Sam Gibbons: “I too would like to rise to pay tribute to our late colleague, Sonny Bono. When often asked to describe Sonny Bono, we…”

“I too would like to rise to pay tribute to our late colleague, Sonny Bono. When often asked to describe Sonny Bono, we here on the floor would fondly refer to him as the Will Rogers of Congress. His humor lightened our lives, those especially of us who were lucky enough to have had the opportunity to know and to serve with him. His klutzy exterior often masked the articulate intellectual interior of a man who was committed to ending the scourge of drugs on our country. When he saw the rock culture of the 60s turning to the drug culture of the 60s, Sonny Bono said no. He was outspoken in his opposition to drug use throughout his career as an entertainer as well as a public servant. He was a dedicated husband and father who placed the well-being of his family above all. While in Washington, Sonny preached a message that each of this body would do well to remember: 'Take your job but not yourself very seriously.' Farewell, Sonny. May God bless your family. This country will miss you.”