March 17, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 157, Pt. 3 4299 After that meeting, Corman and Martin, in lenger and a Learjet, naturally decking them ber, I traveled with him and Dr. Martin to effect, shopped for time, hoping to find a spe- out in his color. That move was automatic, Dana-Farber. As we waited in a corridor, cialist who might visualize a better out- even though a dark paint like red increases every doctor who passed greeted the two come. At the University of Arkansas for operating costs—absorbing heat, for exam- warmly. One doctor, a Kentuckian himself, Medical Sciences, a center of myeloma re- ple, and making the plane more difficult to joked with Rick about the next bone marrow search, doctors said the right treatment cool. That’s a reason, folks, you do not see transplant he might need, saying it would could give Corman seven years. And then he many red planes. undoubtedly be easy to find a donor of cells and Martin went to Boston’s Dana-Farber, Though turning his grounds into an air- ‘‘because we know that all Kentuckians are whose myeloma chief, Dr. Kenneth Ander- field kept Rick busy, he wasn’t spared peri- related.’’ (‘‘Oooh, be careful,’’ said Rick. son, looked down at Corman’s file and said: ods of great sadness and despair about his ill- ‘‘Mrs. Loomis, here—she’s from the press.’’) ‘‘I see you’re 45, Rick. I’m surprised that ness. On one 2001 Friday night several I next saw Corman twice in New York City. you’d be satisfied dying at age 52. If you months after it flared, with his young kids On a Monday he unexpectedly dropped by my come here, we will do everything possible to away at their mother’s, he phoned Tammie office to introduce me to the University of see that you grow old gracefully and die of Taylor, then the chief of one of his com- Kentucky’s famous basketball coach, John something other than multiple myeloma.’’ pany’s divisions. Finding her at the office, he Calipari. The two men had flown to New And thus was struck a memorable bargain, asked her to come the short distance to his York for the day to shop at Brioni, the for both sides. Against terrible odds, Corman house. ‘‘Why?’’ she asked. ‘‘Is anything upscale tailoring establishment that makes has survived; Dana-Farber has received mil- wrong?’’ ‘‘Please just come,’’ he answered. Rick’s flamboyant, double-vent red sports lions for the R.J. Corman Multiple Myeloma When she got there, he says, he was ‘‘sitting jackets. I thanked Calipari for a favor he’d Research Fund, most of the money contrib- there bawling.’’ To her anxious question, he done me. There had been a time, early on, uted by Rick, some by friends of his. He told said simply, ‘‘I’m scared.’’ Things moved on when Rick thought he might not cooperate Dr. Anderson at the outset: ‘‘Every year you after that in quite a remarkable way: Taylor with this article. But friends had talked him keep me alive, Santa Claus will visit you.’’ stayed that night, and she’s been there ever into it, among them Calipari, who argued, Corman proceeded to deliver Dana-Farber at since. ‘‘Somebody reading it might be inspired.’’ As a manager, Taylor wins Rick’s ultimate least $250,000 each December, usually in In my other New York visit with Rick, he accolade: ‘‘She’s a go-getter’’ (a description packs of $100 bills (though he has stopped the came to breakfast at my office cafeteria in that, were it in a thesaurus, would be in the cash deliveries because of security concerns) December so I could do a little wind-up re- vicinity of ‘‘industrious’’). But she is the that he ostentatiously plunks down before porting. Heads turned to marvel at his jack- first to say that the secret of R.J. Corman’s his doctor, Paul Richardson, and other staff et as we stood waiting for our bacon and success is, simply, Rick. She spends her members. And Rick would say, ‘‘Don’t forget eggs. He was in Manhattan to take 130 people days, in fact, trying to hire people who will that this won’t be coming if I die.’’ bring his kind of ‘‘passion and pride’’ to their to the Radio City Christmas show and then Dr. Richardson, 48 and internationally work. to dinner at Del Frisco’s, an expensive res- known for his work on multiple myeloma, And what is to happen when Rick—this taurant nearby. has done his part by cycling new and im- inspirer and motivator—is not there to keep On that Friday morning he had the look of proved drugs (some developed at Dana- that culture going? The legal answer is that invincibility that appears to have character- Farber) into the oral and intravenous ‘‘cock- a trust will take over ownership of the com- ized him all his life, but that sometimes, as tail’’ that Corman takes. Dr. Richardson pany. It will exist for a near-unimaginable you’ve read, is stripped away by sadness. says he and Dr. Anderson have ‘‘kind of 200 years and is likely to have Dana-Farber Even so, Rick Corman had made it to that taken this disease by the scruff of the neck as its ultimate beneficiary. A handful of December day and to the others that passed and given it a damn good shake.’’ trustees will run it—people that Rick knows before this story closed some weeks later. Richardson’s affection for his patient has well and indeed trusts—and they will be paid He’d ‘‘done good,’’ by his way of reckoning. in the interim grown so deep that he never handsomely, probably dividing one-fifth of You can’t help but feel that he will keep on runs out of praise for him. He watched Rick the company’s pretax profits. That would be beating the odds. And, when his luck runs give $12,000 to a cancer patient he didn’t big money. But Rick expects the trustees out, the word will go up on the company know for a transplant that might otherwise (who could include some of his children) to website, and the world will have lost some of have not been performed. Every week Rick devote all their might to preserving and its style. funds a group luncheon for Dana-Farber’s building the company. And if they do that, f doctors, picking up the check because the in- the price will seem cheap to him. All the stitute’s rules won’t let it pay. ‘‘Rick is a while, Rick says, Tammie Taylor and her TIBET profoundly good man,’’ says Richardson, staff will run the company and can be ex- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, finding him a remarkable mixture of ‘‘hum- pected to do it very well. bleness and—I don’t say this lightly—great- He does not rule out the possibility that I rise today to express my continuing ness.’’ eventually one or more of his children will concern about the current situation in Richardson does not talk, meanwhile, of a move into management, though at the mo- Tibet. cure because there isn’t one. Richardson ment the three oldest have careers that are Before I do so, I would like to bring says, ‘‘I hope—well, actually I pray—that he not headed in that direction. Amy, 33, is a to the attention of my colleagues a re- can have another five to 10 years.’’ Rick, not marketing analyst at a Lexington uniform cent statement made by His Holiness much into religion, says simply of his pros- company, Galls; Richard Jay, 30, is an asso- the Dalai Lama on his political future. pects, ‘‘If you make it to tomorrow, you’ve ciate dean at Lenoir Community College in In his March 10 statement marking done good.’’ North Carolina; Jay Richard, 24, drives a All of Corman’s doctors agree that he has tractor-trailer for R.J. Corman. The other the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan up- come this far by keeping himself remarkably two children are Ashley, 22 (called by her rising, His Holiness announced his in- fit. In 2002, five months after his first bone first name, Shawna, by everybody but Rick), tention to propose amendments to the marrow transplant, Corman ran the Boston and April, 21. Both, Rick thinks, might have Charter for Tibetans in Exile, handing Marathon to aid a cancer fundraiser. He still the ‘‘capacity’’ for running a business. Each, over his formal authority to an elected runs five kilometers almost every day, but though, has entertained the thought of be- leader. his illness has caused his pace to slow, from coming a doctor. Ashley is currently a clin- Let me read a portion of his message maybe 19 minutes for the distance to 27. The ical research coordinator at Dana-Farber and to the Fourteenth Assembly of the Ti- drugs he takes also have intermittently a student of her father’s disease. April is a caused him intense, neuropathic leg pain, junior at Transylvania University in Lex- betan People’s Deputies: which he sometimes can ease only by ele- ington. The essence of a democratic system is, in vating his legs above his heart. He often does Dale Hawk, formerly a CSX (CSX) execu- short, the assumption of political responsi- that in deep La-Z-Boy recliners at home, in tive and today an R.J. Corman director, says bility by elected leaders for the popular a space once called the living room and now Rick’s kids will undoubtedly have to earn good. In order for our process of democra- christened the ‘‘cancer room.’’ their way into management if that’s where tization to be complete, the time has come The discovery of his illness brought about they’d like to be. Right now, he says, the for me to devolve my formal authority to large changes in both Rick’s business and company