3750 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE March 28, 2000 ‘‘Ross Adair spent most of his adult plained what the amendment was and and where freedom was. I and many life in service to his country and its what it would do, I was proud he was others heard the stories of peoples’ citizens. He was a lawyer, soldier, Rep- our Congressman. heads being chopped off and watching resentative, ambassador. It seems fit- ‘‘The election in 1958 was an indica- their kids die. Ross Adair represented ting that a Federal building be named tion of his popularity in Steuben Coun- the values, as do so many of our am- to honor his service and his loyalty.’’ ty. Statewide, the 1958 election was a bassadors, of America abroad, not only That was from Susan Prickett, the disaster for Republicans in Indiana. here in this Chamber. wife of his longtime chief of staff. She Ross was roughly 1,100 votes behind It is a tremendous honor and distinc- edited the Albion paper after her hus- until little Steuben County’s 1,400 plu- tion for me today to be the United band died, and she passed away just a rality sent him back to Washington, States Congressman from the Fourth few months ago. I was hoping she where he remained for 12 more years. District to sponsor this bill to have our would be able to see us name this ‘‘E. Ross Adair’s morals and integrity Federal building and courthouse named building. I am glad we got to put her were of the highest. I have often won- after E. Ross Adair. tribute in the RECORD. dered what our country would be like if Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I Orvas Beers, his longtime law part- all 535 Members of Congress and yes, yield back the balance of my time. ner, cousin, and close friend, wrote ‘‘I the President, too, had the same level The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. am writing in support of this legisla- of morals, integrity, and dedication as PETRI). The question is on the motion tion to designate the Federal building E. Ross Adair.’’ offered by the gentleman from Ohio after E. Ross Adair. I think this is a Walter Helmke, a longtime State (Mr. LATOURETTE) that the House sus- great idea. Senator, father of the immediate past pend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. ‘‘National recognition of our former mayor of Fort Wayne and son of the 2412. congressman and United States Ambas- former district chairman and congres- The question was taken. sador to Ethiopia is long overdue. He sional candidate, wrote, ‘‘Congressman Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, on dedicated well over 20 years of his life Adair served the Fourth Congressional that I demand the yeas and nays. to public service in both Congress and District with high distinction . . . hav- The yeas and nays were ordered. as ambassador. His accomplishments ing been elected 10 times to the office The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- . . . were outstanding. His integrity of Fourth District Representative. I ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the and statesmanship are unmatched. knew him well during the entire 20- Chair’s prior announcement, further Ross was among the finest Congress- year period that he served. He was al- proceedings on this motion will be men ever to represent Northeast Indi- ways responsive to his constituents, postponed. ana. As a former law partner of Ross, and, I believe, represented the senti- f and former chairman of the Republican ments and beliefs of his constituents to AARON E. HENRY FEDERAL party of Allen County, I am proud to an extraordinary degree. BUILDING AND UNITED STATES have known him and worked for his ‘‘During 8 of the 20 years that Ross POST OFFICE elections. served as Congressman, I served as Ross Adair’s word was as good as his Prosecuting Attorney of Allen County, Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I name. He meant what he said, and said and had occasion to call on him for as- move to suspend the rules and pass the what he meant. A handshake and his sistance and information a number of bill (H.R. 1279) to designate the Federal word closed many solid agreements. He times. He always provided me with as- building and the United States post of- served our country during a time when sistance and support without hesi- fice located at 223 Sharkey Street in political machines were a big part of tation. Clarksdale, Mississippi, as the ‘‘Aaron how this Nation functioned. Yet, Ross’s ‘‘After his distinguished career in the E. Henry Federal Building and United honesty and integrity were never ques- United States Congress, he ably served States Post Office,’’ as amended. tioned. He was a fine man. Republicans the United States government as the The Clerk read as follows: and Democrats alike were well rep- U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia until the H.R. 1279 resented by Ross Adair.’’ emperor of Ethiopia was deposed.’’ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Ken Meyers writes that E. Ross Adair The last letter I would like to read is resentatives of the United States of America in will finally get the recognition he de- from Marta Gabre-Tsadick. She is the Congress assembled, served. He tells a story. He was a Re- only female senator to have ever served SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. publican County Chairman of Steuben when Haile Selassie was head of Ethi- The Federal building and United States court- County, a county to the north of Fort opia. She writes, ‘‘We at Project house located at 236 Sharkey Street in Clarks- Wayne, in 1950. Mercy,’’ a project that continues today dale, Mississippi, shall be known and des- He said, at the time Ross was nomi- based and working out of Fort Wayne ignated as the ‘‘Aaron E. Henry Federal Build- ing and United States Courthouse’’. nated he was not familiar ‘‘outside to help those impoverished people who SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Allen and Noble Counties—but not for need health care and other things in Any reference in a law, map, regulation, doc- long. His sincere friendly campaigning Ethiopia, ‘‘wholeheartedly support this ument, paper, or other record of the United won him the nomination and election initiative to commemorate a man who States to the Federal building and United States in November. not only gave 20 years of his life to courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be ‘‘E. Ross Adair represented all the serving his country as Congressman, deemed to be a reference to the ‘‘Aaron E. Henry people in the district; Republican, but reached international boundaries Federal Building and United States Court- Democrat, or Independent received the as a great Ambassador to Ethiopia. His house’’. same attention and consideration. On service there impacted all African The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- important legislative matters he was countries through his interaction with ant to the rule, the gentleman from in constant contact with his constitu- the Organization of African Unity, Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE) and the gentle- ents. He read and studied the legisla- headquartered at Addis Ababa, Ethi- woman from Nevada (Ms. BERKLEY) tion before the House. opia. We are grateful for his service. each will control 20 minutes. ‘‘One personal incident proved to me ‘‘In retrospect, I can think of no one The Chair recognizes the gentleman that he did his ‘homework.’ A popular who has contributed more to this area, from Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE). piece of legislation was before the or anyone who could possibly deserve Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I House that would be beneficial to his this honor more than our mutual yield myself such time as I may con- district. Ross voted against it. As friend and mentor, E. Ross Adair.’’ sume. county chairman, I questioned his When Haile Selassie fell, roughly Mr. Speaker, this bill, H.R. 1279, as vote. His reply was, ‘Ken, a last-minute one-third of the senate in Ethiopia amended, designates the Federal Build- amendment was attached to it that came to Fort Wayne, Indiana, because ing and United States Courthouse lo- made it unacceptable.’ When he ex- Ross Adair meant to them America, cated in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as the

VerDate Aug 04 2004 13:23 Aug 12, 2004 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR00\H28MR0.000 H28MR0 March 28, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 3751 Aaron E. Henry Federal Building and It is most fitting and proper that we sissippi, and to try to make sure that United States Courthouse. support the gentleman from Mississippi all voices there were heard. Dr. Henry was born in Clarksdale, (Mr. THOMPSON) and honor the great During those joyful days that I spent Mississippi, in 1921, and attended local contributions of Dr. Henry. I urge pas- with him at his home with his beloved schools. He served in the United States sage of this bill. family and at his drugstore on Fourth Army, after which he returned to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Street, I had the chance to come to school and earned a degree in phar- my time. know him firsthand. macy from the Xavier University in Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I Aaron Henry had a dream, a dream of 1950. yield myself such time as I may con- an integrated America, a dream where In 1953, Dr. Henry organized the local sume. everybody counted. He lived to achieve branch of the NAACP, and served as Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate that dream. He lived a life of good the State NAACP president from 1960 our colleague, the gentleman from Mis- works. He was instrumental in the until 1993. He was instrumental in cre- sissippi (Mr. THOMPSON), for bringing founding of the NAACP in Mississippi. ating an integrated political system in this important legislation to the floor He also, as we know, as we have heard, Mississippi. He also participated in the of the House. ran for office in Mississippi and was Freedom Rider Movement, which led to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of elected to the House of Representa- the passage of the public accommoda- my time. tives, which was a proud day for Mis- tions sections of the Civil Rights Act of Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield sissippi. 