Human Life Bill if his mother would have aborted him if she had known he would be disabled by polio. But that was a calm, perhaps calculated offering from EAST. The trademark of JOHN EAST is that all questions lead inevitably to theory-to loopholes and the Constitution and court decisions and even the writings of Plato. EAST has a whole team of philosophers he admires. Plato ("as fundamental as you can get”), Cicero (“the great figure in Roman political thought”), St. Augustine (“the biblical conception of man and the political implications of it"), St. Thomas Aquinas (“critical in trying to reconcile the biblical view plus the classical"), and Edmund Burke ("the best of modern conservative thought"). And there are others he devours for understanding of all points of view, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke, Jeremy Bentham, Karl Marz. Occasionally, one feels he has brought all of them to the Senate with him. Through EAST, Plato will give America his opinion about abortion, Cicero his views on busing, St Augustine on tobacco subsidies. With the self-bestowed carte blanche to rally long-dead philosophers to his side, EAST can be intimidating if somewhat esoteric. It's often not a fair game. He's sent too many players on the field. He knows that few senators or witnesses at hearings care to match wits with him. One has to dig for hours, ask the same questions again and again, before uncovering the personal side of John East. Along the way, one discovers that EAST is not as extreme a character as he appears. On the contrary, he is a man of apparent paradox, with many shades of gray. Mr. ABDNOR. Mr. President, all of us in the Senate are lessened by the loss of our friend and colleague, JOHN East. While illness deprived him of the use of his legs and more recently of his physical strength, JOHN EAST was, in all other respects, one of the strongest people I have ever known. JOHN EAST was strong in determination. JOHN EAST was strong in intellect and intellectual honestly. JOHN EAST was strong in personal discipline. JOHN EAST was strong in personal commitment. JOHN EAST was strong in scholarship. JOHN EAST was strong in articulating his philosophy. JOHN EAST was, above all, a person of tremendous courage. While you might not always agree with JOHN, you could not help but admire the tenacity he brought to bear in overcoming his physical handicaps and advocating his conservative philosophy. He was rarely angry and he was rarely deterred by criticism. When he was angry it was mainly with himself and the fact that recently his physical strength deterred him from being the kind of Senator he wanted to be. Compromise with adversity or philosophy was not part of his nature. Yet, throughout all he was a gentle gentleman, seeking to convince through intellectual persuasion and thoughtful response to challenges to views. When I was growing up in South Dakota my Lebanese-immigrant parents constantly reminded me: "This is a wonderful country. We must work to keep it that way.” That, too, was JOHN EAST's philosophy. He believed in the goodness of America and that its goodness was founded in the efforts of the individual-that one man could make a difference. JOHN EAST gave it all he had—and he did make a difference. We have lost a great statesman-a valued colleague—a good friend. May he rest in peace. Mr. STENNIS. Mr. President, JOHN EAST of North Carolina contributed much during his service in the Senate, not only through the work he did here, but through his character and courage which was demonstrated in so many ways. I remember him for his commitment to doing his work, regardless of the personal difficulty and added burdens he had to carry. His honor and integrity was always evident as he went about his duties with true dignity. I believe I am correct in saying that I have served with more Senators than any other current Member of the Senate. I am told that the number now totals 388. Each of these individuals has contributed to this body in unique ways, and each one has encouraged and challenged me in special ways. Senator EAST truly served as a source of encouragement for me personally as he demonstrated strength and courage in the face of adversity. It would have been easy, I know, for him to develop a rather resentful attitude. But he always presented the positive to those of us who served with him. Through his example, I believe he brought out the best in those around him. He showed us all that personal hardships need not control, but that we too can persevere if we hold fast to our will and determination. The people of North Carolina were well served by this quiet, scholarly man who always put their interests above his own. Though his service here was relatively brief, his influence will be lasting. Through his tragic death, we realize more fully how difficult life was for him, giving even deeper meaning and significance to the personal sacrifices he made in accomplishing all that he did here. I join with my colleagues in feelings of gratitude for having known and served with JOHN EAST, and pay tribute to his memory which will always include recognition of his contributions to the Senate, to each of us individually, and to this country which he loved and served. Mr. BOSCHWITZ. Mr. President, I rise to join scores of my colleagues who have spoken in remembrance of JOHN EAST. JOHN really is a loss to the Senate, and I rise to express that loss as a person, and as a Senator, for myself, and I believe, for the entirety of the Senate. I also express my compassion and condolences to Sis, his wife, who has been such a valued member of our Senate community. I did not serve on any committees with Senator EAST, Mr. President, but I often ran into him because our offices were so near to one another on the fifth floor of the Hart Building. So we would often go to and from the votes and we would have a chance to discuss matters in that way. Often at the termination of a vote I would go with him to his office or we would speak in the halls of the Hart Building and talk about the