TRIBUTES TO HON. CHUCK HAGEL 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Chuck Hagel 

U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA 

TRIBUTES 

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


congress.#15
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Chuck Hagel 


47106.001
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2010

S. DOC. 110–24 

Tributes 

Delivered in Congress 

Chuck Hagel 

United States Senator 

1997–2009 

÷ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ iii ] 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Biography .................................................................................................. v 

Farewell to the Senate ............................................................................. ix 

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Akaka, Daniel K., of Hawaii ..................................................... 8 

Alexander, Lamar, of Tennessee ............................................... 3 

Allard, Wayne, of Colorado ........................................................ 21 

Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico ................................................ 8 

Bunning, Jim, of Kentucky ....................................................... 7 

Byrd, Robert C., of West Virginia ............................................. 30 

Coleman, Norm, of Minnesota .................................................. 24 

Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota ................................................. 15 

Corker, Bob, of Tennessee ......................................................... 15 

Dodd, Christopher J., of Connecticut ....................................... 11 

Domenici, Pete V., of New Mexico ............................................ 6 

Dorgan, Byron L., of North Dakota .......................................... 30 

Durbin, Richard, of Illinois ........................................................ 12 

Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming ................................................... 28 

Feingold, Russell D., of Wisconsin ............................................ 6 

Hutchison, Kay Bailey, of Texas ............................................... 9 

Inouye, Daniel K., of Hawaii ..................................................... 26 

Kerry, John F., of Massachusetts ............................................. 16 

Kyl, Jon, of Arizona ................................................................... 23 

Landrieu, Mary L., of Louisiana ............................................... 10 

Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 32 

Levin, Carl, of Michigan ............................................................ 21 

Lieberman, Joseph I., of Connecticut ....................................... 10 

Lugar, Richard G., of Indiana ................................................... 26 

McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky ................................................. 22 

Nelson, E. Benjamin, of Nebraska ............................................ 31 

Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 20 

Reid, Harry, of Nevada .............................................................. 16 

Salazar, Ken, of Colorado .......................................................... 5 

Snowe, Olympia J., of Maine .................................................... 33 

Specter, Arlen, of Pennsylvania ................................................ 28 

Warner, John, of Virginia .......................................................... 13 

Webb, Jim, of Virginia ............................................................... 10 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ v ] 

BIOGRAPHY 

CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska’s senior U.S. Senator, served two 

terms in the U.S. Senate. Senator HAGEL’s duties included 

membership on four Senate committees: Foreign Relations; 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Intelligence; and 

Rules. 

CHUCK HAGEL is the author of ‘‘America: Our Next Chapter,’’ a straightforward examination of the current state of 

our Nation that provides substantial proposals for the challenges of the 21st century. 

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, HAGEL worked in 

the private sector as the president of McCarthy & Co., an investment banking firm based in Omaha, NE, and served as 

chairman of the board of American Information Systems 

(AIS). Before joining McCarthy & Co., HAGEL was president 

and chief executive officer of the Private Sector Council 

(PSC) in Washington, DC, deputy director and chief operating officer of the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized 

Nations (G–7 Summit) and president and chief executive officer of the World USO. 

In the mid-1980s, HAGEL co-founded VANGUARD Cellular 

Systems, Inc., a publicly traded corporation. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated HAGEL to serve as Deputy 

Administrator of the Veterans’ Administration, a nomination 

confirmed by the U.S. Senate. HAGEL also served as Deputy 

Commissioner General of the United States for the 1982 

World’s Fair. From 1977 through 1980, CHUCK HAGEL was 

manager of government affairs for the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Washington, DC. From 1971 to 1977, he was 

administrative assistant to Congressman John Y. 

McCollister (R-Nebraska). Beginning in 1969, HAGEL worked 

as a newscaster and talk show host with radio stations 

KBON and KLNG in Omaha, NE. 

CHUCK HAGEL served in Vietnam with his brother Tom in 

1968. They served side by side as infantry squad leaders 

with the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division. HAGEL earned 

many military decorations and honors, including two Purple 

Hearts. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vi ] 

Senator HAGEL has served on the board of trustees at 

Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust and as chairman 

of the $240 million Agent Orange Settlement Fund. His participation in civic, educational, and charitable organizations 

has included board of directors, Greater Omaha Chamber of 

Commerce; chairman, 10th Anniversary Vietnam Veterans 

Memorial; board of directors and national advisory committee of the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; 

board of directors of the Arlington National Cemetery Historical Society; chairman of the board of No Greater Love, Inc.; 

USO’s World Board of Governors; and the World USO chairman’s advisory council. He is a life member of the American 

Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of 

America, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military 

Order of the Purple Heart. 

Among the institutions for which Senator HAGEL serves as 

a board or advisory committee member are the Institute of 

Politics at Harvard University; International Republican Institute; the German Marshall Fund’s Trade and Poverty 

Forum; director emeritus, the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute; the Private Sector Council; the Ripon Society; the 

American Red Cross; Bread for the World; and the Council 

on Foreign Relations. CHUCK HAGEL is a trustee at Bellevue 

University and Hastings College. He is co-chairman of the 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Corporate Council, and 

chairman of the Congressional Study Group on Germany. 

Senator HAGEL is the subject of a 2006 book by University 

of Nebraska professor Charlyne Berens entitled, ‘‘CHUCK

HAGEL: Moving Forward.’’ 

Senator HAGEL has received the 2008 Aspen Strategy 

Group Leadership Award; 2008 Congressional Award from 

the Paralyzed Veterans of America; the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s 2006 Alumni Award for Excellence in 

Public Service; 2006 Don Wagner Leadership Award; 2004 

Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award; the 

Boy Scouts of America’s Good Scout Award; the National 

Parent Teacher Association’s Outstanding Child Advocacy 

Award and the Committee for Education Funding’s Special 

Recognition Award; the European Institute’s Transatlantic 

Leadership Award; and numerous others. 

Among other honors Senator HAGEL has received are the 

Commander’s Cross With Star of the Order of Merit of the 

Republic of Poland; the first annual Cordell Hull Award; the 

Horatio Alger Award from the Horatio Alger Association; the 

Vietnam Veterans of America Legislator of the Year Award; 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vii ] 

the 82d Airborne Division Association’s Recognition for the 

‘‘National Airborne Day’’ Senate Resolution; membership in 

the Consumers for World Trade Hall of Fame; the Center for 

the Study of the Presidency’s Distinguished Service Medal; 

the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Golden Plow 

Award; the Friend of the Farm Bureau Award; the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska at 

Omaha; an honorary doctorate of public service degree from 

the College of William and Mary; an honorary doctor of laws 

degree from Creighton University; an honorary doctorate of 

commerce from Bellevue University; the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Outstanding Civic Achievement, the first 

World USO Leadership Award; the University of NebraskaKearney George W. Norris Distinguished Lecturer Award; 

and the Small Business Administration’s Nebraska Veterans 

Advocate of the Year Award. 

A fourth generation Nebraskan, CHUCK HAGEL was born in 

North Platte, NE, on October 4, 1946. He graduated from St. 

Bonaventure High School, Columbus, NE; the Brown Institute for Radio and Television, Minneapolis, MN; and the 

University of Nebraska at Omaha. Senator HAGEL and his 

wife, Lilibet, have two children, daughter Allyn, 18, and son 

Ziller, 16. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ ix ] 

Farewell to the Senate 

Thursday, October 2, 2008 

Mr. HAGEL. On January 7, 1997, I took an oath of office 

in the Senate, an oath to the Constitution, and I became the 

1,841st person who has ever served in the Senate. That 

number struck me that day because I recognized, once 

again—and soon to come to truly appreciate over a 12-year 

period in this body—how few people have had the opportunity, the privilege, the honor to serve in the Senate. 

Less than 2,000 Americans in the history of our country 

have served in the Senate. That does not make us better. 

That does not mean we are smarter or in any way more privileged. But it does reflect upon the kind of responsibility that 

we have in this body and the expectations that are placed on 

each of us, as should be the case, for our service. 

I first thank the people of Nebraska for the privilege I 

have been given to serve in this body for 12 years. I thank 

my staff not for their service to me but for their service to 

this country. I thank my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, from whom I have learned so much over these 12 

years. In particular, I thank Senators Lugar and Biden, from 

whom I have learned much in serving with them on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the last 12 years. They 

have been patient with me, have helped me, as well as their 

staffs. 

The two leaders of this body—Senators Reid and McConnell—I wish to thank. I have had privileged relationships 

with each. Senator McConnell and I have grown to have a 

very close relationship, friendship, and I very much value 

that relationship. I thank Senator McConnell for his many 

courtesies over the years, as I do Senator Reid. These two 

men are charged with great responsibilities, and especially 

over the last 2 years during as difficult a Congress certainly 

that I have served in, and I suspect most of my colleagues 

have served in. They have done a remarkably good and effective job. 

Certainly, I thank my family for this privilege and their 

support and their guidance. They, too, have been privileged 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ x ] 

and enriched and enhanced by being part of this experience 

over the last 12 years. 

These last 12 years have been years of global reorientation 

and historic events. As I have represented Nebraskans during these turbulent times, I have formed judgments and 

drawn conclusions about America’s future. 

The strength of any country is its people. Constitutions, 

governments, public and private institutions are important, 

for they form the structure of a society, the boundaries of social behavior. But it is the people, the individuals, who make 

the difference in life and in the world. 

Americans possess a generous spirit and uncommon decency predicated on faith and family, hard work, fair play, 

and belief in a better tomorrow. The challenges that face 

America today and in the future are not just American 

challenges but global challenges. Everything we do or don’t 

do has global implications, just as everything that happens 

around the world has implications for us here in our country. 

The Senate is a unique institution. It is unique among all 

governing bodies of the world. It is imperfect. It is slow. It 

is tedious. Sometimes it is maddening, certainly frustrating. 

But the brilliance of our forefathers understood completely 

and carefully—how, I don’t know—that the world would at 

some point come together with a great confluence of complications. The need to have a body whose main responsibility would be to take the longer view—the longer view of 

legislation, the longer view of actions, the longer view of alliances, of relationships, of all our policies—was its primary 

focus. Tough questions—questions about consequences of actions, consequences of inaction—that is the essence of the 

Senate. 

