S 10076 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 14, 1995 praise from another great independent In some cases, he was acting on tips from Seldes lived in Hartland Four Corners, Vt. journalist of our century. mainstream reporters who knew their own Until recently, he was self-sufficient at home My visits and frequent correspond- papers would never print what they’d dug up. and ever delighted to receive such pilgrims ence with George rank among the high- They would leak the news to Seldes who as Ralph Nader, Morton Mintz and Rick would print it. In other cases, In Fact be- Goldsmith, a California filmmaker who is lights of my Senate career. He never came a more reliable source of news for completing a documentary on Seldes’s life. intruded, but did on occasion offer mainstream newspapers than their own The film will include references to I.F. some very good advice to this senator— sources—the ultimate flattery for any news- Stone, who credited Seldes’ newsletter ‘‘In and most times, I was smart enough to paper person, and ultimate indictment of Fact’’—which had 176,000 subscribers for a recognize good counsel when I heard it. those who missed the news. time in the 1940’s—as the model for his own I had the great pleasure of joining him In his later years, Seldes was always care- carefully researched I.F. Stone’s Weekly.’’ ful to note improvements in the objectivity at his 100th birthday party in Ver- The titles of some of Seldes’s books give a of today’s newspapers—while holding firm to hint of the fires that burned within him: mont—an event that became a public the belief that when newspapers forget their ‘‘You Can’t Print That: The Truth Behind celebration of his life. responsibility to truth, they risk retreat the News’’ (1928). ‘‘Never Tire of Protesting’’ Here was a man who interviewed Wil- into those bad old days. (1986), ‘‘Tell the Truth and Run’’ (1953), liam Jennings Bryan, Theodore Roo- Nor was his burr-under-the-saddle style ‘‘Lords of the Press’’ (1935). In the 1980s, he sevelt, Eddie Rickenbacker, Generals without fault—his muckraking, make-waves wrote his memoir ‘‘Witness to a Century’’ Pershing, Patton, and MacArthur; a narrowness of vision caused him to miss and edited ‘‘The Great Thoughts,’’ the latter personal observer of Lenin and Musso- some of the bigger picture, too; a heavy dose a thick and rich collection of ideas Seldes of Seldes at this prime could be hard for any lini and a confidant of Picasso, Ernest had gathered throughout a lifetime of read- average reader with broader interests to ing and listening. Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis. take. ‘‘Sometimes in isolated phrase or para- One of the great lives of our century What seemed most striking about his com- graph,’’ he said of his selections from has passed—but George Seldes left be- ments at that appearance in Hanover, N.H. Abelard to Zwingli and from Ability to Zen, hind a recorded history to guide our however—just as it does now—is the dimin- ‘‘will work on the reader’s imagination more understanding of the turbulent time. ished capacity of contrary voices like his to forcefully than it might when buried in a I attach an editorial that appeared in be heard today in the din of the modern in- possibly difficult text. Each time a formation age. the July 8, 1995 edition of The Bur- quotation in this book makes a reader think Today, so many loud, contrary voices com- in a new way, I shall have achieved my aim.’’ lington Free Press, and a column writ- pete for listeners’ ears, with so many public As a reporter and press critic, Seldes was ten by Colman McCarthy that appeared outlets for spreading their views, the prob- more than an iconoclastic outsider, as wor- in the July 11 edition of The Washing- lem is no longer an absence of facts, in some thy and rare as that calling is. His news- ton Post. cases it’s too many facts—and too few people gathering and analysis were ethics-based. They capture the spirit and dogged taking the time to make sense of them. Omitting the news is as vile a sin as slanting pursuit of truth that marked George More big-picture wisdom and few discon- the news, he believed. Too many papers nected facts in every type of media today avoid stories that might upset the powerful Seldes’ lasting contribution to journal- would go a long way—a need that’s grown ism and the history of our age. I ask or the majority, while printing news on safe wider with George Seldes’ passing. subjects and editorializing to bloodless con- unanimous consent that they be print- clusions. ed in the RECORD. [From the Washington Post, July 11, 1995] In ‘‘freedom of the Press,’’ Seldes recalled There being no objection, the mate- GEORGE SELDES: GIANT OF JOURNALISM how he was compromised while covering rial was ordered to be printed in the (By Colman