[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 19558] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN F. SEIBERLING ______ HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH of ohio in the house of representatives Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I wish to honor the life and legacy of Congressman Seiberling, an eight-term Congressman from Akron, Ohio. John Seiberling won Ohio's 14th Congressional District in 1970. He ran for Congress because of his strong opposition to the Vietnam War and a belief that the system could be made to work in favor of a more livable world, a peaceful world. His desire for peace was his primary reason for running. In a speech at the University of Akron on May 6, 1970, just two days after the tragic shootings at Kent State University John Seiberling said that ``the system can be made to work . . . 25 years ago I never thought that a peace candidate would win a congressional election in this district, even a primary election, in which the principal issue is the cause of peace.'' He went on to speak about the importance of Gandhi's accomplishments in India; how Gandhi used non-cooperation to bring his cause to the attention of the world and non-violence to win the hearts of his enemies. During his time in Congress he had many major accomplishments. Among them was the creation of Ohio's first national park, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and his coauthorship of the War Powers Act. He was elected to and served as Chairman of the Members of Congress for Peace Through Law Caucus. It is reported that he opened his office to Vietnam veterans protesting against the war by allowing them to sleep there. He was committed to a world that resolved conflict through peaceful means. And as such, throughout his 16 years in the House he prioritized disarmament. When he announced his retirement in 1986 he reportedly told the Plain Dealer newspaper that it was the job of Congress to ``maintain a livable world, free of nuclear disaster, a world that we have not polluted to the point where we can't breathe and where we preserve some natural beauty so that we can have the solace and the experience of being out in God's world.'' Following his retirement he dedicated himself to teaching law at the University of Akron and for a number of years was the head of the university's Center for Peace Studies. Since his passing on August 2, 2008 he has been sorely missed and will be missed well into the future. ____________________