May 9, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4289 D’Amato (R–N.Y.) said, ‘‘He was tough, but pected. ‘‘He represented the very best that and is to educate children on the dan- fair.’’ there is in this business,’’ said Newsday Edi- gers of fire by asking parents to con- Since a young man, James Murray tor Tony Marro. ‘‘It was our great good for- trol their children’s access to matches Kempton prepared himself to move easily tune to have him as a colleague and mentor, among the American throng—as attentive to and we’ll miss him terribly.’’ and cigarette lights, and asking all the struggles of the ordinary citizen as the Kempton is survived by three sons, Arthur, adults to set a good example for our maneuverings of the rich and powerful. of Massachusetts; David, of Fallsburg, N.Y. Nation’s youth. He was born in Baltimore on Dec. 16, 1917, and Christopher, of New York; and a daugh- Arson affects all Americans. It ac- and, as a young man, became a devoted read- ter, Durgananda, also of Fallsburg. His first counts for more than 700,000 deaths na- er of the Baltimore Evening Sun—and par- wife, Mina, lives in Princeton, M.J. His sec- tionwide and causes more than $2 bil- ticularly of the Sun’s iconoclastic essayist ond wife, Beverly, died last year. A son, Mur- lion worth of property damage. The H.L. Mencken. Drawn to newspaper work, ray Jr., died in an auto accident in 1971. cost to the community as a whole is Kempton found a job at the Sun, attending Kempton also leaves a companion, Barbara his first national convention as a copy boy Epstein. great when we consider that the tax- for Mencken, his hero. A funeral is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. payer must foot the expenses for the After graduation from Johns Hopkins Uni- Ignatius Episcopal Church, 552 West End Av- fire, police, and medical personnel who versity, Kempton followed his leftist politi- enue, New York. are needed when a fire occurs, and not cal instincts. He worked as a labor organizer, to mention the losses to a community wrote for the Young People’s Socialist [From the New York Post, Tuesday, May 6, when a church, business, or home is de- League and the American Labor Party. Even 1997] stroyed. That is why it is imperative in later years as a reporter, Kempton played MURRAY KEMPTON (1917–1997) off his lefty background by greeting col- that we work together to prevent arson Murray Kempton, who died yesterday at 79, from destroying another community, leagues as ‘‘fellow workers.’’ was one of the mainstays of New York jour- In 1942, Kempton joined the New York Post and most important, another life. nalism. For more than half a century—most as a reporter but with World War II inten- Today I commend FEMA and commu- of that time here at The Post—he brought to sifying, soon enlisted in the Air Force. his craft a unique perspective that made him nities across the country for their During a three year hitch, Kempton served laudable efforts in raising awareness in New Guinea and the Philippines. He once a legend. Though his famously wordy style could be about the tragic consequences of arson noted that he was assigned to a unit called dizzying, Kempton had a reputation as a the Cyclone Division. ‘‘They call it the Cy- and its devastating effect on our com- master phrasemaker. A congressman once clone Division because all its tents got blown munities.∑ said that ‘‘Sometimes I can’t understand down on maneuvers,’’ said Kempton. ‘‘That’s f what he’s saying, but the end effect is enor- how it is with my team every time.’’ ORDERS FOR MONDAY, MAY 12, After the war, Kempton returned to New mous.’’ Kemption never thought of himself as an York and began his writing career in ear- 1997 oracle, but rather as an observer. He was at- nest. He worked again for the Post and then Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, on be- tracted to society’s rogues and underdogs a succession of other publications—New Re- and made an art form out of covering crimi- half of the leader, I ask unanimous public magazine, New York World Telegram, nal trials. consent that when the Senate com- New York Review of Books. He taught jour- He described himself as a Normal Thomas pletes its business today it stand in ad- nalism at Hunter College and ‘‘political jour- Socialist—but he avoided political journment until the hour of 10 a.m. on nalism’’ at the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers orthodoxies of any stripe and believed jour- University. Monday, May 12. I further ask unani- nalists should not wear labels. mous consent that on Monday, imme- While covering the civil rights movement ‘‘The trouble with thinking of yourself as a for the Post in 1961, Kempton showed his liberal or a conservative,’’ Kempton once diately following the prayer, the rou- wily instincts. Freedom Riders were travel- wrote, ‘‘is the danger that you might unwit- tine requests through the morning ing by bus through the South to illustrate tingly die to preserve