The many lessons I have learned in the 12 years I have 

been here reinforced my belief in our country but also reinforced my belief in these institutions and, in particular, the 

Congress of the United States, for the essence of public confidence is transparency and accountability. That is our institutional responsibility. It is our individual responsibility. 

And a free people know the facts. If free people are living in 

a world where there is transparency, where there is accountability, that society will prosper. It will fix its problems, and 

it will deal with its injustices. Oversight—which we hear 

much about these days, especially in light of the financial 

crisis we are in today—oversight and accountability are critical components of our responsibilities. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xi ] 

Article I of the Constitution is about the Congress. We are 

a co-equal branch of government. If there is anything I have 

learned in the 12 years I have been here, it is the importance of sharing, participating in the governance of our country, being part of that governance, helping make decisions 

with the President and the executive branch. The Constitution established three co-equal branches of government: the 

legislative, the executive, and the judicial—but anytime 

there becomes an imbalance in governance in a republic and 

one of those three becomes too powerful and the other too 

weak or one too weak, there will be a consequence, there will 

be a reaction, and it will not tilt in favor of an accountable, 

transparent, open, effective government. So it is like all 

things in life: We strive for balance. We strive for balance of 

governance. And the Founders of the Constitution of this 

great Republic have that as much the central focus as any 

one part of our government. 

I believe this institution of Congress will be tested more 

over the next few years. We need a strong President. We 

need a strong executive branch. For it is the President and 

the executive branch that we charge to carry out the policies 

that are made and shaped on behalf of the American people 

in the Congress of the United States. They must have the 

flexibility, they must have the authority to carry those out 

but not without the active participation and partnership of 

the Congress of the United States. In my opinion, over the 

last few years, we have allowed that to drift, and I believe 

it has cost our country dearly. 

I have also learned this lesson: Bipartisan consensus is the 

only way a democracy will work. No party has a corner on 

all the virtues, nor all the answers. A country of 300 million 

free people, who have every right to express themselves, 

question their leaders, question their government, at the end 

of the day must somehow find some accommodation, some 

consensus to govern and thereby address the issues and 

challenges and problems that face our country. Without that 

bipartisan consensus, we end up in the underbrush of 

political paralysis. Much of what we have seen in the last 2 

years has been, unfortunately, political paralysis. We all 

have to take some responsibility for that. Bipartisan consensus—that has to be the focus of leadership in any institution. 

I have learned also that a free press is indispensable to a 

free people. As frustrating as we all know, in this business, 

the press can be—sometimes we believe we are treated unVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xii ] 

fairly, and maybe sometimes we are—there is no substitute 

in a democracy for a free press. A free press is the indispensable element for a free people. 

I have learned too that power corrupts. Lord Acton had it 

right: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

That doesn’t mean we are a nation or a body or an institution of corrupt people or bad people, but the more authority 

that is concentrated in too small a space is going to end up 

with not an effect that is in the best interests of a free people. Concentrations of power in the hands of a few is dangerous to a democracy. We all who exercise some power as 

national leaders must be mindful of this reality and stay 

vigilant. 

The next President, who will assume as big an inventory 

of challenges and problems as any President, in my opinion, 

since Franklin Roosevelt on March 4, 1933, must immediately reach to the Congress to make the Congress a 

partner, and regardless of who the new President is, he must 

also reach to the American people and begin building a consensus of governance in this country. There will be differences. There will be strong debates. There must be and 

should be. But in the end, we must reach some objective, 

some end point, and that is to fix a problem. 

We did that last night on the floor of the Senate—not that 

what we passed in this Economic Stabilization Act will fix all 

the problems; it won’t. But it is important that America, our 

markets, the world bring back some confidence in our governance, in our systems, thereby bringing all that does flow 

from that confidence in a market system, the elements of 

commerce and trade and the possibilities to build a better 

life. 

This next President will be faced with those challenges. So 

will this next Congress. I believe that will occur, not just because the American people expect it and demand it, but they 

deserve it. I don’t think the next President or the next Congress will fail. There is no perfect solution, no easy answer, 

but that is why we have leaders. That is why we have governments. 

I wish to go back to accountability for a moment because 

that is such an elemental part of anyone’s life. We are all accountable in life. In our personal lives, private lives, public 

lives, we are all accountable to someone. 

I would like to read a very short statement. As a matter 

of fact, I had this hanging in my reception room in my office. 

This was a handwritten statement that was found in the 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xiii ] 

coat pocket of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was found 

at the cleaners. This was a note he wrote in his hand on 

June 6, 1944, the beginning of the Normandy invasion, the 

invasion of Europe. We all recall that was D-day. This is 

what then-General Eisenhower, who was the commanding 

general, wrote in the event that D-day was a failure: 

Our landings have failed and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision 

to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion 

to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine 

alone. 

Now, that is accountability. That is accountability. This 

one simple, honest, handwritten statement should be as 

much a guiding point for all of us in public office as any one 

thing. 

I have also learned over the last 12 years that democracy 

actually does work. As raw as it is, it works. We in politics, 

we in government, government itself, the institution of 

government only reflects society. Politics reflects society. We 

respond. We react in a democracy. But the countervailing 

pressures, the countervailing dynamics, the countervailing 

debates and philosophies and opinions and positions balance 

the wheel in a remarkable way. I am not nearly wise enough 

to understand it all. I have observed it. I have participated 

in it up close for 12 years. It works. It works. That is why 

transparency is so important, so the American people can see 

it, and feel it, and understand it, and be part of it. 

We live in an imperfect world. There are no perfect solutions. We are all imperfect people. But institutions are important because within the imperfect world and in the process of trying to make a better world—maybe someday a perfect world—the process is important because it gets us to 

where we want to be. It is a highway. It is a process. We do 

that well here, as well as anywhere in the world. We are always striving to make it better. 

I occasionally think about this great Republic, how it was 

formed, when it was formed. A couple of fairly recent things 

come to mind. When we think of less than 100 years ago, 

women in America could not vote. Less than 100 years ago, 

women did not have the right to vote. But we addressed 

that. We fixed that. We fixed it through amendment XIX in 

our Constitution. 

Up until the mid-1960s, did anyone really believe that an 

African American had any hope or possibility to be a nominee for President of the United States, maybe even be PresiVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ xiv ] 

dent some day? The Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights 

Act of the mid-sixties changed that. We know the system can 

work. 

These are defining times. We are living through a global 

reorientation. One of the great responsibilities this body will 

have, the next President will have, we all will have, is to reintroduce America to the world. The world does not know 

who we are. Part of that is our fault. Part of that is not our 

fault. There are 6.5 billion people in the world, and 40 percent of those 6.5 billion are under the age of 19 years old. 

Most people alive today were not alive at the end of World 

War II. This can be done. It must be done. America is a 

great country because we are a good people. 

I wish to take my last minute in my comments today to 

read from a poem I have distributed to friends and staff for 

30 years. I do not know the author of this poem, and I never 

have. I never found out who the author of this poem is. I 

have put it on a piece of glass and have distributed hundreds 

and hundreds of copies to people I have worked with over 

the years in different things I have done. 

I end my remarks, Mr. President, this way this afternoon, 

by reciting this poem entitled ‘‘The Man in the Glass’’ because it reflects on each of us but, most poignantly, it reflects on each of us who has responsibility to serve the public 

and be accountable and honest: 

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for self 

And the world makes you king for a day, 

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself 

And see what that man has to say. 

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife 

Whose judgment upon you must pass. 

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life 

Is the one staring back from the glass. 

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum 

And think you’re a wonderful guy. 

But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum 

If you can’t look him straight in the eye. 

He’s the fellow to please—never mind all the rest, 

For he’s with you clear to the end. 

And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test 

If the man in the glass is your friend. 

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years 

And get pats on the back as you pass. 

But your final reward will be heartache and tears 

If you’ve cheated the man in the glass. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

TRIBUTES 

TO 

CHUCK HAGEL 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the Senate 

WEDNESDAY, September 24, 2008 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, Senator Pete Domenici, 

who is retiring from the Senate this year after serving since 

1972, once said to me that we don’t say goodbye in the Senate very well. As a matter of fact, we don’t say hello very 

well either. We have a little orientation program, but we 

abruptly arrive and leave. We leave in the midst of a lot of 

turmoil and discussion with very little time to say goodbye. 

Yet in between that arrival and leaving, we have very intense personal relationships. We virtually live with each 

other. We see each other often for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We see each other more than we see our families. So 

when there is a time for saying goodbye, we look for ways 

to say it a little better. 

There are five Members of our body, all of them Republicans, who have announced their retirement for this year. 

While I won’t be speaking at length about them here today, 

I want to recognize their service. I will do it in the traditional way in the Senate, which is to start with seniority. By 

‘‘seniority,’’ I mean from the time I have known them. . . . 

CHUCK HAGEL of Nebraska is like the rest of us Senators. 

We are all accidents. None of us could have guessed we 

would be here. It is hard to plan your way into the Senate 

because we come from all different directions. 

Senator HAGEL, who is Nebraska’s senior Senator, is retiring after only two terms in the Senate, but he has had a full 

life so far, starting a business or helping to start one that became a public company. While we have a great many patriots in the Senate, men who are honored for their service in 

the military—such as Congressional Medal of Honor winner, 

Senator Inouye; Senator Stevens, who flew the first plane to 

land in Beijing after World War II ended; Senator McCain, 

whose story is well known, while he never discusses it—Senator HAGEL’s heroism and service serving side by side with 

his brother in Vietnam is one of the most fascinating, heroic 

stories of any Member of the Senate. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 4 ] 

With that sort of independent background, you can imagine he brought to this body a sense of independence, a great 

knowledge of the world. Along with Senator Lugar on this 

side of the aisle, he understands the world better than almost anyone, and he works hard at it. He has been independent in his views, willing to criticize those he thought 

were wrong, including those in his own party. He has recently written an excellent book about the future of our 

party. We will miss Senator HAGEL. . . . 

I say to all five of those Senators, we will miss them. We 

are grateful for their service. I know people must look at the 

Senate in many different ways. 

