David Obey: “I have had the privilege for most of the years of my service here to serve with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.…”

“I have had the privilege for most of the years of my service here to serve with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton); and, in my view, he is one of the most distinguished persons ever to occupy this body. He has a solid understanding of the economy. He served this House for years on the Joint Economic Committee and served as chair of that committee. He is without question, in my view, the wisest member of this body in dealing with foreign affairs of any Member I have ever served with. Whether he was talking about Central America or the Middle East or the Soviet Union or its successor states, Lee Hamilton at all times came to his positions on the basis of facts, not on the basis of ideology. In the process, he served this country incredibly well. He continues to serve this country well today in this time of crisis as the Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center at the Smithsonian. He has served the people of Indiana with incredible distinction, and he has done great honor to the people of the United States in the manner of his service in this institution. I am pleased today to see that he is getting at least some of the recognition that all of us who know him understand that he deserves.”