Eighty years ago, those who were part of America's "Greatest Generation" were beginning to define events that would prove to be some of the country's finest moments. In stark contrast, Germany was entering its darkest period.

The two countries powered ahead on a collision course that would lead to vastly different fortunes for its people, notes Torkel S Wächter, the son of German-Jewish parents who uncovered fascinating family documents written during the ascendancy of Nazism in Europe.

On his website, www.onthisday80yearsago.com, he replays history in diary fashion with posts appearing on the anniversary of events 80 years ago in Germany. It's an artistic/literary project called "simulated real time," a way of commemorating history so that it's not forgotten, he says.

"These anniversaries make for an excellent study in contrast in history for the two countries," Wächter says; he cites the following examples:

• United States: Eighty years ago, the country was beginning a relationship with one of the most beloved presidents in U.S. history, Franklin D. Roosevelt. On May 7, the 32nd commander-in-chief outlined his economic plan, the New Deal, in one of his famous fireside chats.

• Germany: In stark contrast, just three days later in Germany, literature deemed "un-German" was destroyed in the infamous Nazi book burning. Earlier in 1933, Adolf Hitler had attained power, and on April 1, Jewish businesses were boycotted.

• Post-war legacy: While WWII was the beginning of the end for the Nazi party, the war marked the end of America's Great Depression. For the past 80 years, the United States has remained the preeminent world superpower. In contrast, the reconstruction of Germany after the war was a long process; 7.5 million - 11 percent - of Germans had been killed; the country's cities were largely destroyed; and agricultural production had declined by two-thirds. A psychological shame has hovered over Germans since the discovery of genocidal death camps.

"I used to hate Germany; while growing up, my father never discussed his German upbringing, even though he was obsessed with the country," says Wächter, who was raised in Sweden. "We were never allowed to talk about it because the pain from the past was still alive in him."

After his father died, Wächter finally opened the boxes he'd left behind. They were filled with diaries, letters, articles and other documents. From these, he wrote "The Investigation," which highlights questions about personal responsibility and evil during pre-war Nazi Germany.

These are lessons, he says, from which we can all learn today.

"It's much more difficult to hate something that you come to understand," he says. "I no longer hate Germany. I've realized that my father actually loved the country - he had a great upbringing there, and Jews in Germany had been a success story. But because of what occurred under Hitler, he felt such betrayal and pain, he could never bring himself to talk about it."

About Torkel S Wächter

Torkel S Wächter is the descendant of German-Jewish civil servants who suffered under the Nazi regime. His book, "The Investigation," outlines the experience as recorded by his paternal grandfather and father. He studied economic history, development theory and languages at the universities of Lund, Melbourne and Barcelona, as well as Jewish studies at Paideia, the European Institute for Jewish Studies, and architectural restoration at the Royal University College of Fine Arts in Stockholm. After a stint as a fashion model in Paris and Barcelona, Wächter trained as a diver in the Royal Swedish Navy and then went on to an aviation career. During the 1990s Wächter served as a first officer with Schandinavian Airlines. In 1997 Wächter published his first novel, "Samson," and in 1999 he published the first Swedish e-book. Wächter lives in Stockholm and Barcelona with his architect wife; together they have four children.

Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa

Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee

On the Nomination of

Jane Kelly, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Mr. President,

I rise today in support of the nomination of Jane Kelly to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eight Circuit.

The nominee before us today, Ms. Kelly, presently serves as an assistant public defender in the Federal Public Defender's office for the Northern District of Iowa in the Cedar Rapids office.

She is well regarded in my home state of Iowa and so I'm pleased to support Senator Harkin's recommendation that he made to the President and subsequently the President's nomination of Ms. Kelly.

She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Duke University in 1987.    After spending a few months in New Zealand as a Fulbright Scholar, she went on to Harvard Law School.  She graduated cum laude, earning her J.D. degree in 1991.

Upon graduation, she served as a law clerk - first for Judge Donald J. Porter, United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, then for Judge David R. Hansen of the Eighth Circuit.

Judge Hansen has sent us a letter in support for Ms. Kelly.  He was a person that I have suggested to Republican Presidents for both district judge and then for his long tenure on the Eighth Circuit.  He has been a friend of mine as well.  This is what now-retired Judge Hansen said in support of Ms. Kelly.   "She is a forthright woman of high integrity and honest character" and that she has an "exceptionally keen intellect".  Judge Hansen concludes that "she will be a welcomed addition to the Court if confirmed."   I would add that I have no doubt that she will be confirmed.

Beginning in 1994, she has served as an assistant federal public defender in the Northern District of Iowa in the Cedar Rapids office. She handles criminal matters for indigent defendants and has been responsible for trying a wide range of crimes.  She became the supervising attorney for the Cedar Rapids office in 1999.

Ms. Kelly is active in the bar and in district court matters.  She presently serves on the Criminal Justice Act Panel Selection Committee, the blue-ribbon panel for criminal cases, and the Facilities Security Committee of the district court.

In 2004, her peers honored her with the John Adams Award from the Iowa Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Drake University Law School.  She was unanimously chosen for this award, which recognizes individuals who show a commitment to the constitutional rights of criminal defense.

The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary gave her a Unanimous "Qualified" rating.

