CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE July 9, 2001
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
12674 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE July 9, 2001 over a period of more than 5 years, in- It is particularly noteworthy that THE VERY BAD DEBT BOXSCORE volving the work of several attorneys, Robert Bennett, one of the most nota- Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, at the the $94,405 figure is in no way sur- ble lawyers in this country and counsel close of business Friday, July 6, 2001, prising. More significantly, Mr. Olson to then-President Clinton, rejected the the Federal debt stood at at all times distinguished between the claim that Mr. Olson was less than can- $5,710,979,327,576.62, five trillion, seven firm’s legal fees, and the separate, did in his responses to the Senate Judi- hundred ten billion, nine hundred sev- comparatively modest amounts he re- ciary Committee. More than almost enty-nine million, three hundred twen- ceived personally for writing articles any other person, he knows that facts ty-seven thousand, five hundred sev- for the magazine. It is, again, a factual of the Clinton matters. During an enty-six dollars and sixty-two cents. mistake to suggest that he ever sought interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN on One year ago, July 6, 2000, the Fed- to confuse those two amounts. May 22, Mr. Bennett stated: ‘‘I have re- eral debt stood at $5,665,885,000,000, five Fourth, some have criticized Mr. cently read [Mr. Olson’s] responses to trillion, six hundred sixty-five billion, Olson for allegedly refusing to respond the Senate, and I have looked at a lot eight hundred eighty-five million. to an allegation about American Spec- of the material, and if I were voting, I Twenty-five years ago, July 6, 1976, tator dinner parties. I question wheth- would say that Ted Olson was more the Federal debt stood at er the Senate should even get into this than candid with the Senate.’’ Mr. Ben- $613,075,000,000, six hundred thirteen issue of who attended what dinner par- nett is independent; he had no partisan billion, seventy-five million, which re- ties, given the absence of any serious axe to grind in favor of Mr. Olson in flects a debt increase of more than $5 issue here, and the freedom of speech connection with this nomination; he, trillion, $5,097,904,327,576.62, five tril- and press values inherent in a maga- in fact, was a lead counsel for Presi- lion, ninety-seven billion, nine hundred zine’s activities. But this particular al- dent Clinton for several years; he was four million, three hundred twenty- legation was dubious and made by a not maneuvering for advantage in fu- seven thousand, five hundred seventy- source who publicly contradicted him- ture nomination battles; he is a lawyer six dollars and sixty-two cents during self on this very allegation. The allega- experienced in weighing evidence and the past 25 years. tion appeared only in the pages of the cross-examining witnesses; he looked f Washington Post. No Senator asked at the evidence; and his conclusion Mr. Olson about that particular allega- that these allegations are ill-founded is ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS tion, and we have never imposed on worthy of our respect. nominees of either party an obligation I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Ben- IN RECOGNITION OF REVEREND to track down and respond to every far- nett. I too have reviewed Mr. Olson’s fetched or baseless charge that might HURLEY J. COLEMAN SR. statements before the committee re- ∑ find its way into print. Moreover, one garding his role in the ‘‘Arkansas Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I member of the committee did make an Project,’’ and I find Mr. Olson’s state- acknowledge the life and accomplish- inquiry about Mr. Olson’s social con- ments to be clear and accurate. ments of a distinguished and principled tacts with employees of the American public servant who served as a minister Spectator and Mr. Olson fully answered The Washington Post editorial board in my home State of Michigan, Rev- that question in writing. So it is factu- also shares this view. On May 18, after erend Hurley J. Coleman Sr. Today, ally incorrect to state that he refused all of the questions regarding the ‘‘Ar- people will be gathering in Saginaw, to respond to that question. kansas Project’’ had been raised, the MI, to pay tribute to and celebrate the Fifth, Mr. Olson’s statement that his Washington Post endorsed Mr. Olson’s life of a man who for nearly five dec- legal services for the American Spec- nomination to be Solicitor General, ades, served as a leader, spiritual men- tator magazine were not for the pur- noting ‘‘Mr. Olson is one of Washing- tor and role model in his community. pose of conducting investigations of ton’s most talented and successful ap- Throughout his life, Reverend Cole- the Clintons is allegedly contradicted pellate lawyers, a man who served with man dedicated himself to serving his by the fact that Mr. Olson’s firm was distinction in the Justice Department family, his church and his God. The es- compensated for legal research to pre- during the 1980s and whose work is teem in which he was held by all who pare a chart outlining the Clintons’ widely admired across party lines.’’ Ac- knew him is due to the fact that Pastor criminal exposure, as research for a cording to the Washington Post, ‘‘Mr. Coleman’s life was a powerful testi- February 1994 article Mr. Olson co-au- Olson’s prior service at the Justice De- mony to the message he preached thored entitled, ‘‘Criminal Laws Impli- partment indicates that he under- weekly at Coleman Temple Church of cated by the Clinton Scandals: A Par- stands the difference between the roles God in Christ. tial List.’’ This charge again is contra- of private citizen and public servant.’’ Considered one of the deans of the dicted by record facts. The 1994 engage- As for Mr. Olson’s testimony regarding Saginaw clergy, Pastor Coleman’s ca- ment letter for Mr. Olson’s professional his role in the ‘‘Arkansas Project,’’ the reer had a humble beginning. Licensed services expressly provided that Mr. Washington Post concluded that as a minister in the Church of God in Olson and his firm were not engaged ‘‘there’s no evidence that his testimony Christ in 1953, Pastor Coleman’s first ‘‘to do any independent factual re- was inaccurate in any significant way,’’ congregation gathered for worship in search.’’ In fact, there is nothing in the and that ‘‘the Democrats would be his home. A short four years after the public record to suggest that Mr. wrong to block Mr. Olson.’’ [Emphasis inception of this congregation, they Olson’s work in connection with that added.] broke ground for a new church. This fa- article, or for the magazine at any The Senate thus far has not done a cility now serves over 300 members—an time, involved factual investigation of good job of reviewing President Bush’s amazing number considering that the the Clintons. Comparing the publicly- nominees, and in many cases has made Pastor’s first congregation included available applicable Federal criminal upstanding individuals the victims of only six members. code provisions, to publicly-available partisan attacks. The deeply partisan During his tenure as pastor, Hurley newspaper stories concerning allega- vote over the Solicitor Generalship was Coleman played a pivotal role in the tions regarding the Clintons, cannot be a low point. I strongly believe that struggle for racial equality and other described as an ‘‘investigation’’ of the every nominee deserves fairness in this civil rights causes. In these efforts, he Clintons. process and a full chance to get his or has been able to unite people of dif- While there were other factual inac- her position into the record and consid- ferent races and denominations around curacies in the attacks on Mr. Olson, ered. It is not right to leave the record the common goal of improving life for this list demonstrates that the con- incomplete. I hope that, by setting the all people. cerns raised regarding Mr. Olson’s can- record straight, the Senate can move I believe that nothing bears witness dor before the Judiciary Committee on and treat future nominees more to the depth and integrity of Pastor were unjustified. fairly. Coleman’s ministry and life more than VerDate Aug 31 2005 15:17 Feb 22, 2007 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR01\S09JY1.001 S09JY1 rmajette on PROD1PC67 with BOUND RECORD July 9, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 12675 his family. Pastor Coleman and his The Miss America Organization is XVIII of the Social Security Act to wife Martha were married for 51 years. one of the Nation’s leading achieve- provide for coverage under the medi- During this time they served the com- ment programs and the world’s largest care program of annual screening pap munity and were able to raise 10 chil- provider of scholarships for young smear and screening pelvic exams. dren. These children: Hurlette Dickens, women. The Miss America Organiza- S. 281 Hurley Jr., Charles, Ritchie, Ronnie, E. tion provides young women with the At the request of Mr. HAGEL, the Yvonne Lewis, Myra Williams, Elaine opportunity to grow personally and name of the Senator from Wisconsin Bonner, Evelyn Yeager and Edna Cole- professionally while instilling a spirit (Mr. KOHL) was added as a cosponsor of man, are pillars in their community of community service through a vari- S. 281, a bill to authorize the design who have followed their parent’s exam- ety of community-based programs.