Heidi Alexander: “Thank you, Mr. President. Remembering Harlan Mathews Mr. President, a few days ago we lost a prominent Tennessean…”

“Thank you, Mr. President. Remembering Harlan Mathews Mr. President, a few days ago we lost a prominent Tennessean, Harlan Mathews. He was 87 years old, and he lived a long and distinguished life. Harlan Mathews served in the Senate seat in which I now have the privilege of serving. When Senator Al Gore was elected Vice President more than 20 years ago--Harlan Mathews took his seat and then retired from the Senate after serving two years of his appointment. But that was, by a long shot, not a description of his public service. Yesterday Senator Corker and I were at his funeral and memorial service in Nashville, which was a beautiful service, a simple service, as he would have imagined. The theme that kept coming through again and again was what a fine mentor and unselfish public servant Harlan Mathews had been in our State for 60 years. He was a World War II veteran, came to Vanderbilt University, and in 1950 met a young Governor whose name was Frank Clement--a rising star in national politics. He became his assistant and served in a variety of State government positions with very little interruption until he was appointed by Governor McWherter to serve for 2 years in Al Gore's seat. Twenty years ago Harlan Mathews decided not to run for reelection and has lived the past 20 years in Nashville. We were there with his wife Pat, his sons, and a host of friends.…”