c'mon, i called john kerry's office one day and i said you gave his big speech on climate change. is theresa finds ready to give up their private jet? they said this call is done. they want the middle income people to do this, but al gore does not fly in anything but that private jet, that 20,000 square foot home that he finally been agreed after he was caught. why don't you talk about that? and the forest fires in california, there are people setting them. host: we will leave it there. the one thing i want to address is, is there anything regarding brush clean up in either one of the bills, either the house or senate bill the climate bill. these are policies that the forest service does, and there

is always a debate over exactly this kind of issue. how much of the russian view clear out? one of the problems is that logging companies do not -- how much of the brush do you clear out? certain management is what addresses forest fires host: juliet eilperin, thank you for being here. and thank you all for watching this edition of "washington journal." we will be back this morning at 7:00 a.m. eastern. guest [captioning performed by

national captioning institute] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> you are watching c-span. next, edward brooke received the congressional and gold medal. then the dalai lama becomes the first person to receive the lantos prize. then the funeral mass and burial for senator edward kennedy, who died in august. right now on c-span2, continuing

coverage of what measures and bonn political campaigns from american university. today's topics include strategic messaging and grass-roots organizing. later, interviews with supreme court justices. tonight, and then scalia and prove spader ginsburg. justice scalia has served on a court for almost 25 years. justice ginsberg has served since 1993. she will discuss her life before serving. see those interviews tonight at in o'clock eastern on certification -- on c-span. >> it is the business. judges are in. we cannot decide who want to win. we decide who wins under the law the people have decided. >> a rare glimpse into america's

highest court. 10 supreme court justices, tonight, our interviews with santa and scalia and ruth bader ginsburg. interviews with the supreme court justice, 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. get your own copy on dvd as part of our american icons collection, 83-disc said -- a three-disc set. >> new year's day, a look at what's ahead for the new year. fled abroad prudent discusses his future. the global economy. the creator of the segway and the creator of pixar heguitar h. >> the first african-american elected to the senate was

awarded a medal this year. edward brooke. among those attending was president obama, john boehner. from the capitol rotunda, this is one and a half hours. >> president of the united states. [applause] xd[applause]

>> latest angela merkel, majority leader of the united states senate, -- ladies and salomon, harry reid. -- the ladies and gentlemen, harry reid. >> please be seated. november 6, 1962 was a special day for president john kennedy. it was the day his brother ted won his old seat in the united states senate, the seat he would hold for the next 46 years, until just two months ago. a seed from which he would really improve the lives of his -- a seat from which he would improve the lives of his fellow americans.

the people of the home state had collected edward brooke to be its eattorney general and the first african-american to serve as any state's attorney general. john kennedy exclaimed, "that is the biggest news in the country purpl." we gather under this dome to present senator brooke with the congressional gold medal, the highest civilian award to a half years after senator kennedy introduced the bill to make this event possible. as we honor senator brooke, we're honored to be joined by vicki kennedy, who is with us here this morning. [applause]

we are also honored to be joined by a president of the united states, president obama. [applause] distinguished members of the house of representatives and the united states senate. senator brooke's wife and son and all of you. >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of colors by the armed forces of color guard, the singing of our national anthem, and the retirement of the colors.

♪

>> ♪ o, say can you see by the dawn's early light whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched were so badly streaming

-- were so gallantly streaming and the rockets' red glare gave proof through the night that our flag was still there o, say does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪

ni >> please remain standing as dr. barry black is the invocation -- gives the invocation. >> let us pray. eternal rlord god, giver of

perfect gifts, thank you for giving our nation the wonderful blessing of senator edward william brooke iii. we are grateful that his labors helped make real the promises of democracy. we praise you that this talented pioneer bore his burdens in the heat of the day in order to build bridges over which the marginalized could travel. thank you for his willingness to indoor court chips as he -- to indendure hardships.

they have inspired so many. today, as senator brooke's nation honors him with the congressional gold medal, remind us all of the time when we will stand before your throwne. made the inspiration we have received from senator brooke's life prepare us for that great day. we pray in your sovreign name. amen. >> you may be seated. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states,

the honorable barack obama. [applause] >> thank you. thank you. thank you very much. please be seated. thank you so much. it is an extraordinary privilege to be here today. let me begin by acknowledging this distinguished group gathered on the platform, our extraordinary speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, majority leader harry reid, republican leader mitch mcconnell, majority leader steny hoyer, republican leader john boehner. senator john kerry, representative eleanor holmes known -- eleanor holmes norton, patrick kennedy, the kennedy, to are honoring senator edward

brooke, his wife and family. it is a great privilege to be here today as to confer the congressional gold medal on a man who spent his life breaking barriers and bridging device across this country. senator edward brooke. now, with his lifetime of achievement, ed no stranger to a good award ceremony. he has been through a few of these. he has won the bronze star, the presidential medal of freedom, honorary degrees from 34 colleges and universities, and more. so he is a pro when it comes to getting awards. but i think today's honor bears the unique significance. bestowed by this body of which he was an esteemed member,

presented in this place where he moved the part of history, surrounded by so many, myself included, who have followed the trail but he blazed. his journey to this day was by any measure and unlike the one. raised nearby in a neighborhood so fiercely segregated that black residents needed a note from a white person to pass through. at a time when so many doors of opportunity for close to africa and among americans. others might have become angry or disillusioned. that might have concluded that their horizons would always be limited. so why bother? but not ed. serving in a segregated army, barred from the facilities at the base where he trained, he fought heroically in europe.

rejected from boston')xold line firms despite his success in law school, he established his own practice, handling real estate and criminal cases. when he ran for office in massachusetts, and when a reporter pointed out that he was black,ç republican, and protestant, seeking office in a white, and democratic, and catholic state, and also "a carpetbagger from the south" and poor. ed was unphased. it was an improbable profile for the man who would become the first african-american state attorney general and the first popularly elected african- american senator. but that was his wife, to ignore the naysayers and rejected congressional -- reject the conventional wisdom and trust

people would judge him on his character and his ideas. he ran for office to bring people together who had never been together before, and that he did. i do not know anyone else who's fan base includes barney frank and ted kennedy as well as mitch mcconnell and george w. bush. that is a coalition-builder. few have matched his reach across the aisle from working with protecting title 9 to sponsoring the fair housing act with malwalter mondale. he did not care whether the bill was popular or politically

expedient, democratic, or republican. he cared about whether it helps people, whether it made a difference in their lives. that is why he fought so hard for medicare and the minimum wage, for so rights and women's rights. that is why he became an advocate for affordable housing, establishing protections that are the standard to the state. it is a record that defies labels and categories for which she had little use. he offered phrases like creative moderate or a liberal with a conservative bent. but in truth, his career was animated by a faith in the people he served. he always got to see the best in people because that was the fact he had. maybe it was his old fashioned manners and warmth. maybe it was his charm and

charisma. or maybe it was as genuine interest in people's stories, the way he listened to their concerns. when it -- whatever it was, people saw how hard he fought for them and how much they're respected him. he respected them back. around ed, people want to be there better selves. he made an impression and just about everyone he encountered including a young congressman named john f. kennedy who met back in 1952. the men had one of the conversations and the future president said, you should be a democrat. [laughter] ed smiled and said, you know, you should be a republican. it was a sentiment that many in my party whichç share, includig ted kennedy. ted campaign for ed's democratic

opponent, became lifelong friends. said it would campaign more vigorously to secure ed's nomination for this metal. we grace senator brooke with this honored today. perhaps a better tribute will be to embrace that spirit. to compete aggressively at the polls but then worked selflessly together to serve the nation we love. to look for the best in each other. [applause] to look for the best in each other. to give each other the benefit of the doubt. and remember we're here for a purpose for better -- a far greater than the sum of our ambitions. may we each do our part to carry

it further. thank you. congratulations, senator brooke. and god bless the united states of america. [applause] ç[applause]

