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[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7233-S7234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                          TRIBUTE TO LES ASPIN

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to associate myself with the 
comments of our distinguished colleague from Georgia. Before he departs 
the floor, I thought we might put in one additional chapter in 
reminiscing about our dearly beloved friend, Les Aspin. It was a period 
when the two Armed Services Committees met, and I was privileged at 
that time for some 6 years to serve as ranking member, together with 
Senator Nunn as chairman, and Les Aspin as chairman of the House. I 
remember when we would act as the ``big four.'' If the Senator from 
Georgia will remember that----
  Mr. NUNN. Along with Congressman Bill Dickinson.
  Mr. WARNER. Yes, Congressman Bill Dickinson. There would be absolute 
deadlock in the conferences. The big four would sort of get off 
together, and the other members, I think they were slightly envious in 
some respects, but in other respects, they were glad they did not have 
to make the decisions the big four had to crank out.
  Mr. NUNN. I think many times it was like we were the ``little four'' 
rather than the big four.
  Mr. WARNER. That is correct. But my friend from Georgia is a man of 
great patience. Chairman Aspin would always be late, almost invariably 
late, and he would come in with a great swath of papers under his arm, 
down the hall with two or three staff people, and he would literally 
flop in the chair. He would consume the entire chair, and the papers 
would be scattered all over the floor. And, finally, the Senator from 
Georgia, who at that time was chairman of the Armed Services Committee, 
would regain his composure and we would start to resolve the problems. 
But it was a marvelous chapter in the relationship between the Senate 
and House Armed Services Committee, and Les Aspin was instrumental in 
seeing that we arrived at the proper decision which, almost without 
exception, was in the best security interest of this country. In those 
days, we had almost no politics that entered into the decision--
occasionally, a ship here or a tank there, but other than that, it was 
straightforward, tough decisions on behalf of the country.
  I join my friend from Georgia in saying how much we will miss our 
friend. I was with him just 2 weeks ago. I am privileged to serve on 
the Intelligence Commission, and Les Aspin was the chairman. We went 
down to one of the Central Intelligence facilities to spend a day. And 
I wish to add, Mr. President, that Zoe Baird is a member of that 
commission, and she called me just yesterday and expressed her great 
admiration. I would like to include that in my comments for Chairman 
Aspin of the commission. That commission will carry on and do its work, 
but he laid the foundation. I join my distinguished colleague in paying 
this brief tribute to our fallen friend.
  Mr. NUNN. I thank my friend from Virginia. I remember those days very 
well, and I will always cherish the memories. I have to say that while 
Les Aspin would consume that chair, my friend from Virginia was usually 
consuming the sofa.
  Mr. WARNER. That is quite true.
  Mr. NUNN. For health reasons, though.
  Mr. WARNER. In those days I had a bum leg. I think we should end this 
brief set of comments on behalf of the late Congressman Aspin with a 
smile on our face, because that is the way he would want it. I am glad 
that my distinguished colleague from Georgia mentioned the Bottom-Up 
Review. That was a document that was created and is still used as a 
benchmark for many of our discussions here. He had that foresight and 
courage. [[Page S7234]] 
  My knowledge and friendship with the late departed Les Aspin began 
when I was Secretary of the Navy. He was off frequently as a severe 
critic of the Department of Defense during that period of time.
  And I remember so well Melvin Laird was then Secretary of Defense and 
had a great respect and friendship for Les, but Les was a strong critic 
in those days. Now in hindsight, maybe some of his criticism was well-
taken.
  I yield the floor.

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