S5564 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— SENATE April 24, 1995 

to finish this bill as quickly as we can 

and move on to either telecommunications, or maybe because of the urgency, the antiterrorism bill will be 

ready by next week. I think we can 

move very quickly on that. 

Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

Mr. THURMOND addressed the Chair. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina is recognized. 

f 

THE DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR 

JOHN STENNIS 

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we 

in the Senate were shocked to hear the 

news of the passing of a cherished 

friend and a former colleague: former 

Senator John Stennis from Mississippi. 

Senator Stennis served in this Senate 

Chamber for 40 years—from the time of 

his election to the Senate in 1947, 

through his retirement in 1989. During 

that time, he dedicated himself to giving our Nation the gift of wisdom and 

leadership. 

Senator Stennis was greatly admired 

by all who had the honor to serve with 

him. As chairman of the Armed Services Committee, he served with several 

Presidents; during that time he led the 

committee through the darkest days of 

the Vietnam war. Although he often 

saw his position on that war opposed 

by some of his fellow Democrats, he always did what he believed to be correct 

and in the best interest of our Nation. 

For many years, Senator Stennis and 

I were neighbors in the Russell Building. I recall with great fondness the 

kindness and good cheer he showed to 

me and my office staff on the many occasions he stopped in to say hello. Senator Stennis completed his Senate career by serving with great distinction 

as President pro tempore of the Senate. 

I had the honor of serving with Senator John Stennis for almost my entire 

Senate career. Throughout the years, I 

came to appreciate and respect his 

qualities of integrity, ability, and dedication. 

Mr. President, John C. Stennis was a 

great American. He was a dedicated 

Senator who proudly represented the 

people of Mississippi with great distinction. We have lost a colleague, we 

have lost a leader; but most of all, we 

have lost a friend. 

f 

THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING 

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, last 

week, when most of us were home visiting our constituents, our two colleagues from Oklahoma faced a terrible 

disaster in their State. A 4,000-pound 

bomb detonated outside the Murrah 

Federal Office Building in Oklahoma 

City, not only destroying that structure and killing dozens of innocent 

men, women, and children, but taking 

a tremendous toll on the psyche of all 

Americans as well. 

For years the United States has 

largely been spared the indignity of 

terrorist acts within its borders, but 

all that seems to have changed recently. In the last 2 years, we have suffered two deadly bombing attacks in 

the United States, one in New York 

City and last week’s in Oklahoma City. 

While the images of injured and 

shocked people stumbling through the 

streets of Manhattan were disturbing, 

there was perhaps no sight as unsettling as seeking the near lifeless body 

of a young baby that was caught in last 

week’s blast being passed from a police 

officer to a firefighter. Tragically, the 

child died and with it died a piece of 

our innocence. For the bomb that destroyed that building was not built by 

the hands of cold-hearted, calculating, 

and well financed foreign terrorists. 

Quite the contrary, the man who authorities believe is responsible for the 

bombing is a young American. 

How, we all wonder, could an American do this to his fellow citizens? 

While we despise those responsible for 

bombing the World Trade Center, the 

attack in Oklahoma City, America’s 

Heartland, seems so much more disturbing. When we think of terrorist actions against the United States, we 

think only those outside our borders 

would wish to do us harm. It is inconceivable to us that a fellow countryman would possess a hatred so deep and 

inflamed that he would be motivated to 

act against our Nation. How could one 

American commit an act that equates 

with premeditated, mass murder 

against other Americans? There is no 

answer and perhaps that is what is so 

disturbing to us. 

The events of the last several days 

have happened at a breakneck pace and 

it is sometimes hard to maintain a 

focus and perspective on just what has 

occurred. We must remember, that as 

of this morning, 78 people, many of 

them Government servants, too many 

of them children, lost their lives for no 

logical or explicable reason. That 

thanks to tireless efforts of hundreds of 

Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials, suspects in this crime 

were quickly identified and are being 

rapidly brought to justice. 

We discovered that there is a whole 

subculture of people who are fearful of 

their lawfully elected representatives. 

Some of these people believe that the 

Government is involved in the conspiracy to go to war against the citizens of the United States, and that 

they must protect themselves from 

their own Government. 

While we truly do live in a world that 

is filled with dangerous people, it is 

also a world where the good outnumber 

the bad. Volunteers and relief supplies 

continue to pour into Oklahoma City, 

and people throughout the United 

States have banded together in shows 

of faith and sympathy for those who 

died or lost loved ones. 

Most of all, we were reminded that 

America is still a very unique place, 

and it is a shame we must literally fear 

one of our neighbors might wish to destroy what is so special to all. 

Mr. President, I yield the floor. 

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will call the roll. 

The legislative clerk proceeded to 

call the roll. 

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the order for 

the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

CONDEMNATION OF THE BOMBING 

IN OKLAHOMA CITY 

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I send a 

resolution to the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that it be considered at 

this time. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will report. 

The bill clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 110) expressing the 

sense of the Senate condemning the bombing 

in Oklahoma City. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there 

objection to the immediate consideration of the resolution? 

There being no objection, the Senate 

proceeded to consider the resolution. 

Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, this 

resolution is one that I referred to earlier in my comments, cosponsored by 

Senator INHOFE and myself, Senator 

DOLE, and many other Senators. 

We are going to hotline this and ask 

Senators if they wish to cosponsor it. I 

very much appreciate the cooperation 

of the majority leader in allowing us to 

bring up this resolution. The majority 

leader has already mentioned his intentions that we vote on the resolution at 

12 o’clock tomorrow. 

Mr. President, I suggest the absence 

of a quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will call the roll. 

The bill clerk proceeded to call the 

roll. 

Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent that the order for 

the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

f 

NATION’S RESPONSE TO THE 

OKLAHOMA BOMBING 

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague’s kindness in this 

matter. I just have a few words to say 

here this morning following the Oklahoma bombing. 

Today, we all continue to mourn the 

senseless loss of life in Oklahoma City. 

My heart and my prayers go out to the 

families and loved ones of those killed 

and injured in this tragic bombing. 

This vicious destruction of human life, 

particularly of the lives of so many innocent children, is tragic beyond belief. 

We must not rest until all of the perpetrators are discovered and punished. 

I have full confidence in the ability of 

Federal law enforcement officials to 

bring the perpetrators to justice. The 

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