Todd Rokita: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and salute an exceptional Hoosier, Dr. Edward B. McLean. Sadly, we…”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize and salute an exceptional Hoosier, Dr. Edward B. McLean. Sadly, we lost Dr. McLean on September 12. I wish to express my condolences, thoughts and prayers to his family. He was an inspiration on my path to serving the people of Indiana, and his teachings have become my primary motivation for seeking to reduce the size and scope of government here in Washington. He was my college professor, my counselor, and my friend. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, he was exactly the same person to countless men who associate with Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. As a man of faith, I believe we were put on this Earth to love one another and to make the best of the gifts our Lord has provided. We are all blessed to live in a country that allows us to experience liberty, the opportunity to learn, and the chance to succeed. Not every nation, Mr. Speaker, can say that. As a professor of political science since 1968, Dr. McLean challenged Wabash College students, faculty, and alumni to think critically and encouraged all to be lifelong learners. He gave us that chance to succeed. Moreover, he taught me the critical role of the individual in a free republic if, indeed, the republic is to remain free, and how such a system is philosophically and practically superior to the elitist and collectivist systems that have been tried throughout history but which, of course, as we all should know, have failed.…”