is well established and will endure such an elected leadership. personal life. Dr. Richardson asked to see if Rick dies. But he also acknowledges that I applaud His Holiness for this deci- Rick frequently in Boston, which raised the it will miss Rick’s flair and the personal re- sion and I stand ready to do my part to threat of commercial flights exposing him to lationships that he has in the railroad indus- help the Tibetan community in exile germs. No problem: Rick (a pilot himself) try. ‘‘The company will go on,’’ he says, ‘‘but constructed a city-airport-size 5,600-foot run- it will never be the same without Rick.’’ transition to a new political structure. way on his property. For transportation, he After my long Nicholasville interview with I take great comfort in the knowl- bought two planes for $12 million, a Chal- Rick, I saw him three times more. In Novem- edge that His Holiness will continue

VerDate Mar 15 2010 09:04 Feb 07, 2014 Jkt 099102 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR11\S17MR1.001 S17MR1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 4300 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 157, Pt. 3 March 17, 2011 his role as spiritual leader to the Ti- was mayor at the time—and he accept- the Declaration of Independence. His betan people and will work tirelessly to ed. In September 1979, I was delighted cousin, John Carroll, born in Upper preserve the Tibetan culture both in- to welcome the Dalai Lama to San Marlboro, was elected the first bishop side and outside of Tibet. Francisco to receive his first public of Baltimore, and was elevated to the I also support His Holiness’ call for recognition in the United States. first Archbishop of the United States fact-finding delegations to Tibet, in- During our many conversations, His when Pope Pius VII made Baltimore cluding representatives of inter- Holiness often reiterates that, at its the first American Catholic arch- national parliamentarians, to see for core, Buddhism espouses reaching out diocese. James Calhoun, of Irish de- themselves the current situation on to help others, particularly the less scent, was the first mayor of Baltimore the ground. fortunate. And it encourages us all to City, and held a commission with the As His Holiness pointed out, similar be more kind and compassionate. Baltimore militia. delegations visited Tibet in the late His teachings truly cross all reli- From these auspicious beginnings, 1970s and early 1980s and I strongly en- gions, cultures, and ethnic lines. those reporting Irish ancestry in Mary- courage China to allow them again. Over the decades, his principled be- I believe such delegations could in- liefs have never wavered, yet his teach- land have today grown to over 700,000, crease awareness about the challenges ings have become more expansive. His according to the 2006 American Com- facing Tibetans and Tibetan culture message of peace and understanding munity Survey. These sons and daugh- and enhance dialogue and cooperation has never been more relevant than it is ters of Eire did not grow without tribu- with China on finding mutually bene- today. lation. As famine and hunger gripped ficial solutions. In the midst of war and bloodshed, the Emerald Isle, nearly 3.5 million Indeed, as a friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been a champion Irish immigrants fled to America be- and as a friend of all Tibetan people, I for peace and nonviolence. In his quiet tween 1820 and 1880, engendering dis- remain deeply concerned about the sit- but undeniably firm manner, he chal- criminatory reactions that often uation in Tibet. lenges all of us to look beyond conflict strayed into violence. Signs of ‘‘No In 2008, a wave of violence swept and harmful rhetoric to seek positive Irish Need Apply’’ appeared in business across Tibet which was met with vio- change by embracing dialogue, co- windows, and young Irishmen were lence by the Chinese government. operation, and negotiated solutions. often drummed into service on the Reports out of Tibet continue to In the face of hatred and intolerance, quayside to fight for the Union Army. paint a picture of the suppression the he has faith in love, compassion, and Indeed, in my own home town of Balti- Tibetan culture and people are con- respect. more, the mayoral elections of 1856, fronted with. He reminds people from all corners of 1857 and 1858 were marred by violence, And despite nine rounds of talks be- the globe to move beyond our ethnic, political intimidation and well-founded tween the United Front Work Depart- religious, and racial divisions and em- accusations of ballot-box stuffing, fo- ment of