Let me conclude by telling a story about how some teachers look at it. We have a tradition in the Senate of making 

a maiden address. It is kind of a funny name, but we still 

call it that. We pick the subject of most interest to us. My 

subject was to put the teaching of U.S. history and civics 

back in its proper place in the school curriculum so our children would grow up learning what it means to be an American. There is not too much the Federal Government can do 

about that, but what we were able to do is to begin summer 

academies for outstanding teachers and students of American history. One group of those teachers was here in July, 

one from each State. I brought them on the Senate floor 

early one morning. I took them to Daniel Webster’s desk, 

which is occupied by the senior Senator from New Hampshire right here by me. I took them back to that part of the 

Senate where Jefferson Davis’ desk is, occupied by the senior 

Senator from Mississippi, and told them the story of how the 

marks in the desk are because a Union soldier came in during the Civil War and started chopping on it with his sword. 

His commanding officer came in and said, ‘‘Stop that. We are 

here to protect the Union, not to destroy it.’’ 

This Chamber is full of history, full of our country. Anyone 

who stands on this floor and sees the engravings of ‘‘In God 

We Trust’’ or ‘‘E Pluribus Unum’’ and gets a sense of what 

has happened here has respect for it. The teachers had that 

respect. When we got to the end of our visit, one teacher said 

to me, I think it was the teacher from Oregon, ‘‘Senator, 

what would you like for us to take home to our students 

about our visit to the Senate floor?’’ 

I said, ‘‘I hope you will take back that each of us takes our 

position a lot more seriously than we take ourselves. We understand we are accidents, that we are very fortunate and 

privileged to be here, that each of us reveres our country, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 5 ] 

and we respect this institution. I can only speak for myself, 

but I think it is true of Senators on both sides of the aisle 

that we get up every day thinking first of how we can make 

a little contribution before we go to bed at night that will 

help the country be a little better off than it was in the 

morning. That means serving in the Senate is a very great 

privilege. I hope you will take that back to your students. I 

don’t know what they see on television or read in the newspaper about the Senate, but that is how we feel about the 

privilege we have to serve here.’’ 

To these five Senators—Warner, Domenici, Craig, HAGEL, 

and Allard—we say goodbye. They are members of our family. We appreciate their service. We know they have believed 

it has been a very great privilege to serve in the Senate. For 

us it has been a great privilege to serve with them. 

I yield the floor. 

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to make a few comments about some of our departing colleagues who will not 

be joining us for the next session of Congress. They are great 

colleagues, people whom I have enjoyed working with in my 

31⁄2 years here in the Senate. They include Senator Allard 

from Colorado, Senator Pete Domenici from New Mexico, 

Senator John Warner from Virginia, Senator CHUCK HAGEL

from Nebraska, and Senator Larry Craig from Idaho. . . . 

Senator CHUCK HAGEL from Nebraska has likewise been 

one of those voices of independence, putting public purpose 

above partisanship and being a great example for all of us 

in doing so. He has some deep connections in Colorado, including his sister Claire who lives there, and his family 

whom I have met over time. Even though he teases me occasionally on the battleground between Nebraska and Colorado 

with respect to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the University of Colorado Buffaloes, he has done a remarkable service 

in the Senate as a great Senator and someone whom I will 

sorely miss. . . . 

I will miss my five colleagues. All of them are Republicans 

who are departing. Many of them brought a true spirit of bipartisanship and working together, which is worthy of the 

emulation of many Members of the Senate who will serve in 

this Chamber in the next Congress and in many Congresses 

to come. 

I yield the floor. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 6 ] 

THURSDAY, September 25, 2008 

Mr. DOMENICI. I wish to take this time to pay tribute to 

CHUCK HAGEL, the senior Senator from Nebraska, who is retiring after serving for two terms in the Senate. 

Senator HAGEL, a fourth generation Nebraskan, has served 

his State and his country in many ways. He served as an infantry squad leader with the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division and is a decorated Vietnam veteran, having been awarded many honors including two Purple Hearts. As a U.S. Senator, CHUCK HAGEL has served on four committees: Foreign 

Relations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Intelligence; and Rules. 

During his time in the Senate, coinciding with mine, it has 

been my pleasure to work with the distinguished Senator on 

issues affecting our Nation. I can recall a chance meeting between a member of my staff, one of my constituent groups 

from New Mexico and Senator HAGEL, in which he took time 

out of his busy schedule to speak with my New Mexico constituents to offer his insights and share some very kind 

words. Such a small genuine instance like this made all the 

difference in their trip to our Nation’s Capital. 

As I said, when he came here, for some reason, I think I 

became one of his very first friends. He must have decided 

that I was a big chairman, and when I went on a trip with 

the Budget Committee to Europe, I asked him if he would 

go, and he jumped to it. So we got to know each other during 

the first 2 or 3 months of his term on a trip to Europe where 

we learned about the new monetary system that was about 

to be established in Europe. We did a number of other things 

together. 

Obviously, he has been an exemplary Senator in all respects. He will return to his State and to America filled with 

ideas and ready to do other things for this great land. My 

wife Nancy and I wish CHUCK and his family all the best. 

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today I recognize the work 

of an outstanding colleague, Senator CHUCK HAGEL. As he 

leaves the Senate, there are many things he will be remembered for, and I will add a few to that long list. 

I have had the pleasure of serving with Senator HAGEL on 

both the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, 

where I have seen what a thoughtful and dedicated public 

servant he truly is. He has been an outspoken and independent voice on foreign policy, and against the current adVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 7 ] 

ministration’s reckless foreign policies, including the disastrous war in Iraq. 

In our time serving together in the Senate, we have 

worked on a number of bills relevant to our work on the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees. Senator HAGEL

and I authored a bill to address the serious threat posed to 

our national security by gaps in our intelligence gathering. 

Building on the work of the 9/11 Commission, our legislation 

would establish an independent commission to improve how 

the U.S. Government collects and analyzes information, so 

that we can head off emerging threats. Senator HAGEL has 

brought critical attention to this issue, and I have no doubt 

he will continue to do so in the years ahead. I also appreciate 

Senator HAGEL’s commitment to strengthening our citizen 

diplomacy, which is so important to improving the image of 

the U.S. abroad. His support for my Global Services Fellowship Program Act, and past efforts on this issue, has been 

just one more example of Senator HAGEL’s willingness to 

reach across the aisle to work on issues important to our 

country. 

As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, I particularly appreciate Senator HAGEL’s support for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Africa. He has supported efforts to help protect civilians and provide them with access to basic services. His 

voice has been one for political solutions to conflict, and for 

initiatives that would bring long-term stability to the continent. 

Senator HAGEL has served the people of Nebraska, and 

America, with great dedication and skill. I will miss having 

him as a colleague, but I value his service and his friendship, 

and I wish him all the best as he leaves the Senate. 

Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to my 

distinguished colleague from Nebraska, Senator CHUCK

HAGEL, who will be retiring from the Senate at the conclusion of the 110th Congress. 

I have worked with CHUCK since coming over to the Senate in 1998. I have also had the privilege of serving on the 

Senate Banking Committee with CHUCK. He is a man of integrity and patriotism. CHUCK has served his country proudly throughout the years, whether it be working as a staffer 

for Congressman John McCollister of Nebraska, as deputy 

administrator of the Veterans’ Administration, as U.S. Senator, or earning the Purple Heart while defending the freedoms we enjoy today. He has a servant’s heart, and the peoVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 8 ] 

ple of Nebraska should be proud to have been represented by 

a man of his character. 

I am honored to know him and to have worked with him. 

I would like to thank CHUCK for his contributions to the Senate and to the country we both love. I wish him and his family the best in all of their future endeavors. 

FRIDAY, September 26, 2008 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I want to take just a few 

minutes to speak about our colleagues who have announced 

their plans to retire at the conclusion of this 110th Congress. 

We obviously will miss them. There are five individuals 

about whom I wanted to say a brief word: Senators Allard, 

HAGEL, Craig, Warner, and Domenici. They have all brought 

their intelligence, principles, and perspectives on the issues 

confronting our Nation. The Nation is better for their efforts. 

Senators Allard and HAGEL both came to the Senate in 

1996. . . . 

CHUCK HAGEL of Nebraska forged a very successful career 

in business and broadcasting, civic organizations and government, but first he served our country as a sergeant in Vietnam. It was an honor to work with him on the Vietnam Memorial Visitors Center legislation. He has championed that 

cause, knowing first hand how much it means to have lived 

through the experience of that war. He has a wide knowledge of the world, and he has informed his thoughtful and 

well-considered positions on foreign policy and arms control 

and national security issues with that knowledge. 

He can always be counted on for a straightforward approach and an honest statement of his views. 

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I wish to make a few 

comments about some of our departing colleagues who will 

no longer be with us next year. I have known some of them 

for just a little while, others I have known for a long time. 

And, to all of them I bid a fond farewell and mahalo for their 

service to their State and to this country. They are dear colleagues and friends of mine and I know that even if they 

leave this fine establishment, our friendships will continue 

long into the future. 

The Senators that I am referring to are Senator John Warner from Virginia, Senator Pete Domenici from New Mexico, 

Senator Larry Craig from Idaho, Senator CHUCK HAGEL from 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 9 ] 

Nebraska, and Senator Wayne Allard from Colorado. Please 

allow me just one moment to reflect on my service with each 

of these valuable Members. . . . 

Another veteran that is leaving the Senate and a dear 

friend of mine is Senator CHUCK HAGEL. While he has elected to leave the U.S. Senate after serving two terms, his service to this country started long before he became a U.S. Senator. In 1968, he and his brother served in Vietnam, where 

he earned multiple military decorations and honors, including two Purple Hearts. His long career in public service 

began during his tenure as an administrative assistant to 

Congressman John Y. McCollister from Nebraska in 1971 

and lasting until 1977. In 1981 he was nominated and confirmed to be Deputy Administrator of the Veterans’ Administration where had the privilege and honor to work for our 

Nation’s veterans. Senator HAGEL has served the State of 

Nebraska with great distinction and will be missed by all. 

Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I have really enjoyed 

working with CHUCK HAGEL. 

Senator HAGEL honorably served our country by enlisting 

in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. 

While in Vietnam, he received the Vietnamese Cross of 

Gallantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and 

the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

After working as Deputy Administrator of the VA, he became a successful entrepreneur and business leader. 