McCarthy) World War I: ‘‘The journals back home that RECORD, as follows: As a traveling companion, George Seldes printed our stories boasted that their cor- [From the Burlington Free Press, July 8, didn’t believe in letting you rest. In the respondents had been at the fighting front. I 1995] spring of 1982 when he was 91 and in New now realize that we were told tonight but York to collect a George Polk Award for a buncombe, that we were shown nothing of A CONTRARY VOICE lifetime of contribution to journalism, I the realities of the war, that we were, in George Seldes, who died Sunday at 104, was took the Fifth Avenue bus with him for a 30- short, merely part of the Allied propaganda a journalist and harsh critic of mainstream block ride between the ceremony and his machine whose purpose was to sustain mo- journalists who might be best remembered nephew’s apartment. We would have taken a rale at all costs and help drag unwilling by Vermont newspaper editors and reporters cab but he preferred the bus: a better way to America into the slaughter. . . We all more from an appearance before the Vermont and get the feel of the city and its people. or less lied about the war.’’ New Hampshire Press Associations in the Along the jostling way, Seldes threw at me If so, that was to be the last time Seldes late 1980s. a half-dozen story ideas, mingled with side- shied from getting the whole story. For the Except for a slowed step and a bit of a bars of his opinions, plus advice on how not rest of his long life, his reporting on what stoop, nothing in Seldes’ appearance be- merely to gather facts but to cull the useless were often no-no subjects—workers’ rights, trayed his exceptional age, nor hints of any from the useful, and then a string of mirth- public health and safety, press sellouts, cor- mellowing on matters he found important— ful recollections from his newspapering days porate and government lies—was the essence beginning and invariably ending with a jour- going back eight decades. If we were the boys of truth-telling. Like his life, the telling had nalist’s responsibility to tell it straight. on the bus, George Seldes was some boy. fullness. What bothered this long-time resident of He died on July 2, in his 104th year and f Hartland Four Corners most during his 86 only a half-decade or so after retiring from a years of covering historic events was not so reporting career that began in 1909 with the ACDA ANNUAL REPORT IS IN- much what got into newspapers of his day Pittsburgh Leader. FORMATIVE, CLEAR-HEADED EF- but what didn’t—especially immediately pre- It’s well within the bounds of accuracy to FORT ceding and following World War II. Errors of say of Seldes—and this isn’t the kind of omission. gassy praise that’s the customary sendoff for Mr. PELL. Mr. President. Yesterday, It was a time when some journalists dou- the deceased—that for much of the 20th cen- the President transmitted to the Sen- bled as government informers for U.S. intel- tury he stood as a giant and a pilar of jour- ate the annual report for 1994 of the ligence agencies as a gesture of patriotism; nalism, a reporter’s reporter. He had the Arms Control and Disarmament Agen- when the Washington Press Corps kept many subverse notion that investigating the cy. In addition to detailing the Agen- elected officials’ personal foibles and pecca- press—the money-saving schemings of the cy’s many activities during 1994, the dillos a secret; and powerful publishers ran publishers of his day, editors cowering before report includes a major section on the newspapers more like personal fiefdoms in advertisers, reporters fraternizing with the pursuit of selective causes than purveyors of pashas they write about—should be as vital a adherence by the United States to its the larger truth. beat as skeptically covering politicians. arms control obligations and the com- Like I.F. Stone, Seldes figured if main- At the Polk ceremony, the citation of the pliance of other nations with their stream newspapers wouldn’t print what he awards committee succinctly summarized arms control obligations. wrote for fear of riling advertisers or power- the spirit of intellectual independence Seldes This compliance report, which was ful news sources, he would print it in his own committed himself to: ‘‘By mutual agree- provided in both classified and unclas- publication. In Fact, it was called, and it ment, George Seldes belonged not to the sified versions, is the most detailed an- took on, among many powerful interests, the journalism establishment, nor was he teth- nual compilation of arms control issues tobacco industry and its ability to keep dam- ered to any political philosophy. With a gim- aging health data out of newspapers—a con- let eye ever fixed upon transgressors, he available to us. It has been required of sequence, Seldes was never shy about charg- soared above the conventions of his time—a the agency for a number of years, and ing, or newspapers’ heavy reliance on ciga- lone eagle, unafraid and indestructible. He is it is particularly thorough and detailed rette advertising. 