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Subscribe to RSSThe Senate lost a World War II combat veteran and Medal of Honor recipient on Monday evening when Hawaii Democrat Daniel K. Inouye died of respiratory complications at the age of 88.
Inouye, the Senate’s most senior senator and the first Japanese-American elected to Congress, won a seat in the chamber in 1962 after serving two House terms as his state’s first congressman following Hawaii’s achievement of statehood.
AP
In this May 19, 1973 file photo, Hawaii Sen. Daniel K. Inouye questions a witness during the Watergate hearing on Capitol Hill. Inouye, who played key roles in congressional investigations of the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals, died of respiratory complications, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012.
At the helm of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, a post he accepted in 2009 when West Virginia’s Robert Byrd relinquished that throne, the softspoken senator was notable for his marked divergence from the typical partisanship and his willingness to cooperate with the GOP.
Inouye’s lifelong service to his country began with his enlistment in the Army in 1942, shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was in the middle of his ninth consecutive term and was the second-longest serving senator in U.S. history, after Byrd, and is one of only five U.S. senators to have represented his state.
Medal of Honor recipient Dan Inouye became the longest-serving senator, having served nine terms after first being elected in 1962. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
His colleagues were quick to honor Inouye. “Tonight, our country has lost a true American hero with the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye,” President Barack Obama said tonight in a statement released by the White House, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid paid his respects on the Senate floor. “No one has been a better American than Senator Inouye,” Reid said. “We will all miss him, and that’s a gross understatement.”
He rose to win national esteem during 1973’s Watergate hearings as a leading member of the Senate select committee that investigated the scandal and ultimately led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the face of a near-certain vote to impeach him in the House. The respect Inouye won through that endeavor helped land him an appointment as chairman of the special committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal. His speech upon the conclusion of that panel’s hearings quoted Thomas Jefferson regarding the crucial “spirit of resistance to government.”
“We all knew he would do the moral thing regardless of the consequences - whether it was passing judgment on a President during Watergate or on another President in the Iran Contra hearings,” Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images file
US Senator Daniel Inouye, D-HI, introduces retired US General Eric Shenseki during a full committee hearing on Shenseki's nomination to be Veterans Affairs Secretary on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, January 14, 2009.
After serving two years in the Army at the ripe age of 20, Inouye was wounded in battle and lost his right arm, an incident for which the then-medical student was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. Over the course of his recovery, he met Bob Dole in a Michigan hospital, an experience Inouye later credited with inspiring his own desire for a career in politics. He then went on to earn a law degree before entering the political arena in 1959.
Inouye’s Army experience led him to concentrate much of his political efforts on defense issues. He voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2010, a landmark measure that eventually reversed an almost 20-year-old policy on the service of gay individuals in the military. Though his public words were seldom and few, in 2002 he argued against an assertion by then-President George W. Bush that Democrats were soft on national security. “This is not a time for Democrats and Republicans to say, ‘we got more medals than you, we’ve lost more limbs than you, we’ve shed more blood than you,' Inouye shot back at the time.
Inouye is survived by his wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, his son Daniel Ken Inouye Jr., Ken's wife Jessica, and granddaughter Maggie and step-daughter Jennifer Hirano. He was preceded in death his first wife, Maggie Awamura.
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a class act. RIP
OMG!
Please, TERM LIMITS!
50 years? This has got to stop, no more career politicians!
He became head of the most powerful committee in congress at the age of 85????! 50 years in congress. term limits needed.
ENOUGH SAID!
Thanks for your ignorance. Maybe we can elect a knownothing like you to replace him?
Hey you negative posters! An American hero just died. Have a little respect and offer condolences instead of making comments about term limits. Where is your sympathy for his family, friends and the people of Hawaii for this much beloved man. Shame on you.
Hate to go to the middle here, but I really have to. There really do need to be certain competency tests when members of Congress or Justices or other political figures (including the President) that if they reach a certain age during their term and fail, they need to be removed and have someone else put in their place. I'm quite sure that at least half the House and Senate would fail these competency tests without the age limit.
Beyond that, this historic figure (first elected Japanese-American to Congress) deserves at least a modicum of respect for his service to this country both military and government, regardless of how I feel of his decisions.
