H3818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 8, 2004 John LeBoutillier, ; Bill Lowery, nadze,’’ he said, ‘‘I just spoke with Soviet aster, ‘‘We will never forget [him], nor the last California; Bill McCollum, Florida; Bob Foreign Minister Sharansky, and I said you time we saw [him] . . . as he prepared for McEwen, Ohio; Ray McGrath, New York; better let those Jews go.’’ [his] journey, and waved good-bye, and David Martin, New York; Lynn Martin, Illi- Not wanting to embarrass the president nois; , New York; Sid Morrison, over his mistake, I quickly asked him about ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the Washington; John Napier, South Carolina; the rally, outlining the concerns raised by face of God.’’’ and Jim Nelligan, Pennsylvania. some of my colleagues. His response was im- Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speak- Mike Oxley, Ohio; Stan Parris, Virginia; mediate: ‘‘Do you think I am interested in a er, I yield back the balance of my time. Clint Roberts, South Dakota; Pat Roberts, friendship with the Soviets if they continue f Kansas; Hal Rogers, Kentucky; Marge Rou- to keep their people in prison’’ You do what kema, New Jersey; Claudine Schneider, you believe is right.’’ COMMUNICATION FROM THE HON. Rhode Island; Clay Shaw, Florida; Mark Sil- Reagan may have confused names and EDWARD L. SCHROCK, MEMBER jander, Michigan; Joe Skeen, New Mexico; dates, but his moral compass was always OF CONGRESS good. Today’s leaders, in contrast, may know Albert Lee Smith, Alabama; Chris Smith, The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. New Jersey; Denny Smith, Oregon; David their facts and figures, but are often woe- ROHRABACHER) laid before the House (Mick) Staton, West Virginia; Ed Weber, fully confused about what should be the sim- Ohio; Vin Weber, Minnesota; Frank Wolf, plest distinctions between freedom and tyr- the following communication from the Virginia; and George Wortley, New York. anny, democrats and terrorists. Honorable EDWARD L. SCHROCK, Mem- The legacy of president Reagan will surely ber of Congress: [From the Jerusalem Post, June 6, 2004] endure. Armed with moral clarity, a deep CONGRESS OF THE , faith in freedom, and the courage to follow THE PRISONERS’ CONSCIENCE June 3, 2004. his convictions, he was instrumental in help- Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, (By Natan Sharansky) ing the West win the Cold War and hundreds Speaker, House of Representatives, In 1983, I was confined to an eight-by-ten- of millions of people behind the Iron Curtain Washington, DC. foot prison cell on the border of Siberia. My win their freedom. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: This is to formally no- Soviet jailers gave me the privilege of read- As one of those people, I can only express tify you, pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules ing the latest copy of Pravda. Splashed my deepest gratitude to this great leader. of the House of Representatives, that I have across the front page was a condemnation of Believe me, I will take moral clarity and been served with a criminal subpoena for President Ronald Reagan for having the te- Shevardnadze any day. documents, issued by the United States Dis- merity to call the Soviet Union an ‘‘evil em- Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise trict Court for the Southern District of Illi- pire.’’ Tapping on walls and talking through today to pay tribute to former President Ron- nois. toilets, word of Reagan’s ‘‘provocation’’ ald Reagan who passed away on Saturday After consulting with the Office of General quickly spread throughout the prison. We Counsel, I have determined that compliance dissidents were ecstatic. Finally, the leader June 5, 2004. At this time, I extend my deep- est condolences to his loving wife, Nancy, and with the subpoena is consistent with the of the free world had spoken the truth—a privileges and rights of the House. truth that burned inside the heart of each his children, and I join with our Nation in Sincerely, and every one of us. mourning the loss of a great leader. EDWARD L. SCHROCK, At the time, I never imagined that three Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tam- Member of Congress. years later, I would be in the White House pico, Illinois to Nelle Wilson and John Edward f telling this story to the president. When he ‘‘Jack’’ Reagan. In 1928, Ronald Reagan summoned some of his staff to hear what I graduated from Dixon High School where he LEAVE OF ABSENCE had said, I understood that there had been served as student body president. From 1928– By unanimous consent, leave of ab- much criticism of Reagan’s decision to cast the struggle between the superpowers as a 1932, Reagan attended Eureka