1964. such time as he may consume to the Aaron Henry came a good long way In 1979, Dr. Henry was elected to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. in his life, and America has come a Mississippi House of Representatives, THOMPSON), the sponsor of this bill. considerable way on that path of an in- and held this office for 2 additional Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. tegrated America because of the likes terms. Speaker, today is a very special day for of Aaron Henry. Today we take another The naming of this Federal complex me. Today we will vote on the passage step along that path. I am honored to is a fitting tribute to a distinguished of H.R. 1279, a bill to rename the Fed- join the gentlewoman from Nevada African-American. I support the bill. I eral Building and Post Office in Clarks- (Ms. BERKLEY) and the gentleman from urge the passage of this bill, and I urge dale, Mississippi, after one of Mis- Mississippi (Mr. THOMPSON) and the my colleagues to support the bill. sissippi’s most notable pioneers in the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of civil rights movement, Dr. Aaron E LATOURETTE). my time. Henry. Mr. Speaker, I close by just briefly Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield I might add that I have known Dr. referring back to what I had the chance myself such time as I may consume. Henry all of my adult life. Until his un- to enter into the RECORD after the Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1279 is a bill to des- timely death, Dr. Henry served as a passing of Aaron Henry. ignate the Federal building in Clarks- role model for all of us in the State of b 1515 dale, Mississippi, as the Aaron Henry Mississippi and the country as a whole I said at that point, ‘‘Hopefully, his Federal Building and United States for those who believed in fair play and native State will mourn him across its Courthouse. justice. cities and its farms. He was born in its Dr. Aaron Henry was a civil rights Dr. Henry’s role in the civil rights rural land, toiled in one of its impor- pioneer, a thoughtful mentor, scholar, movement is well documented. His role tant towns, and journeyed it through- and great humanitarian. He led an ac- in the political arena in the State of out from border to border. His legacy is tive, committed, exemplary life. Mississippi is well documented. His leg- his hopefulness. The task now of his be- After attending local public schools, acy lives on. loved State, of his beloved Nation, and he joined the Armey in 1942 and was a Many of us could not, as early public of all of us who loved him is to keep his veteran of World War II. After the war, officials, go on TV locally. Dr. Henry, faith and continue his battle.’’ he attended and graduated from Xavier through his efforts, challenged the li- Today, with the naming of the build- University in New Orleans. In 1953, Dr. cense of local stations in order for Afri- ing in Clarksdale in his honor, it is an- Henry organized the Coahoma County can-Americans to buy time on TV. His other small step in the battle that in- Branch of the NAACP, and served as legacy is one that we all are proud of. volved and really enmeshed the life of the State NAACP president from 1960 Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of this Aaron Henry. to 1993. legislation and also the Representative Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield During the 1960s, he participated in of Clarksdale, Mississippi, I am happy such time as she may consume to the the Freedom Rider Movement and in to see this legislation move forward. I gentlewoman from the District of Co- the Mississippi Freedom Summer’s am happy to see the bipartisan support lumbia (Ms. NORTON). nonviolent campaigns of public protest. that it has received. I look forward to Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Henry served on numerous the passage of this bill. the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. boards, such as the Executive Com- Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield BERKLEY) for yielding me this time, mittee of the NAACP, the Federal such time as he may consume to the and I thank and congratulate the gen- Council on Aging, and the Southern gentleman from Michigan (Mr. LEVIN). tleman from Mississippi (Mr. THOMP- Christian Leadership Conference. Ac- Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the SON) for sponsoring this bill. knowledging his contributions as a gentlewoman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, there are many ways to civil rights leader in 1979, the citizens Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be able mark a Nation’s milestones. Naming a of Coahoma County elected him to the to join the gentleman from Mississippi public building