July 18, 1995 - Part 2
July 18, 1995 - Part 2
(11:25:21) I want to commend you for that statement and for that commitment. This is not a time for trying to score partisan political points, and these hearings should not be a forum for rumor and innuendo that are not supported by fact, nor should these hearings be allowed to become another battleground for the kind of culture wars that characterized the handling of Dr. Foster's nomination. Frankly, that seems to have an unfortunately growing role in our politics. Rather, this is a time to try to ascertain the facts and to try to understand what happened. That can only happen if we go where the evidence takes us and avoid any attempts to demonize people because we disagree with their views on policy issues, We must avoid any temptation to suggest that wrongdoing has occurred here because we don't like what someone stands for or because we think that person is too influential or we want to cut him or her down to size. Allegations made merely to seek advantage in upcoming elections that are unsupported by the evidence have no place here. The hearings we are conducting must be fair and impartial) and that involves keeping closely in mind what precipitated the events we are examining in this phase of the Committee's work. Again, that is the tragic death of Vincent Foster. We are not here today to review the cause of his death. We looked at that issue last year. Moreover, every official agency of government that has examined the cause of death has reached the same conclusions that Vince Foster's death resulted from suicide. Despite the cottage industry that has arisen to offer bizarre alternative theories as to what happened to Mr. Foster, there, frankly, is no reasonable doubt on that score. Fairness demands that we keep constantly in mind that Vince Foster's death had a devastating effect on those with whom he worked. He was very popular. He was both respected and liked What is more, as a Member of the White House staff, he shared the long hours, the frantic pace and the huge amount of work that characterizes those jobs. This kind of working environment and the closeness that it engenders -made his death hit other White House staffers very hard. Most Of them, frankly, were not just co-workers; many of them were friends, even good friends. Vince Foster's death affected them all very deeply. We sometimes act as if people who enter public service give up at least part of their humanity when they do so, but that is not the case. Vince Foster's co-workers and friends were not just members of the White House staff; they were human beings, they were peo- 31 ple who grieve and cry and act just like any other American facing a similar situation. That, I believe, is an important thing for us to keep in mind. The American people, justifiably, do not want the White House or Congress or any other part of Government treated any better than they are, We want the same rules to apply to ev- eryone. We all expect a suicide involving a member of the White House staff to be fully investigated. In fact, given that the White House is involved, most Americans would expect that a higher in- vestigative standard would be used than in other cases. However, the American people are also a compassionate people. Most Americans know how they would react if a good friend died tragically and unexpectedly and they can empathize with the situation that the friends of Vince Foster faced. Most Americans view a death of this kind not just as a matter for the police, but a moment for friends and family to come together to support one another. While there is dispute as to whether the Park Police officer was momentarily kept from Mrs. Foster the night that Vince Foster died, I would think it would not be at all strange if it happened because, quite frankly, no American wants to share the moment of greatest grief with strangers, and that includes the police. I want to conclude, Mr, Chairman, by making one final point, This Committee has a responsibility to be thorough, but it also has a responsibility to finish, Most, if not all, of the witnesses we will hear from in this phase of the Committee's work have been deposed as many as half a dozen times before, if not more. We are asking many of them who knew Vince Foster well, people who were close to him both professionally and personally, to relive a Very painful part of their lives. We are inevitable dredging up painful memories for Mrs. Foster and the Foster family. I hope that this Committee, therefore, will not lose s sighy of the need to be expeditious, as well as thorough and of the need to allow all of these people to come to closure with the death of Vince Foster. In short I hope that we will meet both our professional obligation and our human obligation. If we work together we can forgo the opportunity for partisan gamesmanship, and I'm sure that we could meet both Of those critically important obligations and put this issue to rest once and for all. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank YOU, Senator.