June 13, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 10603 Mr. Speaker, please join me in voting in family man and a visionary conserva- His decisive leadership in pressing the favor of House Concurrent Resolution 266, ex- tionist, a man who distinguished him- attack saved American lives and pressing the sense of Congress regarding the self in peace and in war and who would brought the battle to a successful con- benefits of music education. at the age of 43 become the first great clusion. Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, growing up along American voice of the 20th century and The extraordinary nature of Colonel the United States/Mexico border, music has our 26th President, Theodore ‘‘Teddy’’ Roosevelt’s bravery was confirmed by always had a profound influence on my life. Roosevelt. two Medal of Honor awardees who rec- Music, like art, dance, and drama are windows My esteemed colleague the gen- ommended him for the Medal of Honor through which we view culture. Music is a lan- tleman from New York (Mr. LAZIO) ini- on that day: Major General William guage that is understood by diverse people tially brought this case to my atten- Shafter and Colonel Leonard Wood, across the world and ties us together in our tion in 1997. As chairman of the House original commander of the Rough Rid- common humanity. With much of the strife and Committee on Armed Services’ Sub- ers and later military governor of civil unrest that takes place in our world, committee on Military Personnel, I Cuba. Both men were eminently quali- music is one of those gifts that helps bridge worked with the gentleman from New fied to judge whether Roosevelt’s ac- cultural, social, and political gaps between York and former Pennsylvania Rep- tions qualified him for the award. The people. resentative Paul McHale, the Roosevelt Army thought so much of these two In our schools, I truly believe that music family, representatives of the Theodore men that they named forts after them. education enhances intellectual development Roosevelt Association, authors and his- Yet despite the preponderance of evi- and enriches the academic environment for torians to correct a historical over- dence and the endorsement by these children of all ages. I think that an investment sight. Our crusade has been to see that two Medal of Honor awardees, the War in music education is an investment in the then Colonel Teddy Roosevelt be Department never acted upon their rec- health and well-being of our society. Music awarded the Medal of Honor post- ommendation. I believe there is cred- education gives our children the opportunity to humously for conspicuous gallantry at ible evidence that politics, not an hon- explore and experience something that has the Battle of San Juan Heights during est assessment of Colonel Roosevelt’s deep meaning and significance to all of us. the Spanish American War. valor, was the prime reason the rec- This is critically important and should not be On July 1st of 1898, Colonel Roosevelt ommendation for the Medal of Honor taken lightly. led the First United States Volunteer was never approved. The McKinley ad- The notes and scales in the musical scores Cavalry Regiment, the Rough Riders, ministration’s fear of a yellow fever are the threads that help us build and maintain into action alongside Army regulars at epidemic prompted them to delay the the tapestry of culture. We all gain value San Juan Heights outside Santiago, troop’s return from the war, a decision through music, and we, as the 106th Con- Cuba. During the battle, the Rough that Roosevelt publicly criticized. gress, should support music education as an Riders encountered a regular Army Seeking to quickly defuse the issue, integral part of our educational curriculum. I unit that was reluctant to press the at- the McKinley administration reversed urge my colleagues to support House Concur- tack. Roosevelt boomed, ‘‘Step aside course and brought the troops home. rent Resolution 266, expressing the sense of and let my men through,’’ then pro- The then Secretary of War, Russell the Congress regarding the benefits of music ceeded to lead his men through a hail Alger, resented the public embarrass- education. of enemy gunfire during the assault up ment that he received as a result of the Mr. MCINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield Kettle Hill, one of two hills comprising criticism from the hero of San Juan back the balance of my time. San Juan Heights. His leadership was Heights, Teddy Roosevelt. Lacking The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr so compelling that many of the regular records to substantiate why the deco- TERRY). The question is on the motion Army officers and men fell in line with ration was disapproved at the time, I offered by the gentleman from Indiana the Rough Riders. believe that Secretary Alger had the (Mr. MCINTOSH) that the House suspend Mr. Speaker, Colonel Roosevelt’s he- opportunity and motivation to deny the rules and agree to the concurrent roic performance on that day is well Teddy Roosevelt the Medal of Honor by resolution, H. Con. Res. 266. documented, but I believe it is enlight- simply just not acting on it. The question was taken; and (two- ening to review some of the historical Mr. Speaker, the Medal of Honor is thirds having voted in favor thereof) details: this Nation’s highest military award the rules were suspended and the con- Number one. Roosevelt’s actions for bravery in combat. Since 1863, more current resolution was agreed to. demonstrated an utter disregard