Remarks by Representative Ullman

Of Oregon

Mr. ULLMAN. Mr. Speaker, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was a great and wonderful man. Much has been said about his knowledge of agriculture and his contribution to the solution of our agricultural problems. His contributions were indeed great and his knowledge was of significant benefit to the Nation.

However, I should like to talk for a minute about another aspect of his character and another of his deep and abiding interests. It was my privilege, during the 85th Congress, to sit on the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs with GEORGE CHRISTOPHER and to watch him day after day devoting his time and his energy to the problem of the development of the great natural resources of this country. He believed that these resources should be fully developed and fully utilized for the greatest number of people. He was a great crusader for public power because he believed that public development was the best way to distribute the benefits from the Nation's resources. I want to pay tribute to a great crusader, a great fighter, a wonderful man, who contributed so much to his country. To his family I extend my deepest sympathy.

Remarks by Representative George

Of Kansas

Mr. GEORGE. Mr. Speaker, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was my friend. My district parallels his along the Kansas-Missouri line. In three campaigns he advised and counseled me. I probably would not be here today had it not been for his advice and his counsel. The farmer, the laboring man, the housewife, and the small businessman have all lost a true friend. I join my colleagues from Missouri in expressing my deep sympathy and that of all Kansas to his family, who have lost a wonderful father; and this Nation has lost a great American.

Remarks by Representative Brock

Of Nebraska

Mr. BROCK. Mr. Speaker, the untimely passing of our dear friend and colleague, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER, has touched me deeply, and I join with my colleagues in paying respect to his memory. I emphasized the word "friend" because to me he was not only a newly found friend but a learned and valuable adviser in the problems of agriculture.

Like myself, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was a dedicated farmer. He was born to the farm and stayed on the farm, as did his family before and after him.

He was an expert on soil conservation and one of the most informed men on farm policy.

As recently as last fall the farmers in my home area of Wakefield, Nebr., had the good fortune to hear him discuss farm problems. They were enlightened and expressed their sincere gratitude for his masterful understanding of this troublesome subject.

The Nation and its agricultural communities have suffered a distinct loss in his passing. His many friends of the Congress and myself have lost the benefit of his sage advice on the agricultural problems confronting the Nation.

I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to his children in Butler, Mo., and to his daughter and son-in-law in Washington, D.C.

Remarks by Representative Whitener

Mr. WHITENER.

Of North Carolina

Mr. Speaker, the news on Friday night of the passing of the late Congressman GEORGE CHRISTOPHER, of Missouri, came to me as a particularly hard personal blow. I have lost a close and cherished friend.

When I first arrived in Washington, it was my privilege to be assigned to the office which our late friend had vacated. But I was delighted to learn that he would be across the corridor from me. On each day during our service here, we had the most amiable contact-a contact which has given me an opportunity to know one of the truly great men of this House.

I think it was Congressman CHRISTOPHER's great love for so many fine things that was the one characteristic which appealed to me so much. It has been well said that he loved the soil. He also loved the wonderful family which was his. In addition, I think that he loved the Members of this House. He loved his country. He had a great appreciation for the opportunity which had been given to him to serve the people of this country. But, I think behind all of that was his great love and appreciation of the Holy Evangel of Almighty God. Almost without exception whenever he came to my office at some point in the conversation he would mention some of the great truths that we find in the Holy Bible.

When I visited him while he was upon the sick bed in the Naval Hospital in Bethesda shortly after he had suffered from the serious surgical operation that had been performed upon him, I was delighted to see that his Christian faith and his Christian courage were shining through just as it had in better days. So it had been throughout my acquaintance with him.

I shall miss Congressman CHRISTOPHER, but I will always remember with deep gratitude the many gifts of inspiration which he left for me and for those who were privileged to come in contact with him.

To his colleagues from Missouri, who today feel so keenly his passing, and to the wonderful family of which he was so proud and which he loved so much, I extend the most earnest and sincere condolences of my family in this hour of bereavement.