In 1996 CHUCK HAGEL was elected to the U.S. Senate. 

Six years later, he was overwhelmingly reelected with over 

83 percent of the vote, the largest margin of victory in any 

statewide race in Nebraska history. 

His knowledge and experience building a business and creating jobs was invaluable to the Senate. 

He was a leader on the Foreign Relations Committee and 

represented the U.S. Senate admirably as chair of the Senate Global Climate Change Observer Group. 

On a personal note, he always sent me a souvenir from the 

College World Series in Omaha when the University of 

Texas or Rice University was in the finals, which I am proud 

to say was almost every year. 

I will miss CHUCK HAGEL, and I wish him well. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 10 ] 

SATURDAY, September 27, 2008 

ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENT 

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that the tributes to retiring Senators that appear in the Congressional Record be printed as a Senate document and that 

Senators be permitted to submit such tributes for inclusion 

until Friday, November 21, 2008. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

MONDAY, September 29, 2008 

Mr. LIEBERMAN. . . . I offer thanks and best wishes to 

other colleagues who are leaving—Senators Allard, HAGEL, 

and Craig. 

Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I know this afternoon at some 

point the majority leader intends to speak about the service 

of a number of the Members of this body who are going to 

be retiring at the end of the year. But seeing that people are 

elsewhere right now, I thought I might seize this moment 

and say a few words about two of my Republican colleagues 

with whom I have had long relationships, and both of whom 

I respect a great deal, and to wish both of them success as 

they leave this body. . . . 

Mr. President, I also wish to say a few words today about 

Senator CHUCK HAGEL, who will be leaving this body. 

CHUCK HAGEL and I have known each other for more than 

30 years. We both came to Washington as young Vietnam 

veterans, determined to try to take care of the readjustment 

needs of those who had served in Vietnam. Senator HAGEL

had been an infantry sergeant in Vietnam; wounded, came 

up, worked in the Senate for awhile, became a high-ranking 

official in the Veterans’ Administration. He later ran the 

USO before he came to this body. He is known in this body 

as an expert on foreign affairs. 

Again, as with Senator JOHN WARNER, he is someone who 

puts country first, who puts the needs of the people who do 

the hard work of society first. It has been a rare privilege for 

me to have made a journey with someone, beginning in the 

same spot in the late 1970s and ending up here in the SenVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 11 ] 

ate. I know this country will hear more from CHUCK HAGEL

in the future. I certainly wish him well. 

TUESDAY, September 30, 2008 

Mr. DODD. . . . I wanted to mention as well a couple of 

other colleagues who are also retiring. If I could, one is my 

great friend from Nebraska, CHUCK HAGEL, with whom I 

have served on both the Banking and the Foreign Relations 

Committees for the past 12 years, truly a wonderful person. 

We have worked together on a number of issues. 

He got his first job at 9 years of age when he began to help 

his family economically. He was 16 when his dad died and 

took over raising his family along with his mother. I believe 

most of my colleagues are aware that he was a true hero of 

the Vietnam war. He saved his brother who, in fact, was 

serving with him in that conflict. 

He has done a remarkable job in his public service years 

as well. We serve on the Foreign Relations Committee together and the Banking Committee. Whether the issue has 

been Iraq, Serbia, or Croatia, Cuba, regardless of who comes 

before our committee, no one asks tougher questions or gets 

straighter answers than CHUCK HAGEL. 

On Cuba, for instance—again, an explosive issue politically—CHUCK and I offered a resolution to end the embargo 

in Cuba because we agreed that the current policy toward 

the island has failed the Cuban people and the American 

people alike and because we refused to let America wait on 

the sidelines while the future of one of our closest neighbors 

is determined by others. 

It is that kind of courage that he brings to the debate, 

kind of blows through it all and says: What is the right thing 

for our country and, in this case, the people of Cuba? 

On the Banking Committee, CHUCK and I worked for 

months to reinvent the infrastructure of our Nation with the 

creation of a national infrastructure bank, 21⁄2 years developing that bill. In fact, it was CHUCK who convinced me we 

ought to announce the outcome of our work one day in August last year. I argued with him a bit. I said, ‘‘No one will 

pay any attention to announcing an infrastructure bill in August. Who wants to hear about infrastructure in August.’’ 

CHUCK said, ‘‘No, let’s have that press conference and let 

people know what we are doing.’’ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 12 ] 

We met in the gallery at 10 a.m. I think we had two reporters who showed up. I said, ‘‘I think I was right, CHUCK. 

No one cares about infrastructure.’’ 

By 5 o’clock that afternoon, CHUCK HAGEL and I were on 

every TV screen in America because, regrettably, of the great 

tragedy in Minneapolis that occurred that afternoon. The 

bridge collapsed. Of course, infrastructure was the subject 

matter for the next weeks to come. So, once again, CHUCK

HAGEL understood the timing of an issue in bringing it up 

and how important it was for our Nation. Little did we know 

that tragedy would fall on Interstate 35–W over the Mississippi River. 

There again was CHUCK HAGEL, standing with a colleague 

of a different background, putting aside ideology and politics 

to work together to find new and innovative ways to address 

the Nation’s most urgent priorities. That is CHUCK HAGEL, 

a remarkable person and a very good Senator over the years. 

Patriotic, never partisan, tough but fair, always engaged, 

sometimes even confrontational, but never, ever, belligerent, 

a strong Member. This institution will miss CHUCK’s ability 

to transcend politics and serve the American people. As such, 

the people of Nebraska deserve our thanks for sending 

CHUCK HAGEL to serve with us over these past 12 years. I 

will miss him. We all wish him the very best. He served our 

Nation very well during his service. 

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 12 years ago when I came to 

the Senate, I was joined by a new Senator from Nebraska, 

CHUCK HAGEL. CHUCK became a friend, and we have worked 

together on a number of issues over the years. He also, in 

a weak moment, agreed to do my cable show. I went to his 

office. We talked about his background; first, his service in 

Vietnam, something I particularly admire, the courage he 

showed in volunteering to serve in our Army, and then coming together with his brother in the same unit and both of 

them under fire. Both of them served our country in combat. 

He came back and was a successful businessman. He went 

on to serve the people of Nebraska and eventually to serve 

in the Senate. 

We have worked together over the years. I have always 

found him to be a gentleman. His word is good, and he has 

the courage to step up and take a position once in a while 

that may not be popular, even in Nebraska. 

I know his leadership on the issue of the war in Iraq will 

be remembered because, during the last 2 years when we 

struggled to find a way to bring this war to a close, he is one 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 13 ] 

who would cross the aisle and join us in an effort to find a 

reasonable way to end this conflict in an honorable manner. 

I respect him so much for that. 

I have one special little measure of gratitude for CHUCK

HAGEL. There is a bill I introduced which is as near and dear 

to me as any I considered. It is called the DREAM Act, to 

give literally tens of thousands of children across America 

who came to this country, were brought here by undocumented parents, grew up as Americans, never knowing any 

other life, any other culture, maybe not knowing any other 

language but English, and now find themselves graduating 

high school with no country. They are told officially by American law they are not wanted or needed and asked to leave. 

They have nowhere to go. This is home. They want a chance, 

just a chance to be part of America’s future in a legal way. 

This DREAM Act has been controversial because it relates 

to immigration, and that is not an easy issue. CHUCK HAGEL

stepped up and co-sponsored that legislation with me, and I 

will never forget it. It meant a lot for him to show that kind 

of courage. 

Even though we did not prevail, someday we will, and 

when that day comes, I will honor him on the floor for his 

exceptional courage on this matter that means so much to so 

many young people across our country. . . . 

Those Senators leaving our ranks leave positive memories 

for this Senator from Illinois. The fact that I have been able 

to serve with them, know them, and count them as friends, 

I count as one of the real blessings of my service in the Senate. 

WEDNESDAY, October 1, 2008 

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today, as one of those 

who made the weighty decision not to seek reelection, to 

share my most personal thoughts—tributes—to my esteemed 

colleagues who will quietly, humbly, and with a deep sense 

of gratitude to their States, to our Nation, bring to a conclusion their public service as U.S. Senators. 

This is a diverse group of Senators. Whether we hail from 

small farms, small cities or, in my case, from major metropolitan areas, we bring different backgrounds, different interests. That diversity gives the Senate its strength to serve 

equally all Americans. What we share, however, is an unVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 14 ] 

wavering love for our States, our country and for the institution of the U.S. Senate. 

We aspire to Winston Churchill’s quote: ‘‘We make a living 

by what we get; we make a life by what we give.’’ 

It has been my privilege, over my 30 years in the Senate, 

to serve with a total of 261 Members. Each, almost, shall be 

remembered as a friend. . . . 

Senator CHUCK HAGEL has served his native Nebraska 

and his country with true heroism. When I was privileged to 

serve in the Department of the Navy during the war in Vietnam, CHUCK HAGEL, together with his brother, both served 

with courage in the same Army unit in South Vietnam. He 

was awarded the Purple Heart not once but twice for his 

heroism and sacrifice in combat leadership. 

His career has spanned the spectrum from public servant 

to entrepreneur, and this has given him a perspective on the 

world and global affairs, as well as of Main Streets in the 

hometowns and cities of his State. 

Senator HAGEL will be remembered for his efforts on behalf of his fellow veterans and men and women in uniform, 

together with their families. At one time he served as president of the USO. 

One of his proudest achievements will surely be his work 

with my colleague from Virginia, a former highly decorated 

Marine, Senator Jim Webb, who also served in Vietnam. The 

two of them started a very tough assignment, and that was 

to rewrite the existing GI bill. And along the way, two ‘‘oldtimers,’’ both World War II veterans—Senator Lautenberg 

and I—enlisted in their ranks as co-sponsors. 

Our goal was to give to today’s generation of men and 

women in uniform a level and diversity of benefits that approaches what the World War II generation received from a 

grateful Nation at the conclusion of that conflict. The GI bill 

at that time enabled any soldier, sailor, or airman—and 

there were up to 16 million who served in World War II— 

to go to almost any university or college of his or her choice, 

and the funds were nearly sufficient to fund the costs for tuition, room and board, and school books. 