College, a sence was granted to: battle between good and evil. small liberal arts institution in Illinois. He ma- Mr. BECERRA (at the request of Ms. Well, Reagan was right and his critics were jored in economics and sociology. PELOSI) for today on account of per- wrong. In 1937, Reagan enlisted in the Army Re- sonal reasons. Those same critics used to love calling serve as a Private and was soon promoted to Mr. CASE (at the request of Ms. Reagan a simpleton who saw the world 2nd Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps PELOSI) for today and the balance of through a primitive ideological prism and of the Cavalry. While in the Army, an agent for the week on account of personal rea- who would convey his ideas through jokes Warner Brothers discovered Ronald Reagan. sons. and anecdotes. In our first meeting, he told Mr. FROST (at the request of Ms. me that Soviet premier Brezhnev and Kosy- In 1940, Reagan wed Jane Wyman. gin, his second-in-command, were discussing In 1942, the Army Air Force called Reagan PELOSI) for today on account of per- whether they should allow freedom of emi- to active duty. He was assigned to the 1st Mo- sonal reasons. gration. ‘‘Look, America’s really pressuring tion Picture Unit in Culver City, California Ms. KILPATRICK (at the request of Ms. us,’’ Brezhnev said, ‘‘maybe we should just where he made over 400 training films. PELOSI) for today on account of per- open up the gates. The problem is, we might Reagan was discharged from the Army in sonal reasons. be the only two people who wouldn’t leave.’’ 1945 at the rank of Captain. Mr. LAMPSON (at the request of Ms. To which Kosygin replied, ‘‘Speak for your- After the war, Reagan resumed his acting PELOSI) for today and the balance of self.’’ career and in 1952 wed Nancy Davis. In 1956, the week on account of a death in the What his critics didn’t seem to understand family. was that the jokes and anecdotes that so en- Reagan campaigned as a Democrat for Eisen- deared Reagan to people were merely his way hower. In 1960, he campaigned for Richard Mr. MENENDEZ (at the request of Ms. of expressing fundamental truths in a way Nixon. In 1962, he officially changed his party PELOSI) for today on account of official that everyone could understand. registration to Republican. business in the district. Reagan’s tendency to confuse names and In 1966, Reagan was elected Governor of Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD (at the re- dates, something I, too, experienced first- California and was re-elected in 1970. On No- quest of Ms. PELOSI) for today on ac- hand, also made him the target of ridicule. vember 4, 1980, Ronald Reagan Wilson be- count of personal reasons. In September 1987, a few months before a came the 40th President of the United States. Mr. REYES (at the request of Ms. summit meeting with Gorbachev in Wash- Ronald Reagan wished to be remembered PELOSI) for today and the balance of ington, I met with Reagan to ask him what the week on account of family medical he thought about the idea of holding a mas- as the President who wanted Americans to sive rally of hundreds of thousands of people believe in themselves. We will remember him reasons. on behalf of Soviet Jewry during the sum- for much more. Ms. SOLIS (at the request of Ms. mit. Some Jewish leaders, concerned that if We will remember Ronald Reagan as a po- PELOSI) for today and the balance of the rally were held Jews would be accused of litical leader who worked diligently to stimulate the week on account of official busi- undermining a renewed hope for peace be- economic growth, increase employment and ness in the district. tween the superpowers, had expressed res- strengthen national defense. He was ‘‘The Mr. STUPAK (at the request of Ms. ervations about such a frontal challenge to Great Communicator’’ whose words and ac- PELOSI) for today on account of family the Soviet premier. tions spoke of honor and peace. reasons. Seeing me together for the first time with Through his convictions, we witnessed the Mr. TURNER of Texas (at the request my wife Avital, who had fought for many years for my release, Reagan greeted us like fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold of Ms. PELOSI) for today and June 9 on a proud grandparent, knowing he had played War. ‘‘Peace through strength’’ is what he account of a funeral in the district. an important role in securing my freedom. sought and achieved. Mr. KING of New York (at the request He told us about his commitment to Soviet In his own words taken from 1986 as he of Mr. DELAY) for today on account of Jewry. ‘‘My dear Mr. and Mrs. Shevard- sought to comfort us after the Challenger Dis- being detained on official business.

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