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A Fete for Disabled Congressmen

Click to see original imageBy WESLEY G. PIPPERT WASHINGTON lUPlt – It was an unusual reception even by Capitol standards. The honorees were brought together by their problems – and they laughed about them. Sen. Robert J. Dole. R-Kan,. former Republican national chairman. Rep Tony Coelho, D-Calif . chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Sen Daniel loouye, D-l-fawaii. member of both the Senate Watergate and Abscam committees: ep, Charles Bennett, D-Fla.. who has never missed a legislative roll call Others were feted. too – 10 in all, 1’hey were members of Congress who have a physical disability. and they were honored by a private. nonprofit organization. National Office on Disability. headed by Richard M. DeVos. The reception was held as part of the Congess-designated National Year of ‘sabled Persons. Dole. 58. was wounded twice in Europe during World War ll and lost use of his right arm. Always the wit, he told of being a freshman congressman on a speechrnalting trip where his host kept referring to him as Congressman Doyle,” ” origressman Doyle wanted to study pre-med but be suffered a head injury and went into politics.” the host said in his introduction. Coelho. 40. is an epileptic. He said that during his first campaign, his opponent tried to make it an lasue by wondering what would happai “if he went to the Whlte House to see the president and had a seizure.” “A lot of coggressmen go to the White House a have fits – but l’d have an excuse.” Coelho sald he replied. He said the opponent never brought it up again. Bennett. 71, suffered polio while lighting as a guerrilla In the pines during World War ll. e refused to be bound to a wheel chalr or crutches and now walks with difficulty – but unaided. He was elected to Congress in fw!. in giving advice to other of the nation’s 35 million disabled. Bennett quoted from the Bible – love others as you love yourself. a commandment he said requires healthy selfesteem. and use whatever gifts God has given you. lnouye. 57, lost an arm while sarving with the highly decorated tural Regimental Combat Team in World War ll. One of the most popular members of the Senate. lnouye said merely that often a person’: disabilities are not visible. The most visible of the disabled members of Congress ls freshman Sui. James East. R-N.C.. win suffered polio at age 14 and ia bound to a wheel chair. t has not kept him from being an active senator. and in tris first Near in t.he Senate. he chaired earingli on the controversial human e hill. Sen. Charles H. Percy. R-lll., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. suffered a hearing impairment as a result of service as a gnnnery officer In World War ll. e began wearing a hearing aide after he came to the Senate in IIG7. Rep. Claude Pezer. D-Fla.. who waselectel to the natein 1986and now is chairman of the Home Oommlttee on Aging. also has a baring impairment. Rep. Morris K. Udall. D-Ariz., played professional basketball for the old Denver Nuggets deaplte having only one eye. and he memorlsed the eye chart to qualify for military service in World War ll. Udall learned a few years ago be also suffers from Parkinaon’s disease.Rep. James H. Schneuur, D-N.Y., contracted polio in his youth, and Hep. Larry Winn Jr., R-Kan.. had one leg amputated as a result of an accident as a teenager. The recigon was held in the Mansfield m in the Capitol, ft was jammed with people, many of them also disabled. lgclurllng a re rter w types words a mmite de$?te having lost three fingers in a farm ensilage cutter accident as a boy