>> you may be seated. >> ladies and sediment, the united states army chorus. ♪

♪

♪

[applause] >> please be seated. >> ladies and gentlemen, and john kerry, united states senator. >> madam speaker, mr. majority leader, and distinguished colleagues in congress from both parties. ladies and gentlemen and members of the brooke family. our colleague ted kennedy was born into history. he was part of history

throughout his life. he made history and he knew history. it was his respect for ed brooke that led him to champion this congressional gold medal. we're so delighted that the kennedy is here today and his great friend, my colleague in the senate, paul kirk is here with us to celebrate this moment. in one of this first sermons, martin luther king jr. observed, "the thing we need in the world today is a group of men and women who will stand up for right and the opposed to wrong wherever it is, a group of people who've come to see that some things are wrong whether there never caught up with and some things are right weather

nobody sees you doing them or not." before his mission was cut short 14 years later, dr. king met countless men and women who he enlisted in the cause. but one who became his confidante was edward brooke, whose journey we honor today. like so many of us, ed was moved by the actions of dr. king. there were also times when dr. king was moved by ed, especially when dr. king conflicted, saw his counsel on the vietnam war before taking his own moral stand against the conflict. ed came to this capital in 1967. the president spoke about his journey in the army and as contributions to the country before that. his journey here in the congress began in 1962 when as the

majority leader reminded us, president kennedy said, "that is the biggest news in the country." there was bigger news ahead. not because of his race, but because of the job he did as massachusetts attorney general. heçó was a vigorous prosecutor f organized crime and he worked closely with local police departments to solve one of the great crimes in our history, the boston strangler. massachusetts electric ed to the senate not because of the -- massachusetts elected ed because of the content of this character. the man became known for its independence, public service, whose compass was guided by conscience. he was one of the first

advocates of legislation to provide affordable housing in america. when it was difficult, he stood up for affirmative action, desegregation, privacy rights, minority business development, and increase in social security benefits, and the extension of the voting rights act. after the assassination of dr. king, ed became the first to propose a national holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader. he said it would be fitting to pay our respects to this noble figure by enduring public commendation of his wife and philosophy. except 15 years for the best -- for the rest of america to catch up. it was not the only time ed broke with president nixon and the appeals to racial prejudice. he knew it was wrong to win an

election publisher consciousness. he opposed three of president nixon's supreme court nominees. he introduced legislation as a republican for the appointment of a watergate special prosecutor. he was the first senator in either party to call for president nixon's resignation. any council president ford against pardoning the ex- presidents. as demonstrated the same kind of independent thinking as a member of the kerner commission which president johnson committe appod because of the race riots. the commission warned that america was "moving toward two societies, one black, one white, separate and unequal." after leaving the senate, he

served on the panel to investigate the damage and japanese americans, citizens who were placed in internment camps at the outbreak of world war ii. five years of delays later, congress passed a resolution doing just that. that is leadership. i probably sit in the senate seat once occupied by ed brooke. my greatest booster was his mother, who lived to be 100. ed brooke turned 90 just last monday. [applause] in 2005, i have the privilege of writing the senate resolution awarding this same gold medal

to jackie robinson, himself a trail blazer, who once said, "life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." that is the kind of ed brooke has lived. to the great work of making more perfect our union. in this autobiography ,ed wrote -- it is my fondest hope that some readers of this book looking for equality and justice in america may be moved to continue that battle in their own lives and in the ownereras. the torch must be passed from generation to generation if america is ever to fulfill its promise." as we look around today and looked at the great accomplishments of his last years, in the presence of our

president here earlier, we say you're great hope is coming through. the torch is being passed to a generation that has learned from your example of doing what is right, weather and nobody sees you doing it or not. as dr. king said, that is the test. it is your example and your journaey that we're so pleased o honor here today. [applause] ñr>> ladies and gentlemen, the honorable eleanor holmes norton, rep. [applause]

>> thank you. democratic and republican leaders of the senate and house , members of congress from both houses, ladies and gentleman, and senator edward brooke and the brooke family. let me guess. when you went sh toato shaw high school and howard university, all in your palm community, not far from here, you may not have envisioned the capitol rotunda as the setting to celebrate th90youryour 90th birthday. within the leaders for timing of this ceremony accordingly.

happy 90th birthday, senator edward w. brooke. [applause] you may have been an improbable senator, and man born in the district of columbia who goes off to i port porti without -- who goes off to world war ii ç without right to vote for a member of house, much less senator. perhaps improbable, but certainly not an accidental senator. it took a man of extraordinary talent, will, appeal, and confidence to become the barack obama of the 20th-century before barack obama was even

born. [laughter] [applause] by being elected the first african american as to sit as the united states senator, you did it in 1967, when millions of african-americans in the united states were still denied the right to cast a vote at all. senator, if you were not an athlete as a boy, you certainly have made up for it as a man. which of your hurdles seemed most steep to you at the time? becoming a decorated officer in the segregated 336th combat

infantry regiment during world war ii? was it upon your return when you became an editor of the law review at boston university law school. why before you assume the post do you think you could actually become share of the boston finance commission? what made you think that a black man could win statewide office as attorney general, particularly in a staple where to % of the population was african american -- where 2% of the population was african- american? how did you think as a lifelong republican you could be elected to anything in overwhelmingly

democratic massachusetts? the hurdles you jump, senator, were so high that your direct feeds have ledger home town residents to dare to believe that two after centuries, the same congress that gives to the congressional gold medal today will give voting rights to the people of the district of columbia this year. [cheers] you empowered yourself long before the residents of your home town empowered themselves. when residents of your home town first got the right to vote for local officials in 1974, you

were already serving your second term in the senate's. but never forgot your home town. your brilliantly assert massachusetts and the people of the district of columbia todayç salute the people of massachusetts who's intelligent coverage sent you to washington to serve their state and our country. you understood well, though, that the source of your values and your character and you're confident determination are rooted in the district, and repeatedly introduced bills for home rule and voting rights for their residents of the nation's capital at the same time that you were leading the way it on the great national issues of the day, opening relations with china, ending apartheid in south

africa. the brooke amendment, the people pay no more than 25% for housing. the fair housing act. and so much more. it is massachusetts that set new home here to give your talents to your country. but we in the district of columbiaç will always claim yo, senator, as we claim so many of the nation's luminaries' born and raised in the district of columbia from dr. charles drew, who discovered the method used today to preserve and store blood plasma for blood banks, to duke ellington, whose genius was nurtured in home town d.c. before he gave his music as a

gift to the world. the country recognized your breakthrough achievements when, in 2004, president george w. bush awarded to presidential medal of freedom which are the highest honors our country can give. the congress of the united states today gives you honor wherw you served. awards even to the least among us too often are characterized as a historic in the hyperbole of the moment today. but when senator ted kennedy asked the senate to vote overwhelmingly to award you the congressional gold medal, the senate and house together

demonstrated that we know a historic figure when we see one. however, senator brooke, the highest awards our country can offer are not given for being historic. they are given for service. in your case, service to the united states of america and a service to the people of the state of massachusetts. and yes, senator, indescribably appreciated service to the people of your home town. the district of columbia. would you joined in singing "happy birthday"? >> happy birthday to you happy birthday to you

happy birthday at a birthday to -- happy birthday to you ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi. [applause] >> good morning. what an honor it is to be here with the democratic leadership of the house and senate, with the brooke family and the

children with vicki kennedy and members of the kennedy clan, to be here with senator brooke edward. to be here with the president of the united states. as the congress of the united states bestows its highest honor to a great leader, senator edward brooke. [applause] it was -- i will now lead off an array of leadership. senator. , leader mcconnell, leader -- with college other leader and all. patrick kennedy and senator kerry and eleanor holmes norton. a series of tributes to senator brooke. i heard bipartisan applause when president obama mentioned it.

