[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13796]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING SENATOR CHARLES PERCY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, this weekend Senator Charles Percy of 
Illinois, the progressive Republican and father-in-law of Senator Jay 
Rockefeller, died at age 91. He had been failing for some time, and I 
maintained contact with Senator Rockefeller about his wife's father. I 
didn't know Senator Percy--only by reputation. But I do know he was an 
independent thinker and a moderate who always put his country before 
party. The Senate could use more of his brand of pragmatism today.
  Senator Percy was a proponent of tough environmental regulations and 
consumer protections and was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam war 
and a proponent of nuclear nonproliferation. He was also a Navy veteran 
and businessman who was often mentioned as a Presidential contender.
  This body, the Senate, honors him for his faithful service to his 
country as a sailor and as a Member of Congress. My thoughts are with 
his family, including Senator Rockefeller and his lovely wife Sharon.

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