But through the ensuing years, the successive GI bills 

were not quite as fulsome; they did not keep pace with the 

rising cost of education. Prior to the Webb bill, today’s generation was barely able to get enough funds to attend educational institutions in their home States, let alone some of 

America’s better-known educational institutions. This bill 

recognizes the great contributions of our military men and 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 15 ] 

women and increases significantly the GI bill benefits. It will 

make a great difference in the lives of so many of this generation, a generation that I believe is in every way equal to 

the Greatest Generation of World War II, for it faces even 

greater challenges as the uncertainty of threats and the advance of complexity of weapons face them today in a growing 

number of places worldwide. 

I so admire this strong American, CHUCK HAGEL, who 

symbolizes ‘‘duty, honor, country.’’ 

In public service, his compass is precise; for he always follows the needle as it points to what course of action is ‘‘best 

for America.’’ . . . 

I am proud to say I have come to know each of these fine 

men. And I firmly believe that this is but yet another beginning in all of our lives, for, to quote Churchill again, ‘‘the 

chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.’’ 

I yield the floor. 

Mr. CORKER. Madam President, there are a number of 

distinguished Senators who are leaving this body this year. 

I know there have been a number of tributes given to all of 

them and their service. . . . 

CHUCK HAGEL, who exercises this tremendous independence, somebody with whom I have really enjoyed serving on 

Foreign Relations; . . . I honor all of them. I wish them well. 

I think we are all better having had the opportunity to serve 

with them. 

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, as this Congress comes to a 

close we bid a fond farewell to our colleague CHUCK HAGEL. 

As a Member of this body, CHUCK is completing 12 years of 

outstanding service to the people of Nebraska and to the 

country. But I expect that he will find new ways to contribute to the mission we all share: making the United 

States stronger, safer, and more prosperous. 

CHUCK’s first legislative service was as a U.S. Senator. I 

like to think that those of us who were not seasoned legislators when we arrived here draw on a diverse set of experiences as we find our way to become effective lawmakers. 

CHUCK HAGEL’s background was probably more varied than 

most—decorated war veteran, businessman, broadcaster, and 

Deputy Administrator of the Veterans’ Administration, just 

to mention a few of the areas in which he has distinguished 

himself. His successes in these many disciplines undoubtedly 

helped him develop the independent voice that we grew accustomed to hearing over his dozen years in our midst. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 16 ] 

For several years, we served together on the Budget Committee, a legislative environment in which bipartisanship 

isn’t always easy. CHUCK was always forthright and honest 

in our sometimes contentious deliberations and was never 

afraid to go where the facts led him—even if it meant irritating a colleague on his own side of the aisle. 

We will miss him as a friend and as a fellow Senator, but 

I expect the Nation will hear from CHUCK HAGEL again. We 

wish him the best as he looks for new challenges. 

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, for the past 12 years, I have 

had the privilege of serving in the Senate with my friend 

CHUCK HAGEL. Upon his retirement from the Senate, I wanted to take a moment to tell him how much he will be dearly 

missed. CHUCK HAGEL will be missed not just by his colleagues in the Senate, but also by those Americans for whom 

he dedicated his career to fight for while serving in Washington, DC. 

Although we sit on opposite sides of the aisle, I have found 

myself standing with Senator HAGEL on numerous occasions. 

Just in the past couple of years, we have fought for increased 

pay for our troops, establishing a center dedicated to the rehabilitation, treatment, and research of servicemembers 

blinded in combat, and advocating for additional mental 

health care resources for servicemembers returning from 

combat. 

Because of Senator HAGEL’s dedication to stand up for 

those who have fought for our country, we have a modernized GI bill. We have a GI bill that more accurately reflects 

the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform are making. We have a modernized benefits package that will cover 

the majority of tuition costs for our returning 

servicemembers, and I was proud to stand with him in that 

effort as well. 

His service to our country has been truly admirable. Senator HAGEL has had a truly remarkable career representing 

the State of Nebraska. I thank him for his service to our 

country. I wish him the best in his future endeavors. 

THURSDAY, October 2, 2008 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I want to spend just a few minutes today talking about CHUCK HAGEL, the Senator from 

the State of Nebraska. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 17 ] 

I was raised in an environment where things were physical—football, baseball, boxing, fighting, and being tough. 

That was important. And as I have looked through the Senate over these years, there is no one that fits that bill more 

than CHUCK HAGEL. The senior Senator from the State of 

Nebraska is both physically and mentally very tough. 

Senator HAGEL is a person who suffered multiple broken 

noses playing high school and college football and, as we 

read in his book, an occasional scuffle off the field. Senator 

HAGEL is a man who won a football scholarship to go to college because of his athletic prowess but had to change his 

plans when injury left him with an uncorrectable pinched 

nerve in his neck. 

Senator HAGEL is a man who risked his own life on many 

occasions, but on one occasion risked his own life and suffered terribly to save his brother’s life in the jungle of Cambodia during the Vietnam conflict. Senator HAGEL is a man 

who still carries shrapnel from his heroic uniformed service 

to our Nation. 

Senator HAGEL tells the story in his book about his childhood, that when he and his brother Tom were growing up, 

the Hagel family moved around Nebraska to seven different 

houses in small Nebraska towns. The seven places he lived 

formed a loop around the State. So when CHUCK first ran for 

the Senate in 1996, he could go almost anyplace in Nebraska 

and tell local crowds, ‘‘it’s good to be home.’’ 

When CHUCK HAGEL’s draft number was called in 1967, he 

was given an order to ship out to Germany after being inducted. But he said, ‘‘I don’t want to go to Germany. The war 

is in Vietnam.’’ So he asked to change his orders to go to 

Vietnam where the action was. What this young man from 

Nebraska believed was that fighting a war meant going to 

the front lines, not someplace thousands of miles away. So 

that is where he wound up. 

Since the Sullivan brothers’ deaths in World War II, it was 

not very often that siblings found themselves in the same 

combat zone fighting, but that isn’t what happened in this 

situation with the Hagel brothers. No one really knows 

how—they think it was a stroke of luck, but it remains a bit 

of a mystery—CHUCK HAGEL and Tom Hagel wound up in 

the same infantry, same fighting unit, fighting shoulder to 

shoulder in the jungles of Cambodia. 

Mr. President, in the span of less than a month, these two 

brothers each had the chance to save the other’s life. Not 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 18 ] 

only did they have the chance, but they took that chance and 

they were successful. Here is one account: 

One of the soldiers . . . hit a trip wire, setting off a mine that had been 

placed in a tree so that it would detonate at face level. Bodies, body parts 

and shrapnel were blasted back into the ranks as the squad was crossing 

a stream. Tom picked himself up and looked for his brother. What he saw 

was a ‘‘geyser’’ of blood gushing from CHUCK’s chest. Tom, then only 19, 

stanched the bleeding and bandaged the wound, only then noticing that he’d 

been hit himself in the arm. Twenty-five days later, it was CHUCK’s turn 

to rescue Tom when their troop carrier hit a hand-detonated mine as it 

emerged from a village in the delta. Tom had been in the turret behind a 

.50-caliber machine gun. He was unconscious, not obviously alive, when his 

brother got to him. The blast had blown out CHUCK’s eardrums and severely 

burned his left side, but knowing the carrier might soon explode, he worked 

feverishly to pull Tom from the wreckage, then threw his body on top of 

Tom’s as Vietcong fighters in ambush sprayed the area with gunfire. 

For this remarkably courageous service, Sgt. CHUCK

HAGEL was decorated with the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and two Purple Hearts. 

After the war, CHUCK HAGEL came to Washington and 

worked on Capitol Hill. By the age of 26, he was chief of staff 

to Congressman John McCollister of Nebraska. Within 10 

years, he was appointed by President Reagan to be the second highest ranking official in the Veterans’ Administration. 

But very typical of CHUCK HAGEL, after just a few months 

during his term of service, he spoke out against a cut in benefits to Vietnam veterans and quit the Department in protest. This was not the steppingstone to an impressive career 

in Washington, as some had thought, because CHUCK HAGEL

spoke out against something he thought was wrong. 

When Senator HAGEL left Capitol Hill, he scraped together 

whatever money he could find by selling a car and cashing 

in life insurance policies to invest in an upstart business 

that built networks for wireless phones. Within a few years, 

CHUCK HAGEL’s company was one of the most successful cellular telephone providers in America. He entered the American system of free enterprise and was extremely successful. 

But after succeeding in business, CHUCK returned his attention to politics and won a seat in the Senate in 1996. 

I have served with CHUCK HAGEL in the Senate for 12 

years. One would be hard pressed to find a more conservative Member than the senior Senator from Nebraska. Although our political philosophies differ, I know CHUCK

HAGEL to be one of the bravest and most fiercely independent Members of this legislative body. He has been a defVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 19 ] 

icit hawk when others in his party abandoned fiscal restraint. 

He crossed the aisle and worked with my predecessor, Senator Daschle, as well as Senator Kennedy and Senator Martinez on the Republican side, to seek a comprehensive immigration plan that would be both tough and compassionate 

but, above all, fair. 

He served the people of Nebraska well as a member of the 

Foreign Relations Committee; the Banking, Housing, and 

Urban Affairs Committee; the Intelligence Committee; and 

the Rules Committee. 

I will be forever grateful for the courage Senator HAGEL

has shown on the Iraq war. He spoke out early against the 

war, he spoke out often, and he was right. As all Senators 

know, speaking up against a hallmark policy of one’s own 

party is no easy task. With Senator HAGEL’s help, we were 

able to move the debate forward and to finally provide some 

oversight on the incompetent management of the war. Although Senator HAGEL will not see the end of the war as a 

Member of this body, there is no doubt that his courage has 

brought us closer to that day. 

One of the most remarkable days in my political career 

was the time when we were working on how to do something 

to change the course on the war in Iraq. I visited Senator 

HAGEL in his office. As you walk in, you see a picture of Tom 

and CHUCK HAGEL in a mechanized vehicle in the jungles of 

Cambodia—or Vietnam. I don’t know exactly where it was, 

but Southeast Asia. He is very proud of his military career. 

But we visited, and I probably wouldn’t be a very good salesman, selling automobiles or a house because it was hard for 

me to close the deal, saying, ‘‘CHUCK, will you vote with me?’’ 