for Dr. Aaron Henry is Mississippi House of Representatives, (Mr. THOMPSON) and all of the others one such way for me. where he was reelected in 1983 and 1987. who are supporting this legislation. I first met Aaron Henry in 1963 when, Dr. Henry was instrumental in secur- Mr. Speaker, I first saw Aaron Henry as a law student and member of the ing passage of legislation that created in action in the 1960s, in the battle Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com- the Office of Economic Opportunity, within the Democratic Party, and at mittee, I went into the delta in Mis- and was a strong advocate and spokes- the convention of the Mississippi Free- sissippi to work in the civil rights man for the Job Corps and Head Start. dom Democratic Party for Equality movement one summer. The civil Dr. Henry was an active member of and for Integration. rights movement had circled the the Haven United Methodist Church, In the early 1970s, I had the oppor- South, but had not penetrated the serving as its lay leader. He was com- tunity to work with him in Mississippi ‘‘Black Belt’’ deep in the Mississippi mitted to his community and edu- as part of what we called the Mis- Delta. cational and civic issues throughout sissippi-Michigan Alliance. It was an I met the President of the NAACP at his life. effort to spark registration within Mis- the time, Aaron Henry. To be President

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of the NAACP in Mississippi was itself (Mr. LATOURETTE) that the House sus- United States interests in East Asia and is an act of conspicuous courage. It pend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. supported by the United States Congress and marked a man, both as a marked man 1279, as amended. the American people; and a brave man. The question was taken; and (two- Whereas a stable and peaceful security en- The next year I graduated from law vironment in East Asia is essential to the thirds having voted in favor thereof) furtherance of democratic developments in school and became one of the lawyers the rules were suspended and the bill, Taiwan and other countries, as well as to the that summer for the Mississippi Free- as amended, was passed. protection of human rights throughout the dom Democratic Party, of which Aaron The title of the bill was amended so region; Henry was the chairman. I went to my as to read: ‘‘A bill to designate the Whereas since 1972 United States policy to- files and discovered the brief I filed be- Federal building and United States ward the People’s Republic of China has been fore the Credentials Committee on be- courthouse located at 236 Sharkey predicated upon, as stated in section 2(b)(3) half of Aaron Henry and the Mississippi Street in Clarksdale, Mississippi, as of the Taiwan Relations Act, ‘‘the expecta- Freedom Democratic Party to be ad- the ‘Aaron E. Henry Federal Building tion that the future of Taiwan will be deter- mitted into my party, the Democratic mined by peaceful means’’; and United States Courthouse’.’’. Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Rela- Party, on behalf of these Mississippi A motion to reconsider was laid on tions Act further pledges ‘‘to maintain the citizens. the table. capacity of the United States to resist any What Aaron Henry and the Mis- f resort to force or other forms of coercion sissippi Freedom Democratic Party did that would jeopardize the security, or the so- is itself a milestone in the Nation’s his- GENERAL LEAVE cial or economic system, of the people of Taiwan’’; tory, because it assured that both par- Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ties would now be open to delegates of ask unanimous consent that all Mem- Whereas on June 9, 1998, the House of Rep- resentatives voted unanimously to adopt all races. bers may have 5 legislative days within Aaron Henry lived such a life to go House Concurrent Resolution 270 that called which to revise and extend their re- upon the President of the United States to from the very outside as the head of marks and include extraneous mate- seek ‘‘a public renunciation by the People’s the NAACP, all the while a working rials on H.R. 2412 and H.R. 1279, as Republic of China of any use of force, or pharmacist in his own drugstore in amended, the measures just considered. threat to use force, against democratic Tai- Clarksdale, to becoming a member of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there wan’’; the Mississippi House of Representa- objection to the request of the gen- Whereas the People’s Republic of China has tives. From the NAACP and civil rights tleman from Ohio? consistently refused to renounce the use of leader, fighting words, in Mississippi, There was no objection. force against Taiwan; to representative of the people of Whereas the State Council, an official Clarksdale, Mississippi. f organ at the highest level of the Government When I went back to Mississippi a of the People’s Republic of China, issued a CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE ‘‘white paper’’ on February 21, 2000, which number of