I congratulate Ms. Kelly on her accomplishments and wish her well in her new duties.  I am pleased to support her confirmation and urge my colleagues to join me.

Now I would like to spend a couple minutes to update my colleagues on the progress we are making with respect to judicial nominations.

With this confirmation, the Senate will have confirmed 185 judicial nominations to the District and Circuit Courts.  Only two of President Obama's nominees failed confirmation.

That's a record of 185 to 2.

As I stated last week, a .989 batting average is a record any President would be thrilled with.  Yet this President, without justification, complains about obstruction and delay.

Today's confirmation is the 14^th so far this year - including 5 circuit judges and 9 district judges.

Let me put that in perspective for my colleagues.  At this point in the second term of the Bush presidency, only one judicial nomination had been confirmed.   A comparative record of 14 - 1 is nothing to cry about.

As I said, this is the fifth nominee to be confirmed as a circuit judge this year, and the 35th overall.   Over 76 percent of his circuit nominees have been confirmed.  President Clinton ended up at 73 percent; President Bush at 71 percent.  So President Obama is doing better than the previous two Presidents.

So again, this President and Senate Democrats should have no complaints on the judicial confirmation process.  The fact of the matter is that President Obama is doing quite well.  I yield the floor.

Health, Technology, Innovation at Chicago Will Provide Lab and Office Space, Crucial Support to Drive Life Science Innovation and Job Creation

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by officials from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the Illinois Medical District (IMD) Commission to announce a $3.4 million, 12,000-square-foot lab and office space that will serve as a new hub for Chicago's flourishing bioscience industry. Part of the governor's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward, the Health, Technology, Innovation (HTI) at Chicago Technology Park will bring scientists, clinicians, engineers and industry together and create the nexus for an interdisciplinary approach to drug, diagnostic, medical device and information technology development. The announcement comes as Chicago hosts the BIO Conference, the largest biotech conference in the nation.

"Illinois' thriving, cutting edge life sciences sector creates jobs while improving people's lives," Governor Quinn said. "The HTI will drive further growth in the field, serving as a key resource for our medical science researchers and providing a new platform through which innovative ideas can be developed and introduced to the marketplace."

Strategically located within the Illinois Medical District near the campus of UIC's Medical School, the new facility is funded through a $1.7 million state capital investment that was matched by $1.7 million of UIC funds. It is expected to open this summer and will house both shared wet and dry laboratory space, in addition to co-working office space. The HTI will be anchored by a fully-equipped meeting and classroom with high-definition video conferencing, recording and streaming.

The facility will provide the infrastructure where technology development work can take place outside of academic labs, with support and access to professional services to assist in commercialization planning and venture formation guidance. Access to talent, industry networks and connections to capital sources will be a future offering.

With a community based approach, HTI will serve University faculty, staff and students, Chicago area research institutions as well as the broader entrepreneurial community as a nexus of biotechnology commercialization. Laboratory and office space will be ready for occupancy in summer 2013.

HTI is an outgrowth of the Illinois Innovation Council which was created by Governor Quinn in February 2011 to identify and advance strategies that accelerate innovation, economic growth, and job creation. 

"Biotechnology start-ups have an often complicated road through development," University of Illinois President Robert Easter said. "With a fresh approach to incubating promising technologies, HTI will provide a foundation that aligns technology and market feasibility early on, even before companies are formed. Our aim is to produce not only more start-ups but more viable start-ups - companies that will advance both health care and economic development."

"IMD is very pleased to be able to work with our partners to deliver on Governor Quinn's vision of harnessing the brainpower of our researchers to advance medical science and create jobs," IMD Director Warren Ribley said. "The HTI will provide both a physical space and support services that will validate technology, convert innovation into products, and accelerate projects to venture readiness."

"Life science start-ups have unique challenges, including the need for major capital and long development lifecycles," Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Adam Pollet said. "We hope to create a platform that lowers barriers, addresses early stage risk and provides access to resources."

Governor Quinn announced earlier this week that a new independent study by Ernst & Young LLP ranked Illinois at the top of the nation's biotechnology industry, and the state is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience hub in the United States. The report, "The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois," shows the Midwest Super Cluster, which includes Illinois and the surrounding eight-state region, surpasses California and the East Coast in biotechnology-related employment, number of establishments and research and development expenditures.

According to the new report, within the Midwest Super Cluster there are more than 16,800 biotechnology establishments employing more than 377,900 people. In addition, the overall economic output of Illinois' biotechnology industry is more than $98.6 billion, accounting for 81,000 direct jobs and more than 3,500 biotechnology companies in the state.

The full report may be viewed at ibio.org/illinoisbiotechreport.

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From now through Sunday, May 12, your readers can donate $1 at their local Hardee's to help assist military families and communities - and receive more than $10 worth of restaurant coupons in return for their generosity. In addition, those who donate will receive a patriotic, Stars for Heroes' star cut-out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant. Additionally, supporters can donate online via the Stars for Heroes Facebook page.

Since the program's inaugural campaign in 2011, Stars for Heroes has raised more than $1.75 million to support more than 40 military charities, including prior national beneficiaries USA Cares, Homes for Our Troops and The Mission Continues, as well as many local and regional charitable organizations.

More information on the Stars for Heroes program and the charities that will benefit, including logos and video, is available here.