Maurice Hinchey: “I thank our friend, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the distinguished chairman of the Committee on…”

“I thank our friend, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for arranging this tribute to our friend, Hamilton Fish, Jr. Mr. Speaker, it was with deep sorrow that we received the news that the Nation and New York have lost one of its great men, Hamilton Fish, Jr. Ham stood for what was best in this institution and what is best about our system of government. He was the kind of person that Jefferson and Madison had in mind when they wrote the Constitution, the kind of person they wanted and expected to serve in the legislature they were creating. They wanted the seats in this Chamber to be occupied by people who took their responsibilities more seriously than they took themselves, people of judgment, people of substance. Ham was above all a thoughtful, judicious person, a man of integrity. This institution already misses his wisdom. Ham was known and respected for his independence. He was still a relatively junior Member of Congress when he gained national recognition for his committee vote to recommend impeachment of President Nixon. He will always be remembered for that vote, for his decision to apply his high standards of integrity impartially, even when he must have been under great pressure to do otherwise.”