March 11, 1971
Page 6024
ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS
(Mr. MIKVA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute, to revise and extend his remarks. )
Mr. MIKVA. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to read this morning about the political blasts directed by Senator DOLE at Senator MUSKIE and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
Senator DOLE, who used to be a lawyer and is now chairman of the Republican National Committee, shot his mud over a lot of people in one speech. I am certain that presidential candidates can take care of themselves in the face of cheap shots like Senator DOLE's, but the jury is at least theoretically still out on the Berrigan case. As a lawyer, I would like to believe, Mr. Speaker, that the chairman of the Republican National Committee could respect the fundamental proposition that in a free democratic society, even those indicted by the present administration, are entitled to counsel of their choice and that a lawyer worthy of the title responds to such requests. Senator DOLE'S flippant criticism of Ramsey Clark because of his willingness to provide legal counsel to certain defendants in a criminal case shows utter insensitivity to the fundamental tenets of the Constitution and of American democracy. It would be nice if the Republican national chairman could find something else to sharpen his ax on besides our system of justice.