Madam Speaker, I rise to honor our former colleague, and my good friend, the Honorable Lionel Van Deerlin of California. He passed away on May 17th in his San Diego home at the age of 93. Everybody…
Madam Speaker, I rise to honor our former colleague, and my good friend, the Honorable Lionel Van Deerlin of California. He passed away on May 17th in his San Diego home at the age of 93.
Everybody referred to him as ``Van.'' He served in this House from 1963 until 1981, and was a friend and colleague of mine on the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Throughout his career he maintained a marvelous wit and a generous spirit. He was a warm and gentle man.
After his defeat, Van went back to the newspaper business he loved, writing columns for the San Diego Tribune and then the Union-Tribune. In one recent column he decried the bitter partisanship of today's Congress, saying ``Twenty-five years ago in Congress you not only trusted the opposing party, you enjoyed their company. Today, they hardly even speak.''
During his last 4 years of service, from 1976-80, he was the Chairman of the Communications Subcommittee. It was a tumultuous time to preside over that important panel. The Justice Department had filed an antitrust suit against the then-integrated AT&T, and sought to divest the company of its manufacturing subsidiary, known then as Western Electric. In response to the Justice Department's lawsuit, AT&T's supporters in the Congress introduced the ``Consumer Communications Reform Act,'' which would have ratified AT&T's status as a monopoly.
All of this fell into Van's lap when he became Chairman of the Subcommittee. At the time, competition in communications was in its infancy. Competitive suppliers of telephone equipment were beginning to spring up. But competition in long distance was still a novelty. Van knew that if the Congress ratified AT&T's monopoly, consumers would have lost an opportunity to shop around and obtain equipment and service for less. So he came up with a plan to forestall the legislation (which was extremely popular) to educate his Subcommittee while giving the competitors an opportunity to gain a foothold in the marketplace.
Van announced his intention to draft a ``basement to attic'' re-write of the Communications Act of 1934. And he proceeded to do just that. In 1978 he introduced H.R. 13015, the ``Communications Act of 1978.'' Although the bill was never approved by the Subcommittee, he compiled an impressive hearing record and began to build the consensus that competition in communications was good for consumers.
The following year he introduced H.R. 3333, another attempt to re- write the Communications Act. Again, the bill was not reported by the Subcommittee; however Van's untiring efforts expanded both the record and the emerging consensus. And in 1980, the year of his defeat, he introduced H.R. 6121, which was approved by both the Subcommittee and the full Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
In 1980, Van was defeated for re-election. In his concession speech he again demonstrated his wry wit and sage perspective, saying ``Having been elected by the people in this district for nine consecutive elections, it would hardly be appropriate to say that they've taken leave of their senses this time.'' And so ended the career of a remarkable public servant.
But the efforts that he put in motion did not end there. Building on the hearing record that Van compiled, and the growing consensus that competition should govern the delivery of communications products and services, Congress continued its effort to update the Communications Act of 1934. In 1982 those efforts were interrupted by the Justice Department's announcement that it had settled the AT&T litigation. That settlement resulted in the 1984 divestiture of the Bell Operating Companies, and established the industry structure that persisted for the next 15 years.
In 1993 the House revived its efforts to update the 1934 Act, and in June of 1994, by a vote of 423-5, passed H.R. 3626. While the Senate did not complete action on its bill, efforts to update the law commenced anew in 1995. The result was the enactment of the landmark ``Telecommunications Act of 1996'' the following year.
Those of us who had been involved in these efforts from the beginning recognized that we were building upon the foundation that Van had laid back in 1977 and 1978. He was the visionary that realized that the days of AT&T's monopoly had to end, and he was the one who began the effort to build a consensus in favor of competition.
Early in 1996, the White House contacted my office to see who should be invited to attend the signing ceremony for the ``Telecommunications Act of 1996.'' I suggested that they invite Lionel Van Deerlin, the man who got the ball rolling nearly 20 years before. And so in February, 1996, I entered the Library of Congress to witness the President signing this important new law. And there was Van, my old friend and colleague; smiling as always.