the Communist Party of China brace our common humanity. He en- mented by nativist political organiza- and envoys of His Holiness the Dalai courages us to believe in something tions, such as the Know-Nothing Party. Lama, a comprehensive solution to the bigger than ourselves and work to- Irish Americans pushed past these Tibetan issue remains out of reach. gether for a better future. shortsighted prejudices, time and As a friend of China and the Dalai He sets a wonderful example for all of again, and put their shoulders to the Lama, I am saddened to see the situa- us, and I am proud to call him friend. wheel of industry in America. They tion in Tibet further deteriorate. I urge my colleagues to join me in helped settle and farm the breadbasket The Dalai Lama has been trying to supporting the Dalai Lama in working of America, they took up arms in the engage the Chinese leadership for more toward a humanitarian solution to the defense of freedom and liberty, and than 50 years. problems plaguing Tibet and the Ti- they helped build an ever strength- In the 1990s, I carried three letters to betan people. ening bond with the island nation of President Jiang Zemin from the Dalai f Ireland. They built strong communities Lama requesting a face-to-face meet- IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE around the values of hard work, perse- ing. verance, faith, and a shared remem- In my view, the Dalai Lama’s con- MONTH brance of an ancestral home across the cerns are driven by the fact that the Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, sea. Irish Americans have ever under- Chinese Government continues to sup- today I applaud the President in de- stood that great joy is only earned press the Tibetan way of life. claring March 2011 Irish-American Her- with great hardship, and our 35th Yet he has made it clear that he does itage Month, and I speak in celebration President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, not support independence for Tibet, but of the rich Irish history, culture, and showed this ethic. In service to our rather meaningful cultural and reli- customs still alive today in the hearts country, he faced down the threat of gious autonomy for the Tibetan people and minds of Irish Americans every- worldwide nuclear annihilation, and within the People’s Republic of China. where. This can only come about through The association of our two nations pushed our Nation to do the impos- meaningful dialogue and negotiation, began early in our country’s history. sible: to claim the Moon as the prov- not actions that would undermine Ti- Irish immigrants arrived in the early ince of man. Irish Americans proudly betan culture. colonial days as indentured servants, continue this tradition of service, and As such, I urge the administration to which was often the only affordable serve at every level of public office, in- support fact-finding delegations to method of passage to the ‘‘New World.’’ cluding in the Governor’s Mansion in Tibet and work with our friends and al- Close to a quarter of a million Irish im- Annapolis, MD, where Maryland’s fa- lies in the international community to migrated during the colonial era, and vorite Irish-American son, Governor call on the Chinese Government to many of them to Maryland. Upon their Martin O’Malley, resides. begin a substantive dialogue with the arrival, they set immediately upon the The millions of Irish that immi- Dalai Lama on national reconciliation, heady things of the time: independ- grated to the United States, escaping respect for the Tibetan culture, and ence, and the building of a nation. Irish hunger and religious persecution, chas- meaningful autonomy for Tibet. immigrants took up their new national ing the elusive American dream, for- I have been blessed to call the Dalai identity with fervor, especially in ever knitted Ireland and America to- Lama a friend for more than 30 years. Maryland, and helped to found lasting gether. It is right that we honor this I first met him during a trip to India institutions. Charles Carroll, his fam- bond, and take this occasion to reflect and Nepal in the fall of 1978. ily descendants from the O´ Cearbhaill on the deeply inlaid threads of Amer- During that trip I invited His Holi- lords of E´ ile, was a member of the sec- ican history and tradition that sound, ness to visit San Francisco—where I ond Continental Congress and signed look, feel, and are distinctly Irish.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 09:04 Feb 07, 2014 Jkt 099102 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR11\S17MR1.001 S17MR1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD