S3168 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 28, 1996 the University of North Carolina report that nominations Nos. 502, 531, 532, 533, 535, LEGISLATIVE SESSION children enrolled in Abecedarian as pre- 536, 537, 538, 539, and all nominations The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under schoolers still scored higher in math and placed on the Secretary’s desk in the reading at the age of 15 than untreated chil- the previous order, the Senate will re- Air Force, Army and Navy. turn to legislative session. dren. The children still retained an average I further ask unanimous consent that IQ edge was 4.6 points. The earlier the chil- f dren were enrolled, the more enduring the the nominations be confirmed en bloc, gain. And intervention after age 5 conferred the motions to reconsider be laid upon APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAJOR- no IQ or academic benefit. the table en bloc, that any statements ITY AND MINORITY LEADERS All of which raises a troubling question. If relating to the nominations appear at Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask the windows of the mind close, for the most the appropriate place in the RECORD, unanimous consent that pursuant to part, before we’re out of elementary school, the President be immediately notified Public Law 103–432, the following mem- is all hope lost for children whose parents of the Senate’s action, and that the bers be named to the Advisory Board did not have them count beads to stimulate Senate then return to legislative ses- their math circuits, or babble to them to on Welfare Indicators: build their language loops? At one level, no: sion. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, of Virginia; the brain retains the ability to learn The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Martin H. Gerry, of Kansas; Gerald H. throughout life, as witness anyone who was objection, it is so ordered. Miller, of Michigan, upon the rec- befuddled by Greek in college only to master The nominations considered and con- ommendation of the majority leader, it during retirement. But on a deeper level firmed en bloc are as follows: and Paul E. Barton, of New Jersey, the news is sobering. Children whose neural AIR FORCE upon the recommendation of the mi- circuits are not stimulated before kinder- The following named officer for appoint- garten are never going to be what they could nority leader. ment to the grade of general while assigned The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without have been. ‘‘You want to say that it is never to a position of importance and responsi- too late,’’ says Joseph Sparling, who de- bility under Title 10, United States code, objection, it is so ordered. signed the Abecedarian curriculum. ‘‘But Section 601: f there seems to be something very special To be general about the early years.’’ ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 29, And yet . . . there is new evidence that Lt. Gen. Michael E. Ryan, 000–00–0000, U.S. 1996 Air Force. certain kinds of intervention can reach even Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I fur- DEPARTMENTOF DEFENSE the older brain and, like a microscopic ther ask unanimous consent that when Kenneth H. Bacon, of the District of Co- screwdriver. rewire broken circuits. In Janu- the Senate completes its business ary, scientists led by Paula Tallal of Rutgers lumbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of De- University and Michael Merzenich of UC San fense. (New Position) today, it stand in adjournment until Francisco described a study of children who Franklin D. Kramer, of the District of Co- the hour of 10 a.m. on Friday, March 29; have ‘‘language-based learning disabil- lumbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of De- further, that immediately following ities’’—reading problems. LLD affects 7 mil- fense. the prayer, the Journal of proceedings lion children in the United States. Tallal has DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD be deemed approved to date, no resolu- long argued that LLD arises from a child’s Joseph J. DiNunno, of Maryland to be a tions come over under the rule, the call inability to distinguish short staccato Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities of the calendar be dispensed with, the sounds—such as ‘‘d’’ and ‘‘b.’’ Normally, it Safety Board for a term expiring October 18, morning hour be deemed to have ex- takes neurons in the auditory cortex some- 2000. (Reappointment) pired, and the time for the two leaders thing like .015 second to respond to a signal AIR FORCE from the ear, calm down and get ready to re- be reserved for their use later in the The following-named officer for promotion spond to the next sound; in LLD children, it day; that there then be a period for in the Regular Air Force of the United takes five to 10 times as long. (Merzenich States to the grade indicated under title 19, morning business until the hour of speculates that the defect might be the re- United States Code, section 624: 12:30, with Senators to speak for up to sult of chronic middle-ear infections in in- To be brigadier general 5 minutes each except for the fol- fancy: the brain never ‘‘hears’’ sounds clear- lowing: Senator THOMAS, 30 minutes; ly and so fails to draw a sharp auditory Col. Timothy J. McMahon, 000–00–0000 Senator DORGAN, 20 minutes; Senator map.) Short sounds such as ‘‘b’’ and ‘‘d’’ go The following-named officer for appoint- by too fast—.04 second—to process. Unable to ment to the grade of lieutenant general wile HATCH, 20 minutes; Senator COHEN, 15 associate sounds with letters, the children assigned to a position of importance and re- minutes; Senator FAIRCLOTH, 10 min- develop reading problems. sponsibility under Title 10, United States utes; Senator HUTCHISON, 5 minutes; The scientists drilled the 5- to 10-year-olds Code, Section 601: Senator WELLSTONE, 10 minutes; Sen- three hours a day with computer-produced To be lieutenant general ator MURKOWSKI, 15 minutes; Senator sound that draws out short consonants, like Maj. Gen. Kenneth E. Eickmann, 000–00–0000, GLENN, 15 minutes; and Senator an LP played too slow. The result: LLD chil- United States Air Force MCCONNELL, 10 minutes. dren who were one to three years behind in The following-named officer for appoint- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without language ability improved by a full two ment to the grade of lieutenant general years after only four weeks. The improve- objection, it is so ordered. while assigned to a position of importance ment has lasted. The training, Merzenich Mr. GRASSLEY. I thank the Chair. and responsibility under Title 10, United suspect, redrew the wiring diagram in chil- f States Code, Section 601: dren’s auditory cortex to process fast sounds. Their reading problems vanished like the To be lieutenant general PROGRAM sounds of the letters that, before, they never Maj. Gen. Richard T. Swope, 000–00–0000, U.S. Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the heard. Air Force leader would like me to inform all of Such neural rehab may be the ultimate ARMY our colleagues that there will be a pe- payoff of the discovery that the experiences The following-named officer for reappoint- riod for morning business for 21⁄2 hours of life are etched in the bumps and squiggles ment to the grade of lieutenant general in to accommodate a number of requests of the brain. For now, it is enough to know the United States Army while assigned to a that we are born with a world of potential— by Members. It is hoped that during to- position of importance and responsibility morrow’s session, the omnibus appro- potential that will be realized only if it is under title 10, United States Code, section tapped. And that is challenge enough. 601(a): priations conference report will be- f To be lieutenant general come available. Senators should there- fore be aware rollcall votes are possible EXECUTIVE SESSION Lt. Gen. John G. Coburn, 000–00–0000, U.S. Army during Friday’s session. The Senate The following-named officer for appoint- may also be asked to turn to any other legislative or executive items for ac- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR ment to the grade of lieutenant general in the United States Army while assigned to a tion. Mr. GRASSLEY. Again, for the ma- position of importance and responsibility f jority leader, I ask unanimous consent under title 10, United States Code, section that the Senate immediately proceed 601(a): ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT to executive session to consider the fol- To be lieutenant general Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, if lowing nominations on today’s Execu- Maj. Gen. John J. Cusick, 000–00–0000, U.S. there is no further business to come be- tive Calendar: Executive Calendar Army fore the Senate, I now ask unanimous

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:19 Jun 20, 2008 Jkt 041999 PO 00000 Frm 00132 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 J:\ODA16\1996_F~1\S28MR6.REC S28MR6 mmaher on MIKETEMP with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS March 28, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3169 consent that the Senate stand in ad- At this point, the most qualified out- It is a symptom of a lack of moral journment under the previous order side observer of the Whitewater and leadership. immediately following my remarks. Travelgate issues is James B. Stewart. Word is getting out in the country- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. Stewart was given access to side, Mr. President. objection, it is so ordered. sources by the White House. Mr. Stew- The people we serve know when their Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, for art is also described as ideologically leaders are failing to lead. the benefit of everybody, this is prob- akin to the Clintons. He is a respected, They know that moral leadership is ably going to be something less than 10 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, for- not coming from their White House. minutes. I ask permission to speak for merly with the Wall Street Journal. Since the time of the Post-ABC sur- a period of time as if in morning busi- His bona fides are generally recognized vey, a new revelation from the White ness. as impeccable. House has reinforced the perception of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without On March 11, Mr. Stewart was inter- a lack of candor. objection, it is so ordered. viewed by ABC’s Ted Koppel on I am referring to the First Lady’s f ‘‘Nightline.’’ March 21 responses to formal questions Mr. Koppel asked the following ques- from the House Committee on Govern- THE VOID IN MORAL LEADERSHIP ment Reform and Oversight. PART IV tion: And to those who say, has all of this inves- The subject matter was, who knew Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, last tigation, the congressional investigations, what, when, about the firing of inno- week I began giving a series of speeches the independent prosecutors, the time that cent workers in the White House Trav- about the void in moral leadership in you have spent in putting this book el Office. the White House. together*** was it all worth all the money Never mind that the White House re- By moral leadership, I don’t mean and the time and the effort and the pain? leased her responses too late for the morality. I mean simply setting a good Here is