brooke senator, in honor of your birthday, last night we were there to cheer on our bipartisan football team, democrats and republicans working as a team and leading them with that great team work to victory over a full medicalfoe. we had -- over a formidable foe. çit was a spirit of bipartisanship in your honor. in 1967, that was the year senator brooke came to the united states senate. he signals a new style and a new hope. as the first african american popularly elected to the senate, senator brooke ignited more than four decades of promise. today, we also notes as others

have mentioned some brooke under's partner -- senator brooke's partner was senator ted kennedy. mayor acknowledged the delegation who is here today? it was ted kennedy who first escorted ed brookeç into the chamber in 1967. they work in a bipartisan way. it was his legislation that gave us the opportunity, and joining with eleanor holmes norton in the house, they give us the opportunity to honor a brooke senator with the congressional gold medal today. senator brooke came to the senate after a public servant, an army veteran, a civic leader, the attorney general of

massachusetts, the first african-american attorney general in our country. he counts himself -- many scolded his ambition and encourage patientce. he was often ask, why the rush? he was a man in a hurry for equality. he was in a hurry for progress. and on issues of national fairness, such as increasing the minimum wage and insuring affordable housing. brooke the amendment -- today, the brooke brought amendment, initiated by republican senator, it means something to all people in our country. it signals a guarantee that public housing is affordable to all people.

it is the cornerstone of our current housing policy benefiting millions of americans. we salute you for that, senator brooke [applause] . today we honor senate brooke for his impatience. we thank him for it. with knowledge in this through the impatience of a brooke senator that we have moved forward as a country. we go from -- we get closer to the ideals to form a more perfect union. today as we can convey the gold medal to you, we extend on behalf of the entire congress, we all extend our congratulations and our thanks to senator edwardç brooke. thank you, senator brooke. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, the honorable patrick kennedy, u.s. rep. [applause] >> to my colleagues in the vote -- in government, speaker pelosi, h leaderoyer, and to eleanor holmes norton, the original representative of senator brooke, to send brooke and his family, welcome. i am humbled to be here today as the conduit to a man who should be honoring his friend today, my father. ed was the type of friend who would call and leave a message with petit st., i just do not

want to bother teddy. don't worry about having him call me back. just let him know that i love him. theirs was a friendship forged in the cauldron of electoral politics. it was nurtured by decades of mutual respect and admiration and a shared determination to push americans to live up to its highest goals. it is difficult to imagine because of people like ed brooke was all the obstacles in their own path as challenges to build a more perfect union for the next generation of americans. in a sense, each of us today stands on the shoulders of giants. today, senator brooke, we are acknowledging you as one of those giants. our president made history coming to the office of

president of the united states with the promise of, yes, we can. our society is what it is today because people liked ed brooke proved yes, we could. congratulations. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the honorable john boehner. [applause] >> madam speaker, my distinguished colleagues, gas, and their special destiny, senator brooke edward and his family. henry david thoreau, the famous

poet from massachusetts, once wrote, "if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet his success unexpected in common hours." during world war ii, ed brooke answered the call of this nation. he served with distinction. he had the duty of defending a young black soldiers who were subjected to the rank mistreatment of segregationed. brooke became a soldiers are lawyers and those experiences shaped and inspired him to the call of public service. the commonwealth of massachusetts and the entire nation has benefited from his service. he has shown bravery,

commitment, and wisdom in his whole life. we honor him today for that lifetime of achievement the country are appreciated. by ending decades of exclusion, some of the highest levels of our government, he helped reignite a spirit of hope that had dimmed after the civil war. president lincoln once said, "as our case is new, we must think and act anew." ed brooke is a dedicated servant who proved that america can act anew. congratulations, a brooke senator -- congratulations, senator brooke. [applause]

>> ladies and gentleman, the majority leader, the honorable steny hoyer. [applause] >> senator edward brooke iii, an historic figure. a friend. someone to be used as an example. we're pleased to have you and your family here with us on this wonderful day. i walked into the room. he said, how was your chief of staff doing? my chief of staff is named terry. his daughter is named brooke, after senator edward brooke iii.

vicki, thank you for being here. we know ted is here with you. on his arrival in the senate, he tells us in his autobiography the same senators who spoke up so forcefully for segregation are happy to invite me into their senate swimming pool. the same man who stoat racial fears of their constituents, who did so much to haulback equality in this country. he said have no qualms t(about sharing their pool with a black man. i am sure ed brooke taught them a lot. if you believe in racial separatism, he said, i can live with that. he went on to say, it was

evident that some members played on bigotry for political gain. the senate was not alone. and that small incident senator brooke so how profitable they convey for the worst of those they represent. to be the representatives for fear and for prejudice. as long as there are legislatures, there will be some who find that path all too tempting. as long as there are legislators, our best defense lies in men and women who resist the choice. decent man, decent women. there represent the better angels of our nature? people like senator edward brooke iii.

in this building, edward brooke made his name. equal voting rights. social justice. but most of all, as a look at justice -- as you looked injustice in the face, he saw what was best in america and strove to represented. .

>> our greatest challenge is to remain devoted to our nation's founding promise -- wait -- even when we see it had established, and work to the date when it will be established in full, senator, we honor you with this congressional medal of honor because you have honored the principles and values of our country so extraordinarily well. god has blessed us through your

service. [applause] ] [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the united states senate, the hon. mitchell mcconnell. [applause] >> i told senator brooke before we came on stage that i had an opportunity to observe him during his first term as a senate staffer in the back of the senate chamber. you could sense even then that this was a man of historic significance. as others have said, edward

brooke was known as the first popularly elected african- american man in the senate. this is an achievement well worth our notice. but those of us who have followed this good man's career, know him primarily for the qualities that are recently departed friend, ted kennedy, enumerated at the end of his distinguished tenure in the senate. we know him for being a model of concern, sensitivity, courage, and intelligence. some were surprised when a black man was elected attorney general and then u.s. senator from a state in which 98% of the voters, as others have indicated, were white. the same people were surprised six years later, when the only state in the nation that did not go for nixon reelected him, not

only reelected him, but reelected him by an overwhelming margin. it was no surprise to the people of massachusetts. they were sure from the moment ed brooke and took on public corruption in boston that he had their interests at heart. after that, they knew he was honest. they knew he was fair. nothing else really mattered. here is how one boston voter put it after his performance on the boston finance commission -- is this guy does not run for attorney general, i will write him in. he continued, the only thing i can say against ed brooke is that he's better looking than i am. take it for me, that is high praise from a politician. [laughter] ed brooke grew up just a few blocks from here in a segregated neighborhood. as a grown man, he would walk into the senate chamber with a

standing ovation. yet, as a child, much of the city of that chamber was closed off to him. it was a bitter irony that edward brooke made the most of it. he made integration his mission. he once said i don't see the difference between black people and white people. i wanted to go washington to bring people together who had never been together before. i wanted to break down the barriers between races. and that is what he did. he broke down barriers that had stood for generations. he was a model to african americans and to all americans of his day. with our presence here today, we show that at warburg still has the power to bring people together. he is still bridging divides, and that is a legacy to be proud of. [applause]

>> ladies and gentleman, the majority leader of the united states senate -- the hon. harry reid. [applause] >> i mentioned earlier that senator brooke's first electoral win as massachusetts attorney general. we back in 1962. the road to that office is as rocky as the state's northern coast. when he announced he would seek that job, state party officials did everything they could to dissuade him. they offered him a judgeship and he said no. they offered him the lieutenant governorship and he said no. they told him he could not win. he said no, i can win.

