John Lewis
Rep. John Lewis, Space Station Savior, Passes Away, Space Policy Online
“Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) passed away yesterday. A legendary civil rights activist, his role at a pivotal point in the history of the space station program is less well known. He is the Member of Congress who cast the deciding vote in 1993 to continue the program despite years of cost overruns and schedule delays. Today’s International Space Station might not exist without his support.”
Keith’s note: I sat at my desk at NASA Space Station Freedom Program Office in 1993 listening to the roll call wondering if I’d have a job. John Lewis did indeed save the space station.
In voting to keep the space station program alive Rep. Lewis said: “I still believe, as do the majority of the American people, that it is America’s destiny to explore space. Not for the cold war reasoning of proving we are the greatest Nation on Earth, but because we are the greatest Nation on Earth. We became great by dreaming and pursuing that dream. As soon as we lose the ability to dream and reach for the stars we cease to be great. Madam Chairman, let us keep the dream alive. Support the space station. All mankind will continue to reap the magnitude of benefits from this program.“ Update – see below 1
1 Reader note: “It’s a great quote, but it’s from the wrong Rep. Lewis. This is from Rep. Tom Lewis of Florida, and he never actually had the chance to speak these word during the debate because he ran out of time and had to submit it in writing. Citation: Page 13669: https://www.congress.gov/103/crecb/1993/06/30/GPO-CRECB-1993-pt10-2.pdf – https://www.c-span.org/video/?43471-1/house-session“
Having slipped the surly bonds of Earth, now he belongs to the angels.
I still believe, as do the majority of the American people, that it is America’s destiny to explore space. Not for the cold war reasoning of proving we are the greatest Nation on Earth, but because we are the greatest Nation on Earth. We became great by dreaming and pursuing that dream. As soon as we lose the ability to dream and reach for the stars we cease to be great.
Very, very well put.
But I have a question that’s been bothering me lately, not unique to this example and in no way meant to be disparaging. Why is Representative Lewis’s vote here identified as ‘the deciding vote’? If a vote wins by one person’s vote, how, exactly, is any one person’s vote picked out to be the deciding one? Can’t any one of the winning votes be considered ‘deciding’? Who exactly gets to decide which was the deciding vote?
Just curious.
Generally, the last one to be cast.
A couple of things:
1. It’s a great quote, but it’s from the wrong Rep. Lewis. This is from Rep. Tom Lewis of Florida, and he never actually had the chance to speak these word during the debate because he ran out of time and had to submit it in writing.
Citation:
Page 13669:
https://www.congress.gov/10…
https://www.c-span.org/vide…
2. During the vote, NASA Admin Dan Goldin and Jeff Lawerence (NASA AA of Leg. Affairs) were lobbying members as they entered the chamber. The timer hit 0:00, and Rep. Jack Brooks instructed that the vote be held open until everyone had an opportunity to vote. The amendment was winning and Rep. John Lewis was the last to enter the chamber. Goldin cornered Lewis and pleaded for him to help save the station. Lawrence told me that Lewis had voted to defund the station the year before, but supported it thereafter. (this could also have something to do with it being Reagan’s project, and when the new administration entered, Gore convinced Clinton that they should support it.)
Citation:
I’m working on a documentary about this period of the station’s life.
Thanks. Posting an excerpt of your comment on NASAWatch.
In general, I don’t things should be named after politicians. However, Mr. Lewis was not your average politician. The Pettus bridge should be renamed in his honor.
Mr. Gaucho:
Yours is an example of same facts, different story. That bridge is identified now s a symbol of some very troubled times.
I should know. I was a very willing participant at several bridge events, And I’e walked the bridge more than once (and those who continued on to Montgomery are made of something superhuman).
And every time I crossed the bridge I felt deep shame. Let the bridge stand as a symbol of shame. Rename or removal is not absolution. Like the popular Jewish sentiment: we must never forget, each place, or named thing should stand, reminding us of our sometimes awful past.
And like the symbols all over the South – I count myself as a grateful adopted son – let the statues and the bridges gain new explanatory materials that provide context.
For each site, or overlook, or statue, or bust, or, yes, even those of ex-nazis: we must make no attempt to deny the past, and our sinful participation. Rather we must add a prominent place to stand, as appropriate, a place where the carnage or hate can be best appreciated. And in doing so, call ourselves Great Americans.
The names and statues should remain in place.
Let every American know the sins of our fathers.
I humbly disagree. There is a difference , in my mind, between remembering history and glorifying individuals or symbols. I am not calling for Soviet style erasures from history. A lone statue of Werner Von Braun with no context is wrong. A picture (or portrait) of him along with other Center Directors is just acknowledging historical fact. Would you have not supported de-nazification in Germany after WWII? I think we are going through a much overdue period of de-Confederalization.If the statues are not removed they need to be put in context. I think the Liberty Bell pavilion in Philly does a good job of this with George Washington. It points out how unprecedented was his peaceful transfer of power (something we may learn to appreciate all over again after the next election) but also how he treated his slaves.
Although a lifelong Yankee, I am sympathetic to those who want to show their love of the South as a very distinct region. I just don’t know if there is a symbol for the South not tainted by slavery or succession. However, renaming the Pettus bridge for Mr, Lewis is an act of Cosmic Justice that just must happen.
And no my name is not Gaucho. It is a personal joke. A girl in grade school gave me the nickname. Not because I reminded her of the machismo of the denizens of the pampas but of a dancing elephant on the box of peanut butter cookies from the 70’s!
Quite simply; Heroic.
I wouldn’t call 112 to 61 a split vote, it was more like overwhelming (65% to 35%) support for the ISS. While the Democrats were a mirror image with 60% opposing it.
His wisdom will be missed. He was one of the greats of the Civil Rights movement that changed America.