Tribute to Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I rise in abject sadness on the horrible news that Senator Moynihan has passed from our midst. When it was announced in our caucus that this terrible event had occurred, you could just see the energy come out of the room and the sadness come on everybody's face. Senator Moynihan was a unique individual. He wasn't just another Senator. He wasn't just another human being. He was very special.
Rarely has one man changed society so with his ideas, the idea that one man can change society for the better. Senator Moynihan's life was testament to that fact. His life was testament to the fact that one man who just thinks can make an enormous difference. He was truly a gianta giant as a thinker, as a Senator, and as a human being. He was a kind and compassionate person, a loving husband. Liz, our thoughts go out to you and to all of the Moynihan children and family. I have known him for a very long time.
When I was a student at Harvard College, I audited his course. I got to know him a little bit then. As I went through my congressional career, we used to have lunch every so often. He was a complete joy to just sit down and have lunch with and exchange ideas.
He looked out for people. He cared about people. He had real courage. When he disagreed with the conventional wisdom, nothing would stop Pat Moynihan from making his view heard and making it heard in such an interesting and intellectually and thoughtful way.
Again, he changed our world for the better. There are hundreds of millions of human beings in this country who do not know it, but he made their lives better. There are billions of people in the world, and through his work he made their lives better.
Senator Moynihan was loved in my home State of New York from one end of the State to the other. We are a big, broad, diverse State. It is very hard to find consensus with 19 million New Yorkers, but just about everybody loved Pat Moynihan. He did it through a big heart and a great mind.
He is now with his Maker. I know I will be looking up to the heavens for inspiration, as I looked to Senator Moynihan's office when he was still with us.
I very much regret his passing. I pray for the Moynihan family and for the children. I hope God gives us a few more Pat Moynihans in this Senate and in this country. I thank the Chair.