That was the last time that I saw Van. After his defeat I missed his cool-headed leadership and ready wit. It was great to see him that day, and I was glad that he lived to see his efforts come to fruition with the enactment of the new statute. This body has lost a good and decent colleague, who made valuable contributions that extended well beyond his years of service. And I have lost an old and dear friend, whom I will miss. We were better for his presence.
I am inserting for the Record the eulogy of former Representative Lynn Schenk.
The following is the text of the Eulogy for Rep. Lionel Van Deerlin, delivered by his friend of 30 years, the Hon. Lynn Schenk, on the occasion of his Memorial and Celebration of Life at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, California, at noon, on Saturday, June 14, 2008:
I have been given the high honor of speaking to you today
about a most extraordinary man--Lionel Van Deerlin--our dear
Van. I thank the Van Deerlin family, his children and
grandchildren for this special privilege.
Van's ``life journey'' was marked by so much accomplishment
that it would take hours to recount--I will do my best to
touch on the highlights.
This man, with a giant heart, who looked at life through
the softening lens of humor, has brought us together today,
but he would not want us to mourn him. Instead he would
want us to celebrate his life and enjoy one another's
company.
As I share a few reflections, it is OK if you want to tune
me out and remember your own ``Van'' stories--there are so
many!
On May 17, the Nation lost a great American, a family lost
a cherished patriarch and we lost a dear friend.
Van died peacefully--just as he lived every day of his long
and celebrated life--surrounded by family and friends. And
just like Van, he closed his eyes for the last time only
after finishing his column for the SD union tribune.
Van was born in L.A., a true native son of California. He
went to public school in Oceanside and graduated from USC,
where he was editor of the daily Trojan, something for which
this Bruin long ago forgave him.
He began his civilian career in journalism in Baltimore and
Minneapolis, where he met the love of his long life, Mary Jo.
They eloped to a marriage that lasted 67 years ending only
with Mary Jo's passing last October.
During WWII, Van served in the Army where he was on the
staff of ``Stars and Stripes''. After the war, the Van
Deerlins returned to San Diego to raise their family, Jimmy,
John, Victoria, Elizabeth, Susan and Jeff.
Van joined the SD Sun and became the city editor of the SD
Journal, a paper founded by Clint McKinnon, the first
Democrat to be elected to Congress from SD.
Van loved the job, but the siren call of TV was too much to
resist.
He used to tell a hysterical story about those early TV
days. The TV studio was in Tijuana. Then, as now, economics
drove the medium. So on weekends the inside studio was used
to tape commercials while the live news was broadcast from a
parking lot outside. A picture backdrop of sunny SD was used
to hide the cars and trucks in the lot.
One evening it began to rain, drops were rolling off Van's
forehead and the backdrop swayed in the wind, while the lead
cameraman was in a fistfight with the director! Undeterred
Van carried on like the trooper he was, that is, until a wet
cat threatened to jump into his lap!
The versatile newsman credited his exposure on TV for his
first election victory, becoming the second Democrat from the
then very Republican SD area to be elected to the U.S.
Congress.
Van was reelected 9 times. By the time I met Van, more than
30 years ago, he was a high ranking member of the majority
party. I was in awe, but with his ready smile and corny jokes
he immediately put me at ease. I am certain many of you here
had similar first meeting with this ``king of the one
liners!''
I have many memories of Van and Mary Jo, but one of the
earliest is also one of my fondest. In the mid 70's as a
White House fellow, I had access to the presidential box at
the Kennedy Center, but only on a last minute basis when no
one really important wanted it. One late afternoon I got the
word the box was mine for that evening. I don't know what
possessed me to call Congressman Van Deerlin to invite him
and his wife, because surely he would decline.
But he didn't! He accepted with glee.
As we stepped from the anteroom into the box he was more
excited than I!!
