May 9, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 975

McCarthy, who served here in the House, representing the Buffalo, NY area from 1965 to

1970.

In addition to his congressional service

where he was a leader on environmental issues and the effort to ban germ and gas warfare, Mr. McCarthy had a distinguished career

as a journalist with the Buffalo News, serving

as its Washington Bureau chief from 1978

until 1989 and continuing as a weekly columnist. He was press attache at the U.S. Embassy in Iran in 1975 and 1976, authored two

books and served in the Navy at the end of

World War II and in the Army during the Korean War.

Mr. McCarthy was an affable, congenial,

and gregarious man, who will be missed by

his many friends and colleagues. Murray Light,

the editor and senior vice president of the Buffalo News, captured the spirit of the Max

McCarthy so many of us knew so well, in his

comments in the following obituary from the

News:

Max was an outstanding citizen of Buffalo,

outstanding patriot and a fine newspaperman. All of us associated with him will

greatly miss his insight, his unending optimism and his enormous loyalty to his community, his friends, his country and his

newspaper.

MAX MCCARTHY DIES; NEWS WRITER, EXCONGRESSMAN

(By Karen Brady)

Max McCarthy—the retired Buffalo News

Washington Bureau chief, former congressman, and foreign service diplomat—died Friday (May 5, 1995) in his Arlington, Va., home

at the age of 67 after an extended illness.

A journalist first and last during his long

public career—which included U.S. military

service in two wars—McCarthy continued to

write his weekly Washington column for The

News, including a column that will appear

this Sunday.

‘‘Max was an outstanding citizen of Buffalo, outstanding patriot and a fine newspaperman. All of us who have been associated with him will greatly miss his insight,

his unending optimism and his enormous

loyalty to his community, his friends, his

country and his newspaper,’’ said Murray

Light, editor and senior vice president of The

News.

McCarthy in the last few months had been

living in a McClean, Va., nursing home because of the debilitating effects of

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred

to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Nonetheless, McCarthy continued to write

his weekly columns for The News by dictating to a neighbor who typed the material

into his laptop computer, recalled David

Breasted, an independent television producer

and long-time friend.

McCarthy, a Democrat, represented Buffalo in the House of Representatives from

1965 to 1970.

He later became press attache for the U.S.

Embassy in Iran, and was working at the

White House, as an adviser in legislative affairs, when he joined The News’ Washington

Bureau in 1978.

He was also one of the original leaders of

the campaign to rid Lake Erie of pollution,

and was a nationally recognized pioneer in

other environmental causes.

He organized Buffalo’s first Department of

Human Resources, under Mayor Stanley

Makowski, and was the author of two

books—‘‘The Ultimate Folly,’’ an expose of

the evils of chemical-biological warfare, and

‘‘Elections for Sale,’’ a book on political

fundraising and spending.

Born Richard Dean McCarthy in Buffalo

but always called ‘‘Max,’’ he came from a

family active in Buffalo’s political life.

His great-great-grandparents, on his mother’s side, were Irish immigrants whose son,

Peter B. Walsh, was elected to the old Buffalo Board of Aldermen in 1859.

His son—McCarthy’s grandfather, Richard

W. Walsh—was an attorney, and the official

court stenographer at the trial of Leon

Czolgosz, the man convicted of assassinating

President, William McKinley at the PanAmerican Exposition in Buffalo in 1901.

McCarthy’s father, the late Ignatius D.

McCarthy, also an attorney, ran twice for

Buffalo City Court judge.

McCarthy’s mother, the late Kathleen

Walsh McCarthy, not only assisted her husband in his City Court bids, but was also office manager during her son’s successful 1964

congressional campaign. She was a co-founder as well of Housewives to End Pollution

here.

Max McCarthy attended St. Joseph’s

Catholic Elementary School. He graduated

from Canisius High School and Canisius College, where he was a regular in the college’s

Little Theatre productions. He did graduate

work at the University of Buffalo, Cornell

and Harvard.

