[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13802-13803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING SHIMON PERES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on a codel that I led, we were going to stop 
in Israel, and I told all of the Senators with me that I wanted to take 
time while we were there to meet my favorite statesman who I had ever 
met, and that is Shimon Peres.
  As my friend the Republican leader outlined, he has a distinctive 
resume. I will always remember Eric Cantor, the Republican leader in 
the House at the time--I called him and said: Shimon Peres is going to 
be 90 years old, and it would be wonderful if we could get that Gold 
Medal done during the time he is 90. Eric delivered. It wasn't easy, 
but he delivered, and I will always remember that. It meant a great 
deal to this man who had received so many different awards, but to get 
the highest distinction we as Members of Congress can give someone is 
something he deserved. As I have indicated, he is the most 
inspirational public servant I have ever encountered. And when we met 
him in Israel, he didn't let me down. He was stunningly visionary, like 
I had always known him to be. What I have said is not hyperbole in any 
way. I repeat, he was the most visionary and inspirational leader I 
have ever known.
  Let me repeat some of the accomplishments my friend the Republican 
leader just outlined. He was the Prime Minister of Israel twice, Acting 
Prime Minister twice, President of Israel, Minister of Defense twice, 
Minister of Finance, Minister of Transportation, and he served in eight 
other Cabinet posts. That is a pretty good record.
  Shimon Peres was a brilliant man who spoke 6 languages and authored 
11 books. He was the definition of a statesman. He was a guiding light 
for peace--always for peace. He made Israel and the Middle East and the 
world a better place.
  Above all, we should all learn something from this good man. Here is 
what he said, and this is how he lived his life:

       Optimists and pessimists die the same way. They just live 
     differently. I prefer to live as an optimist.

  That really says it all. He lived his entire life as an optimist. 
From the challenges he and his family faced because of the Holocaust to 
his work for a lasting peace to secure Israel, he never wavered in his 
hope for the world. He was always looking forward. He had some 
political battles. The leaders of Israel had all been in the military 
fighting. He never served in the military, but his abilities were so 
pronounced that he was able to succeed, as I have outlined in his 
resume.
  The last time I talked to him, I called him and I said: One of my 
prize staff members, Jessica Lewis, is coming to Israel with her dad, 
and her father has never been to Israel. I have told them how I feel 
about you. Is there any way you could meet them?
  And he met them. Of course he did. He spent time with them. That is 
who

[[Page 13803]]

he was, a person whom I so admired, and he had time for Jessica and her 
dad.
  I join the people of the world in mourning the passing of this good, 
kind, and inspirational man. I send my deepest condolences to his 
family and the people of Israel. I am so happy that the delegation of 
people who are going to attend his funeral will be led by the President 
of the United States, Barack Obama.
  I will miss Shimon Peres. The world will forever miss this good 
person.

                          ____________________