TRANSCRIPT: Majority Leader Schumer Remarks At The Ceremony For The Unveiling Of The Portrait Of Hawaii Senator And Former President Pro Tempore Dan Inouye
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke at the ceremony for the unveiling of the portrait of Senator Dan Inouye in the Old Senate Chamber of the United States Capitol. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
After Dan’s passing, a colleague in the Hawaii delegation noted something I think crystalized Dan perfectly:
As we all know, Senator Inouye accomplished more in his life than most people could ever dream of doing: A decorated war hero who lost his arm fighting the Nazis at the Gothic line in Italy. The highest ranking Asian American man ever elected, the first Japanese American to serve in the House and the Senate, elected the same year that Hawaii became a state. Third in line to the presidency, a driving force behind the Watergate and Iran Contra Committees, and the only American ever awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Freedom.
Even by Senate standards, that is one heck of a resume!
But when he ran for re-election, his yard signs and bumper stickers eschewed all of this and instead simply read: “Dan.”
And the colors he used: yellow and black, the same as his alma mater, McKinley High School.
That was Dan in a nutshell: a force of nature you meet only once or twice in your life, who at the same time never put on airs and with all his power, he never acted as if he was better than anyone else. He always looked at you eye to eye.
Today, it is my honor to join with all of you at this portrait unveiling, to celebrate our friend and colleague.
It’s hard to think it has been over a decade since his passing—for most of us, it was inconceivable to imagine the Senate without him.
For newcomers, Senator Inouye was a willing mentor. For seasoned members, he was a trusted ally.
Most of all, he was a hero of the rarest sort for America—he made life better for so many Hawaiians, paved new ground for Americans of color to serve in office and lead a better life, and used the full power of the Senate to make life better for all people in this country.
In a way, this unveiling is both a tribute and a restoration.
Because just as Senator Inouye was a constant presence in the Senate for so many decades, he will be a constant presence again through his portrait. It will remind us he’s still with us, guiding us in spirit.
It’s now my honor to introduce a dear colleague of mine, Senator Brian Schatz, who arrived to the Senate with the immense task of finishing Dan Inouye’s final term.
And all these years later, Senator Schatz has done an outstanding job carrying on his predecessor’s legacy. I know Dan is looking down and smiling knowing his seat is in very good hands.
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