He served in the Navy in the Pacific at the

end of World War II, and in the Army in the

Far East during the Korean War.

In 1952—as a corporal with the 24th Infantry Division of the Army, stationed in

Sendei, Japan—he sent accounts of military

life to The Buffalo Evening News. The paper

printed his accounts and then hired McCarthy as a reporter following his discharge.

Three years later, he was named public relations director of the National Gypsum Co.,

based in Buffalo, and remained in that position until 1964 when he was first elected to

Congress, a Democrat representing Buffalo’s

heavily Republican old 39th Congressional

District.

It was a startling victory. McCarthy, a political novice of 36, beat six-term incumbent

Rep. John R. Pillion, a Hamburg Republican.

McCarthy’s campaign theme was ‘‘a young

man looking into the future.’’ A chief aim,

he said at the time, was to serve on the

House Public Works Committee—because he

wanted to rid Lake Erie of pollution.

McCarthy’s first book, ‘‘The Ultimate

Folly’’ was published by Knopf in 1969. It resulted in congressional hearings, a national

policy review and canceling a plan to dump

outdated nerve gases from three U.S. arsenals into the sea.

In constant demand as a speaker, McCarthy appeared on national television and was

featured in major publications. He was selected to give a prestigious Chubb series of

lectures at Yale University.

In 1970, he was persuaded by New York

State Democrats to run for a U.S. Senate

seat, it was a move that cost him his seat in

the House of Representatives—and sent his

personal political career on a downward spiral.

McCarthy’s former House seat went to the

Republican candidate—newcomer and former

Buffalo Bill, Jack Kemp.

‘‘As a three-term member of Congress, Max

was a strong progressive and had an unblemished reputation for integrity. He did pioneering work on the environment and campaign finance reform. It was fitting that the

last column published in his lifetime was an

appeal for sanity on firearms. That courageous stand cost him a great deal of support

in the 1960s,’’ said Douglas Turner, The

News’ Washington Bureau chief.

McCarthy took a position as vice president

and director of community development for

A. Victor and Co. here.

A year later—after considering a run for

Erie County executive—he was named a Harvard fellow, lecturing in the university’s Institute of Politics of the John Fitzgerald

Kennedy School of Government.

He completed his second book, ‘‘Elections

for Sale,’’ and served for a time as a Grover

Cleveland fellow at UB.

In 1972, he sought election to the then-new

38th District but lost.

He subsequently became a visiting professor of political science at Canisius College

and Niagara University.

In 1973, Buffalo Mayor Makowski made

McCarthy a member of his Cabinet, charging

him with formation of the city Department

of Human Resources.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford appointed

McCarthy to the U.S. Information Agency—

and, for the next two years, he served as

press attache at the U.S. Embassy in Iran.

In 1976, McCarthy was named to the Carter

administration White House staff—where he

was involved with legislative affairs until

joining The News’ Washington Bureau in

June of 1978.

Three months later, he was named Washington bureau chief for The Buffalo News.

McCarthy held the position until his own retirement in 1989, but continued to write a

weekly Washington column for The News.

In 1985, McCarthy became the sixth member of The News to be elected to the prestigious Gridiron Club in Washington. He also

was a member of the National Press Club.

He was a founder of the Greater Buffalo

Development Foundation which he served as

vice president for eight years.

McCarthy also was a lover of opera and

collected fine literature, especially books on

Irish history.

Survivors include his former wife, Gail;

three sons, Dean of Buffalo, and Barry and

Brendan, both of Chicago, and two daughters, Maura of New York City and Deidre of

San Remo, Italy.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

TRIBUTE TO AL GUNTHER

fHON. JACK REED

OF RHODE ISLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great

pleasure to rise today and salute Al Gunther,

a distinguished individual from Rhode Island

who is being honored for his outstanding contributions to the Boy Scouts of America on the

occasion of his retirement from his position as

Ranger of Camp Yawgoog.

