April 23, 1991 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 8965 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS A TRIBUTE TO FRED SCHWENGEL completed Capitol building, realizing dreams So he read all that he could find on the of a better tomorrow. subject. This search revealed there was very Born in rural Franklin County, Iowa, in little. Thus was born the U.S. Capitol Histor­ HON. WM.S.BROOMF1ELD 1906, to a recently immigrated German cou­ ical Society which was to become Fred OF MIClilGAN ple, Fred had a father who extolled the free­ Schwengel's lifework and, as the Society's IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dom and opportunity of his new country, but President, the role which many of his friends education at that time did not hold a high feel he was prepared for by destiny. Tuesday, April 23, 1991 priority. Tilling the land did. In late 1956, Schwengel approached his Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, many Young Fred completed the eight grades of­ friend, Speaker Sam Rayburn, and was met dream big dreams of a better tomorrow but fered by his local school and then rode a with the enthusiasm which typified the very few actually capture the essence of those horse twelve miles to a secondary school. He Texas legislative giant. "By damn, was determined to get an education. Some­ Schwengel," he declared, "let's get some of dreams and tum them into reality. My friend, thing in his makeup set him apart even in former Congressman Fred Schwengel has the us together to organize a Capitol society." that day, and, like Lincoln, he was to know There was an offer to fund such an organi­ uncanny knack to do just that. And by turning inspiration and encouragement from those zation with legislative funds, but Schwengel, his dreams into reality, he has paved the way who saw in this young man something spe­ a die-hard free enterpriser then and now, was for a brighter future for us all. cial. determined to fund the fledgling group with­ Back in the 1950's, I remember Fred Always a good athlete, he excelled in base­ out government help--or interference. Schwengel sharing his vision of building a his­ ball, and a couple living near his new school He turned to the National Geographic So­ torical society, and through his determination offered him room and board, plus one dollar ciety through his friend Arthur Hanson who a week, to perform farm chores on Satur­ and hard work, the Capitol Historical Society shared his vision and interest. The Society days. His athletic ability soon won him a had already written and published a guide soon emerged. ·scholarship to Northeast Missouri Teachers Today, thanks to Fred Schwengel we have book on the White House at the request of College. It is a legend among some folks the then First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. holiday cards, historical calendars and numer­ back in Iowa as they talk about the time The Board agreed, with one stipulation. It ous other mementos memorializing our Na­ young Fred and his coach hitchhiked to the wanted to take separate pictures of the tion's Capitol. Thanks to Fred Schwengel we state track meet, Fred comprising the entire House and Senate in session. Until that hav:e history books and commemorative med­ Missouri Teachers College team. He finished time, it had never been done. als. And thanks to Fred Schwengel we can third in the overall meet. Rayburn gave approval, but Senator Rich­ Dan Faurot, later to become famous as ard Russell disapproved of the action. Fred admire beautiful murals and other art in the head football coach at the University of Mis­ Capitol. Without the realization of his dream of arranged a meeting, te111ng the distinguished souri, spotted Schwengel in a dummy scrim­ Georgian that "this is a story the people a historical society, much of America's rich mage and the next day sent him into the history would be lost to future generations. need to know." A ten-minute meeting starting lineup, te111ng him to wrestle down stretched into an hour. Fred Schwengel is a remarkable American. whoever caught the ball on the opposing Russell looked out the window of his office A man of extraordinary talents, he has contrib­ team. and told Schwengel he was still opposed. But uted much to a better future. As legislator, his­ He did it well enough to be a four-year, he added, "Tell Hubert Humphrey, the Sen­ torian, mason and friend, Fred Schwengel has first-team player for Faurot, and he was named a small-college all-American in his ate Majority Leader, that if he will alert me touched the lives of thousands of individuals senior year. when he's going to call this resolution up for and brought the American spirit to the