IndustrialStrength and CoCo make very good points about how Senator Inouye stayed in Washington for far too long, but let's remember Senator Inouye for his service to his country and his career in Washington up to the point where he became too old to competently do his job.
Senator Inouye, God bless you, and thank you for your service to our country!
Watergate! I will never forget the class-act Senator from Hawaii, Senator Inouye. He was ethical, honest, and forthright. I watch every day, as the panel of senators investigated Watergate. Senator Inouye made me proud to be an American. You have passed to a better place. Rest in Peace and may God watch over you, as you did, for the freedoms of the people, of the United States.
88 year old senator?
No wonder this country is so screwed up!
Probably had alzheimer's for the past 15 years.
i.s. ... did you know him personally to make a really dumb statement like that? i've had the pleasure of personally knowing folks in their 90's that have more wits about them than morons that are in their 20's.
Enough! Stop with the political BS and bow your heads in prayer for a remarkable man.
Well said...
There's already term limits. We the American electorate decide your terms up, then you've reached your limit. RIP Senator.
Senator Inouye was a neighbor of mine in the 70's. I was friends with his son Kenny. What a great man he was. I will miss him!
What did you expected him to live for ever? he was 88 there should be an age limit in congress also, our house of representative looks like a senior citizen home.PLEASE.
Just curious - Did you say that when Strom Thurmond was still in the Senate at the age of 100?
Byrd, Thurmond, Pelosi, Kerry.
No more career hacks!
He was also one of the many congresssmen/women that voted for Obama Care WITHOUT READING THE BILL!
Industrial,
I support term limits, but this is not the time or place for those comments. Someone has died - if you want to pay your respects, then great. If you don't, then hold your comments for an appropriate forum.
What is your point?
The point is that some don't know when they've run their course. The only way to get fresh ideas is through death. More reason for term limits.
Exactly! After 50 years he was so entrenched in DC that he could not possibly offer fresh new ideas at 88. He may have been a nice man and intelligent but he ran his course 30 years ago.
Instead of offering condolences and fly your flag a half mast you criticize this great American hero? What's the matter with you people. I lived in Hawaii and know how beloved Inouye was.
Senator Inouye was one of the greats. He will be missed.
I'm a Republican-Libertarian. Have never voted for a Democrat for national office. This man is a hero. He won the Medal of Honor and lost a limb serving our country. Many people are very sharp into old age. We need good ideas --- not new ideas. Have you people (some of you) no respect, no decency? May he rest in peace and be remembered as a man of conscience and a man of character.
and i was forced to retire at 66...
Am i the only one that sees an issue with an 88 year old human being in the legislature?
its called TERM LIMITS. If you dont think 51 years is too long for people to be in these positions you need to check yourself into a mental ward immediately.
This is exactly what is wrong with this country.
"its called TERM LIMITS."
Its called Federal Law, if you wish to change it petition your legislator to do so.
"Am i the only one that sees an issue with an 88 year old human being in the legislature?"
My personal opinion is not age driven, but issue and record driven.
"This is exactly what is wrong with this country."
This country has a multitude of problems yet I challenge you to find one derived from Senator Inouye`s service. Go rush a few Taliban MG positions, get your arm shot off, get elected and serve as a US Senator for 30 years without scandal, rancor or regret.
Then we`ll talk about your comments in a more well, educated perspective?
Thanks.
Youre right, the country is in the toilet, there is no reason to hold ac@!$%#able anyone in the legislature.
You dont have to defend him just for being a democrat, if he's so wonderful he'd have fought to change many laws that have put us where we are, he didnit, he did nothing and fatten his own wallet like every politician.
Keep defedning the useless and never hold any accounatble, the liberal way.
phill, always nice to see that libs will defend democrats at all costs, no what matter what.
Should i have just said "baaabaaa" so you could understand it?
Its amazing how no libs see the problem witht erm limits so they cna just keep blindly votng for the same people oevr and oevr without thinking.
We already have term limits. We call them elections. If his constituents, young and old, felt he should no longer be there, they could have voted him out.
It's hard to vote Santa Claus out of office.
These career politicians buy votes with tax dollars and get re-elected.
Trudat6445, You may have a point. Boner would not be in congress obstructing every good bill. Hey cons just what is wrong with the violence against women act?