At home that night, he called me and said words to the effect: I listened to you; I’m going to vote with you. 

His vote made the difference. It allowed us to carry the 

day and send a bill to the President that the President vetoed. Senator HAGEL didn’t wait for me to close the deal, he 

closed the deal. I have great admiration and respect for him 

and what he did that night. I think he changed the direction 

of the country and how it felt about the war in Iraq, and it 

allowed the people in America to know that we could do 

something, that we are not powerless. 

It is well known that Senator HAGEL has been considered 

on more than one occasion as a candidate for President or 

Vice President. Here is what he said, though. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 20 ] 

I don’t have to be President. I don’t have to be a Senator. I just have to 

live with myself. 

So whatever path CHUCK HAGEL follows next, he, his wife 

Lilibet, and their daughter Allyn and son Ziller, should have 

the deepest pride in the lasting impact of Senator CHUCK

HAGEL’s patriotism and service for the betterment of the Nation we love through both the military and the Senate, where 

he has served so gallantly. 

Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise this morning to recognize 

and pay tribute to several colleagues who are concluding distinguished careers in the Senate. These gentlemen have distinguished themselves. They have dedicated themselves to 

representing their States and representing the best interests 

of the Nation. . . . 

Finally, let me pay tribute to a dear friend and colleague. 

We entered the Senate together 12 years ago. Senator 

CHUCK HAGEL has represented Nebraska with rare insight 

and extraordinarily good humor for 12 years. He is one of 

those individuals who is respected and liked by everyone because he is an extraordinarily decent person, someone who 

takes his job seriously but himself not so seriously. He is 

someone I have had the privilege to travel with across the 

globe—Russia, Afghanistan, Singapore, the Philippines, 

northern Africa, and back again to Afghanistan and Iraq. 

He, too, has a rare dedication to the men and women of the 

armed services, born of his own personal experiences. As a 

young man he chose not only to join the U.S. Army but to 

serve in Vietnam. He had the opportunity to be posted to 

Germany. He would have served out his time and left. But 

he decided he had to march to the sound of the guns. His 

brother was already there. Together in the same unit, he and 

his brother served the U.S. Army. He was wounded in action 

and received the Purple Heart. He came back as a veteran 

and continued his education and then built a very successful 

business career. But he never lost sight of those men and 

women who serve in uniform. He is very active in the USO. 

He is someone who was active in veterans affairs. Then, finally, when he was elected to the Senate, he took his learning, his experience, and appreciation, and played a major 

role on the Foreign Relations Committee. His commitment to 

a broad multinational policy of using our alliances, of building our power not just through our military power but 

through diplomatic and reputational power has made a significant contribution to the country, not just for the moment 

but for many years. He is leaving the Senate to pursue other 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 21 ] 

endeavors. I wish him well. He has been a remarkable 

friend. He, Lilibet, and their children, Allyn and Ziller, are 

a remarkable family. I will miss him particularly. I salute 

him, thank him. He, to me, is the very model of a Senator 

who has served his country in different ways and now has 

chosen to continue to serve in other ways. I am sure he will 

continue to contribute to the country. 

To these Members, I wish them well. I thank them personally for their kindness to me and their thoughtfulness on so 

many other occasions. 

Mr. ALLARD. . . . Another individual I wish to recognize 

who is retiring is Senator CHUCK HAGEL from Nebraska; 

again, one of the neighboring States of Colorado. The State 

of Nebraska is downstream from Colorado. So we have 

ribbed each other a little bit about water issues. Basically, 

though, we have been partners on water issues. We have 

been able to work together on many issues that have improved the management of water in the Platte River drainage system, which is one of the many rivers that originates 

in Colorado and flows downstream. I also worked with Senator HAGEL on the Banking Committee. He was one who 

pushed early on for the reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie 

Mac. He brought to this institution a great deal of experience. Again, he has decided to retire the same year as I 

have. I will always remember Senator CHUCK HAGEL and 

our relationship and how we have been able to work together, I think for the betterment of both of our States. 

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment 

to recognize and express my appreciation for my friend and 

colleague Senator CHUCK HAGEL. I have served in the Senate 

with CHUCK HAGEL for the past 12 years. During that time, 

he has established himself as one who is able to rise above 

partisanship, and he is respected on both sides of the aisle 

for his honest appraisals. 

For the past 2 years, I have had the opportunity to work 

with CHUCK on our bipartisan efforts to change our course 

in Iraq. We have served together on the Intelligence Committee. When we have agreed on policy, he has been a 

thoughtful and effective partner; and when we have not, 

those same qualities served the Senate well nonetheless. 

CHUCK HAGEL has brought to the U.S. Senate a deeply 

held commitment to our Nation’s troops and veterans and an 

equally deep understanding of their needs. With that perspective, he has served as an honest broker between parties 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 22 ] 

and positions, and he has been an effective advocate for our 

brave men and women in uniform as well as for the people 

of Nebraska. 

He understands the power of this Nation’s values, not just 

of our military, and he has eloquently represented those values. He has defended his extraordinary independent streak 

with great courage. 

I extend my thanks to CHUCK and wish him and Lilibet all 

the best in their future endeavors. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, with the end of a session fast approaching, it is time once again to say farewell 

to some of our favorite colleagues in the Senate. And today 

that includes our friend, the senior Senator from Nebraska. 

CHUCK HAGEL’s long record of service is well known to 

many. What some may not know is that that record of service long predates his time in Washington. 

Responsibility was thrust upon CHUCK at an early age. A 

fourth generation Nebraskan, CHUCK became the man of the 

house at the young age of 16 after the death of his father. 

And he accepted the responsibility head on, working hard 

to support his mom and younger brothers. 

But even then working hard was nothing new to CHUCK

HAGEL, who had taken his first job delivering papers at the 

age of 9. 

As a young man, CHUCK answered the call and volunteered to serve in Vietnam, and CHUCK’s fellow soldiers 

turned to him for leadership. 

One of the soldiers who served right alongside CHUCK was 

his younger brother Tom. By coincidence, the Hagel brothers 

ended up in the same unit and rode together in the same armored personnel carrier. 

In a defining act of heroism, CHUCK once dragged his 

brother out of that carrier after it had struck a landmine and 

burst into flames. The blast left CHUCK badly burned and 

ruptured both his eardrums. Yet despite serious injuries to 

himself, he brought his brother through enemy fire to safety. 

After returning home from Vietnam, CHUCK worked his 

way through college and got his first taste of Washington 

working for Omaha Congressman John McCollister. 

Later, CHUCK would show his drive and his leadership in 

the business world. Taking a risk, he sank his entire savings 

into a business venture that eventually paid off. 

And then, 12 years ago, he took another gamble. And we 

are glad he did. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 23 ] 

A political newcomer, CHUCK defeated Nebraska’s sitting 

State attorney general in a primary, and then a popular incumbent Governor in the general election for a seat in the 

U.S. Senate. 

I will note, Mr. President, that the Governor he beat is 

now the junior Senator from Nebraska. And in a sign of 

CHUCK’s character and commitment to the people of Nebraska, the two former rivals have worked in tandem on 

many issues for the good of the people of their State. 

I know Senator Nelson would agree that Senator HAGEL’s 

departure is a great loss for this Chamber and for the people 

of the Cornhusker State. 

CHUCK’s advocacy for the people of Nebraska was reaffirmed 6 years ago when the voters sent him back to 

Washington for a second term. 

In a sign of his effectiveness and his popularity, he won reelection to the Senate by the biggest margin Nebraska has 

ever seen. 

The one-time political newcomer trounced his opponent, 

winning 83 percent of the vote—and all 93 counties in the 

State. 

In two terms in the Senate, CHUCK has earned the respect 

of his colleagues and risen to national prominence as a clear 

voice on foreign policy and national security. He has consistently fought to expand free trade, particularly with Vietnam. 

CHUCK’s stature as a leading voice in foreign affairs has 

earned him a reputation, in just 12 years in the Senate, as 

one of Nebraska’s great statesmen. This is a tribute to his 

intelligence, hard work, and devotion to a country that he 

has served his entire adult life. 

Elaine and I have enjoyed getting to know CHUCK, Lilibet, 

and their family over the years. I know CHUCK’s a proud 

dad. And his kids should be proud of their dad. 

CHUCK, it has been an honor, and a pleasure, to serve with 

you. We all wish you well in whatever future endeavors you 

choose to take on. 

I am confident that, even though Nebraska is known as a 

flat State, whoever succeeds CHARLES TIMOTHY HAGEL in the 

U.S. Senate is going to have a very steep hill to climb. 

Mr. KYL. Mr. President, when the 111th Congress convenes next year, the Senate will be without Senator CHUCK

HAGEL. Senator HAGEL has decided to retire from the Senate 

after two terms. His career in public service, however, long 

predates his service in Congress. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 24 ] 

Like many public servants, Senator HAGEL entered politics 

after first serving the Nation in the Armed Forces. He saw 

combat in Vietnam and served with valor, receiving two Purple Hearts among other decorations. He would later serve as 

a congressional staff member, and in 1981, President Reagan 

tapped him as Deputy Administrator of the Veterans’ Administration. 

When Senator HAGEL came to the Senate, his actions often 

reflected his experience as a combat veteran. He did what he 

believed was best for the men and women in uniform, and 

he defended his positions forcefully. 

Senator HAGEL has continued to protect and defend the 

country, notably through his work on the Foreign Relations 

and Intelligence Committees. He had strong opinions, and he 

was never shy about letting them be known. 

I wish Senator HAGEL all the best in his pursuits after the 

Senate. I expect that he will devote much of his time to his 

wife Lilibet and their family, but I imagine he will save some 

time to follow his Nebraska Cornhuskers. 

Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, one of the first experiences 

of a new Senator is to open the drawer in their desk here 

on the floor and learn a special lesson in Senate history. Traditionally, Senators do what we prevent sixth grade boys 

from doing: we write our names into our desks. When I first 

opened my drawer here, I saw decades of people who had occupied this particular desk, and it told me that for however 

long I am here, I am a temporary occupant. Many came before me and many will come after me. So at each 2-year interval, we say goodbye to many of our colleagues and await 

the new. 

