March 3, 1986 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 3389 SENATE-Monday, March 3, 1986
e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 3390 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE March 3, 1986 CONGRESS SHOULD STOP THE dogma. The Rand Corp. would, accord the Washington Post by Fred Hiatt $30 MILLION FOR STAR WARS' ing to the Defense Department, pro and headlined, "Pentagon Plans To THINK TANK vide a kind of model for this new star Create a Think Tank for SDI," be Mr. PROXMIRE. Mr. President, in a wars office. The Rand Corp. has been printed in the RECORD. story in the Washington Post on Sat operating for a number of years. but it There being no objection. the article urday, March 1, Fred Hiatt reported is a prime example of the new think was ordered to be printed in the that the Defense Department is plan tanks. It is a champion of more and RECORD, as follows: ning to establish a "think tank" to more defense spending. It has been PENTAGON PLANS To CREATE A THINK TANK support the strategic defense initia critical of arms control. But there is a FOR SDI crucial difference. Like the Heritage tive-SDI or star wars. How much
71-059 0-87-13 (Pt. 3) 3402 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE March 3, 1986 a very interesting period in American day had an institutional memory. I Clearly, this Nation would be in bad politics. My good friend, Senator LoNG, think of Dick Russell in particular. shape, indeed, if we had waited until has spent more time in service here by The Senate was Dick Russell's bride. now to do something for the elderly as virtue of his having preceded my He had never been married. He was they reach their later years without coming here by several years; he also married to the Senate. His whole life, someone having provided for health spent a longer time than I working I think, was dedicated to the service of care for those dear people. with Lyndon Johnson and being able this Nation and to the Senate as an in While his war on poverty may be to observe how Lyndon Johnson oper stitution. criticized by some who say that he ated. If the distinguished Senator from fought a war on poverty and poverty It is my opinion that Lyndon would Louisiana wishes to comment on this, I won, he was right and they were not be able to operate that way today. welcome his doing so. wrong. This Nation is a great Nation If he were majority leader at this Mr. LONG. I thank the Senator for because together we are strong, and time, he would not be able to do what his perspective. The Senator is most Lyndon Johnson realized that togeth he was then able to do in those days. thoughtful in his analysis. I will read er we could meet any challenge; we When I first came to the Senate-I the part of the Senator's speech that I were adequate to face any problem if believe the distinguished Senator from have not had the opportunity to hear we were wise enough. He was one of Louisiana [Mr. LoNG] will agree with up to this point, and I will be glad to those who felt that no one need be me-each of the old Confederate give him some further thoughts on hungry, no one need suffer, no one States had two Democratic Senators. the subject, because I am sure that vir need go without educational guidance As I have said earlier, Senator Russell tually everything he says in this because of any failure of this Nation; was the uncrowned king of the South speech today strikes a chord in my that the Nation had the potential to ern bloc. Lyndon had a very important recollection. provide the very best; that is, the best thing going in his favor in that Sam The Senator knows so well that in the way of opportunities, that any Rayburn, Lyndon's good friend and there was a time when he and I were mentor from Texas, was the Speaker part of the Democratic leadership and nation had ever provided; that if we of the House. Lyndon also had a tre we would go up to the White House had the wisdom and leadership, we mendous advantage at that particular when Lyndon Johnson was President. could provide an opportunity for ev time in having Senator Russell and Both of us, the Senator from West eryone to live a meaningful life, to that Southern bloc of very distin Virginia as well as the Senator from provide well for himself and for his guished and powerful Senators from Louisiana, had a way of being very loved ones as well as his Nation. which to draw support in the Senate. frank and very forthright with the So I am pleased the Senator is At the present time, if we could just President and now and then saying making this speech about Lyndon recall those States, Florida has one some things that were not calculated Johnson, and I await with great inter Republican Senator, Georgia has one to be popular at all with the President, est my opportunity to read this speech Republican Senator, Alabama has one but we did give him the benefit of our in its entirety tomorrow. Republican Senator, South Carolina views. I think he was better off for it Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank has one Republican Senator, North because so often the man in the White the distinguished Senator from Louisi Carolina has two Republican Senators, House is handicapped by the fact that ana [Mr. LoNG], who is second in se the State of Virginia has two Republi a lot of people just will not tell him niority only to Senator STENNIS in this can Senators, Texas has one Republi news that is less than all good, par body today. I shall never cease to can Senator, Mississippi has one Re ticularly when there are some things admire Senator RussELL LoNG. We are publican Senator. The border States, out there that there are not going too going to miss him when he retires most if not all of which at that time well; a lot of people just will not tell from this Senate. had two Democratic Senators, are him. He spoke a moment ago about the somewhat the same in that, as we look The Senator from West Virginia was times when the leadership would be at Oklahoma, Oklahoma has one Re one who was very frank and forthright called to the White House to talk with publican Senator. Missouri today has about matters of that sort. I like to Lyndon Johnson, and about the frank one Republican Senator. When I came think the Senator from Louisiana also discussions that went on there. here and when Lyndon Johnson was was that way. If something was not I can remember on one occasion just majority leader, each of those States the way it ought to be, we would tell after the Tet offensive, almost imme had no Republican Senators. him that. And now and then it would diately thereafter, we sat around the Today, out of the whole kit and ca be unpopular, too, because that was table at the White House. Lyndon boodle of Confederate States, I believe not what he was hearing from his Johnson's haggard appearance-long, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee aides. deep lines in his face-revealed a very are the only three States-I include I enjoyed working with the Senator troubled man. I said to the President: West Virginia, which is a border from West Virginia as well as Lyndon "Mr. President, something must be State-that still have two Democratic Johnson during his days as majority wrong with our intelligence gathering Senators. That did, indeed, make a dif leader, Vice President, and President apparatus. It seems to me that we ference; it has to make a tremendous of the United States. He was a great should have known a great deal more difference in this body. That is one of President. Of all the Presidents I about the capabilities of the enemy the reasons why I say that Lyndon served with, I think I would put than we knew. It seems to me that we Johnson could not be today the leader Lyndon Johnson at the top of the lost a lot of men because we didn't that he was or the type of leader that heap because he did so much. In many know enough.'' he was in his time. respects he will not be fully appreciat Lyndon Johnson was furious, and he Additionally, I believe it can rightly ed until later in this Nation's history. berated me no end on that occasion. and truthfully be said that the South But more than any other person, he When he had finished, I said, "Mr. ern bloc Senators, as a whole, are passed legislation to meet problems. President, I did not come down here to younger than they were then. What While some of it will need to be be lectured. I thought you wanted us does that say? Well, Southern Sena changed because it did not meet the to speak our minds." Whereupon, he tors in that day had been here a long test of time, a lot of it did meet the gave me a second tongue-lashing. time, had great seniority. test of time. It was my privilege, for When he finished, I said, "Mr. Presi They revered the institution. I am example, to manage the Medicare bill dent, I have spoken my viewpoint. I not saying the younger Senators, the when it went through the Senate, and am very candid to say that that is ex current Senators, do not revere the in that is one of those many things he actly the way I see it. It just seems to stitution. But those Senators in that did that has met the test of time. me that we failed to get the kind of in- March 3, 1986 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE 3403 formation that we should have had." rights. I believe that he thought that Journalists in the press galleries ob And I said a second time that I had there was no future in that and that served that: "More assured, sensing ul not come to be lectured for having ex eventually the civil rights bills would timate victory, Johnson was on his pressed my own honestly held views, have to pass, and the more the South feet now, stalking the Senate floor, which I felt were the views of many, could be persuaded to accommodate correcting extreme statements from many people, not only in the Congress itself to it, the better it was going to both sides, skillfully cooling tempers but also outside the Congress, follow be. and disarming angry antagonists • • • ing the Tet offensive. "I think, to be fair about it, he also