at meetings of the Judiciary Committee when he would undertake an explanation of his position; these explanations, always given off the cuff and without notes, were always erudite, thorough, and an exquisite explication of the point of view he was advocating. I may or may not have agreed with the point being made, but I was always in awe of Senator EAST for the elegance and precision with which he addressed an issue.

In addition to his obvious intellectual powers, JOHN was a man of compassion and courage. We all are familiar with the health problems that plagued him. He never complained; he did his best to overcome these difficulties. His kindness and decency were never questioned. He devoted a great deal of his Senate career to championing the cause of the unborn and the pro-life movement. This was an issue of enormous controversy, but Senator EAST never waivered in his quest to do what he thought was right.

This body will miss the voice of the philosopher Senator and I will miss him personally. I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife, Priscilla, and other members of his family.

Mr. PACKWOOD. Mr. President, I join my colleagues at this moment to honor and remember the Honorable JOHN P. EAST. Senator EAST overcame physical handicaps to become a scholar, teacher, and a respected statesman.

After contracting polio in 1955, he went on to earn three degrees. In 1959 he received his law degree, and within the following 5 years he had earned both his master's degree and his doctorate degree. After a long and successful teaching career Senator EAST began his term in the Senate.

During our time together in the Senate, JOHN EAST never ceased to be a gentleman, even when we were on opposite sides of an issue. He presented a scholarly, well-organized approach to his arguments. For this reason he was respected in the Senate, and we will all miss him.

I wish to extend my sympathy to the family of Senator EAST, especially to his wife and two daughters; and to assure them that he will be remembered for the man he was: Pleasant, dedicated, and courageous.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, today I wish to join my many distinguished colleagues in paying tribute to Senator JOHN PORTER EAST, a man whose strength of conviction and inner resolve complemented this honorable body and served as an example to each of us.

The great English statesman, Benjamin Disraeli, once wrote that life is too short to be little, and today I would like to take

this thought one step further and add that the majesty of a life is measured not by its length but by its accomplishment. In this regard, Senator EAST lived a life fulfilled.

From the time he came to the floor of the Senate in 1981, to his death only 3 weeks ago, Senator EAST represented the people of North Carolina, never waivering from their best interests and common well-being, and he proudly carried the philosophy and banner of his political party.

His education and professional background as a professor, attorney, and writer, prepared him well for the service he rendered in this Chamber. His optimism and friendly disposition marked his personality and made him a pleasure to work with.

At this time, as we pay tribute to Senator East, I would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity I've had to work with him, and I would like to express my condolence and support for his fine family who supported him as he supported

us.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise at this time to join my Senate colleagues in memory of our distinguished friend and colleague from North Carolina, JOHN PORTER East. During my brief time as a Member of this body, I had not only the opportunity to work with Senator EAST, but also the pleasure of knowing and learning from one of the most dedicated men I have encountered in my life.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I worked closely with Senator EAST, and there discovered a depth of commitment which made me proud to be a Member of this body. Certainly, as many of my colleagues have remarked, Senator EAST demonstrated a combination of strength, dedication, partiotism, and intellect that is matched by few and admired by many. Despite his health, he maintained an unflinching commitment to his fellow human beings. An extremely hard worker, he placed his own well being below service to his job, his constituents, and his country. His genuine care for the unborn child, his concern over the security of our Nation, and his devotion to education should serve as examples to us all. Whether on the floor of the Senate, in committee, or in the classroom, Senator EAST presented a model of character and a source of inspiration for us all. There is no doubt that we will miss the tireless efforts of our colleague, but even more, we will mourn the absence of his company and the loss of a trusted friend.

Mr. President, it is sad that people often fail to see the worth of life until confronted with death. Yet at this time I

think it is appropriate that we take a moment to reflect on our Nation's quality of life, its sense of democracy, and its foundations of freedom. For it is to each of these that Senator EAST offered the very most of his capabilities-often through periods that others would lack the strength and dedication to endure.

Because JOHN PORTER EAST gave his all for his colleagues, his constituents, and indeed every citizen of our United States, we will all be diminished by his passing away. However, in the light of his example and the memory of his work in this body, we can and should continue to advance the principles for which he so honorably stood.

Mr. President, I close by expressing my deep regrets and remorse over the loss of a friend and colleague, and by extending my heartfelt condolences to his family.

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, it is no easy task to accept the death of a close friend. In the case of JOHN EAST, it was tragically unexpected. Our sadness is deep. He was an inspiration to us all.

Following a bout with polio, after having played college football and serving in the Marines, JOHN EAST learned that he would never walk again. Facing a tragedy that would have broken most men, JOHN EAST climbed into a wheelchair and pressed on with his life. He earned both a doctor of laws degree from the University of Illinois and a doctor of philosophy in political science from the University of Florida. He bravely began a career educating America's youth in political science and in the conservative principles which he so deeply believed. This comeback from adversity culminated in his election to the Senate, where for 5 years he put his words into action.

