[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12307]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


              REMARKS ON THE PASSING OF WALTER SHORENSTEIN

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 2010

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Walter 
Shorenstein. When word of Walter's passing came to the Capitol, sadness 
was felt throughout this building. Not only did we lose a great 
American, but for many of us in public office, we lost a great friend. 
We shared stories of Walters's life and his legacy.
  Before I left Washington last Friday, I received messages from all 
over; from Members of Congress and from people around the country. On 
my way home to California this weekend, I went to four states, and in 
every state I heard stories about Walter. I hope it is a comfort to the 
Shorenstein family that so many people share their loss and respect 
their father.
  The outpouring of respect and affection for Walter Shorenstein brings 
to mind a passage from Ecclesiasticus, ``Now let us praise great men 
the heroes of our nation. They led the people by their counsel and 
their knowledge of the laws. From their font of wisdom, they gave 
instruction. These are godly men whose righteous deeds have not been 
forgotten. Their wealth is their descendants and their inheritance is 
their children's children. Their bodies are buried in peace and their 
names will live forever. The people will tell of their wisdom and the 
congregation will continue to sing their praise.''
  I want to praise Walter as a patriot and a patriarch. He loved 
America and served his country his entire life. In the Air Force in 
World War II, as a civic leader, and as a philanthropist, he worked to 
strengthen our Nation.
  Walter knew that our democracy depended on people having a chance to 
get ahead. In that respect he was a democrat with the small ``d.'' He 
practiced this in his professional life and advocated this as public 
policy, and in that respect he was a Democrat with a capital ``D.'' It 
was also part of his family tradition. He always smiled with pride 
talking about Hyman Shorenstein, his uncle, and the Democratic boss of 
Brooklyn for over 30 years. He even told me on a number of occasions 
that to cross Hyman, you might be ``Shorensteined.'' In other words, it 
was a verb.
  Walter understood how essential freedom of the press was to our 
democracy. With that in mind he founded the Joan Shorenstein Center for 
Press, Politics and Public Policy. He brought together great minds on 
the subject and honored Joan's understanding on the relationship 
between the press, at which she excelled, and power, which she covered.
  Walter understood power and was an advisor and friend to Democratic 
Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. He was also a 
friend and advisor to many who aspired to be president, too numerous to 
mention.
  He had a special relationship with Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Ted 
Kennedy was family. His leadership was acknowledged and praised by 
President Barack Obama.
  Much has been said about how generous Walter was financially to 
political causes. He was also a great intellectual resource and mentor. 
He was politically astute and his views were respected.
  My colleagues in Congress, such as Congressman George Miller, 
Congresswoman Ann Eshoo, Congressman John Garamendi often spoke of how 
prepared you had to be when you went to visit Walter. You always left 
with words of wisdom, and assigned reading.
  Walter wasn't always easy. He was very competitive. We always knew 
that on our visits and our phone calls, we'd be challenged. And the 
most annoying part was that Walter was always right.
  Walter was successful because he was smart and he was always ready 
for the task ahead. When we would ask him what he thought about 
bringing the Democratic Convention to San Francisco, my running for 
Congress or for leadership, Walter would say, ``Just do it.'' Walter 
coined that phrase well before Nike did. And when Walter said ``just do 
it,'' he would also say, ``I will help make it happen.'' You knew you 
would succeed with Walter at your side.
  Walter was a patriarch to the community, but what mattered most to 
him was to be a devoted father to his family. Today as we pay tribute 
to Walter, we must also remember Phyllis and her quiet, dignified, and 
strong demeanor. If anyone wanted to see the powerful Walter 
Shorenstein melt, they just needed to see him around Phyllis.
  Everyone knows how much he loved his children: Joan, Carole, and 
Doug, and he glowed with pride in their success. They honored their 
parent's traditions, which included making their own extraordinary mark 
on the world. And he loved his grandchildren Sarah, Wally, Grace, 
Brandon, Sandra and Danielle. What a great legacy you all are to 
Phyllis and Walter.
  Walter Shorenstein died as he had lived: surrounded by his family and 
loved ones, in charge of his own situation, and ready. Now that he has 
passed, we take comfort that his spirit is with Joan and Phyllis.
  Patriot, patriarch, especially family man and friend, today Walter 
Shorenstein is mourned and praised across the country. But he is 
especially mourned in the community of San Francisco, where we knew him 
the best and loved him the most. He had a wonderful life. May he rest 
in peace.

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