there was no dissuading at or broke. he had good reasons -- good reason not to take no for an answer. four years later and six years after that, the people of massachusetts sent him to represent them in washington. the soldier who fought fascism, a lawyer who fought corruption, the attorney general who fought violence, the candidate who fought his daughters became a remarkably successful united states senator who fought for equality, transparency, and for peace. we are all proud of the -- of what the grand sum of a slave of bought -- did to this building and building built by slaves. he stepped to the suit rejected civil rights and to citizens to face discredited -- whose faced discrimination.

we're proud of his credentials, but we're equally proud of his courage and character. as has been said here, it's hardly easy for a republican in democratic state and protestant and an overwhelmingly catholic state, we honor him for not only succeeding how he did but we honor him for simply trotting. he tried and doing so [inaudible] he tried in doing so said to a lawyer named eric holder that it was ok to practice just as at the highest level. he tried and in doing so said to a young state senator from chicago it was ok to try to become the first african- american to be popularly elected to be added states senate. he said not long after that, it's ok for the same man to lead the nation.

because he created so many features, we are in today alongside so many shapes are passed. we give him the congressional gold medal -- we have given this a congressional gold medal to george washington, thomas jefferson, and you are in good company now. senator brock joined them now. -- senator brooke joins them now. [applause] [applause] [applause]

>> thank you for your very warm welcome. not want the record to show that i have turned on the sun for you since you've been here. politicians sometimes takes credit for things they have absolutely nothing to do with. [laughter] but i am proud that after a rainy entry into washington that the sun is shining and you will be able to enjoy this very beautiful, beautiful city and this magnificent structure, the capital of the greatest country

in the world. majority leader, steny hoyer, republican leader, mcconnell, minority leader j,ohn boehner, -- minority leader -- your back? thank you for coming back. and my dear friend now, the speaker of the house, what a wonderful thing is to have as the speaker of the great house of representatives, a lady. [applause]

>> e. think that progress, but i don't think it will be long before and will be the president of these united states.

>> he started this, together with eleanor holmes norton. he called me one day and said come to my office, i would like to see you. i went to his office and he said we are introducing a bill to have you awarded the congressional gold medal. i was shocked and in awe, but you can be sure i was pleased. [applause] ted said don't you worry about a thing. you don't have to talk to anybody or do anything, i will do the senate side and eleanor holmes norton will do the house side. and it happened. he had to get 76 united states

senators as co-sponsors of the bill and pour eleanor had only 290 representatives to get in the house of representatives. but they were dauntless and a one-out and did their work and before that i knew it, the senate had passed the bill, the house had passed a bill, and then i gotta call the other day and they said there was debate on the floor. madam speaker, in order to use the rotunda of the capital for this occasion. she said if you turn on c-span, you will see it. [applause] there be a very spirited debate and it was and the vote was 417- 0. [applause]

beeif that is not a way to win n election, i don't know what is. it has never been that easy. this would be a perfect day for me in my life if it were not for the fact that my friend paul, my senior center, though he was much younger than i coghill would be here on this occasion -- though he was much younger than i would be here on this occasion. we cannot control life or death and we cannot control ted or he would still be with us. i am real honored to have with us on this occasion, his wonderful wife who has been such a wonderful person. [applause]

you came from near and far, you came from amsterdam, holland. the senator from a national set in france, a distinguished senator of the parliament came from france. others came from all over, from the caribbean, from california, from miami, every place on earth i have lived and i have lived in a lot of places. [applause] you are here and and i'm not going to say you made an old man happy, you made a young man happy. and to have my family, my wife

of more than 30 years it has given me his best years of my life. [applause] my son and daughters, stepdaughters and grandchildren, cousins and so many, many others. i cannot begin to name the because it would take too long and what i think of the times the speaker has given to this and the other members of the senate and house have given to this, i cannot intrude upon their job. this is a heady thing for me. it would be for anybody. i love this country.

since the day i was born, and i was born here in the nation's capital. on october 26th, 1919. most of you were not there at that time. [applause] [applause] i'm here to tell you that politics is not an evil thing. it is a good thing. when used properly, it does good things. i think of the awesome responsibilities of the house of representatives and that the united states senate. we're in three wars, and economy which has taken such a

long time to turn around, the lack of adequate and safe housing we promised the nation in 1949, a health-care bill which i am sure none of you want to hear about on this occasion. i will give you at least a break from it. i would not be presumptuous to tell you what to do. i am sure you don't know what you're going to do yourselves. [laughter] you have awesome responsibilities, not only to the country, but this world looks to you. i was happy when he told me a few minutes ago, madam speaker,

that the republicans and democrats played ball last night and they played the capitol police. that was an awesome responsibility in and of itself. [laughter] and that you won. it only meant to me that when pulp -- when republicans and democrats get together, they can do anything. [applause] the country is waiting for you to do anything. they just want release. you have that responsibility. you have that authority. you are the people on earth that are going to save this country and save this world. think about that. [applause]

we cannot worry about disparagement. what is it -- if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. we cannot worry about that, mitch mcconnell, we cannot worry about those things. we can't worry that you all can get together. we have got to get together. we have no alternative. there is nothing left. it's time for politics to be put aside on a back r terhune. [applause] -- on the back burner. [applause]

[applause] [applause] and we must lead by example and not by force. [applause] security is foremost. this nation must always be strong militarily, for no other reason than to protect itself. it has to come first. but we have to know how use it. we've got to use our diplomacy more and more and more.

we have to avoid these perils before they come before us and then it takes too long. we cannot keep fighting wars. [applause] we have got hungry people to feed. homeless people carried [applause] -- homeless people. [applause] homeless and ill-housed people to shelter. [applause] and young people to be educated. [applause]

and so, on this occasion, i applaud the congress for what it has done. our three branches of government, have a wonderful founding by our founding fathers. our legislative branch is as strong as it wants to beat. there is nothing congress can do that cannot correct. nothing. they have the power to do what -- they have the power to do it. the president is powerful, but he has oversight by the congress of the united states. we are part of that. the judiciary, we must never

politicized the supreme court and the judiciary system of this country. [applause] as eleanor said, and i don't want to minimize this honor, but when she first told me about it, i said -- i will exchange the honor if the congress will pass the voting rights act for the district of columbia. [applause]

[applause] eller said one day to me, she called me -- eleanor had said to me when age, she called me -- when i turned 80, i was still playing tennis and riding horses in virginia and living a life. then things began to happen to me with health issues. my mother, bless her heart, lifted the 100 years old. -- lived to be 100 years old. she said keep moving, don't give up, hang in there and which again. don't stop. keep going. i tried to listen to her as best i can. eleanor called one day when i was not feeling too good.

i said i don't know if i'm going to be able to make that. and she said, senator, you can't die before the congressional gold medal. [laughter] so i kept my political promise to you. [laughter] [applause] i wish i could call all your names and have the rise and i would love to hug you and tissue and some eight things. hugh our friends and i love you so much. you are part of my family and extended part of my family and i wish all that to happen, but obviously it cannot.

i want you to know i am truly appreciative that you have come these distances to be with me on this occasion. i'm going to conclude with the words have a hymn i recite. my staff will tell you, and i have the best staff in the world, i know all of you think so. some argue with me and some -- they have been wonderful. i could go on with people who would then so much to make this happen. these words are -- god of justice, save the people from walls of race and creed, from the strife of class and friction heat, make our nation free

indeed. keep her face in a simple man head, stronger than when she began until she finds hoar -- her full fruition in the brotherhood of man. madam speaker, leaders of the congress, members of the congress, my old colleague, my family and friends. i accept this high honor with deepest humility and everlasting gratitude. god bless you, god bless our leaders, god bless the president, and god bless our country and this world.

