John Kerry: “with the passing of Mike Mansfield, this Chamber lost a man who embodied the true meaning of public service. And while…”

“with the passing of Mike Mansfield, this Chamber lost a man who embodied the true meaning of public service. And while he will no longer be with us, his spirit and his commitment to serving our Nation survives him and guides us. I rise today to pay my respects for his service as well as to ask that we honor his life by following his example. Mike Mansfield's patriotism and commitment to public service resided in the very core of who he was. At the ripe old age of 14, when most boys are signing up for freshman football, Mike Mansfield was signing up for his first tour with the Navy. After the Navy discharged him due to his age, Mike Mansfield would reenlist and serve in the Army and Marine Corps. For a young man from Montana, those experiences led him to develop an interest and passion for defining America's role in this world. Back in 1921, when the word 'globalization' was not exactly in vogue, Mike Mansfield was taking his first trip to Asia. His commitment to United States-Asia relations was unprecedented, while his leadership in this area was unparalleled. It is with awe that in an age of hyper-partisanship, we look back at a life of service that always put principles above partisanship. One can only look back with awe and respect at a man who not only served as the longest serving Senate majority leader but also the longest serving U.S. Ambassador to Japan.”