91 now and still a pretty tough bird.’’ in this year’s iteration. I believe that July 14, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S 10077 my fellow Senators should avail them- Iraq’s nuclear weapons program violated The ACDA was established in 1961 in part selves of the opportunity to obtain the Article 11’s requirement that Parties not because Dean Rusk, Secretary of State at report from ACDA and to review both * * * manufacture or otherwise acquire nu- that time, believed the President needed ac- the Agency’s activities and the numer- clear weapons or other nuclear explosive de- cess to unfiltered arms control analysis. vices; and not * * * seek or receive any as- After a comprehensive review in 1993 and a ous arms control compliance questions sistance in the manufacture of nuclear weap- second review in early 1995, it is clear to me addressed in the report. ons or other nuclear explosive devices. Iraq’s that Secretary Rusk was correct: sound arms This year’s unclassified report is re- construction of secret facilities, including control and nonproliferation policy requires markably open with regard to the kind its construction of a facility for nuclear an independent, specialized, and technically of problems that we must address, and weapons development and assembly, contrib- competent arms control and nonprolifera- it represents a serious effort by ACDA uted to its violation of Article 11. Iraq’s fail- tion agency. Director, John Holum, and his staff to ure to apply safeguards to its clandestine In the absence of such an agency, neither I be informative and clear-headed in program also constituted a violation of Arti- nor any future President could count on re- cle 111, which requires that safeguards be ap- ceiving independent arms control advice, their analysis and judgments. plied with a view to preventing diversion of unfiltered by other policy considerations. A Let me give you several examples of nuclear energy from peaceful purposes to nu- President would thus at times have to make the kind of information included in the clear weapons or other nuclear explosive de- the most consequential national security de- report: vices. cisions without the benefit of vigorous advo- With regard to Russia’s compliance The war and inspections have significantly cacy of the arms control point of view. with the 1972 Biological and Toxin set back Iraq’s program to develop a nuclear Moreover, I have found that ACDA’s Weapons Convention, the report says: weapon. Nonetheless, Iraq almost certainly unique combination of single-mission tech- intends to continue nuclear weapons related nical expertise with its painstakingly devel- Previous assessments of Russian compli- activities and to build a nuclear weapon as oped capability for multilateral negotiation ance have highlighted the dichotomy be- soon as domestic and international cir- and implementation of the most intricate tween what appears to be the commitment cumstances permit. arms control and nonproliferation agree- from President Yeltsin and other members of ments could not be sustained with equal ef- the Russian leadership in attempting to re- FINDING The United States Government has deter- fectiveness outside of a dedicated arms con- solve BWC issues and the continued involve- trol agency. ment of ‘‘old hands’’ in trilateral BW discus- mined that Iraq violated its Safeguards Agreement when it pursued an active nu- The ACDA’s first major success was the es- sions and in what Russia describes as a de- tablishment of the Nuclear Non-Prolifera- fensive BW program. clear weapons development program and that this program violated its obligations tion Treaty. Twenty-five years later, its With regard to former Soviet biological most recent major success is its long-term weapons related facilities, some research and under Article 11 and 111 of the NPT. The United States Government has further deter- effort culminating in permanent and uncon- production facilities are being deactivated ditional extension of that same Treaty. On and many have taken severe personnel and mined that Baghdad is continuing its effort to undermine the UNSCOM/IAEA inspection both counts, America and the world are far funding cuts. However, some facilities, in ad- more secure because of the ability and dedi- dition to being engaged in legitimate activ- process by withholding relevant information, and to preserve as much nuclear-related cation of ACDA’s leadership and professional ity, may be maintaining the capability to staff. produce biological warfare agents. The