[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 626 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 626

         Honoring the life and accomplishments of Mary McGrory.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 5, 2004

  Ms. Slaughter (for herself, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Payne, Mr. 
    Meehan, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Levin, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Hastings of 
   Florida, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Stark, Mr. Abercrombie, Ms. 
Norton, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Markey, and 
 Mr. Kildee) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
         Honoring the life and accomplishments of Mary McGrory.

Whereas Mary McGrory was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts, on August 22, 1918;
Whereas Mary McGrory spent her entire life studying the classic poetry and 
        literature to which she was first introduced as a student at the Boston 
        Girls' Latin School;
Whereas Mary McGrory began her career in journalism writing book reviews for the 
        Washington Star;
Whereas Mary McGrory's coverage of the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954 received 
        national acclaim and earned her the reputation of a credible reporter;
Whereas her coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination was intimate 
        and comforting to a grieving Nation;
Whereas in 1975 Mary McGrory was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for 
        her coverage of Watergate;
Whereas Mary McGrory's commentary on the actions of the United States Government 
        was replete with keen observation, ruthless analysis, and the utmost 
        integrity;
Whereas her work ethic and her allegiance to ethical, relentless reporting only 
        grew stronger throughout her career;
Whereas, although her column was published in the Washington Post for more than 
        20 years, her loyalty, affection, and reverence for the Washington Star 
        never wavered;
Whereas for over 50 years she gave her time, energy, and love to the children of 
        St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in Hyattsville, Maryland, where Mary 
        McGrory was called Mary Gloria by students to whom her name proved too 
        difficult to pronounce;
Whereas Mary McGrory established a well-equipped classroom at St. Ann's known as 
        the ``Mary Gloria room'' and paid for tutors to help students who 
        required additional assistance with their studies;
Whereas well-known diplomats, politicians, members of the media, and other 
        members of the Lower Macomb Street Choral Society dined on her legendary 
        lasagna and sang her favorite Irish songs at her famous parties;
Whereas Mary McGrory was awarded the John Chancellor Award for Excellence in 
        Journalism in March 2003;
Whereas the American Ireland Fund honored Mary McGrory in March 2004 with the 
        Humanitarian Award in recognition of her renowned writing career and 
        gallant reporting of injustice;
Whereas, in Mary McGrory's words, ``Newspapering is not just the most important 
        thing, it is the only thing'';
Whereas Mary McGrory's career earned her the title of ``first lady of 
        journalism'';
Whereas Mary McGrory has been described as ``a writer of lasting influence, 
        exquisite technique, liberal convictions, a contempt for phonies, and a 
        love of orphans and delphiniums''; and
Whereas Mary McGrory will be remembered for her command of language, her 
        reverence for reporting, her intrinsic compassion, and her merciless 
        wit: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life and 
accomplishments of Mary McGrory.
                                 <all>