surface. After graduation, Schwengel married his unanimous approval, I'll arrange to be off Mr. Speaker, I'd like to introduce into the college sweetheart, Ethel Cassidy, and set­ the floor." RECORD a column from The Scottish Rite tled in Shelbina, Missouri, to coach sports Schwengel still speaks in awe of Senator Journal, a notable tribute to Fred Schwengel and teach history. Several years later, after Russell who is a legend in the annals of the their son and daughter were born, the young Senate; and on that thin thread was born the who continues to work today for a better to­ U.S. Capitol Historical Society, formally morrow. couple moved to Davenport, Iowa, and Fred began a highly successful career in the insur­ founded in 1962. ILLUSTRIOUS: FRED SCHWENGEL: CREATING A ance profession. National Geographic writer Lonnelle BETTER TOMORROW Citing unmet needs, Fred became very ac­ Aikman was assigned to write the story of (By Herb Wadsworth, 33°) tive and outspoken in local affairs. As a re­ the Capitol. Published in 1963, We, The Peo­ There is an indomitable spirit in some. sult, he was elected president of the Young ple was a blockbuster, se111ng some 300,000 When Abraham Lincoln took his oath of of­ Republicans and state president of the Iowa copies in its first year. The revenue from fice as a Member of the U.S. House of Rep­ Junior Chamber of Commerce. The county, this book launched the U.S. Capitol Society. resentatives in 1847, he could not have imag­ which was heavily populated with German­ And, it's still working! The Society has ined the heartbreak and tragedy that would speaking immigrants, was also heavily funnelled $3 million into research and acqui­ befall his life. Neither could he have seen Democratic. sitions and built an endowment of $1.5 mil­ that his life and example would serve as a In 1944, Scott County Republicans per­ lion, all in large part to We, The People beacon of hope for millions upon millions for suaded Fred to run for the Iowa Legislature, which has been updated fourteen times and all time to come. many feeling he was just going to be a "sac­ is now printed in six languages. Some 5.5 We can but imagine this tall, gaunt young rificial lamb." He won by 34 votes. million copies have been sold, making it the man walking the halls of a largely unfin­ He served ten years, getting into a cele­ most successfully history book ever pub­ ished U.S. Capitol-dreaming dreams of a brated battle with Governor Robert Blue lished. better tomorrow. over the issue of state aid to education. Among the texts the Society currently has The life of Abraham Lincoln was to become When the dust cleared, Fred emerged victori­ available are: Washington, Past and Present; the model and inspiration of a young Iowa ous, but more importantly, Iowa students Our Nation's Capitol Coloring Book; Statu­ farm boy who, in his own way, has made a had won, and the bill he helped pass remains ary Hall; and a new entry, The Bibliography tremendous contribution to his fellow man. one of his most lasting legacies. Prior to his of Speakers. Particularly, the life and work of Fred efforts, the state provided no financial as­ In addition to the books, slides, postcards, Schwengel has enhanced the structure and sistance to local schools, and consequently prints, Christmas cards and stationery, other the aura of the Capitol of the United States education languished as a cause in the state mementos of the Capitol are available. Par­ for generations. legislature. ticularly interesting are the bookends and Legislator, historian, humanitarian, hus­ Elected to Congress in 1954, Fred wishing paperweights made of the stone removed band, father-and Freemason-Illustrious: to learn more about the nation's Capitol, from the building during recent renovations. Schwengel is, like Lincoln, another tall, sought to join a Capitol historical society. Commemorative medals have been struck gaunt figure who walks the halls of the now He soon learned there wasn't one. and are big sellers, along with the Society's •This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 8966 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS April 23, 1991 annual historical calendar which has grown The great American poet a.nd Lincoln position in the nation, the general secretary in distribution by leaps and bounds. scholar Carl Sandburg was a close friend of of the National Council of Churches. Also, Helen Hayes narrates a recording Brother Schwengel. They spent countless "Imagine what she would be doing 1f she "The Voice of the People," and a twenty­ hours discussing President Lincoln and ha.d started a.t 22," her daughter, Jane Louise eight minute film, "City Out of Wilderness: American history.