I will be particularly sad to say farewell to the senior Senator from Nebraska, Mr. HAGEL. He came to this body with 

an extraordinary career in communications, finance, and 

international business. He was like a Senator of a bygone 

era, when Members of this body often were the national experts in their fields. 

He made a tremendous contribution to the world of the 

Senate because he had first-hand knowledge of the dynamism and transformational nature of the global economy all 

around us. He is the kind of decisionmaker that is shaping 

the new economy, and it has been so valuable to have him 

among us. 

CHUCK HAGEL’s whole life expresses his conviction that the 

world can and should be a better place, and it will not get 

that way by itself. He is fully engaged in a lifelong effort to 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 25 ] 

make the world a better place, and he applies every waking 

hour to the quest. I know that ‘‘retirement’’ is not the word 

for his departure from this place—in a way he is released 

from this responsibility to pursue his passion of public service in multiple other ways. He is the embodiment of the ideal 

of a life of self-sacrifice for the betterment of others. 

Senator HAGEL brought his analytical, probing mind to the 

Foreign Relations Committee, where I served with him these 

last 6 years. His contributions to the committee’s work were 

always thoughtful and challenging—and that was just his 

Halloween costumes. 

CHUCK HAGEL is one of the most energetic people I have 

ever met. When you look at the list of organizations he supports with this ideas and his leadership, it looks like the 

combined resume of five people. He works with veterans organizations, antipoverty organizations, international cooperation organizations and the list goes on and on. He has 

been honored by dozens of organizations for excellence in 

public service. 

For some reason, Nebraska has a habit of sending independent-minded Members to this body, and they play a key 

role in our deliberations. Perhaps because Nebraska is kind 

of a plains State, kind of a Midwestern State, kind of a 

Western State, and in that way unique, Nebraskans have 

contributed a great deal of independence to our deliberations, which is so valuable in the Senate’s search for consensus. 

We in Minnesota are glad to be a part of CHUCK HAGEL’s 

life. Since some of his education occurred at the Brown Institute in Minneapolis, we too claim a piece of him. 

We thank the people of Nebraska for sharing him with the 

Nation as a Member of the Senate. We will certainly miss 

his razor sharp analytical mind and his wonderfully engaging personality. I am personally grateful to him for the way 

he introduced me to the habits and ways of the Senate and 

for helping me understand how to do my best for the people 

of my State. 

In the history of this Nation, different kinds of men and 

women have given some of their talents and vision to this 

place for the benefit of the whole Nation. We thank Senator 

HAGEL for his willingness to serve and for the way he made 

the most of every moment of his time here in the Senate. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 26 ] 

MONDAY, November 17, 2008 

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise to recognize the 

service of a great public servant and an outstanding leader. 

Senator HAGEL has been a committed and avid servant to 

his home State of Nebraska. He has served in Congress for 

two consecutive 6-year terms with ardent fervor for the welfare of Nebraskans and all Americans. 

Senator HAGEL has always placed the well-being of Nebraska and our Nation ahead of partisanship and personal 

feelings. He has been an earnest supporter of bipartisanship, 

recognizing the productivity that can accompany joint labor. 

His devotion to the people of his State and this Nation is apparent to any who know him. He has distinguished himself 

as a soldier and public servant of the people, demonstrating 

an exemplary character of which Nebraskans can be proud. 

Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 

tribute to this magnificent Senator. 

WEDNESDAY, November 19, 2008 

Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity 

before the 110th Congress adjourns to honor our distinguished colleague and my good friend, CHUCK HAGEL, who 

will be leaving the Senate after 12 years of achievement. 

Senator HAGEL has applied his estimable talents to many 

of the most critical areas of public policy. Throughout his 

time in the Senate he was a stalwart member of the Foreign 

Relations Committee, where he became one of the Senate’s 

experts on international affairs. 

Upon CHUCK HAGEL’s arrival in the Senate in 1996, he 

had already distinguished himself in service to his country. 

He was decorated for his service as an infantryman in the 

U.S. Army during the Vietnam war. He went on to careers 

as a congressional staffer, a Deputy Administrator of the 

Veterans’ Administration, and a successful businessman. 

When CHUCK came to the Senate, it was clear that his 

unique background would be an asset to the Senate Foreign 

Relations Committee. I encouraged him to join the committee 

and was pleased that he did so. In the Senate, CHUCK embraced responsibility for U.S. national security as few Senators have in recent decades. 

Senator HAGEL’s years in the Senate will be remembered 

for his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and his 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 27 ] 

ability to see issues from multiple perspectives. He has been 

a determined advocate for an independent point of view, but 

also a good listener who has often forged compromises that 

benefited our Nation. 

For the last 9 years CHUCK has sat next to me through 

hundreds of Foreign Relations Committee hearings and 

meetings. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to exchange 

ideas with him, to compare perspectives on our witnesses, 

and to develop common approaches to problems. He was always candid and thoughtful in both his public statements 

and his private advice. 

He understands that the world’s problems are our problems; that our economic health is tied to the prosperity of the 

rest of the industrialized world; that the cleanliness of our 

environment is deeply affected by the environments of those 

even beyond our continent; and that our access to global natural resources and energy supplies depends on maintaining 

stable conditions in some of the most volatile regions on 

Earth. In a ‘‘Memo to the Candidates’’ written last summer, 

he underscored the interconnected nature of our world, saying: 

America’s long-term security interests are directly connected to alliances, 

coalitions, international institutions, and our standing in the world. The 

next President will have to reintroduce America to the world in order to regain its trust in our purpose as well as our power. 

CHUCK contributed greatly in recent years to the committee’s efforts to improve our government’s stabilization and 

reconstruction capacity, to elevate the priority of energy diplomacy, to facilitate NATO expansion, to reauthorize the 

PEPFAR Program, to prevent the proliferation of weapons of 

mass destruction, and to safeguard the international environment. 

I have greatly appreciated his personal friendship and 

thoughtful remembrances of events in my public and private 

life. My entire office benefited from his personal generosity 

in 2001 when the Senate endured the anthrax attack. My 

staff and I were displaced from our office for more than 3 

months. Senator HAGEL stepped forward and offered us a 

large room in his suite in the Russell Senate Office Building, 

which became the nerve center of my Senate office while we 

were displaced. Senator HAGEL’s thoughtfulness allowed us 

to continue operations during this difficult period. 

I will greatly miss CHUCK’s presence in the seat next to me 

at committee hearings, and I know that the Senate as a 

whole will miss his wisdom and well-deserved reputation for 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 28 ] 

humor. But I have no doubts that he will encounter other opportunities to serve the United States. His counsel on foreign 

and defense policy will be sought out by Members of Congress and Presidential administrations for many years to 

come. I look forward to many insightful conversations with 

my friend and to witnessing all that he will achieve in the 

future. 

Mr. SPECTER. Senator CHUCK HAGEL’s intellectualism 

and independence will be sorely missed in the Senate. 

CHUCK HAGEL’s service in Vietnam, where he earned military decorations and honors including two Purple Hearts, 

has given him special standing on key defense issues. With 

that background, he enjoys a sort of immunity from a charge 

of being soft on defense and his views are more closely followed. 

Senator HAGEL will be especially missed by the few Republican moderates who were encouraged by his independence. 

My sense is that CHUCK HAGEL will stay in public life in 

one form or another, but I would have preferred to have seen 

him stay in the Senate to promote the resurgence of moderation within the Republican ranks and bipartisanship extending across the aisle for important legislation. 

THURSDAY, November 20, 2008 

Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, soon the last remaining items of 

business on the legislative calendar will be taken up and the 

current session of Congress will draw to a close. When it 

does, several of our colleagues will be returning home and 

leaving public service. We will miss them, their good ideas 

and the touch of creativity they brought to our work in the 

Senate during their years of service to the people of their 

home States. 

When I am asked about the Members with whom I have 

had the privilege to serve during my Senate career, CHUCK

HAGEL will certainly come to mind. I don’t think anyone has 

a more interesting life story to tell than CHUCK and certainly 

few have achieved the level of success he has been able to 

attain in his public life and in the business world. 

CHUCK grew up in a small Nebraska town where he 

learned the value of a day’s work at an earlier than usual 

age. CHUCK found his first job when he was only 9 and he’s 

been hard at work ever since. When he lost his father at the 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 29 ] 

age of 16 it fell to him, as the oldest child, to help raise the 

younger ones of his family. 

That was also about the time that CHUCK made his first 

run for office. When he was in high school he decided to run 

for student council president. He knew he would have to do 

something different in his campaign to separate himself from 

the others who were running, so he tied a chicken to the 

hood of his car and drove around the school announcing the 

reasons why he was in the race. No one had ever seen anything quite like that before and he won quite easily I am 

sure. 

After his high school years, CHUCK heard the call to serve 

his country and he and his brother joined the Army and 

served in Vietnam. He was seriously wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts during his military service. During 

one of his missions, he and his brother were trapped in their 

armored personnel carrier when an enemy mine exploded beneath them. CHUCK pulled his unconscious brother to safety 

and probably saved his life. It took 10 years for him to fully 

heal from the effects of the injuries he suffered that day. 

When he graduated from the University of Nebraska he 

began his political career in earnest. He joined the staff of 

a Republican Congressman from Nebraska and impressed 

him and his staff so much that he steadily rose in responsibility to be his top aide. 

Equally impressive has been CHUCK’s success as a businessman. He sold almost all he had to begin a cellular phone 

company with two partners. His hard work and determination to succeed paid off and his investment was multiplied 

many times over. 

That kind of success would have been enough for most people, but not for CHUCK. CHUCK felt the call to bigger things 

and he set his sights on going to Washington to make life a 

little better for the people back home in Nebraska. 

That was his platform when CHUCK ran for the Senate in 

1996. The experts thought he was a long shot and a lot of 

people said he didn’t stand a chance. Once again, CHUCK defied the odds and relied on the judgment of the people of Nebraska instead of the predictions of the experts. The people 

of Nebraska knew a good thing when they saw it and CHUCK

was sent to the Senate to represent them. 