years later as Chairman of OF TAIWAN FOR SUCCESSFUL threatened ‘‘to adopt all drastic measures the Equal Employment Opportunity CONCLUSION OF PRESIDENTIAL possible, including the use of force,’’ if Tai- Commission, Aaron Henry had become ELECTIONS AND REAFFIRMING wan indefinitely delays entering into nego- a true insider. Aaron Henry arranged UNITED STATES POLICY TO- tiations with the People’s Republic of China for a reception for me sponsored by the WARD TAIWAN AND PEOPLE’S on the issue of reunification; and Governor in the Governor’s mansion. REPUBLIC OF CHINA Whereas the February 21, 2000, statement Mr. Speaker, when I first met Aaron by the State Council significantly escalates Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to Henry, the closest he and I could get to tensions across the Taiwan Straits and sets suspend the rules and agree to the con- forth a new condition that has not here- the Governor’s mansion was to picket current resolution (H. Con. Res 292) tofore been stated regarding the conditions it. congratulating the people of Taiwan that would prompt the People’s Republic of Aaron Henry had gone from chal- for the successful conclusion of presi- China to use force against Taiwan: Now, lenger to change-maker and had him- dential elections on March 18, 2000, and therefore, be it self created much of the change in the reaffirming United States policy to- Resolved by the House of Representatives (the State of Mississippi. ward Taiwan and the People’s Republic Senate concurring), That— He lived to see a peaceful revolution of China, as amended. (1) the people of Taiwan are to be con- occur in his State, including his own The Clerk read as follows: gratulated for the successful conclusion of election to the State legislature. All of presidential elections on March 18, 2000, and this was simply unthinkable in the H. CON. RES. 292 for their continuing efforts in developing and Mississippi in which Aaron Henry was Whereas section 2(c) of the Taiwan Rela- sustaining a free, democratic society which born in 1922. So was naming a building tions Act (Public Law 96–8) states ‘‘[t]he respects human rights and embraces free for Aaron Henry. preservation and enhancement of the human markets; rights of all the people on Taiwan’’ to be an (2) President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan is to But naming a Federal building by objective of the United States; be congratulated for his significant contribu- this body is normally an estimate of Whereas Taiwan has become a multiparty tions to freedom and democracy on Taiwan; the man. However, the Aaron E. Henry democracy in which all citizens have the (3) President-elect Chen Shui-bian and Federal Building and Post Office is right to participate freely in the political Vice President-elect Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of likely to be regarded as far more than process; Taiwan are to be congratulated for their vic- that. The naming of a building for Dr. Whereas the people of Taiwan have, by tory, and they have the strong support and Henry evokes a milestone in the his- their vigorous participation in electoral best wishes of the House of Representatives tory of Mississippi and of our country. campaigns and public debate, strengthened and the American people for a successful ad- the foundations of a free and democratic way ministration; The triumph of racial struggle and har- of life; (4) it is the sense of the House of Rep- mony over racial segregation and divi- Whereas Taiwan successfully conducted a resentatives that the People’s Republic of sion. There is no better way, no better presidential election on March 18, 2000; China should abandon its provocative person to symbolize this progress than Whereas President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan threats against Taiwan and undertake steps Aaron Henry. has actively supported the consolidation of that would lead to a substantive dialogue, Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have democratic institutions and processes in Tai- including a renunciation of the use of force no additional requests for time, and I wan since 1988 when he became head of state; against Taiwan and progress toward democ- yield back the balance of my time. Whereas this election represents the first racy, the rule of law, and protection of such transition of national office from one human and religious rights in the People’s Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I elected leader to another in the history of Republic of China; and yield back the balance of my time. Chinese societies; (5) the provisions of the Taiwan Relations The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whereas the continued democratic devel- Act (Public Law 96–8) are hereby affirmed as PETRI). The question is on the motion opment of Taiwan is a matter of funda- the legal standard by which United States offered by the gentleman from Ohio mental importance to the advancement of policy toward Taiwan shall be determined.

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