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Skriven 2007-08-02 23:30:52 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0708025) for Thu, 2007 Aug 2
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Vice President's Remarks at Memorial Service for Former Representative Guy
A. Vander Jagt
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For Immediate Release Office of the Vice President August 2, 2007

Vice President's Remarks at Memorial Service for Former Representative Guy
A. Vander Jagt Committee on Ways and Means United States House of
Representatives



4:20 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Carol and Ginny; colleagues, friends, ladies and
gentlemen:

I first met Guy Vander Jagt more than 30 years ago, by introduction of my
boss, President Gerald Ford. The President had the highest opinion of Guy.
They both came from western Michigan; they had served adjoining
congressional districts; and they were friends for life.

Guy was here in the Capitol, along with many of us, the night we said
goodbye to President Ford. Now, only seven months later, we gather again to
pay tribute to another fine son of Michigan who loved his country, who
served with distinction, and will always be remembered with fondness and
respect.

Guy arrived in the House of Representatives four decades ago, as a member
of the class of 1966. That group, as time would show, was destined for high
achievement, and included names like Bill Steiger, Sonny Montgomery, Bob
Taft, Jim McClure, George Bush. The Michigan delegation was impressive in
itself, with Ford and Vander Jagt, Phil Ruppe, John Dingell, Bill
Broomfield, Martha Griffiths -- and other great talents in both parties.

From the first days of the 90th Congress to the last days of the 102nd, Guy
Vander Jagt was a standout member of this House. By the time I arrived as a
freshman in the 96th, he was already something of a legend among his
colleagues. Everyone knew what a remarkable speech Guy could give, on just
about any topic, whenever the need arose. (Laughter.) When he stepped to
the well, Democrats and Republicans alike wanted to stop to pay attention.
It didn't matter whether colleagues agreed or disagreed with him; they
simply knew that if Guy had something to say, it was worth listening to.

At the convention that first nominated Ronald Reagan and George Bush as
President and Vice President, Guy was chosen to give the keynote. Reagan
himself explained the choice this way: "My desire was simple. I wanted the
best -- Guy Vander Jagt."

It was said that Guy's great skill was in "painting the broad picture in
bright colors and vivid contrasts." And there were those who wondered how
someone with an oratorical style could succeed in a conversational age. It
didn't take long to figure out Guy's secret. The man had substance. He
spoke without notes -- expansively and often poetically. But the words
penetrated because they were honest, insightful, and true -- always to the
point, always from the heart. Guy was a highly intelligent man with a well
stocked mind. Yet more than that, he had direction. His purposes were
noble; his motivations were patriotic; he was morally serious.

Guy also possessed the gift of boundless energy, and none of it was wasted.
If ever a man could "fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth
of distance run," it was him. For an entire generation of incoming House
Republicans, one of the first sitting members they met was Guy Vander Jagt.
In many cases, Guy was the one who'd recruited them to run. Others met him
at candidate school. And hundreds would host Guy in their districts --
because if there was a seat to be won, our tireless NRCC chairman was
always willing to go out and put his shoulder to the wheel. His aide, Steve
Lotterer, said that Guy went to all 50 states, and "He would tell
candidates, 'I am here to build you up, and to talk about how good you will
be, not to tear down your opponent.'"

If you think back to the days when Guy first took over as chairman -- when
the House had literally twice as many Democrats as Republicans -- you
simply have to marvel at his drive and his optimism. He gave years of labor
and travel to the cause -- making many friends and pleasing many large
audiences, but also enduring the tiny airplanes, long car rides, late
nights, and small crowds. He took the good with the bad, but all of his own
contributions were good -- and they laid the groundwork, eventually, for an
historic political turnaround. We admired Guy for all of this -- and we
admire Carol, too, because she worked just as hard as her husband did and
they both made many sacrifices for all of us.

Guy was a happy warrior for his principles and for his party. But he was
comfortable on the other side of the aisle and he had friends of every
stripe. As Chairman Rangel said on the House floor, Guy had "the compassion
and sensitivity and understanding that it takes to make this Congress and
this country work." He cared about everybody in the House.

I'd wager that each of his colleagues, and each person in this room today,
can recall a time when Guy did something especially generous or considerate
just for us. For my part, there are many. But in particular I think of one
Sunday in the 1980s, when Guy and our wives found ourselves on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland -- and at Guy's invitation, we together spent an
unforgettable afternoon with the novelist James A. Michener. It was so very
much like Guy and Carol to want to share that experience with friends. And
we're still grateful for that memory. And I still see Guy Vander Jagt as he
was on that day and every day I knew him -- warm and thoughtful, wise and
literate. More than an able colleague; more than a talented legislator;
more than a skilled political hand -- Guy Vander Jagt was good company, a
good example, and a very, very good man.

Joined here today, we again feel the loss that came to the country, and to
all of us, on the 22nd of June. But we're grateful, too, that we knew a man
of such great style and substance. We're proud of our friend, Guy Adrian
Vander Jagt. And the United States of America honors his memory.
(Applause.)

END 4:27 P.M. EDT

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