James Traficant: “Yesterday this body lost a great Member. The passing of Walter Capps will be felt deeply by all of us. He was a…”

“Yesterday this body lost a great Member. The passing of Walter Capps will be felt deeply by all of us. He was a wonderful man, dedicated to making a difference. He will be missed terribly. Walter was not a politician. He was an academic at heart, and it was his background in academia that enabled him to bring a unique viewpoint to Congress. His expertise in the study of the Vietnam conflict and conflict resolution earned the respect of his colleagues, and enabled him to play a significant role on the International Relations Committee, even as a freshman. A truly remarkable individual, Walter was deeply affected by the 1996 car accident, which left him temporarily in a wheel chair. From this tragedy, he learned a lesson that many of us would have overlooked, that loving and caring for each other was what mattered in the end. He carried this perspective into his daily work on the House floor. Determined to protect those individuals who could not help themselves, Walter would always cast his vote to protect the most vulnerable in our society. He truly believed that even if reform was called for, the Government must not abandon what he felt to be its mandate: to help families and individuals who could not help themselves. This kindness, compassion, and genuine concern for his fellow man was evident in all that Walter said and did. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Walter's wife, Lois, and to their children.”