for his than 3,400 extraordinary Americans A motion to reconsider was laid on own safety and were consistent with have been awarded the Medal of Honor the table. the actions of those that were awarded by the President in the name of the the Medal of Honor during the Spanish Congress. President Theodore Roo- f American war. Of the 22 officers and sevelt’s name would be an honorable b 2330 soldiers who were awarded the Medal of and noteworthy addition to this most Honor that day, 21 received it because hallowed of lists. His raw courage and SPECIAL ORDERS they gave up cover and exposed them- the fearless, bold decisiveness that he The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. selves to enemy fire. Once the order to demonstrated while leading his Rough TERRY). Under the Speaker’s an- attack was received, Colonel Roosevelt Riders up Kettle Hill on horseback al- nounced policy of January 6, 1999, and mounted his horse and rode up and tered the course of the battle, saved under a previous order of the House, down the ranks in full view of enemy American lives and epitomized the self- the following Members will be recog- gunners. During the final assault on less service of all Medal of Honor nized for 5 minutes each. Kettle Hill, he remained on horseback, awardees. f exposing him to the withering fire of On February 22, Secretary of Defense the enemy. If voluntary exposure to William Cohen forwarded a memo- RECOGNIZING AWARD OF MEDAL enemy fire was the criteria for award randum to President Clinton recom- OF HONOR TO PRESIDENT THEO- of the Medal, then Colonel Roosevelt mending that Theodore Roosevelt be DORE ROOSEVELT clearly exceeds the standard. posthumously awarded the Medal of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a By driving his Rough Riders through Honor. I join the gentleman from New previous order of the House, the gen- the ranks of a stalled regular Army York (Mr. LAZIO) and former Rep- tleman from Indiana (Mr. BUYER) is unit to pursue the attack on Kettle resentative Paul McHale in com- recognized for 5 minutes. Hill, Colonel Roosevelt changed the mending the Department of Defense for Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise course of the battle. This is what a following the lead of Congress by today to bring attention to a great decoration for heroism is all about, the choosing to acknowledge President man, a man of immense stature to the raw courage to make decisions and put Roosevelt’s heroic leadership and cour- history of this Nation, a strong, moral your life in jeopardy to win the battle. age under fire during the Spanish

VerDate jul 14 2003 08:05 Oct 22, 2004 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H13JN0.003 H13JN0 10604 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE June 13, 2000 American War. He will join 109 other the Congressional Medal of Honor 102 And I would say to the gentleman soldiers, sailors and Marines who were years after he earned it. I think it from Indiana (Mr. BUYER), who has awarded the Medal of Honor for their comes down to simple justice. The fact served our Nation in uniform and I actions during that conflict. is that Theodore Roosevelt is one of have great respect and admiration for However, it troubles me that for our greatest Americans. His face ap- him because of that, there is no greater some inexplicable reason that Presi- pears on Mount Rushmore. He has been service than I think an American can dent Clinton has delayed acting upon known as one of America’s greatest render to put his life on the line and Secretary Cohen’s recommendation. I Presidents. Before that, he was a Gov- cause freedom in America’s interests. urge President Clinton to announce the ernor of the State of New York. He was This is what Colonel Roosevelt did as award now. a great conservationist and a reformer. a volunteer. He displayed extraor- f b 2340 dinary courage, and that was docu- mented at the time by his superiors AWARDING MEDAL OF HONOR TO He was the architect of the modern and his contemporaries. So this is not PRESIDENT THEODORE ROO- Navy, and in many ways help shape something where Congress is reaching SEVELT American foreign policy as we entered back and recreating history. We have a the global age. But it is for none of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a strong historical record. There was a those reasons that Theodore Roosevelt previous order of the House, the gen- voluminous brief that was submitted deserves the Congressional Medal of tleman from New York (Mr. LAZIO) is by me 3 years ago with the assistance Honor. It is for the facts that the gen- recognized for 5 minutes. of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. tleman from Indiana (Mr. BUYER) has Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to BUYER). The fact is that there is plenty laid out. the gentleman from Indiana. of evidence, plenty of evidence that Mr. BUYER. Moreover, it is my sin- On that day, on July 1 of 1898, when a volunteer Lieutenant Colonel Theo- suggests that Roosevelt was denied for cerest hope that the award ceremony political reason. will be conducted here in Washington dore Roosevelt led his men up a hill, a strategic hill to secure that high Now is a time to correct that record as befits a celebration that honors a to see that justice is done and for truly larger than life American. Last- ground which saved many American lives that day, and contrary to public President Clinton to give him his due, ly, I spoke with Tweed Roosevelt belief, a popular belief the Rough Rid- the Congressional Medal of Honor. We today, a direct descendant of Teddy ers, who Lieutenant Colonel led, went call upon the President to do that. Roosevelt, and I endorse the Roosevelt forward that day without their horses Mr. Speaker, I would like to include family’s desire that President Roo- as dismounted infantry and they faced in the RECORD a part of that brief, if I sevelt’s Medal of Honor permanently an enemy much better positioned than can, which documents the historical reside next to his Nobel Peace Prize in the Spaniards in securing the high record. the Roosevelt Room of the White ground. They faced an enemy with mu- Congressman Rick Lazio submitted the fol- House. That is the working room of the nitions and with arms far superior to lowing argument for the Award of the Con- West Wing just off the Oval Office. I gressional Medal of Honor for President that which they had, including ma- Theodore Roosevelt on September 9, 1997 can think of no better tribute to the chine guns, which were only a few THEODORE ROOSEVELT DESERVES THE MEDAL greatness of President Roosevelt than years later in World War I create such OF HONOR to bring together in one room the acco- mass destruction; but even at that INTRODUCTION lades that he received as both a warrior point in 1898, these guns were trained and as a peacemaker. What finer exam- down on them. The 100th Anniversary of the Spanish- ple could we offer the leader of our Na- Alongside Roosevelt and his Rough American War has raised public interest in this important segment of American His- tion, what better inspiration for our fu- Riders advanced the 9th and 10th col- ture Presidents to strive for excellence tory. The Spanish American War is for many ored Cavalry Regiments, the famed a line of demarcation signifying America’s in their quest of the greater under- Buffalo Soldiers of the Indian Wars. emergence as a world power. Inextricably en- standing. And I will say to the gentleman from twined in this coming of age on the world Mr. Speaker, I would like to com- Indiana (Mr. BUYER), to all of those in stage is the history and efforts of President mend Congress for its work to secure the Chamber, the Spanish bullets re- Theodore Roosevelt. the Medal of Honor for Teddy Roo- spected neither race nor social rank. In Roosevelt, as the leader of the First Volun- sevelt. We have attempted to right a the end the blood was American. teer Cavalry Regiment known more com- historical wrong and we have come to Up the steep hill, the Rough Riders monly as the Rough Riders, played a signifi- learn more about why Theodore Roo- cant and heroic role in the victory in Cuba. climbed facing a withering fire from This victory catapulted both Roosevelt and sevelt was one of our greatest histor- the trenches blow up the steep hill, the United States onto the world stage and ical figures. He displayed the qualities climbed with men from the rear ranks the eventual position of leadership we enjoy of a great leader: courage, cunning, in- taken the place of the fallen, up that today. tellect, boldness and charisma all steep hill they climbed led by their be- The focus here is not on Theodore Roo- founded on deep moral purpose. His spectacled, mustached leader, Colonel sevelt, leader of the Rough Riders and his courage and the enthusiasm that his Roosevelt. gallant charges to secure the San Juan courage generated motivated his In the finest military tradition, Heights. Theodore Roosevelt was unjustly Rough Riders on the battlefield at San Teddy Roosevelt led the way. Rather overlooked for the Congressional Medal of Honor. His application, when taken in the Juan Heights and inspired a generation than pushing his men forward from be- context for awarding America’s highest mili- of Americans as they emerged from the hind, he pulled them forward from in tary honor at that time, warranted more se- chaos of the late 19th century. front. By his own conspicuous courage, rious consideration than it was given. Many Mr. Clinton, we urge you to avoid Roosevelt inspired his men to conquer attribute this oversight to political squab- further delay and expeditiously award their fear, to climb those heights bles of the times as well as prejudice in favor the Medal of Honor to Colonel Theo- against a hail of enemy lead. of the regular army regiments. The Centen- dore Roosevelt. In placing themselves in dire danger, nial of this historic effort is an appropriate Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Roosevelt animated his men to move time to correct this injustice. gentleman from Indiana, and I want to towards the trenches that belched the NARRATIVE begin by acknowledging his terrific venomous fire. By his leadership, by Thedore Roosevelt’s service in the Spanish work in terms of bringing this issue to dint of his personal example, Roosevelt American War began with an offer of a com- the forefront of this Congress and all of propelled his troops to capture the mission from Secretary of War Russell Alger as Lieutenant Colonel in a regiment com- his partnership with me in these last 3 Spanish defenses. Of the 490 men who manded by Colonel Leonard Wood in April of years as we have been fighting for this started to climb that hill that day, 89 1898 after the United States declared war on sense of justice. People say why do we were killed or wounded. One of those Spain retroactive to April 21, 1898. The Regi- care about giving Theodore Roosevelt wounded was Colonel Roosevelt. ment was designated the 1st United States

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