He first came to Camp Yawgoog in 1959

with his wife Diane and for the past 36 years

he has devoted his time and talents to providing young people with the rewarding experiences of camping. His leadership of Yawgoog

was also enhanced by a unique blend of management skill and a special affection for his

fellow man.

The Boy Scouts of Rhode Island owe a debt

of gratitude to Al Gunther for his dedication

and commitment. During his stewardship,

Camp Yawgoog has prevailed through fires,

floods, droughts, hurricanes, blizzards, and

other adversities. His efforts have ensured that

the camp has not only survived but flourished.

Over a quarter of a million boys and campers

have benefited from Al Gunther’s hard work

and from the humanitarian spirit which has

prevailed at Camp Yawgoog.
E 976 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 9, 1995

I respectfully request that my colleagues join

me in saluting Albert R. Gunther and recognizing his contributions to generations of young

people, and toward the betterment of our community.

DEDICATION OF TEMPLE ISRAEL

fHON. TONY P. HALL OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call

attention to the dedication of a new synagogue building for Temple Israel of Dayton,

OH, within my district. The building is an important milestone for the Dayton Jewish community.

Temple Israel traces its roots to 1850, when

12 Jews in Dayton formed a Hebrew Society.

The congregation, which was incorporated as

Kehillah Kodesh B’nai Yeshurun, bought a

building in 1863. In 1893, the congregation

had grown enough to construct a new synagogue at the corner of First and Jefferson

Streets in downtown.

Downtown was severely damaged by the

great Dayton flood of 1913. By 1925, the congregation began construction of a new building

at the corner of Salem and Emerson Avenues,

in the neighborhood of Dayton View. This

building was expanded in 1953 with the addition of a new sanctuary.

In November 1994, the congregation moved

into its new home at One Riverbend, on the

west bank of the Great Miami River, just north

of downtown. On Friday, May 5, the building

was formerly dedicated at a service. The following Sunday, Temple Israel opened its

building and grounds to the Dayton community

at an open house.

I offer my congratulations to Temple Israel’s

Rabbi P. Irving Bloom, whose vision and leadership have led to this moment. I further extend my best wishes to the entire congregation to find fulfillment in using the building for

generations to come.

THREATS TO CUT USIA THREATEN

AMERICAN SECURITY

f

HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 9, 1995

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, next week the

International Relations Committee will mark up

legislation that threatens major changes in

America’s foreign policy institutions. This legislation—that appears to be largely driven by

pledges from Senator HELMS to consolidate

America’s foreign policy instruments—was just

received this morning by Congressman HAMILTON and has not yet been reviewed by most

Democrats, nor, I venture to say, by many Republicans. Yet, the committee appears to be

determined to move its legislation forward.

Through press statements, we have learned

that Senator HELMS’ agenda is to eliminate the

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

[ACDA], the Agency for International Development [AID], and the U.S. Information Agency

[USIA]. The functions of these agencies are to

be combined into a mega-bureaucracy in the

Department of State. Senator HELMS claims

major savings in this reform although he acknowledges that few actual savings will be realized in the first 2 years of his proposed consolidation.

I believe that there is even a greater cost to

this proposal. It is in the cost to our national

security. In this day of increasing threats from

terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction, now is not the time to dismantle the first line of America’s defense: our

foreign policy institutions which served this

country so well in the cold war.

We all believe that in this post-cold-war era,

when threats to American citizens and our nation can come equally from the actions of a

lone terrorist or another country, when threats

can be economic as well as military, we do

need to reexamine our Nation’s foreign policy

bureaucracy in order to make it more efficient.

But this effort is already underway through

Vice President GORE’s National Policy Review

and Secretary of State Christopher’s internal

strategic management initiative.

We need a reasoned, rational approach to

reform that matches objective with means in a

manner that protects and advances American

national security. Legislation designed by political impulse and railroaded through the political process without time for full regard to cost

or benefit is dangerous tinkering with America’s security.

I am not alone in my desire for hesitation or

in my concern for the result. A bipartisan

group from Freedom House recently released

a statement opposing the elimination of USIA.

