Congressional Record—Senate S11557
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December 5, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE S11557 in carrying out this duty a bit excessive. But tablishment didn't have a liquor license. speech in Chicago while Park wrote it in Des certainly his good judgment and candor Whenever I occasionally joined Park there Moines. At what appeared to be the conclu- served me well as I know it did Hershel Love- for lunch, the proprietor, Park's close Chi- sion Hughes turned to Ed and, putting his less, Harold Hughes, Bonnie Campbell, Neal nese American friend, Louie Lejon, would in- hand over the mike, asked in a stage whis- Smith and countless others both in and out quire, ``Mr. Rinard, your usual?'' Park would per, ``Is that the end?'' It was, and Gene of public office. respond, ``That would be fine.'' I noticed that McCarthy's name was thereby officially As many of you know, Park had been sec- Park's ``usual'' somehow never smelled quite placed in nomination as the Democratic retary, friend, and companion to Iowa artist like the tea the rest of us were drinking out Party candidate for President of the United Grant Wood, who reportedly Latinized his of our tea cups. When Park agreed to join me States. name and called him Parkus. Several origi- in the Senate, I inherited what was undoubt- I know Park was not pleased with the con- nal Wood paintings graced Park's small of- edly the largest Asian immigration caseload dition of American Politics in recent years fice in Capitol Hill. in the U.S. Congress. There must have been where mechanics have overwhelmed the Among the many roles Park played for at least 550 Chinese immigrants certified to issues. Park thought the dialogue had grown Wood was to model for some of his paintings. work in King Ying Low's Des Moines res- sterile and he had little interest in pollsters Apparently, on one occasion, he actually taurant during my Senate term alone. and consultants. However, he had an abiding posed as George Washington. Now Park was Park Rinard was the intellectual god-fa- faith in democracy and believed that politi- a wonderful man and Grant Wood was a bril- ther of Iowa's progressive agenda for a half- cians who speak to the best in their con- liant artist. But somehow that particular century, and those years with Governor stituencies will draw it out. He did his best collaboration never survived to replace Gil- Hughes were really the ``Golden Age.'' It was to make sure that we office holders did just bert Stuart's famous portrait of the Nation's a time when: Community colleges were es- that. first President. tablished; the Iowa Civil Rights Commission Whatever Governor Herschel Loveless, Park was responsible for the trans- created; home rule for cities granted; state Governor and Senator Harold Hughes, Attor- formation of Grant Wood from a shy indi- spending for schools, prisons, and welfare in- ney General Bonnie Campbell, Congressman vidual, who avoided public speaking, into the creased; the first black state judge ap- Neal Smith and I were able to collectively national spokesman for Regionalism as a sig- pointed; and the death penalty abolished. contribute in our public service careers was, nificant American Art Movement. When It is worthy of note that Iowa's State Gov- in no small park, made possible because of Grant Wood died, Park was there. He prom- ernment has not taken the life of even one Park Rinard. Park was truly an ``Iowa Origi- ised Wood that he would look after Grant's person since Park involved himself in Iowa nal.'' He uniquely sensed the soul of the sister, Nan, which he did for the rest of her politics. state he selflessly served and loved for a life life. Nan's last conversation with Park was Decades later Park remained at the fore- time. His legacy will endure for generations when he called to tell her that the U.S. Post- front of enlightened political thinking. He and Iowans will enjoy more opportunities master General had approved use of a Grant strongly advocated an Equal Rights Amend- and have a better life because of Park Wood painting for a postage stamp. The ment to the Constitution for women. He sur- Rinard. What greater reward does life afford? image of the stamp was Young Corn and prised younger members of my Senate staff Park said, ``The painting represented Iowa as over 20 years ago by accurately predicting f a state that nurtures its young people that that the next significant civil rights chal- they may grow to their full potential.'' lenge would be to overcome discrimination SENATOR RICHARD BRYAN Park was a beloved figure because he treat- against gay Americans. Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, Senator ed everyoneÐregardless of their status in Bonnie Campbell once remarked that Park DICK BRYAN is one of few people who lifeÐwith genuine warmth and kindness. was so completely centered and certain in has served in this Chamber who has lit- Once in a while, I couldn't find him, and his liberalism that he knew instantly the erally devoted nearly his entire life to someone would track him down in the Sen- proper position on an issue because of his ate office basement, where he was providing ``fundamental sense of fairness,'' while the serving the people of his state and na- personal counseling to one of the cafeteria rest of us had to at least think about it. tion. workers. His son Jeff reminded him that his Growing up in Northern Iowa over four Senator BRYAN's distinguished career supportive advice, was often, ``Don't lose score years ago Park acquired values he started the day he took the oath of of- your nerve.'' would never abandon: common sense, co- fice as president of his 8th grade class Over the years, Park befriended an elderly operation, love of the land, sincerity, com- at John S. Park Elementary School. It women named Ann, who operated a small passion, civility and justice. newsstand where he would buy his news- These values formed the underpinning of continued when he took office as presi- papers each evening. One day Ann was upset his political philosophy: phrases like ``the dent of his sophomore and senior class- because she had not received her New York milk of human kindness,'' ``the least of es at Las Vegas High School and stu- Times delivery. Park was distressed because these'' and describing something as being dent body president at the University this would be a significant economic blow to ``clear as the noon whistle at Ida Grove.'' of Nevada-Reno. her modest income. A group of wealthy N.Y. These phrases all slipped easily into his own After graduating from law school, he businessmen were coming that day to Wash- speech patterns and the language he crafted served as deputy district attorney in ington to attend a conference Hughes was for those in public life. Clark County and was then appointed sponsoring on Vietnam. Park immediately Many of us here today recall Park, smok- called them and ordered them to bring a ing his pipe, while hunched over his ancient as Clark County's first public defender large bundle of New York Times newspapers Olympia typewriter pecking out those many at age 28. He did two terms in the Ne- with them. Thanks to Park, Ann did not lose speeches. Park was a most gifted writer. vada State Assembly. Two terms in the a single sale that day! However, unlike Federal Express he was re- Nevada State Senate. A term as Attor- Park loved to play tennis and he enjoyed luctant to guarantee a precise arrival time ney General. Two terms as Nevada cooking but his real passion was his garden. for the finished speech draft. On more than Governor. And he's now done two terms He was particularly proud of his blueberries one occasion, this led to serious staff anxiety in the United States Senate. and would bring boxes of them into the office and a near nervous breakdown for the person He is the only Nevadan ever to have and the staff would eat them out of paper expected to deliver the prepared remarks at cups on their desks during the day. One day a particular event. served as his state's Attorney General, Ed Campbell got a call from the Fairfax Hos- In 1968 at the Democratic National Conven- Governor, and United States Senator. pital that Park would be late to work be- tion in Chicago Harold Hughes was to place He's also one of few, if any, Senators cause he had been in an automobile accident. Eugene McCarthy's name in nomination. who've managed to pull an extraor- Ed rushed to the hospital where he found Park was in a Des Moines Hotel room where dinary triple play and serve on the Park with a gash over his eye. Park ex- he was supposed to be writing Hughes' three major fiscal committeesÐFi- plained that a newspaper flew onto his wind- speech. Ed Campbell called Park and told nance, Commerce, and Banking. him to put the speech on a plane. This was a shield and blinded him and his car hit a tele- And he's used these positions to fight phone pole. Ed said, ``Park's only concern time, of course, which predated the era of fax was that he could not deliver his prized blue- machines and e-mail. As zero hour ap- harder than just about anyone else berries and tomatoes to the office as they proached, Hughes asked Ed ``Where the hell here to protect American consumers.