In his coat pocket were smudged After the meeting at the White felt that it was not going to be to his copies of the Senate roll call, filled in House, I came back to the Senate long-term best interests to be involved with checks and x's and dotted with Chamber, and I felt bad because of the on the southern side of the southern notes and reminders, that he constant conversation. After all, Lyndon John filibuster, and you could almost see ly pulled out to show this or that Sen son had made me a member of the Ap how he, bit by bit, separated himself ator. These were his head counts, and propriations Committee and had been from southern filibusters that were the tallies changed day-by-day as he good to me. Incidentally, I was as being waged at that time against the gathered in his majorities on the two signed to the Armed Services Commit efforts to move the civil rights legisla key amendments." 22 tee to fill the vacant chair that John tion." The victory of the Civil Rights Act son left when he became Vice Presi Johnson was one of only three of 1957, by a vote of 72 to 18, on dent of the United States. southern Senators who did not sign August 7, 1957, was largely attributed I got to thinking about it all, and I the so-called "Southern Manifesto" in to Lyndon B. Johnson. New York wondered how I might have reacted if 1956, in which southern members of Times correspondent William S. White I had been in Lyndon Johnson's place the House and Senate denounced the commented: "It was actually the most in the White House, with all the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. skillful single job of leadership I ever burden of that war, facing all the criti Board of Education and declared their cism that he was getting, realizing support for racial segregation. John saw, because Johnson of course had to that we were very deeply involved in son was the pivotal man in the civil deal with his southern friends who that war and we were not getting any rights struggle. If he joined with other had up to that point formed the basis less involved as the days went on, and southerners or even chose to remain really of his constituency in the more and more American boys were neutral to protect his popularity in his Senate." Johnson, as he himself point being killed. So I put in a call to the home State, the coalition of Eisenhow ed out, was the first Texas Senator in President from the cloakroom here, er Republicans and liberal Democrats nearly a century to vote for a civil and he came on the line. who supported the civil rights would rights bill. As Johnson told the I said: "Mr. President, I want to lack both the numbers and the exper Senate: "Political ambition which apologize to you for the attitude that I tise to break the expected filibuster on feeds off hatred of the North or took this morning. I spoke what I the floor. hatred of the South is doomed to frus thought, but I think I could have done Officially, Republican Leader Wil tration. There is a compelling need for it better and said it more gently, and liam Knowland served as floor manag a solution that will enable all Ameri perhaps I should not have said any er of the Civil Rights bill, but in reali cans to live in dignity and unity. This thing. I realize how this is troubling ty Lyndon Johnson was its chief strat bill is the greatest step toward that ob you, how hard it is for you to bear. egist-so much so that he made it jective that has ever been made." Of You are the President of the United more his bill than Eisenhower's. Sup course, the 1957 bill was just the first States, and I cannot see it from all porters of the bill won their first victo step, to be followed by much stronger perspectives that you have, and I can ry in a 45-to-39 vote against referring and more effective civil rights legisla understand how I got on your nerves. I the civil rights bill to the hostile Judi tion in 1964 and 1965. But the 1957 bill hope you will forgive me." ciary Committee. Even this victory, led the way. That bill also completed He said, "Well, Bob, don't think any however, left the bill subject to possi Lyndon Johnson's transformation thing more about it. I was wrong in ble filibuster on the Senate floor. Rec from a regional to a national political the attitude that I took. I'm sorry that ognizing that he led a sharply divided figure, and made him a leading con I reacted as I did. You were saying party, with liberal Democrats from the tender for the presidential nomination what you felt you should say, and I North and West supporting the civil in 1960. 