Date: 1988-06-20
Speaker: JOHN J. RHODES (republican)
Chamber: H

The gentleman from Arizona thanks the Chair. People who receive this honor invariably begin by thanking our association and its officers for bestowing it. and I do not want to be different. so I do from the bottom of my heart express the appreciation of my family and me for one of the most memorable and prestigious honors I have ever received. Before I go any further. I would like to acknowledge the presence ofand if the rules of the House were different. I could do it legally. but since they are not. I will do it illegallymy wife. Betty. whom I think most of us know. Betty. would you please stand? And our only daughter. Elizabeth Reich. And our daughterinlaw. Jays wife. Annie Rhodes. And somewhere there are two of my grandchildren. I see one of them back there by his fatherArthur. And Taylor Rhodes is up in the Gallery. So the family is well represented. Nothing pleases a person as much as the approbation of his peers and his friends. To me. the members of this association are both. I enjoy the association. its members. and the chance it gives to all of us to renew friendships and recall many memories from our past service. And when I speak of friendships. I would like also to recognize the presence of my very good friend. the Junior Senator from Arizona. JOHN MCCAIN. JOHN. Our association is beyond the stage when people ask themselves why it exists. The record of achievement of the past In the Congressional Fellowship Program and our activities in contacts with legislators of other countries have dispelled any doubts that might have existed concerning the worth of this group. To me. one of the most important phases of our endeavors is to be a conduit for the exchange of some of our ideas with legislators of other countries. both present and past. Betty and I have had the privilege of making such contacts both in Africa and in the Middle East. In our trip to Africa. we were accompanied by two of the nicest people we have ever met. one of our former Members. Oil Oude. and his good wife and. Oil. thanks for being with us. It was a wonderful trip and without you it would not have been anywhere near that nice. Some of the legislative members. legislative bodies. in the Third World mainly. have real legislative bodies and they work hard and they do a very good job. Some have real power. but many of them act as mere advisers to all powerful executives. However. we found that most legislators were aware of their duties to their nations and their constituents even though some were also aware that their freedom of operation in discharging those duties left a bit to be desired. It is my hope that these contacts with members of legislative bodies such as this will encourage them in two ways. First. I would hope that they would look for leadership and. perhaps. ideas toward the Congress of the United States and. second. I would also hope that their contacts with us would encourage them in their support of the enhancement of democratic institutions in their own countries. I am very pleased that the members from Egypt are here. One of the countries that the Oudes and Betty and I visited was Egypt. and we had many contacts with members of the Egyptian Parliament. We found it to be a very worthwhile body. one that is developing rapidly as far as its responsibility and its sense of responsibility Is concerned. I am sure that the development of that legislative body portends great days ahead for that great nation. which is Egypt. I would like to Just compliment a member of our staff who is mainly responsible. he has the primary responsibility for contacts with other nations. George Avery. George went with us on this trip to the Middle East. and also more recently when Betty and I went to Turkey. George knows a lot about this great world that we live in and we are very fortunate to have his services in furthering what I think is a very Important effort which the association has made for reaching out to legislative bodies in other parts of the world. Let me make it clear that I am not advocating any course of action that could be called interference in the domestic affairs of any other nation. However. I believe strongly that the propagation of democratic principles is an endeavor which we can all properly pursue and which can help to make this world of ours more peaceful. more pleasant. and safer. I have always felt that one of the unused and almost unknown assets of our country is in the expertise and desire to serve of those of us who have retired from the career which we had followed for most of our adult lives. In our association we have many outlets for the employment of the talents of our members. The limiting factor in maintaining and expanding our scope of operations is very frankly. money. Our dedicated and efficient executive directors and many of the members of the board of directors spend a great portion of their time in trying to put together Just enough money for the subsistence of the organization and the financing of the projects in which we are presently engaged. Let me reiterate that this association is now beyond the stage of wondering about its continuing existence. No longer need any member have doubts as to the worthwhile nature of investments in our association. nor should we be the least bit backward in asking others both within our group and outside of it for financial participation. We as an association have never tried to impose our great wisdom upon the sitting Members of the Congress of the United States. nor should we. Nevertheless. I know that each of us from time to time. feels the need for communicating ideas to the leadership of the two bodies of the Congress. It would be my hope that in the years to come. we can establish a closer relationship with the Congress and its Members. not to force our ideas upon them but to make them aware of the fact that we. Individually and collectively. still have great regard and affection for the Congress as an institution and have not lost desires to be helpful. if asked. in preserving and enhancing this great institution in which we have served. In closing. let me once again thank the association and its officers and directors for bestowing this award upon me. I will always cherish it.