S6236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 8, 1995

those who saw active duty, who saw

friends die, who felt the sheer brutality

of heavy artillery attack or the random terror of combat on unknown,

rough terrain against a well-trained

and ruthless opponent, there was no

good war.

Our cause was good, and it triumphed. But we triumphed at terrible

personal cost to those Americans who

served.

Some of our Senate colleagues

served, and some bear the outward

scars. Senator INOUYE, of Hawaii,

served with the most decorated unit in

the military in Italy campaign, and

paid a high price for his valor. Senator

DOLE served in Italy with great honor

at enormous personal price. The veterans of the war who still serve in Congress were honored last week at a ceremony at the National Archives.

I am proud to serve in the Senate

with all of them, and I express my

sense of respect for their service, my

gratitude as a citizen for their sacrifices, and my great pride, as an

American, for the spirit they and their

colleagues in arms showed the world

more than 50 years ago.

Great celebrations have occurred in

the old Allied capitals in Europe to celebrate V–E Day. Another great celebration will be held in Moscow, to celebrate the end of what the Russians call

the Great Patriotic War.

In America, there are no huge celebrations. We were the arsenal of democracy in that war, the productive

force without which it might not have

been won by the Allies. Our people suffered death and injury far from home,

for causes and quarrels in which they

had no direct stake.

The distance of 50 years does not

erase the genuine hardship, difficulties,

and pain they suffered or the price

many of them paid. It was not a good

war because there are no good wars for

those in the line of fire. Like every

war, it was vicious, uncaring of life,

random in its accidents and mistakes,

brutal for its participants.

And yet Americans served, and did so

with distinction. We ought to take

pause to take great pride in the kind of

people we are, and to honor the memories of those who paid the ultimate

price. Those who served have done

more for their fellow citizens and for

the future than any words can describe.

They are American heroes, one and all,

and we salute them.

Mr. President, I yield the floor, and 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. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the

quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, are we still

in morning business?

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning

business has not been closed.

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF V–E

DAY

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, 50 years

ago today, the guns were silenced in

Europe, and that continent was at last

freed from the tyrants who had plunged

it into war.

And across the world on May 8, 1954,

there were moments that are remembered today, and will be remembered

for generations yet to come.

Here in Washington, at the White

House, President Truman spoke to the

American people by radio, with these

dramatic words:

This is a solemn and glorious hour. I only

wish that Franklin Roosevelt had lived to

witness this day. General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have

surrendered to the United Nations. The flags

of freedom fly all over Europe.

In New York City, a half a million

people crowded into Times Square, and

in main streets and town squares

across America, smaller crowds gathered to celebrate.

In Paris, the boulevards that Hitler

and his armies had once controlled

were free again, and the French people

rallied under the Arc de Triomphe.

And in London, Winston Churchill

spoke before a large crowd, telling the

people of Britain, ‘‘This is your victory.’’ And many in the crowd shouted

back that the victory was his. Later

that night, the floodlights illuminated

Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and St.

Paul’s Cathedral for the first time in 6

years.

Anniversary celebrations are a time

for remembering the past, but they are

also a time for looking to the future.

And as we celebrate this 50th anniversary of the Allied victory, let us remember the lessons that World War II

taught us—lessons that hold for us

still.

We learned that we cannot turn our

backs on what happens in the rest of

the world.

We learned that we can never again

allow our military to reach low levels

of readiness and supplies.

We learned that we cannot appease

tyrants and despots, and perhaps above

all, we learned the critical importance

of American leadership.

Yes, before our involvement, Britain

courageously fought on against the

odds. And, yes, Russia, after initially

siding with the Axis Powers, helped to

turn the tide when the Nazis turned

against them.

But, the war could not have been won

and would not have been won without

the commitment, the manpower, and

the leadership of the United States. It

is that simple.

It was American leadership that built

the arsenal of democracy which made

victory possible.

It was American leadership that held

the Allies together through the darkest

days of the war.

And it was American leadership

which conquered the forces of tyranny

and restored liberty and democracy to

Europe.

And when I talk about leadership, I

do not mean just the famous names of

Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Marshall, Churchill, and de Gaulle. And I

do not just mean the soldiers who

fought their way across Europe and the

Pacific. For we must also thank those

who served at home—the Gold Star

moms, the factory workers, and the

farmers. Without their contribution

and their sacrifice, the war effort could

not have been successful.

So, today is a day for all of us to celebrate the triumph of democracy, and

to honor those who served and those

who paid the ultimate price on behalf

of their country.

And the best way we can do that is to

rededicate ourselves to the promise

that President Reagan made on behalf

of America on the beaches of Normandy 11 years ago:

We will always remember. We will always

be proud. We will always be prepared, so we

may always be free.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I indicated

ORDER OF PROCEDURE

fearlier, I will have a resolution concerning V–E Day, which I hope we will

be able to submit to the Democratic

leader in the next few moments and

have a discussion on that and, hopefully, have a vote on that about 4

o’clock. We still, as I understand it,

have a cloture vote at 4 o’clock, plus

votes on any amendments that may

occur prior to 4 o’clock. Following

that, it is our intention to take up the

Deutch nomination to be CIA Director,

and have that debate this evening and

then have the vote tomorrow morning

on the nomination.

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. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the order for

the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without

objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair.

PRODUCT LIABILITY BILL

fMr. President, I have sought recognition to comment about the pending

legislation on products liability on

which there is a cloture vote scheduled

for 4 o’clock this afternoon, that is, a

vote to cut off debate.

As I have expressed in the prior debate, it is my view that it would be appropriate to have reform on product liability, providing the reform is very,

very carefully crafted.

As I have noted in previous speeches,

I have represented both plaintiffs and

defendants in personal injury cases. I

had one large product liability case,

which I litigated many years ago. Actually, it was ultimately settled. But

the issue in the case concerning privity

and coverage for a passenger in an