Pelosi Statement on Death of Former Congressman Thomas Foglietta

Friday, November 19, 2004
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi made the following statement on the House floor today in honor of former Congressman Thomas M. Foglietta of Pennsylvania, who died on Nov. 13:

"Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to pay tribute to a former Member of this body, Tom Foglietta, who passed away suddenly. Tommy was a gentleman, a diplomat, and a lovely and gracious man.  We will miss him terribly.

"At age 26, Tom Foglietta, as a Republican, became the youngest person in the history of Philadelphia to be elected to the city council. He served there for nearly 20 years, devoted to the city he loved.  In 1980, Tom was elected to the Congress. I saw firsthand his values and his effectiveness as a member of the Committee on Appropriations where we developed a strong working relationship and a close friendship and took pride in our mutual respect for our Italian American heritage.

"Tommy headed the Congressional Urban Caucus, promoted mass transit, and fought valiantly for the needs of Philadelphia, including the preservation of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  The entire country is in his debt for his relentless dedication to preserve and protect Philadelphia's Independence Hall, one of our nation's sacred public places.

"In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Tom Foglietta to be the U.S. Ambassador to Italy, fulfilling a lifetime dream of his to serve his beloved America in his family's ancestral home.  Many of us heard him say over and over again that his grandparents came down the hill on a donkey in Italy to leave to go to America and he returned just two generations later as a U.S. Ambassador to Italy.  It was in that role, in one simple act, that the world came to love and appreciate Tommy as we do.

"Shortly after he arrived, a U.S. Marine fighter plane flying off course struck a cable car wire and killed 20 Italian skiers. There was great grief and outrage over this tragic event. The next day Tommy visited the site, knelt in the cold snow, and said a quiet heartfelt prayer for those who had lost their lives. That photograph of his prayer appeared in newspapers around the world presenting a human face of compassion for the United States. His act helped to defuse the public anger over the deaths and to convey the sincere apology of our country. Tommy did that spontaneously because he was a man of faith.

"We expected no less of our Tommy. Quite simply, he was a good man we all loved to be around.

"Tom Foglietta began his political career as a city councilman as a Republican, as I mentioned. He later ran for Congress and won as an Independent and then became a Democrat and remained so for the rest of his life.  But Tommy remained close to the people from all across the political spectrum, a testament to his appealing personality, his open mind, and his respect to each and every person in this body.

Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for many here when I extend the condolences to Tommy's family and to the Pennsylvania delegation for this loss."

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi