Political Quotes

“I rise to pay tribute to the Honorable Roman Pucinski, former Member of Congress, former Chicago alderman, and a great American. Mr. Speaker, on September 25, the Angel of Death took away the golden voice of Roman Pucinski, formerly fondly known as ``Pooch'' to those who knew him. Roman Pucinski was a Chicagoan through and through. In a city with strong ethnic ties and heritage, he was a renowned member and leader in the Polish American community. Pucinski was a household name in Chicago. The proud son of civic leadership, Roman went on to become a reporter-journalist. And what a reporter he was for the Chicago Sun Times. The war interrupted his journalism career, and during World War II Roman was the lead bombardier in the first B-29 ``Superfortress'' raid on Tokyo in 1944. This was just one of 49 missions in which he flew as part of the Army Air Forces in the Pacific. He returned home to Chicago and became the chief investigator for a select committee of Congress, investigating the Katyn Forest Massacre. This investigation of slain Poles eventually resulted in his appointment as Illinois division president of the Polish American Congress. Roman Pucinski was then elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1958 and distinguished himself as an advocate for education, airline safety, and the interest of Chicago. He served 7 terms.”