[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. HARKIN. I wish to take a moment to introduce and thank our guest 
Chaplain today.
  Dr. Calvin French is the pastor emeritus for the Community of Christ 
Church in Washington, DC, where he served that congregation for 30 
years before retiring. He has served as a pastor for 60 years of his 
life, considerably more than, I would note, my 40 years in Congress.
  Calvin French, Dr. French, is a native of Iowa. He holds degrees from 
the University of Iowa, Graceland College, and Drake University in 
addition to his graduate studies at Harvard and Princeton.
  For the past 25 years he has represented the parent church of his 
denomination in governmental affairs, providing liaison service to the 
various agencies of the government as well as to Congress.
  I personally have known Dr. French for going on almost 50 years now. 
When we first met in Iowa, his now deceased wife LaVon was a great 
friend of my wife's. They were lawyers together in Iowa. We were close 
family friends, and this brings back so many fond memories of our times 
together in Iowa and later on.
  I would note that Dr. French's granddaughter Dr. Kelsey French is 
here in the gallery today with her husband Vince Bzdek, the news editor 
for the Washington Post. Their two children are also here today Zola 
and Xavier who is celebrating his birthday today. Xavey is 13 years old 
today, so he was able to be here to see his grandfather give the 
opening prayer of the Senate.
  I also note that in 1975, when I first came to the House of 
Representatives, I invited Dr. French to give the opening prayer in the 
House. So now, almost 40 years later, I am privileged to have had him 
here to give the closing prayer before I retire from the Senate.
  Dr. French, I would say, is someone I have admired for his commitment 
not only to his church but the broader commitment he has had to 
humanity, to all that he has done to infuse--and all around him--a 
spirit of kindness, generosity, and a spirit of understanding that 
while we may be different in so many ways, we are all the same in our 
humanity. He is one of the most wonderful human beings I have had the 
privilege of knowing and being with in my lifetime.
  I say to my good friend, Dr. Calvin French, thank you. Thank you for 
all your pastoral work. Thank you for your leadership and your guidance 
through the past 50 years of my life.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.

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