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A life of service'How we will miss him!'
President Clinton made the following remarks in Washington yesterday.
Rhode Island and America have lost a great leader and a fine human being, who in 23 years in the Senate and in his service as secretary of the Navy always put his concern for the American people above partisanship. When you think of the term ``bipartisan,'' you immediately think of John Chafee.
``Known throughout his beloved Rhode Island simply as ``the man you can trust,'' Senator Chafee was a consummate statesman and patriot. He served with valor in war and peace. I am particularly grateful for his commitment to health care, his concern for the environment and his devotion to our children, especially his work for foster care and child care.
``John Chafee proved that politics can be an honorable profession. For him, civility was not simply a matter of personal manners. He believed it was essential to the preservation of our democratic system and the progress of our nation. He embodied the decent center, which has carried America from triumph to triumph for over 200 years. How we will miss him!
``Today our thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful wife, Ginny, and their five children and their 12 grandchildren. And again I want to say a special personal word of appreciation on behalf of Hillary and myself for the many kindnesses John Chafee extended to us and the many opportunities we had to work together.''
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© 1999 The Providence Journal Company
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