[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9707-9708]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY MACLAINE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 7th, 2012, the American 
Film Institute bestowed its prestigious 40th Lifetime Achievement Award 
upon actress Shirley MacLaine. I was privileged to speak at the event 
in tribute to my dear friend. I submit my remarks for the Congressional 
Record:

       ``I met Shirley MacLaine 33 years ago, with Congresswoman 
     Bella Abzug at Elaine's Restaurant in New York City, the 
     beginning of a magical friendship. She is my daughter 
     Jackie's godmother. Seven years ago Shirley officiated at 
     Elizabeth's and my wedding.
       The Shirley MacLaine I know has an uncommon intellectual 
     curiosity, borne of a courageous approach to life. She has 
     the capacity, in an instant, to go very deep into human 
     experience, into the cosmos, into herself. Her gift to her 
     friends is her ceaseless call for authenticity, the challenge 
     to take off the mask, and compassion for those who journey 
     towards the inner truth.
       ``The poet, Walt Whitman, may have anticipated Shirley when 
     he wrote ``I contain multitudes.'' Shirley brings an 
     extraordinary

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     emotional coloration to the Art of Life and to the performing 
     arts that is so vivid that she has the ability to light up a 
     character, light up stage and screen and light up our lives.
       ``In a world where most people play it safe, Shirley pushes 
     the envelope, to pierce the veil which covers reality itself, 
     to explore and to guide us to other dimensions. She has lived 
     a life out on the limb, picking apples that most would fear 
     to reach, and tonight. Shirley, you are harvesting an 
     orchard.''

  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in celebrating 
Shirley MacLaine's extraordinary career and her attainment of the AFI's 
40th Lifetime Achievement Award.

                          ____________________