issues of the day. Some time ago when JOHN seemed to be down, my friend, Alan Simpson and I decided we would have a nice, long chat with him and see what JOHN was about and see why he was not feeling so well. In the President's room here we spoke for about an hour and a half. We spoke about life in the Senate and, despite what it may appear sometimes in the press, it is not an easy life, not an easy life for the families, not an easy life for the individuals. On the other hand, it is a rich and rewarding life and, if one wants to have an impact on his time, it is certainly a life that can afford that. We talked with JOHN about the special problems that he had because of his disabilities in this rather rushed and hectic life that we lead here in the Senate. We stayed and we talked at some length, as I mentioned, and JOHN, indeed, was somewhat depressed and was not sure whether or not he wanted to continue to serve in the Senate, whether or not he would run again for office, and we tried to give him such encouragement as we could so that he would get more joy out of his service here than at least at that moment he seemed to be getting. At other times, as I spoke with him in the halls and again on the way to and from the votes and again after the vote in the hall of the Hart Building, I thought that he had indeed recov ered his enthusiasm. He was once again making a valuable and an expansive and extensive commitment and contribution to the U.S. Senate. He is a great loss, Mr. President. In our Jewish tradition, we feel that a person's life is eternal if it has an impact on others and if it changes the lives of other people, that a person lives eternally through his children and through those with whom he has contacts during his life span or her life span. JOHN East had an impact on hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students in his years as a teacher. He had an impact on other Senators, on staff, on constituents while he was here. So certainly within the framework of that tradition, he will indeed live eternally and his service here to the Senate will be well remembered, well respected and he will be missed. I yield the floor. Mr. LAXALT. Mr. President, I rise today with a deep sense of sorrow over the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, JOHN EAST. During the past 51⁄2 years, I had the pleasure of knowing and working with JOHN in the Senate and, more particularly, on the Judiciary Committee. JOHN went about his work in a quiet way and with a sense of commitment and devotion that truly set him apart. He was exceedingly bright and succeeded in accommodating the necessities of practical senatorial politics while strictly adhering to his firm-held philosophic beliefs. JOHN's background in political science provided this institution with a valuable asset. Indeed, he was unmatched in terms of his ability to understand and interpret political theories and philosophies. In addition, JOHN probably possessed the best working knowledge of American constitutional law in the Senate. A testament to JOHN's exceptional intellect will be the soonto-be-released book he coauthored on leading conservative political thinkers in the country. I know my colleagues in the Senate would agree that JOHN EAST belongs among the outstanding people referred to in his book. Aside from JOHN's professional qualities, his personal traits were just as impressive. He was a trusted and respected friend. He shunned publicity, preferring the less glamourous route of enacting and supporting legislation he felt was in the best interests of this country. I was fortunate to have the privilege of working with JOHN on the Subcommittee on Courts. His knowledge of the judici ary was extensive and deep. We relied heavily on JOHN'S wealth of knowledge in matters pertaining to the courts. I watched with admiration as his subcommittee addressed the question of establishing an intercircuit tribunal. Although JOHN was opposed to the establishment of a new court, he made sure that all sides were heard from. JOHN's remarkably successful career in both academics and politics is even more impressive when considering the tremendous obstacles he had to overcome. Stricken by polio at a young age, JOHN nevertheless pursued his goals with determination and courage. The acclaim he won as a professor at East Carolina University was such that his fellow conservatives felt he should run for the U.S. Senate in 1980. His election was a tribute to his intellectual and political strength and was a key to the conservative revolution that swept the country in that year. None of us will ever know the true depth of JOHN's pain in the recent years. All we can do is appreciate his many accomplishments under the most trying circumstances. And we can be thankful for knowing JOHN EAST and for being able to call him a friend. Our prayers are with Priscilla and the rest of the East family in this time of sorrow. We've lost a great man, but our Nation is certainly better for his work. Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, today I join with other Members of the Senate in mourning the loss of our friend and colleague, Senator JOHN EAST. All of us were saddened by the news of his death. We will miss the thoughtful determination and grace he demonstrated in this Chamber. JOHN EAST was a man who knew his own mind and who was deeply committed to the principles he held dear. Whether one agreed or disagreed with his conclusions, he commanded respect as a courteous, thoughtful, and articulate spokesman for conservative values. His example helped force each of us to think more carefully and to speak more clearly on a wide range of issues. That was one of JOHN EAST's unseen contributions to the work of the Senate. Mr. WALLOP. Mr. President, JOHN EAST was my friend and I shall miss him sorely. JOHN was a philosopher. He loved to quote from Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Edmund Burke. Now in his passing, the words of Burke come to mind that describe the courage and resolve of JOHN EAST as Burke once said: |