Rus- technology as possible for a renewed weapons effort. I have therefore decided that ACDA will re- sian Federation’s 1993 and 1994 BWC data main independent and continue its central NEXT STEPS declaration contained no new information role in U.S. arms control and nonprolifera- and its 1992 declaration was incomplete and The United States plans to continue to tion policy. misleading in certain areas. With regard to support UNSCOM/IAEA inspections in Iraq Whether the issue is nuclear nonprolifera- the trilateral process that began in 1992, and the long-term monitoring of Iraq’s nu- tion, nuclear missile reduction, chemical while there has been progress towards clear program in accordance with UNSCR 687 weapons elimination, or any of the other achieving the openness intended in the Joint and 715. growing arms control and nonproliferation Statement, the progress has not resolved all Mr. President, I have something of an challenges America faces, ACDA is an essen- U.S. concerns. ulterior motive in bringing this report tial national security asset. NEXT STEPS to the Senate’s attention at this time. In that spirit, I commend this report to The United States remains actively en- As most of you know, there is a move- you. gaged in efforts to work with the Russian ment afoot to abolish the Arms Control Sincerely, leadership to ensure complete termination of and Disarmament Agency and make it WILLIAM J. CLINTON. the illegal program and to pursue a number f of measures to build confidence in Russian a part of the Department of State. I have opposed that effort in the Com- compliance with the BWC. WAS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? mittee on Foreign Relations, and I in- With regard to the 1972 Biological LOOK AT THE ARITHMETIC tend to oppose it on the floor when the and Toxin Weapons Convention and relevant legislation is before the Sen- Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, as of the China, the report says: ate. I am not going to make a case here close of business yesterday, Thursday, The United States believes that China had for ACDA because I deeply believe that July 13, the Federal debt stood at an offensive BW program prior to 1984 when $4,933,342,394,729.43. On a per capita it became a Party to the BWC. any Senator reading this report and getting a sense of the tenacity and se- basis, every man, woman, and child in FINDING riousness that ACDA brings to these America owes $18,727.05 as his or her The United States Government believes crucially important national security share of that debt. that based on available evidence, China maintained an offensive BW program issues is quite likely to reach the judg- f ment that the modest number of dol- throughout most of the 1980s. The offensive TRIBUTE TO FRANCES B. BW program included the development, pro- lars necessary to keep ACDA as an duction, stockpiling or other acquisition or independent agency are among the best TURNAGE maintenance of biological warfare agents. spent dollars in the Federal budget. Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I China’s CBM mandated declarations have Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- rise today to pay tribute to a woman not resolved U.S. concerns about this pro- sent that the letter from President who was well known and liked in the gram and there are strong indications that Clinton transmitting the ACDA annual city of Charleston, South Carolina, China probably maintains its offensive pro- report be printed in the RECORD. gram. The United States Government, there- Mrs. Frances Baker Allen Turnage, fore, believes that in the years after its ac- There being no objection, the letter who passed away last month at the age cession to the BWC, China was not in compli- was ordered to be printed in the of 70. ance with its BWC obligations and that it is RECORD, as follows: Charleston ladies are known for their highly probable that it remains THE WHITE HOUSE, graciousness, hospitality, and elegance, noncompliant with these obligations. Washington, July 13, 1995. and Mrs. Turnage was certainly a lady The report is quite forthcoming and Hon. JESSE HELMS, of Charleston in every manner. Born in realistic with regard to some of the se- Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, the city, she was graduated from both U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. rious problems regarding compliance DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am pleased to trans- the prestigious prepatory school Ash- with the Nuclear Non-proliferation mit the 1994 Annual Report of the United ley Hall and Chevy Chase Junior Col- Treaty. For example, the report says States Arms Control and Disarmament lege, and she attended the College of this about the Iraqi situation: Agency (ACDA). Charleston. A dedicated member of her