E34 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks January 7, 1997 intellectual, he embodied the best which family. If you wanted a lesson in hard work, he Leadership through personal example is a Guam has ever produced. provided the role model. If you needed a les- trite phrase, but an appropriate one when Richard Taitano achieved much in his 75 son in service to family and parents and sib- speaking about Richard Flores Taitano. Guam years of life. He was the first and only native lings and nephews and nieces, he was the will miss him. His legacy is one that should in- of the territories to ever serve as director of lesson. If you wanted to know almost anything spire future generations. As may be appro- the Office of Territories in the Department of about anything whether it was agriculture or priate and as he desired, he will probably not Interior. He served as deputy high commis- religion or Guam or ethics or the Federal Gov- get the public honor that he so richly merits. sioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Is- ernment, you could always ask him. And if you He requested that no ``state funeral'' be held lands at a critical time of transition for the needed a lesson in humility, he would teach for him because he didn't want people stand- Trust Territory. As significant as this service you one through the application of his wry ing up to tell ``lies'' about him. was during the Kennedy and Johnson admin- humor. But I know that it really doesn't matter. He istrations, this is not the service for which he Like others in the Taitano family, the Kueto was always in it to do the right thing and is remembered on Guam. clan, he had the sharp tongue to match the never for the glory. May that spirit touch us Instead, it is his service at home for his peo- sharp mind. He came from a large family today, elected leaders and government offi- ple on Guam. As a young director of finance whose reputation for hard work and sharp cials. He really was the lamp at the door to a in the post-Organic Act Guam, he became the minds is well-known. He applied this to be- fair and just government on Guam. first Chamorro to become responsible for mon- coming one of the first young Chamorros to The island's heartfelt condolences go out to itoring the finances of the new civilian Govern- become educated in the immediate post-World his widow, Magdalena Santos Taitano, his ment of Guam. He did so with intelligence and War II period. Attending to his parents and children Taling, Richard, John, and Carmen siblings during the Japanese Occupation of a high standard of ethics which he expected of and nine grandchildren. His family was a himself as well as others. He served four Guam, he came out of the war a very mature source of strength for him during his extended terms in the Guam Legislature from 1972 to and experienced person. He went to Berea illness. He also leaves behind brothers and 1980. During these terms, he applied the College in Kentucky and the Wharton School sisters Esther Taitano Underwood, Frank Flo- same high standards in overseeing the spend- of Economics in Pennsylvania. He came back res Taitano, Jose Flores Taitano, Henry Flores ing plans of government agencies without re- to Guam educated and ready to apply his Taitano, Candelaria Taitano Rios and William gard to friendships, political alliances, or family knowledge and understanding of his people to Flores Taitano. connections. As a young educator, I had the government service, both on Guam and in the Si Yu'os ma'ase' nu todu i che'cho'-mu para opportunity to testify in front of him on political Federal sector. i minaolek i taotao-mu yan i tano'-mu. status issues. I was afforded no special treat- As he had been taught by his parents, he f ment and, in fact, given some difficult ques- knew that his education and his intelligence tions to respond to. required a high level of responsibility from him. CASA MALPAIS NATIONAL For most political leaders on Guam, he was He knew that being gifted was just thatÐa gift. HISTORIC LANDMARK a great Democrat partisan. He served as State He didn't earn being smart or talented or hard- chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam working. These were the result of his parent- from 1967 to 1969. He was the architect of a age, his heritage, and his place in the world HON. J.D. HAYWORTH political machine that was built on hard work, as God intended for him. Personal arrogance OF ARIZONA collaboration, boundless energy, unmatched was not part of his demeanor, but he certainly IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES intellect, and powerful grassroots. He was a enjoyed using his wits to confront arrogance Tuesday, January 7, 1997 role model for two generations of politicians wherever and whenever he saw it. Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, today I am Uncle Richard was my personal lesson in and politician wannabees who saw in him the reintroducing legislation which would authorize how to use your wits and how to use hard embodiment of the drive for political mastery the Secretary of the Interior to provide assist- work to great advantage in life. But that is not and the desire to be of public service. ance to the Casa Malpais National Historic For all in Guam's governmental matrix, he the end of the lesson. You see the world is full Landmark in Springerville, AZ. The Casa was the best that the island has ever had in of witty people, even those who work hard at Malpais National Historic Landmark is a 14.5 devotion to duty combined with the highest of being witty and those who take full advantage ethical standards. Whether it was his service of it. The difference for those who become acre archeological site located near the towns as a land surveyor, as director of the Depart- truly great is that only a handful, only a select of Springerville and Eager in northeastern Ari- ment of Finance, as the legislative overseer of few, use those talents in the service of people. zona. The site was occupied around A.D. the Government's finances, he was Guam's He saw that people needed help and that it 1250 by one of the largest and most sophisti- model for ethical public service. There was was his responsibility to help them, not by cated Mogollon communities in the United never any ``deal'' to be made when it involved bending the rules, but by changing the rules. States. the public's money. He made the sun shine in He was that there was much which was unfair Casa Malpais is an extraordinarily rich ar- on his public service and he shined that same and he challenged the unfairness not by hit- cheological site. Stairways, a Great Kiva com- light on every agency head that came before ting below the belt, but by exposing unfairness plex, a fortification wall, a prehistoric trail, him. He didn't just talk sunshine politics, he whenever he saw it. He saw that there was in- catacombs, sacred chambers, and rock panels lived it and he did so in a way no other Guam justice in government, but he confronted the are just some of the features of this large ma- public servant has ever matched, before and purveyors of injustice. He didn't pander to the sonry pueblo. Due to its size, condition, and especially since. He is the role model for victims of injustice, he went at those who rou- complexity, the site offers an unparalleled op- those who aspire to ethical public service. tinely practiced injustice. He was outspoken, portunity to study ancient society in the South- For those of us who were related to him and but even his silence could convey a powerful west and, as such, is of national significance. who grew up in his shadow, he touched us in message, as when he quietly walked out of My legislation would establish the Casa ways which he himself probably never under- the first Guam Commission on Self-Determina- Malpais National Historic Landmark as an af- stood. He was diminutive in size, came from tion when Chamorro self-determination was filiated unit of the National Park Service. Affili- a Baptist family in a very Catholic island and not going to be the first item on the agenda. ated status would authorize the resources and was reared in unprivileged circumstance. He He never went back. protection necessary to preserve this treasure. demonstrated to us that stature was measured He didn't come to this role easily. In carry- As a member of the family of affiliated national from the neck up. He showed that a keen in- ing out his duties as a Federal official, he en- landmarks, the public would also have greater tellect and hard work could always overcome gaged in activities which he didn't particularly exposure to the Casa Malpais site. advantage. He understood religion to be a relish. He appeared in front of the United Na- The communities in the area support this personal force and not a public display. During tions to defend U.S. policies and was some- legislation. Local officials have taken steps to his service as Guam Senator, the Legislative times a caustic critic of local governmental ac- ensure that all research and development of Building and Catholic Cathedral were across tions.