John Chafee: “I would like to make several comments regarding the debate concerning Admiral Kelso's pension. First, I want to review…”

“I would like to make several comments regarding the debate concerning Admiral Kelso's pension. First, I want to review the admiral's career. At the age of 19, Frank Kelso went into the U.S. Naval Academy, and for the next 38 years made a career in the Navy. By all accounts, Admiral Kelso has been a distinguished officer. He led the 6th Fleet, commanded Navy forces that seized the terrorists responsible for the killing of an American aboard the Achille Lauro cruise ship, and was in charge of the air strikes against Libya in response to that nation's sponsorship of international terrorism. He became a four-star admiral in 1986. In short, Admiral Kelso has had an impressive career. It was during this period that the infamous Tailhook convention took place. It was there that the Navy aviators in 1991 harassed, abused, and assaulted female sailors and female guests in one of the Navy's worse moments. Tailhook was a disgrace for the Navy. Sexual harassment has no place in our society and certainly no place in the armed services.”