[applause] [applause] bee[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the benediction.

>> let us our heads. thank god for the blessing of this man and his list -- his wisdom. lord god, the nation naturally and last by a lifetime of public service. to your people by edward william brock at the third. -- edward william brooke roman 3 -- roman numeral three may his work inspired us to treasure our senior citizens. may his legacy inspired many young people to overcome personal limitations and any social stigma in order to develop their qualifications,

all they need to follow senator brooke into a life of service and accomplish great deeds for the poorest of the poor and give you glory. lord, make your sovereign power plus each person of this great nation and their representative government with a sense of social responsibility that all may join in building bridges that will connect your people and remove all that divides them. may we take as a mandate from senator brooke today a personal resolve that each day we will talk and come to know a stranger and make him a lasting friend. let your kingdom come, let your will be done, both now and forever.

amen. >> ladies and gentleman, thank you for joining us today. please remain seated for the departure of the official party. [applause]

>> still to come on c-span, the dalai lama comes at the first person to receive c lantos human rights prize. later, the burial and ceremony for ever kennedy died in august. after that, a statue of ronald reagan is unveiled in the u.s.

capitol. >> tonight, with the best books of 2009. several news organizations have published their best of lists for the year. tonight, books by ann coulter and others. to be the best of list, visit our web site. >> c-span, new year's day -- a look at what is ahead for the new year. russian president vladimir putin discusses the future from his annual call in program 3 austan goolsbee on the economy. the art of political cartooning. >> in october, the dalai lama became the first person to receive the lantos human-rights

prize, named after the chairman of the foreign affairs committee. speakers include house speaker nacy pelosi and the dollar llama himself. this is one hour and 15 minutes. -- the dollar llama himself. -- cthe [applause] [applause]

>> before we began, like to call your attention to changes on the program. my niece is going to sing today and her mother was going to

offer our closing remarks. however, just a few days ago, charity under wind emergency double lung transplant surgery at the cleveland clinic in ohio and my sister is by her side as she faces this enormous challenge. i know that they're both here with us in spirit and would ask you to send your warm wishes and prayers their way. i have been told that there is a familiar saying in asia which states -- there is an invisible crimson thread that connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. this thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. i cannot help but think of this saying when i consider the deep friendship and unbreakable connection that existed between my late father, congressman tom lantos and today's award

recipient, is telling us, the dalai lama. it would be hard to imagine to individuals from different circumstances in life. my father was an ant -- was a hundred holocaust survivor who came to america as a penalty -- as a penniless immigrant. his holiness is revered spiritual and political leader of the tibetan people who was forced to escape into exile in 1959 in the face of the brutal repression of his nation. very different man from extraordinarily different lives. but what brought them together, the invisible crimson thread, if you will, which made their friendship as inevitable as it was unbreakable, was there deeply shared commitment to universal human rights. it is to advance the noble cause of human rights that the lantos

foundation was established. our mission is to strengthen and uphold the role of human rights in american foreign policy. sometimes, admittedly, this is easier said than done. because standing up for those whose rights are being trampled usually offends the travelers. -- the travelers. on the night of his historic and inspiring election, president obama spoke of this saying that the ark of history is long but bends towards justice. these hopeful words should remind us we cannot simply stand by and wait for the ark to bend. we have a duty to use our power influence to hasten its trajectory. that is what his holiness, with his profound message of peace, justice, and reconciliation has done his entire life. that is why the lantos

foundation is honored to be presenting this inaugural word to him today. we have no doubt that the dalai lama is on the right side of history and we hope our country and our president will be standing there with him. his holiness often refers to himself as a simple buddhist monk. my father, perhaps with a bit of humor and a little less sincerity use to sometimes refer to himself as a simple hungarian peasant. neither description seems quite adequate when we consider the lives and accomplishments of these two hon. men, and yet, maybe, it's not so far off the mark. the belief which inspires both -- both of their lives is a simple one -- we are indeed our brothers' keepers. everyone of us and every one of them.

i would like to close my remarks by quoting from the prayer that eleanor roosevelt, a great woman and what of the architects of the universal declaration of human rights is said to have prayed nightly. our father, make as sure of the good we cannot see and of a hit in good in the world. open our eyes and hearts to the loveliness man hide from us because we do not try to understand them. show as a vision of a world being new. thank you very much. [applause] i am honored now to introduce the distinguished chairman of the house foreign affairs committee and my late father's a very good friend, congressman howard berman. following his remarks, there will be a brief video

presentation. >> thank you. madam speaker, senator mccain, and all the distinguished guests today, it's a great honor for me to be part of this inaugural event which awards the first lantos foundation human rights prize. i've been asked to speak to you today about might dear friend and departed colleague tom lantos it has been a little over a year-and-a-half since he passed away, and i can tell you that we sorely miss having tom's strong and profound voice and his sense of history on foreign policy issues generally and human rights issues specifically. it's at best work he undertook during his time here and the

foundation he laid on ensures his efforts will indoor, both through the foundation and the three tom lantos human-rights commission in congress. many thousands of americans have been elected to the u.s. house of representatives. we come, we serve, and then we leave. most of us are relatively soon forgotten. tom is not one who will be forgotten. he will be remembered not only because of his unique background as a holocaust survivor, but for the strength of his convictions and the power of his oratory. tom had experience personally what it meant to be hunted, to be oppressed, to be friendless and without a champion. it was this experience that made him determined to become a defender of the rights of his fellow human beings and he lived up to that commitment in a remarkable way. tom came to this country in

1947 as a penniless immigrant. and that is not an exaggeration. like so many others, he realized the united states with a place with wide open doors of opportunity. tom walked to the stores with gratitude and enthusiasm. he became a profoundly patriotic american and sec every occasion to express gratitude for the opportunity. when he announced he would not run for reelection to the cancer that ultimately took his life, tom said "is only in the united states that penniless survivor of the holocaust and a fighter in the anti-nazi underground could have received and immigration, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a member of the congress. i will never be able to express fully by profoundly felt

gratitude to this great country ." congressman lantos was a co- founder of the congressional human rights congress for over two decades. under his leadership and with the incredible hulk of his dear wife, the caucus was in the forefront to free political prisoners and preserve religious freedom. with the strong support of speaker pelosi and the able leadership of congressman mcgovern and wolf, the caucus has been reestablished as the lantos the human-rights commission and has instituted a permanent part of congress so the vital work he started will go on. [applause] we all miss tom, but today is a day of celebration for the proud legacy he left behind.

the lantos foundation for human rights and justice, which has been established to strengthen the role of human rights in american foreign policy is awarding its inaugural human rights prize to his holiness, the dalai lama, a great man of peace who i know tom deeply, deeply admired. just as tom, throughout his life, used his eloquence and passion to draw attention to the plight of the oppressed people everywhere, the lantos price will likewise focus the world's gaze on heroic individuals like the dalai lama to inspire us to be our brother's keepers. thank you. [applause] ♪

♪ ♪ >> after i realized all my family was gone, i prayed he would still be alive. i went to look him up and there was there i was. he lost everybody and i lost everybody. we were very grateful to find each other.

