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Dignitaries praise former Congressman John Dingell

Posted February 08, 2019 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

FILE - In this May 7, 2014 file photo, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File) The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - Reaction to the death of former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, the longest serving member of Congress in U.S. history, who died Thursday at age 92:

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of John David Dingell, Jr., former Michigan Congressman and longest-serving member of the United States Congress. Congressman Dingell died peacefully today (Thursday) at his home in Dearborn, surrounded by his wife Deborah. He was a lion of the United States Congress and a loving son, father, husband, grandfather, and friend. He will be remembered for his decades of public service to the people of Southeast Michigan, his razor sharp wit, and a lifetime of dedication to improving the lives of all who walk this earth." - Office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, wife of John Dingell

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"My heart is broken. My true love is gone. The tears are flowing pretty freely as I miss the man that made me whole. One can know it is coming, but nothing prepares you for the hole in your heart. He was my one and only true love. Know he loved every one of you, and was proud to call you friend." - U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, in a Facebook post Friday.

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"For nearly 60 years, John represented the people of Michigan with honor, integrity, great good humor, and an unequaled ability to get good legislation passed. There are few major legislative triumphs since 1955 that John didn't have a key hand in passing. ... His respect for his constituents, his colleagues of both parties, and the institutions of Congress are a valuable reminder today of what a noble calling public service can be. Hillary and I are grateful to have had the chance to work with him, to celebrate his becoming the longest-serving member of Congress in history, and most of all, to call him our friend." - Former President Bill Clinton

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"I was fortunate to speak to John Dingell this afternoon. I thanked him for his service to our country and for being an example to those who have followed him into the public arena. He was a fine gentleman who showed great respect for our country and her people. He represented his district with decency and honor. And Laura and I join the people of Michigan in sending our sympathies to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and their family." - Former President George W. Bush

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"John Dingell - the Dean of the House and my dear friend - was not merely a witness to history. He was a maker of it. His original family name, translated into Polish, meant 'blacksmith.' Nothing could be more fitting for a man who hammered out our nation's laws, forging a stronger union that could weather the challenges of the future. John Dingell loved Michigan. He understood the connection our people have to manufacturing, to agriculture, and to the land and the Great Lakes that support our Michigan way of life." - U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan

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"John Dingell's life reminds us that change does not always come with a flash, but instead with steady, determined effort. Over the course of the longest congressional career in history, John led the charge on so much of the progress we take for granted today ... Michelle and I send our deepest sympathies to Debbie, the entire Dingell family, and all the Michiganders and Americans whose lives are better because of his lifetime of service." - Former President Barack Obama

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"Today the great State of Michigan said farewell to one of our greatest leaders. John Dingell will forever be remembered as 'The Dean' of Congress not simply for the length of his service, but for his unparalleled record of legislative accomplishments. The Congressman's grit, humility and humor taught us all that we can disagree without being disagreeable, while still finding common ground and working together to get things done. The people of Michigan owe John Dingell ... We are a stronger, safer, healthier nation because of Congressman Dingell's 59 years of service, and his work will continue to improve the lives of Michiganders for generations to come." __ Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan

"Today, we have lost a beloved pillar of the Congress and one of the greatest legislators in American history. Every chapter of Chairman John Dingell's life has been lived in service to our country, from his time as a House Page, to his service in the Army during World War II, to his almost six decades serving the people of Michigan in the U.S. Congress. John Dingell leaves a towering legacy of unshakable strength, boundless energy and transformative leadership ... His memory will stand as an inspiration to all who worked with him or had the pleasure of knowing him. His leadership will endure in the lives of the millions of American families he touched." - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif

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"Chairman Dingell was a true statesman: he embodied the values, spirit and dedication that all public servants should aspire to have. He was a mentor to me and countless others who sought to give back to their communities. I will never forget his wise counsel as I learned my way around Congress. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Michigan

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"Our nation mourns the passing of a legend. As the longest-serving congressman in U.S. history, John represented the people of Michigan with high honor, great humor, and a bigger heart ... History will always remember John for his commitment and service to Michigan and his love for Debbie." - Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

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"... John Dingell was a giant, not only in the length of time he spent representing the best interests of his constituents, but in his advocacy for policies that improved the quality of life for many Americans. From Medicare and social security, advancing the idea of universal healthcare, to environmental protections and standing up for our autoworkers - the Dean stood up for the protection of the well-being of Americans. So many people have John Dingell to thank for providing an excellent example of public service, and we will miss him deeply." - Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan

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"John Dingell ... was and will remain the embodiment of what it means to be a Michigan Democrat: hard-working, selfless, and relentless in his pursuit to improve the lives of the everyday people who built our state and make it great ... His charm, wit, and devotion touched everyone who knew him, and his legacy will inspire millions more for generations to come. He will be incredibly missed, but John Dingell will never be forgotten." - Michigan Democratic Party, on behalf of MDP Chair Lavora Barnes

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"I am deeply saddened at the death of John Dingell. He will be remembered as of the greatest legislators in American history who never forgot about the people he served and the city of Detroit ... While it's hard to imagine a world without John Dingell, his legacy of working to improve people's lives will last forever." - Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan

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"I had the honor of serving alongside John Dingell in Congress and working with him from the Obama and Clinton White Houses. He never forgot where he came from, and always knew who he was there to speak for. John Dingell was the author of national health care, and through his tireless efforts he was able to see it become a reality. Our country owes him a deep debt of gratitude for a lifetime of selfless service." - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

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"For my 20 years as Chairman of Ford Motor Company, I considered John Dingell a friend and advisor. John was a larger-than-life legend whose presence will be deeply missed at Ford. Even on the most divisive issues at the most difficult of times, he was unwavering in his efforts to find common ground. He constantly reminded us as a company and as an industry that we either work together or we fail separately ... His passing is a reminder that we need more leaders who are willing to find compromise and bring people together for the greater good." -Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Co.

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"The entire Levin family joins with the fullest sorrow in marking the passing of John Dingell ... He was a giant who deeply believed in public service and was rewarded with the public's immense respect and gratitude. He was tough because he cared so deeply. His contributions to working families' economic well being, health care and environmental protection over more than half a century were unparalleled." - Former Congressman Sandy Levin, former U.S. Senator Carl Levin and Congressman Andy Levin

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"John Dingell's colleagues - and I was proud to be one of them - were always educated, inspired, and in fact awed by him. With John you always knew where you stood ... John was enormous in stature, integrity, and accomplishments. When he put his hand on your shoulder and spoke, you listened ... There is a reason why a Dingell has represented Southeast Michigan for some 86 years. Their constituents know they always put country over everything else. They have all been chiseled from the same block of gold." - Congressman Fred Upton, R-Michigan

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See AP's complete coverage of John Dingell here: https://apnews.com/JohnDingell

FILE - In this April 21, 2015 file photo, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell pushes the wheelchair of her husband, retired Congressman John Dingell after the funeral of Detroit-area businessman and philanthropist A. Alfred Taubman at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Mich. Former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (Todd McInturf/Detroit News via AP, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 29, 2015 file photo, former Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., speaks at an event marking the 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Michigan Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, has died. He was 92. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says her husband died at his Dearborn home on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this July 29, 2015 file photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., standing with former Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., holds up the gavel Dingell used 50 years ago when Medicare legislation was passed during an event marking the 50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2012 file photo, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., addresses supporters during the Michigan Democratic election night party at the MGM Grand Detroit. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2013 file photo, House Democrats, including Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., center, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history, make their way to the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi before a vote in Congress, at the Capitol in Washington. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. He was 92. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The Associated Press

FILE - In this June 2, 1977 file photo, President Jimmy Carter hosts a breakfast in the Family Dining Room of the White House in Washington for House Subcommittee members on Energy and Power. From left are Rep. John M. Murphy (D-N.Y.), Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), President Carter, Rep. Harley Staggers (D-W Va.), Rep. Andrew Maguire (D-N.J.), and Rep. Timothy Wirth (D-Colo.). Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Charles Harrity, File) The Associated Press

FILE- In a Feb. 4, 2009 file photo, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. poses for a photograph inside his office in House Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) The Associated Press

FILE- In this April 7, 1987 file photo, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., left, and John Dingell, D-Mich. hold a news conference at Capitol Hill, in Washington, to release a report on Alzheimers disease. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi, File) The Associated Press

FILE- In this Sept. 24, 2008 file photo, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., right, accompanied by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in American history who mastered legislative deal-making and was fiercely protective of Detroit's auto industry, has died at age 92. Dingell, who served in the U.S. House for 59 years before retiring in 2014, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at his home in Dearborn, said his wife, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File) The Associated Press

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