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Edmond Peralto
Vice President's Remarks at Memorial Service for Former Representative Guy A. Vander Jagt
Committee on Ways and Means
United States House of Representatives Photos
4:20 P.M. EDTTHE VICE PRESIDENT: Carol and Ginny; colleagues, friends, ladies andgentlemen:I first met Guy Vander Jagt more than 30 years ago, by introduction of myboss, President Gerald Ford. The President had the highest opinion of Guy. They both came from western Michigan; they had served adjoiningcongressional districts; and they were friends for life.Guy was here in the Capitol, along with many of us, the night we saidgoodbye to President Ford. Now, only seven months later, we gather againto pay tribute to another fine son of Michigan who loved his country, whoserved with distinction, and will always be remembered with fondness andrespect.Guy arrived in the House of Representatives four decades ago, as a memberof the class of 1966. That group, as time would show, was destined forhigh achievement, and included names like Bill Steiger, Sonny Montgomery,Bob Taft, Jim McClure, George Bush. The Michigan delegation was impressivein itself, with Ford and Vander Jagt, Phil Ruppe, John Dingell, BillBroomfield, Martha Griffiths -- and other great talents in both parties.From the first days of the 90th Congress to the last days of the 102nd, GuyVander Jagt was a standout member of this House. By the time I arrived asa freshman in the 96th, he was already something of a legend among hiscolleagues. Everyone knew what a remarkable speech Guy could give, on justabout any topic, whenever the need arose. (Laughter.)When he stepped tothe well, Democrats and Republicans alike wanted to stop to pay attention. It didn't matter whether colleagues agreed or disagreed with him; theysimply knew that if Guy had something to say, it was worth listening to.At the convention that first nominated Ronald Reagan and George Bush asPresident and Vice President, Guy was chosen to give the keynote. Reaganhimself explained the choice this way: "My desire was simple. I wanted thebest -- Guy Vander Jagt."It was said that Guy's great skill was in "painting the broad picture inbright colors and vivid contrasts." And there were those who wondered howsomeone with an oratorical style could succeed in a conversational age. Itdidn't take long to figure out Guy's secret. The man had substance. Hespoke without notes -- expansively and often poetically. But the wordspenetrated because they were honest, insightful, and true -- always to thepoint, always from the heart. Guy was a highly intelligent man with a wellstocked mind. Yet more than that, he had direction. His purposes werenoble; his motivations were patriotic; he was morally serious.Guy also possessed the gift of boundless energy, and none of it was wasted. If ever a man could "fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worthof distance run," it was him. For an entire generation of incoming HouseRepublicans, one of the first sitting members they met was Guy Vander Jagt. In many cases, Guy was the one who'd recruited them to run. Others methim at candidate school. And hundreds would host Guy in their districts --because if there was a seat to be won, our tireless NRCC chairman wasalways willing to go out and put his shoulder to the wheel. His aide,Steve Lotterer, said that Guy went to all 50 states, and "He would tellcandidates, 'I am here to build you up, and to talk about how good you willbe, not to tear down your opponent.'"If you think back to the days when Guy first took over as chairman -- whenthe House had literally twice as many Democrats as Republicans -- yousimply have to marvel at his drive and his optimism. He gave years oflabor and travel to the cause -- making many friends and pleasing manylarge audiences, but also enduring the tiny airplanes, long car rides, latenights, and small crowds. He took the good with the bad, but all of hisown contributions were good -- and they laid the groundwork, eventually,for an historic political turnaround. We admired Guy for all of this --and we admire Carol, too, because she worked just as hard as her husbanddid and they both made many sacrifices for all of us.Guy was a happy warrior for his principles and for his party. But he wascomfortable on the other side of the aisle and he had friends of everystripe. As Chairman Rangel said on the House floor, Guy had "thecompassion and sensitivity and understanding that it takes to make thisCongress and this country work." He cared about everybody in the House.I'd wager that each of his colleagues, and each person in this room today,can recall a time when Guy did something especially generous or consideratejust for us. For my part, there are many. But in particular I think ofone Sunday in the 1980s, when Guy and our wives found ourselves on theEastern Shore of Maryland -- and at Guy's invitation, we together spent anunforgettable afternoon with the novelist James A. Michener. It was sovery much like Guy and Carol to want to share that experience with friends. And we're still grateful for that memory. And I still see Guy Vander Jagtas he was on that day and every day I knew him -- warm and thoughtful, wiseand literate. More than an able colleague; more than a talentedlegislator; more than a skilled political hand -- Guy Vander Jagt was goodcompany, a good example, and a very, very good man.Joined here today, we again feel the loss that came to the country, and toall of us, on the 22nd of June. But we're grateful, too, that we knew aman of such great style and substance.We're proud of our friend, GuyAdrian Vander Jagt. And the United States of America honors his memory. (Applause.)END 4:27 P.M. 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