This group, which includes among others

former U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick,

Edward Fuelner, Jr., president of the Heritage

Foundation, former Senator Malcolm Wallop,

and Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., editor of the American

Spectator, cogently and persuasively argues

that ‘‘this proposed consolidation and centralization would weaken American public diplomacy.’’

The arguments that they make on behalf of

preserving one agency, USIA, I believe can be

made, and will be made next week, on behalf

of the other agencies now threatened by the

proposed legislation. Weakening the independent voices and undermining the effectiveness of ACDA and USAID will not strengthen

American foreign policy. I encourage my colleagues to read closely the statement issued

by Freedom House and review carefully the

legislation once it is introduced by the Republicans.

I ask that the Freedom House report be

printed in the RECORD at this point.

THE FUTURE OF U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

New proposals have been advanced to place

the United States Information Agency

(USIA)—long the chief instrument of American public diplomacy—under the centralized

control of the State Department. We believe

this proposed consolidation and centralization would weaken American public diplomacy.

Why should the USIA remain independent?

Through its broadcasting, numerous exchange programs and links with people

throughout the world, it already is highly

successful in promoting American interests

and articulating who we are and how our

policies and values are shaped. The State Department has a different though related role.

It explains U.S. foreign policy to Americans

and presents our government’s official positions to foreign governments. The State Department values quiet negotiations, government-to-government contacts, protracted

discussion, compromise and sometimes secrecy. A credible public diplomacy, by contrast, requires openness, the ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing world

events, and independence in reporting, analysis and comment. In short, the culture of

the State Department differs substantially

from the culture of the USIA.

There are other important reasons to retain the USIA’s present status.

Public diplomacy and formal diplomacy.

While formal diplomatic relations conducted

by the State Department are an important

aspect of our government’s diverse engagement with other societies, public diplomacy—our open efforts to win understanding

and support among the peoples of foreign

countries on matters that affect U.S. national interests—suffers when it is subordinated to the demands of formal diplomacy.

We have long-term interests in developing

flexible relationships with foreign educators,

journalists, cultural leaders, minority and

opposition leaders that must not be subjected to the daily pressures of official government-to-government affairs. USIA has

filled this niche by setting up exchanges that

introduce foreign representatives to U.S.

governmental, non-governmental, private,

business and cultural institutions.

American values: independent voices, one

theme. The promotion of American political

and economic values has been an auspicious

aspect of our foreign policy in recent times.

The spread of democracy and the global communication revolution indicate that this

form of engagement in foreign affairs will be

of great importance in the future. Diversification and independence—not centralization and uniformity—make the U.S.’s message more meaningful and credible. The

USIA’s broadcasting and exchange programs

should remain free of interference from officials with responsibilities in other areas.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of

America and Radio Marti remain vital

sources of information around the world. In

East-Central Europe and the former Soviet

Union (where independent media continue to

face difficulties) RFE/RL is trusted precisely

because of its journalistic integrity. This

would be seriously compromised if they were

perceived as official organs of State Department policy.

Re-orientation before re-organization. The

structure of our foreign affairs agencies

needs to be considered in light of America’s

global strategy in a rapidly changing international environment. Re-organization not

rooted in a clear and comprehensive understanding and consensus about goals and missions cannot work or last. The USIA and federally-funded international broadcasting

have track records of success and will continue to work. Indeed, with today’s menacing phenomena of international criminal activity, terrorism, inter-ethnic hatreds and

anti-democratic forces around the world, the

work of USIA is more critical than ever.

We understand that there will have to be

some significant re-organization and reprioritization in foreign policy. Those who

have offered proposals for change have done

some service. The world has changed, in no

small measure because of our multi-layered

and multi-faceted foreign policy structures.

Our goal should be coordination between

agencies, not the kind of consolidated administrative centralism that will not work.

The tasks of the State Department and the

public diplomacy agencies should nurture

one another, but must remain separate to be

truly effective.