H. Res. 687 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

October 9, 2007. 

Whereas Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., was born 

on May 25, 1917, in Syracuse, New York; 

Whereas, on June 24, 1943, Father Hesburgh began his 

service to the Catholic Church as an ordained priest of 

the Congregation of Holy Cross; 

Whereas, from 1952 to 1987, Father Hesburgh served as the 

president of the University of Notre Dame in South 

Bend, Indiana; 

Whereas, throughout his tenure as president of the University of Notre Dame, Father Hesburgh sought to redefine 

the contemporary Catholic university as a place where 

both the moral and intellectual dimensions of scholarly 

inquiry are vigorously pursued; 

Whereas, under his leadership, in 1972 the University of 

Notre Dame became a coeducational institution; 

Whereas Father Hesburgh has held 16 presidential appointments under 9 administrations; 

Whereas, throughout his life, Father Hesburgh has been a 

champion of civil rights, tirelessly seeking the peaceful 

resolution of international conflicts and encouraging a 

profound respect for all humanity; 
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Whereas, in pursuit of those objectives, Father Hesburgh has 

served on numerous boards and commissions, including 

terms as chair of the Overseas Development Council, 

chair of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy, a member of President Ford’s Presidential 

Clemency Board, and a representative of the Vatican at 

the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna; 

Whereas Father Hesburgh was a founding member of the 

United States Commission on Civil Rights and served as 

chair of the commission from 1969 to 1972; 

Whereas, through his global humanitarian efforts, Father 

Hesburgh was a catalyst for the creation of the Center 

of Civil and Human Rights at the University of Notre 

Dame Law School and contributed to the establishment 

of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the 

Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies on the 

University of Notre Dame campus; 

Whereas Father Hesburgh has been a persistent advocate for 

the responsible stewardship of atomic energy, and has 

united internationally renowned scientists, scholars, and 

spiritual leaders to promote policies that reduce the likelihood of nuclear conflict; 

Whereas Father Hesburgh served as ambassador to the 1979 

United Nations Conference on Science and Technology 

for Development, the first Catholic priest to perform a 

formal diplomatic role for the United States Government; 

Whereas, in 2000, Father Hesburgh became the first person 

in higher education to be awarded the Congressional Gold 

Medal; 

Whereas Father Hesburgh has been awarded the Presidential 

Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor, as 
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well as numerous awards from education groups, including the Alexander Meiklejohn Award from the American 

Association of University Professors, the Elizabeth Ann 

Seton Award from the National Catholic Education Association, and 150 honorary degrees, the most ever awarded to a single individual; 

Whereas, on May 25, 2007, Father Hesburgh celebrated his 

90th birthday; and 

Whereas Father Hesburgh has led a life of distinguished public service and deep faith: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That recognizes Reverend Theodore M. 

Hesburgh, C.S.C., for his contributions to the United States 

civil rights movement, his tireless work to prevent nuclear 

conflict around the world, and his efforts to secure the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. 

Attest: 

Clerk.