[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5936]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            JACKIE ROBINSON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color 
barrier on this day in 1947. He immediately made his mark on the field 
and off the field, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1947 and 
suffering painful indignities from fans and opposing players with both 
patience and grace.
  As a young man growing up in Louisville, I always took pride in the 
fact that Pee Wee Reese, a graduate of my high school, had become a 
Major Leaguer and even the captain of his team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. 
But I was even more proud of the fact that Pee Wee walked over to 
Jackie one day when the taunts were especially tough, put his arm on 
Jackie's back, and sent a message to the fans that Jackie Robinson was 
no different than anyone else they came to root for that day.
  Reflecting on Jackie's courage, a baseball commentator said this week 
that it is remarkable to note that in all the photographs from those 
years, Jackie always seemed to be smiling, despite the jeers and taunts 
and the hatred.
  We honor Jackie Robinson today for his courage and his example and 
for accelerating the march toward equality for all Americans.

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