♪ >> america was the promised land for people in eastern europe, holocaust survivors suffering under the communism. coming to america was coming to the promised land. ♪ ♪ >> he never really dreamed he would be going to congress. that was not part of our life plan. but then, suddenly, the man who represented our district in 1978 had a terrible tragedy and my husband decided he would give it a try.

he was not much of a partisan person. it was not a question of republican or democrat, is a question of communism or not cease. -- communism or nazis. it was either a democracy or communism or nazism. he was always fighting for democracy and he said that was a core value of his existence. >> human-rights are indivisible. whether the rights of individuals are violated in the soviet union or in iran or cuba or south africa or tibet, it is our responsibility as republicans and democrats in a freak legislative body to stand

up and speak out against these our ages. -- again seized outrages. >> a big delegation came from the state department warning my husband if he goes through with this invitation, we would totally be disrupting american foreign policy initiatives and the state department put a tremendous pressure on him to stop it. but of course, the congress is an independent body. basically my husband could tell the entire state department delegation to go fly a kite. that is what he did. human-rights leaders are one of the most valuable members of the human community. many of them are pursuing their

very important missions unseen and alone and unrewarded. our goal is to bring these people to the attention of the world and when the recognition and inspire young people to follow in their footsteps. if we want this world to be a better place, we have to see to it that everybody participates and everybody has an opportunity to a decent way of life. this is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. we have to promote that goal. ♪

[applause] [applause] >> i think after seeing that video, you can understand what the inspiration was behind all the extraordinary work of my father did. i would like to ask you all to give my mother a round of applause. [applause] [applause]

[applause] >> we will next year a musical performance from a chamber music foundation, an organization of musical human rights here as dedicated to document thing, preserving, and advancing the resilience of the human spirit as expressed in the music and arts created by the victims of the holocaust. performing will be the director and violist and the world renowned classical violinist michael it would. -- michael led big. -- michael ludwig. i♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause]

bap ♪ . .

♪

[applause]

>> next, we will be pleased to hear from senator john mccain, a true american hero whose life has taught us all a thing or two about courage. falling 70 recants remarks, there will be a brief video presentation. -- following senator mccain's remarks, there will be a brief video presentation. [applause] >> thank you very much. madam speaker, and mr. chairman, i am honored to be here to make a few remarks at this inaugural presentation of the tom lantos

human rights prize. i think it is very appropriate that his holiness, the dalai lama, be the first recipient of the award named for the good man who cared so deeply for the dignity of the people of tibet and all people who are denied their god-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. tom lantos believed that american leadership and opposition to human rights abuses, not silence, is the tryst expression of our national character. he was born outside the united states and neknew that, personally, human beings can do when uncovered for the respect of the inherent dignity of every human being in and moved by my the moral duty to defend them against oppression. tom lantos' voice was among the clearest and most persuasive in

our country, urging americans to experience assaults on any one's dignity as an assault on our own conscience. when he died, we lost one of the better angels of our national conscience. those of us who remain in positions of influence incurred a responsibility to echo the convictions that guided his work in his life. we cannot replace his voice, but we can help ensure it is not forgotten whenever and wherever the rights of mankind are beset by the ambitions of desperate. we're distinguished from other countries because we were conceived not in loyalty to a landlord tried or from a particular race or creed but in an idea that liberty is an inalienable right of mankind and an accord with natures in nature is creator. to accept the abridgement of

that right, other society should be no less false to the american heart than to accept its abridgment in our own society. i injustice and tyranny abroad should be as intolerable to americans as they are intolerable here. human rights are not an invention of america, nor do they reflect standards of which particular cultures or religions can opt out. there universal and recognized as such in the united nations universal declaration of human rights. as long as reflected people have lived, they have identified those universal liberties tha separate us from the animals. those rights exist above the state and beyond history. they cannot be rescinded by one government any more than they could be granted by another. they inhabit the human heart. and from there, we may be a

bridge, but they can never be wrenched. his holiness, the dollar llama, has spent his life in passionate, tireless, and non- violent defense of his people's right to self-determination and dignity. for over half a century, he has led to their struggle, petitioning governments and people of conscience throughout the world to win their voice to the just demands of tibetans. he has endured the long trying years and every setback for their cause with an unyielding determination that is singular because of the patients coming humility, and kindness that are his most admirable qualities. he is an inspiration to all people who possess a heartfelt sympathy for the suffering of their fellow human beings. he is a father to his people.

and although he has been long exiled from their presence, he inhabits their hearts as they inhabit is. he gives them hope, and he gives us an example of moral leadership to some in our own humanity. at the end of his nobel prize- winning lecture, the dalai lama offered a prayer and spoke of the sense of shared humanity the the world's great religions all profess in which has been his own abiding conviction. for as long as space indoors and for as long as living beings remain, until then may i, too, abide to dispel the mystery of the world. i have long believed that the true worth of the person is measured by how faithfully we serve a cause greater than our self-interest, a cause which encompasses us but is not defined by our existence alone.

the same holds true for the conduct of nations. whenever people are imprisoned, brutalized, or murdered for demanded liberty and justice for themselves and their people or for peacefully exercising their faith, it is not simply another tragedy in an imperfect in cruel world. it is a call for action, one worthy of a country founded on the principles that every person possesses inalienable rights deserves to be free. should we be tempted to look away to ignore the trials of those deprived of the rights we so safely in joy, let us look to the example of the dalai lama and his good and rich as a friend, tom lantos. and accept the moral responsibility that can dignify our own life. let us heed the words of the

great poet, john dunne, who offered a 17th century echo of his holiness is prayer. any man's death diminishes shows me because i am involved in mankind. therefore, never sent to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. thank you. [applause] ♪ >> the right for a person to disagree and to pursue his own

conscience is not a right. it is accorded to mankind. everybody in this world. and the dollar lama is a symbol for all those who are striving to obtain that. and -- and the dalai lama is a symbol for all those who are striving to obtain and that. ♪ >> would accounts for the rise of this humble buddhist monk

from near obscurity to the global phenomenon that he has become? it is not lobbies. it is not economic power. it is not political influence. it is a moral authority. ♪ in a >> the dalai lama is, you know,

deported to make people better spiritually, to inspire them and spiritually make each individual a better person. and tom was totally dedicated to making the world a better place. and this, and shared goal really brought them together. my husband's last act in congress was to give his holiness the congressional gold medal. and so the first action of the tom lantos foundation for human rights seemed quite obvious that it would have to be to honor his holiness. ♪

>> i love them. i love the dalai lama. i admire him. i feel elevated from just being near him. and he confirms my own belief that spirituality is a very important component of living a happy life and having a decent world. ♪

>> we will now hear from the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. she has been an extraordinary friend with holiness through the years as she was to my father, tom lantos. in the lantos foundation and surfer her tremendous support and friendship.

she will present the lantos human rights prize following her remarks, and after that, we will be privileged to hear from our inaugural laureate, his holiness, the dalai lama. [applause] >> [speaking foreign language] thank you for bringing us together here today on this very special occasion and for continuing your father's work for justice around the world. the red thread that you began the conversation with this morning brought many of us together so many years ago, a generation ago, when tom lantos invited us to join his holiness, the dalai lama, in the capital of the united states. he invited his holiness for the first time -- it was the first time his holiness would visit

the capital. as told tom us then, it was his invitation, but it was his wife's idea. [applause] they shared a passionate commitment to this man of peace and to his work. thank you for continuing to shine a bright light on the dark corners of repression throughout the world. tom's spirit lives through your work at the lantos foundation. it also lives in the house of representatives as we're proud to continue tom's worked for the human rights commission as an official into the of congress. it builds upon the work of the human rights caucus was founded by tom lantos and another congressman, and it is not shared with great conviction by frank wolf and by jim mcgovern.