As you would expect, all heads turned to see who was
occupying the presidential box. Not wanting to disappoint,
Van proceeded to the rail and in his best royal nod and wave
acknowledged the crowd! With his patrician looks, they all
must have thought he was a visiting king or at least a
prince!
Van served on the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce and chaired its communications subcommittee.
According to his friend and colleague, Cong. John Dingell, it
was a tumultuous time, but Van maintained his marvelous wit
and generous spirit.
Competition in communications, especially long distance,
was in its birthing stages. The Justice Dept, ATT and
potential competitors were in heated battle.
All this fell into Van's lap. He announced his intention to
draft a ``basement to attic'' rewrite of the communications
act of 1934. And that he did, compiling a comprehensive
record to show that competiion in Communications was good for
consumers.
It was Van's work that provided the foundation for the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. Again, according to Cong.
Dingell, Van was the visionary who realized that ATT's
monopoly had to end.
The committee was renamed Energy and Commerce and John
Dingell is the long time chairman. John Dingell sends his
deepest sympathies to Van's family.
He said into the Congressional Record ``this body has lost
a good and decent colleague who made valuable contributions
that extended well beyond his years of service. And I have
lost an old and dear friend, whom I will miss. We were better
for his presence.''
I had the privilege of sitting in the Van Deerlin seat for
a brief period, and on his subcommittee.
His cool headed leadership and ready wit were much
remembered. One day during a contentious hearing, the doors
opened and in slipped two gentlemen. I recognized Van
immediately and slipped a note to the subcommittee chairman,
Ed Markey who along with Al Gore, was a protege of Van's. Ed
halted the proceedings to introduce Van and the room
literally erupted in a standing ovation.
He tried to stop this spontaneous outpouring so he could
introduce the gentleman with him who he also wanted
acknowledged in this manner, former Republican Congressman
Bob Wilson!
How utterly Van!
While there was never a doubt that Van was a staunch
democrat, he was a gentleman who treated friend and foe, ally
and opponent with dignity and respect. His campaigns were
dignified and there was decency in everything he did. As his
son Jeff said, ``Van was a sweet and decent man''.
The contentious and vitriolic political scene today was a
source of consternation for him. Not too long ago, Van
famously said, ``twenty five years ago in Congress you not
only trusted the opposing party, you enjoyed their company.
Today, they hardly speak''!
Van accomplished so much for San Diego during his years in
Congress. He was simply one of the most productive Members
ever to represent this area. He authored the appropriation to
pay for a second border crossing at Otay Mesa, this, before
there was wide spread appreciation of the importance of cross
border cooperation.
He used his position in the majority to help his SD
colleague in the minority, Republican Bob Wilson, in Bob's
signal support for the Navy and Marines, including funding
for the Naval Hospital in Balboa Park.
Van and Bob worked together to promote work for SD's
shipbuilding and repair industry.
And Van fought long and hard for the appropriation for the
Veteran's Hospital in La Jolla. His insight and involvement
extended to where it should be located and by whom it should
be designed.
In fact, if the right people are listening, I suggest that
the VA Hospital be named for Lionel Van Deerlin!!
During his 18 years in the House, Van's accomplishments
were so far reaching that we still benefit from them today
both here in SD and nationally.
He was a nature lover and a sportsman with only binoculars
in his holster.
Because of his love of nature, he was an ardent
environmentalist. Van, ahead of his time, successfully pushed
for revisions to Federal law allowing California to set
tougher emission standards than the rest of the Nation.
In 1975, Van politely, but firmly, shall we say
``encouraged'' the Navy to restore Imperial Beach's vanishing
sand, which it did.
With an assist from the young Congressman Al Gore sitting
next to him, Van helped create C-Span, which had been
resisted for years by his colleagues.
Van was a ``Carrie Nation'' about congressional ethics! He
voluntarily disclosed his and Mary Jo's personal finances--a
first in Congress, and sought the expulsion of Adam Clayton
Powell from Congress for ethical violations. That took
courage and character, something Van had in abundance!!
The face of Public Broadcasting was sculpted by Van. The
Corporation for Public Broadcasting might not--no, would
not--exist today were it not for Lionel Van Deerlin!
