Lautenberg, An American Original
The Unites States of America today mourned the passing of US Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died of complications from viral pneumonia. He was 89 years old.
Senator Lautenberg was the oldest member of the US Senate.
US Secretary of State John Kerry today in Washington DC expressed sadness for the death of one of his closest members of his old Senate family.
Secretary Kerry says he was privileged to spend more than 20 years as Frank’s colleague in the Senate.
“He was an American original, and as decent a person as I’ve ever known in public life.” – Secretary Kerry.
Kerry: Frank was a remarkable legislator and a tremendous human being.
According to Secretary Kerry, Senator Lustenberg was someone who fought hard and won a lot of battles that today people take for granted: like a ban on smoking on airplanes; or progress for veterans; and laws that have helped allow Jews and Christians and Baha’is and so many others to escape persecution; laws banning foreign aid to state sponsors of terrorism; laws bolstering security of ports and chemical plants; and laws ensuring that the victims of terror achieve some sense of justice.
Frank A Tenacious Legislator
Secretary Kerry says Senator Lautenberg never forgot where he came from in New Jersey, never forgot the values that he grew up with, and he always practiced them.
“Frank was above all a person of huge personal conviction.” – Secretary Kerry.
Senator Lautenberg A Protector Of Environement
Secretary Kerry narrates that Frank never lost faith with that commitment to the environment.
During the years when Frank was going through chemotherapy and he was weakened by cancer, he was still down there on the floor of the United States Senate fighting on every environmental debate late into the night, he said.
“For some, all politics is local, but for Frank, all politics was personal, and I loved that about him.” – Secretary Kerry.
Senator Lautenberg as WW II veteran
According to Secretary Kerry, Senator lautenberg never lost the connection to the 18-year-old Frank Lautenberg who volunteered for service in World War II.
In addition, the New Jersey senator fought harder for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan because he had been there standing in their shoes.
Frank Lautenberg As Loyal As He Was Patriotic
Secretary Kerry says he will particularly miss the last World War II veteran who served in the United States Senate.
“My heart goes out to Bonnie, his children Ellen, Nan, Lisa, and to Joshua, and to the grandchildren that he loved so much.” – Secretary Kerry.
Life of Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Lautenberg was the son of poor Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants and later joined the US Army when he was 18 and served in Europe in the Army Signal Corps.
Senator Lautenberg graduated from Columbia University and became a successful businessman before entering politics.
He is survived by his wife, six children and 13 grandchildren.