an unconscious image. hour be granted and that there then be how blacks were denied access to public ac- It’s not the reporter’s responsibility to lie a period of morning business until 11 commodations. There had been violence for a political party, no matter what it is.’’ a.m., with Senators to speak for up to along the way, and likely, there would be Such attitudes might explain the esteem in more. In Montgomery, Ala., journalists were 5 minutes each with the following ex- which Kempton was held by ideological ceptions: Senator SNOWE for up to 10 told a busload of Freedom Riders were head- friends and foes alike. When Kempton won a minutes, Senator DORGAN for up to 30 ing out at 7 a.m. Other reporters piled into Pulitzer Prize in 1985, George Will pro- cars to follow the bus. Kempton went them claimed him ‘‘the class of our class.’’ Wil- minutes, and Senator BUMPERS for up one better—he bought himself a ticket that liam F. Buckley, Jr., even while chiding his to 20 minutes. allowed him on the bus. good friend’s political naivete added: ‘‘As a The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ‘‘He wrote a helluva story,’’ said Michael columnist, Murray Kempton is the noblest of objection, it is so ordered. Dorman, who covered the Freedom Rides. ‘‘It us all.’’ f was a master stroke to buy that ticket—and just the sort of thing Murray would do.’’ [FROM THE DAILY NEWS, MAY 6, 1997] PROGRAM At Newsday, Kempton’s reputation pre- Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, further, ceded him but the new man—a star by any ONE OF A KIND measure—proved affable and without the The death of columnist Murray Kempton on behalf of the majority leader, for aura of celebrity. will provide over the coming days an out- the information of all Senators, Mon- Working out of the now defunct New York pouring of praise and affection from the jour- day the Senate will, hopefully, begin Newsday, Kempton looked like an aging Ivy nalistic community. And not a few anecdotes consideration of the CFE treaty. How- Leaguer—shirt and tie, natty suit well- aiming to capture Kempton’s huge talent ever, no rollcall votes will occur during pressed—but had a gift for gab and generous and equal heart. Monday’s session of the Senate. Any What is remarkable is that all the best eu- nature that neatly undercut his formal bear- votes ordered with respect to the trea- ing. He loved jazz and the blues and, as if logies will have the distinct advantage of that weren’t enough to cement his man-of- being true. Kempton was a giant, a man ty will be stacked to occur at a later the-people reputation, Kempton traveled to whose contributions to his craft, his city and date. As always, all Senators will be the office by bicycle. Murray Kempton his country were unique to his generation. notified when any votes are ordered. couldn’t drive. To say he will be missed doesn’t begin to It is the hope of the majority leader On his 75th birthday, Kempton got a plant capture the void he leaves.∑ that the Senate could also consider the from a fan—the wife of alleged mobster Car- f IDEA bill, possibly under a time agree- mine Persico, about whom Kempton had ment. Again, any votes ordered with written. Kempton said he had no talent for NATIONAL ARSON AWARENESS horticulture and gave the plant, an amaryl- WEEK respect to that bill will also be post- lis, to staff member Anthony Destefano. The Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, poned to occur at a later date. ∑ I thank my colleagues for their co- amaryllis thrived, but never flowered until today I rise to recognize the end of a this spring, Destefano said, when it bloomed operation on both of these matters. significant week in our Nation. May 4 f red, and bright. through May 10 was National Arson By then, Kempton was seriously ill and his ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M., own brilliant season almost through. But Awareness Week around the country. even feeling poorly, Kempton kept his edge. This year’s theme was ‘‘Target Arson.’’ MONDAY, MAY 12, 1997 Spencer Rumsey, a Newsday editor who The Federal Emergency Management Mr. DEWINE. Mr. President, if there checked Kempton’s columns, said that Agency [FEMA], along with local law is no further business to come before Kempton told him he likely got sick because enforcement officers, firefighters, and the Senate, I now ask the Senate stand New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani kicked teachers chose a tremendously impor- in adjournment under the previous the Mafia out of the Fulton Fish Market. ‘‘When the mob was in charge, you could al- tant and vulnerable group close to my order. ways count on safe fish,’’ Kempton said. heart for special emphasis in their cru- There being no objection, the Senate, It was Kempton as Kempton would want to sade to promote safety and crime pre- at 1:52 p.m., adjourned until Monday, be remembered—sassy, sardonic and unex- vention—children. Their mission was May 12, 1997, at 10 a.m.