Mr. Stewart’s reply: evening news shows to do any serious example for the American people: I think in the end we’ll find that it was— reporting. Being trustworthy, honest, candid, and that the truth is important in our society, That is an old trick in this town. so on, simple, basic values that all that justice is important in our society. If there is bad news, or if you want to Americans share, and that all Ameri- I don’t think you can put a pricetag on minimize coverage, just wait till the cans expect to see in their leaders. those things. TV news shows are over to release it. Yes, It’s terribly expensive, and at times it But the real news in this story—the Frankly, there has been a failure by seems very wasteful, and at times it’s nasty this White House to set a good exam- and partisan. real news in the First Lady’s re- ple. It often is a blood sport, as Vince Foster sponses—was the fueling of the percep- And I have been very specific about said. But why is that? tion of a lack of straight forwardness, my observations, what the President, It’s because the truth was never honored in of candor. the First Lady and others have done, the first place, and I hope if there’s any les- In a 25-page response, only 16 pages of and where the good example broke son that comes out of that, that people in which contained actual responses, here the future will recognize that. is what appeared: the words ‘‘I do not down. Mr. President, that is a hard punch I began this series of speeches with recall’’ appeared 21 times; the words ‘‘I taken at the White House. the words of two great American presi- That truth was never honored in the do not believe’’ appeared 9 times; the dents in mind. first place. words ‘‘I believe’’ appeared 7 times; the The first was a pronouncement by But it is a fair punch. words ‘‘I may have’’ appeared 5 times; Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is observations like Mr. Stewart’s the words ‘‘it is possible that’’ ap- FDR said that, the Presidency is pre- which are having an impact out at the peared 3 times; the words ‘‘no specific eminently about moral leadership. grassroots. recollection’’ appeared 2 times; in one It’s not about being a good engineer The Washington Post ran a story case, she reports ‘‘she had heard’’ or a good decisionmaker or a good about the new Post-ABC poll in its something, which is hearsay, yet in speaker. March 24 edition. three other cases she reports merely It’s about moral leadership. The article was written by R.H. that she had ‘‘no first-hand knowl- The second was from Teddy Roo- Melton, and was entitled, ‘‘First Lady edge’’; and, the following phrases were sevelt. He talked about the obligation we Bears the Brunt of Unfavorable Opin- used once each: ‘‘I cannot recall’’; ‘‘he have to tell the truth about the Presi- ion on Whitewater.’’ may have mentioned’’; ‘‘a vague recol- One grocery store manager in Pon- dent, more than any other American. lection’’; ‘‘I do not remember’’; ‘‘it is To not do so, he said, was both base tiac, MI, seems to support the conten- hard to remember’’; and ‘‘a general and servile. tion of Mr. Stewart on ‘‘Nightline.’’ recollection.’’ And so I have felt an obligation to The store manager, Dwight Bradford, In other words, Mr. President, these make this observation, Mr. President: age 27, said: were not necessarily totally forth- There has been a failure in this White This is something he should have settled coming answers. House of setting a good example for the before becoming president. I believe the First Lady may be to- By him not taking action, the Republicans tally sincere in these responses, as op- American people. have made him look a little dumbfounded. Today, I will further support my And if she knew something, she’s been posed to taking the advice of some claim. withholding evidence. clever lawyer and doing a soft shoe I will refer to a new Washington And that is wrong for a government offi- routine. Post-ABC News poll, conducted March cial. But, given the White House’s history 14–17 of 1,512 randomly selected adults. It makes the United States look bad. of not being forthcoming, do you not In the survey, half of the respondents The Post article also showed that the see how this could further fuel the per- said they thought the First Lady is not Whitewater response by the White ception of a lack of candor. telling the truth about Whitewater. House is having repercussions that cut Do you not now see why honoring the Questions about the candor and across party affiliation. truth in the first place—as ‘‘Blood straight-forwardness of the First Lady Rouvain Benison, a Democrat, is also Sport’’ author Jim Stewart put it—is go right to the heart of my point. quoted in the story, saying the fol- so important for our national leaders. It goes beyond the issue of anyone lowing: Do you not now see my point about calling anyone dishonest, or a liar. Whitewater is a symptom, the lack of the need for our leaders to set a good That would not be proper! moral leadership, of moral integrity, example. My point is that there is a growing strength, courage—all the good things in a That Washington Post-ABC poll tells perception out there in grassroots person’s character. me that about half the people of this America that the First Lady has not These were not my words, Mr. Presi- country do not have the level of con- told the truth. dent. fidence they should in their leadership How can the moral authority to lead In fact, this gentleman stated the in the White House. survive such a perception with this case more eloquently than I did in each In my view, Mr. President, setting White House? of my speeches of the past week. the example is the most important

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