Richard Gephardt: “I rise in support of H.R. 3639, which names the headquarters of the Department of State after a great American from my…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3639, which names the headquarters of the Department of State after a great American from my home state of Missouri the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman. And I commend my good friend and colleague Ike Skelton for his leadership in spearheading this important effort. It is appropriate that we name the State Department's headquarters after Harry Truman, for he truly was a statesman of world stature. He was a visionary who inspired generations worldwide with his pursuit of peace through diplomacy, and with his defense of free peoples. From his unwavering support of establishing the United Nations as the best hope for peace, to the fateful decisions ending the Second World War, to the heroic effort of the Berlin airlift, President Truman demonstrated time and again his greatness. Yet at the same time, Harry Truman never forgot his roots in Missouri, where he had learned the virtues of loyalty, hard work, perseverance and personal responsibility. He not only talked about these Americans values, he lived them. His life story, the rise from farmer and haberdasher to judge to United States Senator, to Vice President, and finally to President of the United States, still inspires us with the truth of the old adage that anyone can grow up to be President.”