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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release October 25, 1999

STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT

Tipper and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Senator John Chafee.

John was one of the friends I most respected and admired in the Senate. And though we came from opposite sides of the political aisle, we saw eye-to-eye on many issues. I will always respect his dedication to serving the people of Rhode Island, his heart-felt commitment to the environment, and his bipartisan approach to the Senate.

I will also remember John as a brave man. For despite the many pressures he faced over the two decades he served in the Senate, he was never a partisan, never an ideologue. He was simply the gentleman from Rhode Island who was never afraid to speak his mind and allow the American people to judge his actions.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Virginia, and his children, Zechariah, Lincoln, John, Jr., Georgia, and Quentin.

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