23 guess I just became a little overly rights bill, and Southern Democrats While Johnson went to great lengths wrought. You don't owe me any apol lined up against it, Senator Johnson to avoid filibusters, once they had ogy. There is nothing I need to forgive did all in his power to avoid a southern begun, Warren Weaver noted, "he you for. You did your duty." filibuster. In addition to creating a tended to regard filibusters as a per So, that is the way it went. Civil Rights Commission, the Eisen sonal challenge to his stewardship. In When the 85th Congress convened hower administration's bill had pro stead of making an end run around in 1957, Johnson faced a thorny prob posed broad powers for the Attorney the combatants with the rest of the lem. The Eisenhower administration General to file civil suits for court in Senate business, he often preferred to was pressing its Civil Rights Program. junctions against any deprivation of break the filibuster by keeping the In 1956, the House had passed the ad civil rights. Behind the scenes, John Senate in session for long hours, even ministration bill, but the measure had son worked to limit the Attorney Gen around the clock, and forcing the mi died in the Senate Judiciary Commit eral's power by requiring jury trials nority ultimately to give up in exhaus tee, chaired by James 0. Eastland of for civil rights cases. This provision tion." 24 This was part of what Row Mississippi. Johnson had a mixed mollified Southern leaders, most nota land Evans and Robert Novak, in their record on civil rights. In the House he bly Richard Russell. With the excep penetrating study of Johnson's years had voted as a conservative Texas tion of a 24-hour-and-18-minute as majority leader, termed the "John Representative against civil rights leg speech by the Senator from South son Procedure." It consisted of night islation. In the Senate, especially as Carolina, STROM THURMOND, The civil sessions, unanimous consent agree majority leader, he had tried to take a rights bill of 1957 went through the ments, and constant head counting, to national rather than a State position Senate without protracted debate. keep the Senate dancing to Johnson's on the issue. Once Johnson had gained assurance tune. Evans and Novak also paid trib As Senator LoNG has said in speak that southern Democrats would not ute to the "Johnson System" of re ing of the late Lyndon Johnson: filibuster against the bill, he moved warding his friends and elevating "He began to separate himself from his own role from behind-the-scenes to them to positions of leadership, build the southerners on the issue of civil the front-lines of the public debate. ing a support staff, and generally 3404 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE March 3, 1986 making himself the center of all legis until Senator Green came to the same Senate next year, twenty Republican lative activities. But for all his proce conclusion: that he did not deserve seats and twelve Democratic seats dural and structural activities, the such abuse and that he would step were at stake in that contest. It was a "dominant ingredient" in his success down as chairman. mid-term election during the second as majority leader, they suggested, was Johnson then called a special, administration of a Republican presi his own personality, or what they closed-door meeting of the Foreign Re dent. A faltering economy, concern termed the "Johnson Treatment." lations Committee to announce over Soviet successes in space, and a "The treatment could last 10 min Green's decision. To demonstrate that scandal involving White House staff, utes or 4 hours," wrote Evans and Green was not being forced out of all contributed to a massive Democrat Novak. "It came, enveloping its target, office, Johnson, who was not even a ic victory that November. Twenty-four at the LBJ Ranch swimming pool, in member of that panel, arranged for Democrats won election to the Senate, one of LBJ's offices, in the Senate the committee to eulogize Green's along with only eight Republicans. cloakroom, on the floor of the Senate service as chairman and to vote to ask The Democratic majority in the itself-wherever Johnson might find a him to continue in that post. Senator Senate was 64-to-34. This was the larg fell ow Senator within his reach. Its Green, who was extremely hard of est majority for any party since World tone could be supplication, accusation, hearing, genially thanked them for War II, and the greatest transfer of cajolery, exuberance, scorn, tears, their expressions of support, but seats from one party to another in the complaint, the hint of threat. It was added that he would not reverse his entire history of the Senate. all of these together. It ran the gamut decision. Johnson, unfortunately, did I have already stated that I was a of human emotions. Its velocity was not know when to stop. "The members member of that remarkable class of breath taking, and it was all in one di of the committee said what I said, only 1958. I am also the last member of rection. Interjections from the target more eloquent than I • • •. They voted that class still serving in the Senate. were rare. Johnson anticipated them unanimously to ask you to continue." At a future date, I expect to devote an before they could be spoken. He The official transcript then records entire address in my history of the moved in close, his face a scant milli this unexpected exchange: meter from his target, his eyes widen Senate to that notable class. The CHAIRMAN