JOHN EAST and I arrived in the Senate at the same time, and I feel privileged to have known him and to have shared his vision for America. He supported prudent measures to restore this Nation's economic health, and to restore this Nation's defense capacity. He worked also for the Nation to regain a sense of purpose, an overall concept of itself. JOHN EAST loved America and he loved his community. He served both with great distinction.

History will record the official legislative action of Senator EAST, and the Congressional Record will transcribe his words. But we, his colleagues, became intimately familiar with a man whose presence in the Senate had an enormous effect upon us all. It would have been impossible to measure JOHN's patience.

It would have been equally impossible to gauge his determination, the strength to maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty or obstacles.

We miss JOHN very much. The Senate will miss his wisdom. America will miss his example.

Mr. MATTINGLY. Mr. President, I doubt if any of the Members of the Senate have yet been able to fully absorb the shock of the death of our colleague, Senator JOHN EAST.

JOHN and I came to the Senate together as members of the class of 1980 but my friendship with him predated our service in this body. We had first become acquainted as a result of our Republican Party activities in North Carolina and Georgia. We shared a distrust of big government and a faith in the virtue of individual responsibility and initiative.

JOHN EAST was a man of impressive intellect, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from college and later earning a law degree as well as a master's degree and doctorate in political science.

His physical courage, though, was as great as his intellectual gifts. JOHN always comported himself with dignity, rarely using his time or yours to dwell on the difficulties imposed by his physical condition.

JOHN EAST was first and foremost a teacher. In fact, he had wanted to return to academe upon completion of his term in the Senate. Those that learned from him in the classroom, however, were not the only ones to benefit from his teaching. He challenged us to think and to question. He challenged each of us to formulate our positions based on sound judgment and to stand by our convictions. He was a friend and will be missed.

My wife, Carolyn, and I extend to JOHN's wife, Sis, to his children and to all members of his family our truly sorrowful condolences. We thank them for his service to the U.S. Senate, to the people of his State, and to our Nation.

Mr. STAFFORD. Mr. President, I rise to pay my respect to the late U.S. Senator JOHN P. EAST of North Carolina-a colleague, a fellow Republican, but most of all in this Senator's mind, a human being who showed the way in courage and tenacity.

We who served with Senator EAST here in the Senate are not likely to forget quickly the determination he exhibited to overcome grave physical disabilities, and the success that he demonstrated in accomplishing this. My closest association with JOHN EAST came not here on the Senate floor or in committee rooms, but in witnessing him in the Senate gymnasium where

each of us attempted in an almost daily ritual "to stay in shape."

JOHN EAST never gave up. It was a learning experience for this Senator to witness his determination and plain "grit." I often wondered how many others of us would face the world each day and go about our jobs so forcefully if we too had to work so hard just to exercise our bodies.

Each of us, I suppose, hopes to leave some marks by our service here in the Senate. JOHN EAST, at least as far as this Senator is concerned, left such a mark-a constant reminder not to feel sorry for oneself, a constant reminder that courage is exemplified in many different ways. And very often it is exemplified best by those who outwardly, at least, would seem to have the greatest reason to feel sorry for themselves.

JOHN EAST was a courageous human being.

Mr. SYMMS. Mr. President, our late colleague and my close friend Senator JOHN P. EAST, was a great American and a great Senator. He always held a firm vision of a morally great and powerful America.

After his election in 1980, JOHN EAST came to this body full of intellectual and moral vigor. He was always able to participate tellingly in our Senate debates on any subject, at any time. He was one of our finest, most articulate, and most persuasive speakers. I remember the times that JOHN's presence and voice on the floor made a difference on the outcome, especially on defense and foreign policy issues, which he was most interested in.

As chairman of the Judiciary Committee's Separation of Powers Subcommittee, JOHN held several important meetings. I remember well his hearings in July 1982 on Senate Joint Resolution 212, an effort to legislate compliance with the unratified SALT II Treaty. I participated in this hearing. It established the important facts, which the Reagan administration supported then and still supports, that it is an unconstitutional exercise of power for Congress to try to legislate U.S. compliance with an unratified SALT II Treaty. This hearing was one of JOHN EAST's most important contributions to our deliberations on arms control.

I regret that we will no longer have the benefit of Senator EAST'S wisdom, learning, articulate persuasion, and congenial presence in our Chamber. JOHN was a great Senator, a great patriot, a great marine, a great American, a great teacher, and a great personal friend. I salute him and all the noble ideas he stood for and exemplified in his life.