Its redundant.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Family and Friends of Mr. Inouye, R.I.P. Sir
A great man from the Old Democratic party. We will miss this vanishing realism from a great patriot.
Another Stumbling Block Liberal Gone! Thank GOD! One By One-Until They're ALL Gone!
watch your karma with those words.
Alan - do you have any respect for the departed? Are you a total jerk? Bow your head and say a prayer for a fellow human who has just died. Shame on you!
Alvan, in your dreams. The reality is obstuctionist looney right wingnuts are going the way of the doedoe.
Doedoe? LOL. What the heck is that? An extinct species of deer?
Alan - I have A hunch that Stumbling Liberal likely did more for this nation in one day of his lief than most of you ditto-heads will do in your entire life.
So Chuck - what are your great contributions to society?
He was a war hero, a respected senator and a fine American. It is a shame that the social media allows people who have done nothing for the country to criticize him but it does show their mentality. They think because they pay taxes (which everyone in the world does) they are great Americans. Of course, they bitch about even doing that. Ridiculous.
So are you one of the elite few who enjoy having your congressman P!$$ away your hard-earned money or are you one of those that don't feel it necessary to pay taxes?
I'll agree with you there. Our congress is ridiculous - it doesn't matter which party you slant toward.
Thank you for all you have sacrificed to our great country! We will indeed miss you! Dan, you ARE one fine American!!!
R.I.P.
Good man, good soldier..... But if anyone thinks he was effective at 88.... I got some ocean front property in Arizona for you.
It isn't that difficult for a Democrat Senator to pass judgement on a Republican President. Maybe a better example of his morality would be him doing the right thing when it involved going against his party, not just doing the right thing when it happened to help his party.
RIP Senator. You served your country well in WWII and Congress. We will miss you. Aloha
But senator you could have served the ENTIRE country well by reading the ENTIRE Obama Care bill BEFORE voting on it and speaking out loud and clear that all must read all bills BEFORE voting on them. YOU could have insisted that all federal employees and all members of Congress be subjected to Obama Care as equally as all Americans. As a senior member of Congress you could have authored a bill and got it passed that Congress shall pass NO bill that Congress and the Presidential administration are not equally subject to as all the other Americans.
That is serving you country well.
Coco, he was known as one of the few congress people who read the entire Obama Care bill. Granted, you may have not have agreed with his decision based on what he read but a lot of people did not agree with George W Bush when he invaded Iraq with the information he was given.
Leave it to Biden to once again say something stupid. This man was classy enough he wouldn't "pass judgement" on anyone.
Farewell to a great American. His was a life well-lived, and I salute him.
Born from Dust , and back to dust! Rest in peace you Fu***** Crook, old fart!
mariondanna - You of no respect. May people say the same of you when you die. Shame on you.
So sad that articles like this about a great american bring just a few readers and comments, but if Lindsey Lohan gets a speeding ticket there will be 2,000 comments.
And then of those few comments you have the right wing robots who type the same unintelligent gibberish about liberals this, liberals that, blah, blah, etc. etc. Give it a rest people, you really need to learn to think for yourself someday.
And this is not conservative bashing, it is low I.Q. bashing!!
1 liberal down ! TG
love texas....i'm not a liberal but your comment is revolting. to say that about a man who fought for your freedoms in ww2 with valor really shows how stupid you must be. please go crawl back into your mommies womb and stay there moron.a-holes like you are the ones who give texas a bad name.
Celebrating the death of a man because you don't like his politics! It's not just congress that's messed up is it?
R.I.P. sir. he was truly a great american and a medal of honor receipient for his heroism in ww2. he was one of the few in congress who served his country instead of the country serving them.
He was a great man and was a Senator back when they had honor and integrity. He was also a recipient of the American Medal Of Honor. He lost an arm in combat and was credited with saving other American lives. God Bless Him and may he rest in peace. No I am not a democrat but when a great man dies we should all honor him!
If You are really a Texan, Love TEXAS, You are a fool. Daniel Inouye was a great man. Do You even know anyone who has been awarded a MEDAL of HONOR. True Americans will miss this senator as much as I do. Salute to a great man.
RIP Senator Inouye. This man will be missed greatly, not only for his service in the Senate, but for the sacrifice he made for this country in World War II.