we thank them for their leadership. we heard from the chairman of the foreign affairs committee. it is clear to see, your holiness, that the that has a friend in the chairman's office of the foreign affairs committee. howard berman, previously with tom lantos, and before that, and gilman who is with us today. thank you, ben, for your leadership as well. this has been bipartisan from the start. that special relationship between the united states and the dalai lama is almost as old as his holiness himself. it goes back to when president franklin roosevelt sent the dollar a llama, who was a little boy at the time, a watch -- sent the dollar and obama, who was a little boy at the time, a watch live show the phases of the moon. it was a wonderful gift of friendship and his holiness to the swatch with them when he left of that in 1959, and he

told us earlier this morning that he had his watch, and it was a pocket watch, and he had it in his the equivalent of a pocket when he received the congressional gold a little. he received the medal from president bush. so from one president to another, bipartisan, over the generations, the bonds of the united states and the bonds of friendship between the united states and his holiness and the tibetan people are strong and durable as ever. u.s. presidents, members of congress, and the american people continue to be inspired by his holiness' message of peace, not violence, human rights, and religious understanding. we can all learn from him. when we had a delegation that visited him in india last year and we were being particularly stirred up about our concerns about what is happening in tibet, his holiness advised

them, particularly me, to rid myself of my negative attitude. [laughter] and to think with more reconciliation and peace and friendship in my voice. we're learning from his holiness. i am is so pleased that president obama recently appointed a special envoy to tibet, the undersecretary of state, who is with us today as well, and she just visited his holiness in india as well. thank you for being with us. it has been said over and over again, though he describes himself as a simple modicum and no more, no less. it is the simplicity that i hear. into millions of believers and admirers, that simplicity is a source of wisdom and compassion. last week his holiness visited the site where rev. martin

luther king was assassinated a receive the international freedom award from the national civil rights museum. i was so pleased. i am simply said john lewis is with us today. he teaches us every day that each one of us contains a spark of divinity and therefore is worthy of respect. and we must remember that about everyone, including ourselves. it is in the legacy of dr. king and mahatma gandhi, his holiness leads the way in following the power of nonviolence to promote freedom of his people and people around the world. for more than 20 years salinas has advocated for tibetan autonomy. koster -- for more than 20 years his holiness has advocated for tibetan autonomy. he has expressed a desire to visit china and to engage directly with chinese officials. it is our hope that the chinese government will welcome this opportunity for a peaceful

resolution of the issue of tibet. the call of tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. we must not fail to meet that challenge. in fact, unless we speak out for human rights in china and in tibet, we lose all moral authority to talk about human rights anywhere in the world. [applause] the dalai lama, the tibetan culture, religion, and it burned -- by the way, his holiness pope was about the internment and ecological challenges of overpopulation in tibet 22 years ago, 1987, and he saw that. in any event, all of this is a source of inspiration to the people of the world. your holiness, i now have the

great privilege of giving you this special tom lantos prize. on the metal are in scrub the words of tom lantos, the rights of one are the rights of all. on behalf of the lantos foundation, the human rights and justice, the entire congress and millions around the world, i thank you for your work to insure the rights of all people. and now, i have the privilege of reading the citation. on behalf of a net, katrina, and the lantos foundation, i will now share this award citation. the lantos foundation for human rights and justice hereby award this inaugural lantos human rights prize to the 14th dalai lama, the religious leader of the tibetan people. with courage, compassion, and

humility, he is given voice to the aspirations of all humanity for a life of dignity, justice, and respect. as the unflinching advocate of nonviolent reconciliation, he has advanced the cause of human rights in every corner of the globe. his holiness, the dalai lama, is one of the most highly honored peacemakers of our time and a unique moral voice for our day. the lantos foundation. [applause]

[applause]

>> who want to speak tibetan. [speaking tibetan]

honorable speaker, senator mccain, chairman, and mrs. lantos, and also katrina, family members of a very dear friend of mine, the late congressman tom lantos. distinguished guests, it is a great honor and pleasure for me to receive this inaugural prize of lantos human-rights award. and for me to receive the award is a truly great privilege,

especially in that the award is named after an individual whom i admire deeply into made tremendous contribution to human rights for the world. [applause] >> i just want to express my -- [unintelligible] and i am very happy to see your face. as before, very fresh. [laughter] and full of spirit, although no doubt your wonderful late husband and even his friends have the feeling of view of

freshness. i appreciate it. [applause] [laughter] >> it is a nature where there is a beginning, there is anend. such wonderful people also sooner or later have to go that way. but what is very important is their spirit and they're wonderful sort of service to humanity. that we must remember. and not only remember but

follow, carry-on in that spirit and wonderful work of humanity. particularly human rights. as i always feel, it looks as if we're sharing concern about individual human rights or global human rights for people, it appears as concerned from individuals or group of people, but i am often telling those people who work for human rights -- generally, those people who have some greater potential to change this

society, to build better societies, those people who have visions, and ability, and with said, we can make some contributions for a just society. and these people have more dissatisfaction about a system or rule of system. so these people usually become the first casualty. so human rights is taking care of individual who writes or a human rights of global people. this is actually carrying further positive pieces of the community and of society. it is great work. also, i'd think it is very

ideal of human rights and taking care of what human rights is is taking care of others. it is an act of compassion. act of human affection. so today, i think generally speaking, we are lacking the sense of responsibility in taking care of where we should be. so that is why unnecessary man- made problems still arise. hopeful are those organizations or individuals who work for human rights in the right of individuals.

it is really wonderful work. then, [unintelligible] one of my very close friends. i always admired his hairstyle. [laughter] and his strong accent. [laughter] but he really, i think carried his belief fearlessly and determined. that also is sometimes necessary. i often am telling my indian friends, india, although after

many decades in the past, but india still needs the spirit of those freedom fighters, those guardians. selfless, fearless, truthful, dedicated, that spirit, i think. i was telling my indian friends, what do you enjoy about independence? there is any progress there. good. but the country as a whole still has a lot of problems. a lot of poverty. there's still in need of that kind of spirit. so tom lantos was that kind of

person. and personally, [unintelligible] from the hungry, and his life experience broad difficulty. but through his own hard work, the spirit is really great. he was a very successful person. and not only as an individual but also a tremendous amount of service to research and field. so what else i should say? i do not know. [laughter]

you have seen this sort of metdal. it is quite heavy. [laughter] but this gives me some kind of encouragement of the sign of recognition of life and a little service. of those now, for the rest of my life, i take it with me. for promotional human value, promotional human affection and compassion and the quality and basic human rights forever in to that or in mainland china or

everywhere. taiwan or africa or latin america, even here in america. the richest country, but still, a lot of poor people. a huge gap, rich tempore. this is unhealthy. -- a huge gap, rich to poor. it is held -- unhealthy. they are also human beings. they might be in a more happier sort of state. the whole of the american people to get it. i think american, i think the idea of freedom, liberty, equality. i think these are human values. since my childhood, of course, i

do not know much, but when we heard america as a chairman of liberty, freedom, democracy, and then perhaps maybe also that watched. on some sort of level for america. i just told this morning, actually when received the gold watch from president roosevelt, i carried it with an american military uniform. i remember seeing the uniform. with that watch, actually, president roosevelt with the letter and a picture.

so as a child, i have a keen attraction to this watch, not of that letter [laughter] you see, even i did not see that letter, and nobody told me what it contains. [laughter] so that looks really like a child, watch very beautiful. so i kept it sends them. occasionally, a sense yo have been damaged, that is also hospitalized. but now still, works. is still works perfectly. this time, i did not bring it. but last year, as you already mentioned, when they're received

the congressional gold medal, because of emotion, the watch was given to me by famous president roosevelt, so i kept that watch in my pocket. so at the time, receiving the congressional gold medal, in the gold watch in my pocket. receiving a from the american president. america, the greatest democratic country. and the american weapons, military forces, of course, is for some people ceres. but the real greatness of america is your principles.