CHUCK and I were part of the same freshman class and 

when we arrived we both looked forward to being named to 

the committees on which we would serve so we could make 

a difference for our States and the Nation. CHUCK was very 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 30 ] 

pleased and proud when Senator Lugar offered him an invitation to join the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

CHUCK took full advantage of the opportunity and made it 

the focus of his efforts in the Senate. He made a point of visiting other countries and meeting with foreign leaders to increase his expertise on foreign policy. Working closely with 

Senator Lugar and Senator Biden, he has been a voice on 

the committee that is sought after for his perspective on the 

issues that involve our relations with other countries. 

Over the years I have enjoyed serving with CHUCK and 

working with him on two of his top priorities, cutting Federal spending and making our tax system more workable and 

more responsive to the needs of our national economy. He 

can be very proud of all he has achieved, especially his support of fast track authority so the President could negotiate 

trade deals that cannot be changed by the Congress. His 

work in the area of international trade has made a great difference throughout the United States and helped improve 

our relationship with our trading partners. 

Now CHUCK’s Washington years are coming to a close and 

he will be moving on together with Lilibet to something new 

and different in their lives. Diana and I have always found 

that when one great adventure ends another one takes its 

place. That is our wish for you. Whatever the future holds 

for you and Lilibet we wish you all the best. The only good 

part about saying goodbye is the knowledge that you will 

keep in touch with us and continue to offer your good advice 

and the unique brand of common sense that you learned 

from your service in Washington, your success in your business, and your years growing up in Nebraska, Wyoming’s 

neighbor to the east. 

Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that the order from September 27 regarding tributes to retiring Senators be modified so that Senators be permitted to 

submit such tributes for inclusion in a Senate document 

until Friday, December 12, 2008. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

TUESDAY, December 9, 2007 

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I came to know Senator HAGEL

in 1997 when we worked together on the Byrd-Hagel ResoluVerDate Aug 31 2005 13:26 Aug 25, 2010 Jkt 047106 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE08\HAGEL.BST CRS2 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 31 ] 

tion related to the Kyoto Protocol. We made a good team because our effort was approved unanimously, by a vote of 95 

to 0. 

In our work together, I made a new friend because I found 

Senator HAGEL to be a likeable and cooperative person as 

well as a knowledgeable and hard-working Senator. 

My respect for this dynamic Senator increased as I 

watched him become one of the Senate’s most outspoken critics of Mr. Bush’s war in Iraq. Several of us were already 

pointing to the disastrous results of the Bush administration’s flawed and failed Iraqi war policies. But Senator 

HAGEL’s opposition to the war carried very special impact. 

He is a conservative, a member of the President’s own political party, and a military veteran. In fact, he still carries 

shrapnel in his chest and remnants of burns to his face from 

his service as an infantryman in Vietnam. Senator HAGEL

now calls Mr. Bush’s war in Iraq ‘‘an absolute replay of Vietnam.’’ 

I will miss my friend and colleague. The Senate needs 

strong, independent voices like Senator HAGEL—lawmakers 

who are willing to put the best interests of our country and 

American people over partisan politics. 

WEDNESDAY, December 10, 2008 

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise tonight to 

recognize and pay tribute to my colleague from Nebraska, 

Senator CHUCK HAGEL, who is retiring from the Senate. 

When I entered this body nearly 8 years ago, Senator HAGEL

welcomed me, and since then we have worked together on a 

number of important issues for the good of our great State 

and our country. We teamed up to seek Federal assistance 

to help Nebraskans recover from natural disasters, such as 

floods, ice storms, and drought; to win congressional approval for naming the new FBI Building in Omaha after our 

esteemed late colleague, Senator J. James Exon, and on numerous other Nebraska projects. 

Like me, CHUCK HAGEL grew up in small communities in 

Nebraska. It is a special experience to be raised among Nebraskans under the wide open skies of the Great Plains. 

Helping hands are always nearby and opportunities seem 

limitless. From our families, friends, and neighbors, we both 

learned the bedrock values of love, of community, of faith, responsibility to others, and devotion to country. These values 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 32 ] 

have been evident during Senator HAGEL’s tenure in this 

body. 

Also evident has been an important perspective he shared, 

one only a few Senators know first hand, about the reality 

of war, gained as a decorated U.S. Army sergeant on violent 

battlefields in the Vietnam war and later as Deputy Secretary Administrator of the U.S. Veterans’ Administration 

during the Reagan administration. 

Here in the Senate, he represented the people of Nebraska 

and the United States well as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee; the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

Committee; the Intelligence Committee; and the Rules Committee. He will long be remembered as one of our most outspoken and candid Members, as a patriot, and as one who 

took seriously his duties. Particularly through expressing his 

views on foreign policy, he fiercely advocated the constitutional principle that the legislative, executive, and judicial 

branches of government are equal partners. 

I take this opportunity to commend him for his honorable 

service to our State and Nation over these many years. And 

whatever path CHUCK HAGEL embarks on next, I wish him 

and his wife Lilibet, daughter Allyn, and son Ziller only the 

best in their lives. It has been an honor to serve with him. 

THURSDAY, December 11, 2008 

Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I rise to acknowledge the 

work and commitment of a colleague whom I have had the 

pleasure of serving with for the last 12 years here in the 

U.S. Senate. Senator CHUCK HAGEL joined the Senate in 

1997 after an already successful career in business and public service, both in his home State of Nebraska and here in 

Washington, DC. 

While in the Senate, CHUCK has been a strong independent voice for all Nebraskans and citizens of this country. 

He is not afraid to share what is on his mind and he is certainly not afraid to reach across the aisle to work with all 

Senators. In one of his first acts of bipartisanship, Senator 

HAGEL joined me as a co-sponsor of the Landmine Elimination Act of 1997. I worked with CHUCK, who was himself 

injured by landmines while in Vietnam, to ban new deployments of antipersonnel landmines. 

Senator HAGEL has demonstrated an incredible alacrity on 

defense and foreign policy issues. While it was not popular 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 33 ] 

within his own party, he made the difficult decision to support a timeline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. This 

is just one example of many stances he has taken in Washington that demonstrates how CHUCK HAGEL was an independent voice that Nebraska is proud to call their own. 

I am also pleased to know CHUCK and Lilibet as wonderful 

travel partners. The last trip we took together, in May 2007, 

was to the Middle East to assess regional conflicts in Jordan, 

Lebanon, Israel, and the West Bank. Trips like these provide 

the opportunity to get to know Senators and their spouses 

beyond the day-to-day encounters in Washington, and I cherish the time we had together. 

I am pleased to call CHUCK a friend and voice of reason in 

the U.S. Senate. I will miss him as both a friend and colleague. Marcelle and I wish him and Lilibet well in whatever 

way he will next serve Nebraska and our Nation. 

FRIDAY, December 12, 2008 

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to express my enormous 

gratitude and deep appreciation to my good friend and colleague, Senator CHUCK HAGEL, for his 12 years of sterling 

leadership and steadfast service in the U.S. Senate. 

A man of deep-seated principle, honor, conscience, and conviction, Senator HAGEL has been a stalwart legislator and an 

unwavering guardian of the first branch of government during his remarkable two-term tenure in the Senate. And, having served with CHUCK side by side for that entire period— 

including, in the 107th Congress on the Senate Committee 

on the Budget, and subsequently for the remaining three 

Congresses on the Senate Committee on Intelligence—I can 

attest first hand to the tremendous intellect, independence, 

and integrity that he has brought to his office and to some 

of the most consequential debates of our time. 

Anyone familiar with Senator HAGEL’s background will notice readily how a fourth generation Nebraskan steeped in 

the time-honored traditions and mores of the heartland was 

well equipped with the bedrock character and unshakable 

foundation necessary to reach the highest heights in both the 

public and private sector. Whether serving as President Reagan’s Deputy Administrator of the Veterans’ Administration, 

demonstrating keen entrepreneurial acumen as an early 

leader in the cell phone industry, heading the World USO, 

or eventually running successfully for the U.S. Senate from 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 34 ] 

Nebraska, the common denominator, time and again, pervading Senator HAGEL’s life—and what has shaped his renowned trajectory of accomplishment in every undertaking 

he has pursued—has been his unwavering love for his country and abiding faith in its founding principles. 

Nowhere was Senator HAGEL’s devotion to our Nation 

more paramount than when his country called on him to 

serve in Vietnam, where he and his brother Tom, having 

bravely enlisted together, fought shoulder to shoulder as infantry squad leaders with the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division. Both displayed enormous heroism on the field of battle 

and were decorated soldiers, with CHUCK earning two Purple 

Hearts. 

As you can imagine, it has been a privilege over these past 

12 years to witness the courage and candor of this American 

hero and esteemed colleague, whether on measures addressing war, specifically in Iraq, or matters concerning the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA. Senator HAGEL was 

indeed my compatriot and ideological soulmate on the Senate 

Intelligence Committee. If you must go into battle whether 

in war or in politics, you want to engage your opponents 

with someone of CHUCK HAGEL’s mettle and fortitude. 

A true conservative who believes in limited government— 

and that the diffusion of power and authority are the surest 

check against despotism and the best hope for democracy— 

Senator HAGEL has demonstrated a visceral and unending 

passion for this institution and for the possibilities of effective governance by people of good will. And Senator HAGEL

crystallized this deeply held belief in his farewell speech on 

the floor of the Senate when he emphasized to his colleagues 

that: 

. . . Article I of the Constitution is about the Congress. We are a co-equal 

branch of government. If there is anything I have learned in the 12 years 

I’ve been here, it is the importance of sharing, participating in the governance of our country, being part of that governance, helping make decisions 

with the President and the executive branch. 

Finally, as a Mainer, I must say how fitting it was that a 

few years ago Senator HAGEL was recognized as one of the 

esteemed recipients of the Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished 

Public Service Award. Senator HAGEL exemplifies the best of 

the Muskie tradition which was built upon certain irrefutable, sterling standards for high intellect, unassailable integrity, and a lifetime of legendary service. 

To his wife Lilibet, their daughter Allyn, and son Ziller, 

thank you for sharing your husband and your father with us 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 35 ] 

for these 12 years. And to CHUCK, we will miss your voice 

and your vision. By your words and in your deeds, you bring 

to mind the Greek playwright and poet, Aeschylus, who 

wrote that ‘‘his resolve is not to seem the bravest, but to be.’’ 

You have been a brave steward of the public trust, and we 

are forever thankful. 

Æ