Brown's friends,
family stunned by
plane crash newsApril 3, 1996
Web posted at: 4:55 p.m. EST (2140 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. diplomats reacted with deep sadness and shock to news of Wednesday's plane crash involving Commerce Secretary Ron Brown.
President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton left the White House to comfort the Brown family as they awaited more information. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts; U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor; and other officials also converged on the Brown home.
"At this point, we need to all turn to each other with deep and abiding faith, and pray and see what the end is going to be."
-- Jesse Jackson
Earlier in the day, Jesse Jackson, a longtime friend of Brown, said the news had left him "traumatized and a bit disoriented."
"At this point, we need to all turn to each other with deep and abiding faith, and pray and see what the end is going to be," Jackson said.
"If the worst scenario materializes," people should never forget the great strides that Brown took for his country, he said. "He was in full stride, traveling across the world connecting people and building a communications network for economic growth, which he thought was hope for the country."
A Commerce Department employee expressed similar praises for Brown, describing him as "the best secretary of commerce anyone could ever ask for." (204K AIFF sound or 204K WAV sound)
Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, also was distraught.
"Brown is a friend as well as his family, and my prayers will be with them," she said.
Ron Brown's son, Michael Brown, issued a statement thanking everyone for their support.
"I want to thank everyone who has called in and who has faxed us," Michael Brown said. "I thank you very much for your well wishes. We're still very hopeful, but we are pessimistically optimistic." (204K AIFF sound or 204K WAV sound)
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