in any cost, he must preserve these principles. that is important. thank you very much. [applause] >> his holiness has inspired and charmed us put our closing remarks of the offered by the oldest grandson of my late

father, tom lantos. thank you. [applause] >> women finish, a plan to ask his holiness what wrongs one would have to have committed in the past life in order to end of speaking after him on today's program. [laughter] [applause] and i also want to convey apologies, both that i am not my mother and also from my mother. she had hoped to be here this morning and since her love and greetings to all of you. the two men we celebrate today, the dalai lama and my grandfather, have crafted lives it cannot be more deserving of our admiration. they both have no hatred and persecution and have responded not with malice or cynicism but

by dedicating themselves to ennobling the lives of others. in making this inaugural presentation that the tom lantos press for human rights, we could not ask for a more exact -- exacting erev exemplars. we do them a disservice if we love with the impression that this event was about them. we know that ultimately not every one of us can be a tom lantos or a dalai lama to do with some exceptions, not everyone of us will chair the foreign relations committee or service -- serve as the spiritual leader of our people. most of us a thankfully unlikely to endure the agonies of war and exile that gave their lives purpose in perspective. but we can and we must resolve to live by the principles that the finer legacy. as we seek a more humane fellowship with humankind, we must look to their examples and have it in for our actions.

the question before us is whether the rest of us will take a stand in the halls of congress, in the suburbs of san francisco, and joined them in the great battle on behalf of millions of our brothers and sisters who live in suffering around the world. that is because the unites us today. some armies did success by counting the numbers of opponents killed or wounded. in the fight for human rights, we measure victories and lives saved and suffering averted. but while the terms of battle are different, the stakes are just as high. this is a struggle with no end in sight. my grandfather accomplished relatively few of his human rights objectives before his death. and his holiness has worked for decades on behalf of the piece of his people. measured against the magnitude of the challenges that we face, their accomplishments may seem incremental. a life saved here, a prisoner freed there, a liberty restored.

but to those to they have saved, their efforts have meant everything. if you have any question of that fact, look at me or my mother or my aunt are my brothers and sisters and cousins, none of whom would be here today if a courageous diplomat had not stepped forward to save my grandfather from the holocaust 65 years ago. this cause cannot move forward without our help. we must ask ourselves if we're ready to continue walking the path of these great men have trod. when political prisoners are tortured in north korea, when women are raped in condo, when the innocent are lost in shipping containers in the desert for peacefully practicing their religion, and when tibetans are denied their liberty, will we give up our time, our talents, our resources on their behalf? will we work within our spirit influence, however loftier load

the it may be, to it as the frontiers of decency? the efficacy of the prize presented to his holiness this morning will be determined by whether we answer those questions in the affirmative. it is my hope and conviction that we can and will meet this challenge. but when we return to our homes, our jobs, and our families, we will remember this morning was not simply a celebration of the dalai lama and tom lantos but an affirmation of the principles that should guide us all. these two men were forged in fires heard than any we're likely to encounter, but as we work to advance the cause of human rights, each of us has the opportunity to grasp something of their greatness. in this long battle, as in in a long battle, good leaders like the dalai lama and tom lantos unnecessary, but they are not enough. and our praise for them cannot serve as a proxy for our commitment to this cause. a commitment to carry on until

every man, every woman, and every child on this planet is free to realize their potential. that is the opportunity that we celebrate today. that is the obligation that we are. and that is the legacy that we must seek to uphold. on behalf of the lantos family, we would like to thank you for your presence here today, and we look forward to working with you to carry on this struggle for another generation. thank you. [applause] thank you. we asked the audience to remain in your places until his holiness as the part of the auditorium.

[applause] >> thank you. [applause]

♪

>> here is our schedule. next, the funeral mass in burial for senator edward kennedy who died in august. after that, a statue of ronald reagan is unveiled at the u.s. capitol. later, friends and fellow journalists remember walter cronkite at his funeral in july. >> all this week, interviews with supreme court justices. tonight, we will sit down with justices scalia and ruth bader ginsburg. justice sebelius served on the court almost 25 years, and the

talks about the role of the court and the processes the justices follow and reaching a decision. ruth bader ginsburg has served since 1993. she gives a tour of her chambers as she discusses her life before serving. see those interviews tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. >> it is a three-day weekend on an "book tv" starting new year's day. on "afterwards" day new york times columnist talks about five decades of women's history. the best-selling author takes your calls sunday on "in depth." find the full schedule at booktv.org. >> family friends and former colleagues of the late senator edward kennedy gathered in boston in late august for his funeral mass. in attendance were former president jimmy carter, bill clinton, and george w. bush,

along with president obama who gave the eulogy. other speakers included senator kennedy's two sons, edward and patrick. musical performances were provided by a tenor and soprano. this runs one hour 40 minutes. the family, your mother, a sister everyone in the world would love to have in eugene with your devotion. dr. larry in the great team of doctors and nurses and is so many helpers' at hyannis port these last weeks and months and most especially the youngest of ted's gang, gracie an dma,

lkylie and teddy. the christian burial weave together memory and hope. the worship of the church locates us precisely between a past we really remember in the future in which we firmly believe. we gather today as a community drawn from across the nation to entrust the life of senator edward kennedy into the hands of god and to provide you consolation and support. we bring with those treasured memories of ted kennedy, a member is not only of a national leader and a master legislator, but of a beloved husband, a great father, a terrific grandfather, a sweet uncle, a dear friend, a trusted colleague, a wise mentor. we enter this church with these

memories acutely alive for each of us. we gather to treasure the memory and to share our sense of loss. the liturgy of the mass, it's scripture, is music, and ritual are designed to knowledge these memories, to provide a context of prayerful and communal reflection in which they can be held as deeply personal and sacred. but the liturgy does not leave us in the past alone. it points us in christian hope to the future. our prayer expressed in confidence and hope is about the destiny of our brother and friend with his future with god. the biblical readings of the they selected by chad and vicky and his family moved us from memory and hope in the past

to the future. the first lesson of the mass was proclaimed, speaking the words of wisdom, the souls of the judge starr in the hand of god. we believe our lives are in the hands of god in life and death. st. paul states our case with his usual confidence, and caroline proclaimed it was such beauty. neither death or life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come more powers nor hide nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of god, in christ jesus our lord. that confidence, the triumph of life over death is rooted in the central belief of christian

faiths, the resurrection of christ, the lord. the christian conviction upon which all phases built is the that christ, who passed through death to new life will, as he promised, lead us through death to new life as well. on this day we hold the memory of the life of senator kennedy with reverence and with respect. we also recognize that like all of us, his life has a destiny beyond history. the destiny of risen life in the kingdom of god. the gospel of matthew from which i proclaimed focuses our intention on this destiny by reminding us of the words of jesus and the tests he posed for insurance into that kingdom. oh, come, + of my father,

inherit the kingdom for the foundation of the world. for a was hungry and you gave me food. i was thirsty and you gave me a drink. i was a stranger and you welcome me. i was naked and you close the me. i was sick and you visited me. i was in prison and you came to me. in this test on this day, our memories and our hopes converge. these works of the kingdom were daily concerns of the public life of teddy kennedy. they were the fabric of his mind, heart, and hands as he saw to realize them in a society dramatically more complex than the society in which jesus spoke these words. our hope, our confident christian hope is that the fruits of his work as a political and public figure at

well-prepared m for god's kingdom. as we together reflect upon his life, the choice of this incredible basilican church as the place for his funeral, provides a fitting context for our thoughts and prayers. this basilica reminds us of two important aspects of the senator's life and work. first, we come to know in the days since his death bed when critical illness threatens his own daughter, he came to this place daily to pray. he came here, like generations before him, seeking the healing hand of god. we are reminded that the most public personalities also lived a very personal existence. this church was the place of private prayer