With MENDEL RIVERS' passing, one of the strongest, unfaltering arms ever to uphold the shield of the American Republic is gone. and will be lifted no more. Although he never wore the uniform of his country, he was second to none in his love for it, and he was second to none when it came to insuring its safety against all foes.

It was not necessary for MENDEL RIVERS to have worn a uniform for him to have become one of the stoutest defenders and strongest supporters of the men and women who do. MENDEL knew that upon the shoulders of the men who wear this uniform rests the heavy burden of the continuance of our Republic, and the safety of its people.

There will be mourning on every spot on the globe where there are American servicemen. The American in uniform never had a truer friend than MENDEL RIVERS. Today there is a void in the hearts, hopes, and aspirations of our fighting men. We must see that that void does not go unfilled.

As the Republic is poorer for his passing, it is also stronger because he lived. Let not those who would come against us take heart because he is gone, for what he did, and the example he set, will give renewed courage and determination to those who follow him in his footsteps. He had faith in his country, belief in its destiny and greatness, compassion for his fellow man, devotion to the House of Representatives, and a determination to so order his life and his deeds to leave his country stronger and safer than he found it. His epitaph could be taken from Shakespeare's Henry VIII; inasmuch as any man could have a personal code, this was MENdel Rivers:

Be just and fear not. Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, thy god's and truth's.

And also, Mr. Speaker, as my personal tribute to this man I quote:

The record of a generous life runs like a vine around the memory of our dead, and every sweet, unselfish act is now a perfumed flower.

Speech cannot contain our love. There was, there is, no gentler, stronger, manlier man.

Mr. LANDGREBE. Mr. Speaker, one of the most distasteful pieces of American news coverage, in my opinion, was the report on the WRC-NBC 11 o'clock news last evening, December 28, in regard to the death of Representative MENDEL RIVERS. I was shocked to see that WRC-NBC chose this occasion to lambast the seniority system

in the U.S. Congress, setting it out as perhaps the most repulsive and unsavory system known to man. A lifelike painting of our departed colleague was shown on a screen during a good part of the discussion, very effectively connecting Mr. RIVERS' name with this "undesirable" system.

No doubt, the seniority system in Government is not perfect and the results may in some instances leave something to be desired. But I ask you was the 11 p.m. news the proper time and place to discuss its shortcomings?

Suggesting the abandonment of seniority is comparable to suggesting the abandonment of the gold standard-great idea but what shall be its substitute?

Our Government is big and complex-the wisdom, experience, and dedication of statesmen like MENDEL RIVERS must always be given high priority if we are to remain a great nation. In addition to those three, Mr. RIVERS had one more attribute that far overshadowed the other three. That was his love; his unquenchable love for his country, his God and his fellow men.

Yes; he loved America. He worshipped God and loved all men of every creed, color, race, and religion. While he admitted that he could not always understand their actions he placed the greatest charity even upon his enemies. Only a few weeks before his death I heard him comment that he just could not understand why so many reporters seemed to delight in condemning him, even though he was giving his all to his country.

NOW MENDEL RIVERS is dead. What emphasis the historians will place upon his life remains to be seen. For myself, regardless of comments from WRC-NBC or others, MENDEL RIVERS will be remembered as a friend, a gentleman, a great patriotic American, and a humble servant of God.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. Speaker, in the life of a great leader, such as now has passed from us, there are many spectacular things which come to our minds today as to his achievements. These are great monuments to him, the things he has done to make our country strong and therefore to protect the world against wars that might have occurred. All of these are great and impressive things.

Many times people do not realize, however, the basis upon which these things are founded. One of the things, of course, is the excel

lent character of the man we talk about today, our departed and beloved Member, MENDEL RIVERS.

Another is something I have not heard much discussed here on the floor. As a member of the committee he chaired, I certainly am impressed by it; that is, his dedication to doing his homework.

MENDEL RIVERS was a real student, a real scholar, a hard worker early in the morning and late at night. He knew what he was talking about. For about two decades, for 20 years, I sat with him there on that committee, and in this period of time I do not remember ever hearing a military man who came before that committee-for instance, in the field of airpower, types of airplanes or things of that kind-who knew anywhere near as much as the chairman of the committee knew about these highly technical matters. Now, MENDEL did not get this information by just listening to other people who knew less than he. He got it by studying, by working, but burning the midnight oil. He knew what he was talking about. So he brought to his work as a Congressman not only the spectacular things such as being able to speak well on the floor of the House and to be courageous about issues which came before it, but also the ability to do the mundane, the hard workaday things a Member of Congress must do if he is going to be the chairman of an important committee such as the House Armed Services Committee.