But it wasn't all work and no play during those DC days--
for example, Van moonlighted as the manager for his staff's
softball team. He selectively challenged the only Capitol
Hill team to have never won a game--Congressman Charlie
Wilson's team. Suffice it to say that Mr. Wilson's team
finished the season with one victory.
Undaunted, Van cannily next challenged the diplomats and
staff of the Irish Embassy, knowing full well that softball
is not played in Ireland. (Pause) the Embassy of Ireland
finished the season undefeated one-zip!
Even in electoral defeat, Van maintained his humor and
perspective. After losing his reelection bid in 1980, he said
``having been elected by the people in this district for nine
consecutive elections, it would hardly be appropriate to say
that they've taken leave of their senses this time''.
There are so many stories from the rich, full and well
lived life of Lionel Van Deerlin. Each of you I'm certain
could fill hours telling Van stories.
John Martin, the former ABC News correspondent, talks about
how Van's role in getting him an overseas assignment was ``a
turning point in his life.''
John says, ``Van was gracious, smart, looking out for the
little guy and funny, just the combination we need in public
life''.
The person Van considered his fourth son, Rudy Murillo,
Van's dear friend Paul Peterson and my husband, Hugh Friedman
would, for the past decade, meet regularly for lunch. Van
filled the table with his joyful presence, as he surgically
dissected the events and issues of the day with his wit and
insight. For Paul, Rudy and Hugh, that fourth chair will be
hugely empty now.
His colleagues in the media will miss him enormously.
As we know, after Congress, Van returned to his first
professional love, journalism. For a couple of generations of
SD news people, Van was both a matchless source and quite
often a friend in need. He relished doing his column, he
loved journalism and journalists.
The Washington Post editorialized after Van's death ``a
happy warrior as both a Congressman and columnist, his column
reflected the man. A lively, engaging writer, he left no
doubt about his liberal views, but he relied on his quick
wit, a firm grasp of the issues and a lifetime's store of
anecdotes to provoke and persuade.''
So true.
Van was also an educator, teaching communications classes
at SDSU (where there is
a chair named for him). His students felt blessed to have had
the benefit of his wisdom.
He was a mentor to so many younger Democrats, cheering us
up when we lost, and cheering us on when we won. We will
always cherish his concern, his generosity and his support.
Personally, I will always remember his standing by my side,
wearing his biggest grin, as I announced my own candidacy for
Congress.
Although he lived life long and full in nearly 94 years,
those of us who knew him are still greedy for more of this
remarkable man and his life partner, Mary Jo.
But we must be content with the legacy he has bequeathed to
us. By his work in Congress, through his leadership, his
teaching and writing, and by the example of how he lived his
life, he has taught us many lessons. He taught us the
importance of giving of yourself to your fellow citizens, he
taught us that working together we can accomplish much, he
taught us to delight in shared achievement and not be
concerned with who gets credit. He showed us how to be
upbeat, positive, and happy. He taught us that politics can
be fun, that losing is not failure, an opponent is not the
enemy.
He taught us to treat everyone respectfully. He taught us
about dignity and decency, and the sweetness of life as it
should be lived, with enthusiasm, zest and verve--filling
every moment to the fullest. He taught us to believe as he
did, in the innate goodness of humanity.
He taught us to be loyal to our friends and to love our
families as he so unconditionally loved his.
Lionel Van Deerlin--a man of character, integrity, and
humility. Van--classy, enthusiastic, fun.
We should celebrate him the way he would want us to, with
happiness and joy in having had this sweet and decent man in
our lives.
Yes, we will miss the twinkle in his eyes, his witty
tweaking of the high and mighty. Yes, we will miss his
friendship and his presence, but we can best honor this
consummate man of good will by embracing the lessons he
taught us.
He left us with an ineffable sense of optimism and hope, so
let there be no sadness, because surely he is with his
beloved Mary Jo whistling an old tune and telling her a corny
joke.
