and of course his wife, whom he 
adored, Jackie. ``They are with me, and I am not getting better as 
quickly as I would like, but I am happy.''
  My husband, Paul, and I and indeed our entire family, extend our 
deepest sympathy and condolences to many who loved Leo, especially his 
wife, Jackie, who he adored, and his children, Sharon, Conna, Adam and 
Niall.
  I also want to recognize our former mayor of San Francisco, Art 
Agnos, who was a dear friend of Leo and a great comfort to him in his 
last months. I know Congresswoman Eshoo and I were regular visitors to 
Leo McCarthy's bed side, and he followed the proceedings of Congress 
with great interest right up until the last day.
  I hope it is a comfort to his family, as I said, whom he adored, that 
so many people are praying for them at this sad time and that are 
mourning his loss.
  I just wanted to make our colleagues aware of the loss of Leo 
McCarthy, a great person, a great friend, a great American. He served 
our country in the military, he served our country in the legislature. 
He served our country by teaching our young people. He will be sorely 
missed.

                          ____________________