There are many great things MENDEL leaves this country, and he leaves them in a living manner, because they will go on after he is dead, and his presence will be felt, as Dr. Hall said, for years and years to come in the strength of our country.

Most of us here on the floor have the privilege of belonging to a group of men who know each other quite intimately. We know each other in the debates on the floor, and in the cloakrooms, and we know each other in the efforts we share together, perhaps fishing or things of that type.

I knew MENDEL RIVERS in all these things, and also in the Thursday morning prayer group, and in the intimate little things in our lives. I do not believe I ever saw MENDEL, when he was in a relaxed mood, when he did not ask me about my children. I was a bachelor for a long time, and have a young family for my years, and he particularly encouraged me to take time off and to share interests. with my children, and he said that I should do these things, because "They will go before you know it."

So as I conclude my remarks today I think not only of a great American passing from the scene, but I think also of a beloved friend.

And I must say this, MENDEL has left an impact upon my life. He has taught me a great deal during my association with him: to study and to do my homework, and also to give of my devotion to my family responsibilities. There was above it all his great devotion to God and country which made him the great man he was. Yes, above all of this there is woven the fabric of his being a great gentleman of God and of his fellow man.

Mr. LONG of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, one does not have to be a so-called hawk to mourn the death of Mendel Rivers. Mendel RIVERS served his country and his constituents for 30 years with devotion and energy. He was a foremost advocate of the maintenance of the U.S. military superiority as being the surest way under the circumstances of maintaining world peace. How many dovesand I have many "dovish" moments myself-say for sure that they know otherwise.

MENDEL RIVERS made a lasting contribution to the military strength of our Nation and particularly toward keeping America first on the seas and maintaining the morale of our fighting men.

In my first years in Congress, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I knew MENDEL RIVERS as courteous, good humored, fair, and characterized by a total lack of vindictiveness. Mr. Speaker, I share with the other Members of this body and his family the loss of a great leader and friend.

Mr. FULTON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, we Members have all liked MENDEL RIVERS, on both sides of the House, regardless of party. MENDEL RIVERS was one of the best liked Members who have served in the House in many years. MENDEL RIVERS has shown high competence, leadership, and dedication as chairman of the important House Committee on Armed Services. Handling authorizations for military expenditures of approximately $80 billion annually to provide for 3 million members of the U.S. armed services around the world, U.S. military installations, ships, and planes is a most heavy responsibility which MENDEL RIVERS, as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has assumed and performed with efficiency and the respect of the House.

Mr. Speaker, serving as the ranking member of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics, I have known MENDEL RIVERS

very well because of our discussions of mutual problems with reference to research and development both in air and in space. MENDEL RIVERS' knowledge and broad experience in these fields have made working with him rewarding and effective.

On a scientific and medical research basis, I would like to make a few points with reference to the cause of the loss of this fine Member through heart complications following a mechanical valve emplacement. We on the Committee on Science and Astronautics have been working to obtain authorization for adequate funds with which to do basic heart research. I have been specially interested in this matter of rejection. There is a serious situation and problem in procedures to prevent body rejection of transplanted human organs, as well as rejection of artificial devices that are placed in the human body for the purpose of assisting the heart or any other organ of the body.

Dr. Barnard, the famous heart specialist from South Africa, has stated that through research the problem of human organ rejection on transplanting of human organs, and the problem of inert mechanical, or artificial appliance rejection in the human body in his studied opinion, can be overcome. Probably nobody can definitely say at this point of time, and state of research, as to the cause of death of MENDEL RIVERS, through heart trouble, whether it was heart fibrillation or heart failure due to rejection of the mechanical valve. The state of the medical art on transplants of human organs, implantation of mechanical devices, and causes of body rejection, is at present deplorable, with the medical patient submitting to unknown. risks, with the odds stacked against the patient, and the doctor and surgeon operating and working on the unpredictable edge of the unknown, with a confidence based on slim hope and ignorance. The only justification for action is that there is a chance that the future will be better than the present. Why has no definite procedure been researched and determined to know, in advance, the tolerance of the patient, and the probability or degree of rejection, prior, and I emphasize prior, to the surgery?

As a member of the Science and Astronautics Committee, I look at the unfortunate passing of Mendel Rivers as an example where there is a crying need to go ahead with basic heart and organ transplant research, because in MENDEL's case, his heart, after the operation, had come back, responding three times, and grew stronger with accompanying melioration of body functions.