David Obey: “I do simply want to say that when the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) retires, this institution will have lost one…”

“I do simply want to say that when the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) retires, this institution will have lost one of the most thoughtful human beings who has ever walked the floor of this House. Of all of the relationships that I have had through the years in this House, it is hard for me to think of one that has made me feel more rewarded than the relationship I have had with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) in dealing with our mutual responsibilities in the area of international affairs. When Congresses deal with foreign affairs, usually we are dealing with issues that are not very well understood by our constituents and, frankly, often not very well understood by a number of our colleagues as well. Often in dealing with international affairs, the right thing for our country is to do something which may not be, for the moment, very popular.…”