[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                THOMAS P. ``TIP'' O'NEILL, JR., HONORED

                                 ______


                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 23, 1994

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute 
to Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives from 
1977 to 1987.
  In 1977 when Tip O'Neill was elected to the position of Speaker, I 
was a staffer with the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 
Having come shortly after the watershed year of 1974 and the post-
Watergate elections, it was time for a change in the congressional 
leadership, and Tip O'Neill was a new kind of leader. Less autocratic 
than the previous Speakers, his manner was well suited to the House of 
Representatives at that time, and remains so today.
  Speaker O'Neill's style of leadership was one of personal contact, 
and in that vein he spent a considerable amount of his time talking to 
his colleagues. His door was routinely open to the other Members of the 
House of Representatives, and the Members used the opportunity 
presented to them. This was also true for his work in his congressional 
district.
  The stories of his local upbringing and his never forgetting his 
roots are legendary, as is his quote ``all politics are local.'' His 
willingness to hold open sessions in his district office, even when he 
was Speaker, is commendable, and points out that he practiced what he 
preached--most of the time.
  I am reminded of the story he told that when campaigning for 
reelection he frequently saw and remembered a lady over a 20-year 
period. Each time he would greet her, always assuming she had voted for 
him in the past and that she would vote for him at the next election. 
It was only after doing this for 20 years that it came up in 
conversation that, in fact, she had not voted for him all those years. 
When asked why she had not, she responded that candidate O'Neill never 
asked her to.
  Speaker O'Neill said this incident reminded him again that ``all 
politics are local.'' Despite constant repetitions of this political 
truism, even a consummate politician and creator of the phrase needed 
an occasional reminder as to its ramifications. That is a lesson we can 
all take to heart, and with today's computerized voting records and 
increased public disclosure of the operations of government, the lesson 
is even more relevant today than it was in the past.
  Mr. Speaker, Speaker O'Neill's reputation has spread much farther 
than many of us would think. I recently received a copy of a resolution 
passed by the Legislature of American Samoa, paying tribute to the 
accomplishments and public service of Tip O'Neill, and I request the 
resolution be included with my statement today.

       The Twenty-Third Legislature, Third Regular Session, H.C.R. 
     No. 23-21.


                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

       A House concurrent resolution paying tribute to the 
     accomplishments and public service of the late Thomas P. 
     ``Tip'' O'Neill and conveying the condolences of the 
     Legislature and people of American Samoa to Mrs. O'Neill and 
     family.
       Whereas, the former democratic Speaker of the United States 
     House of Representatives, the Honorable Thomas P. ``Tip'' 
     O'Neill at the age of 81 passed away peacefully at Boston's 
     Brigham and Women's Hospital on January 5, 1994; and
       Whereas, the Honorable Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill devoted 
     many years of his life in the service of the people of the 
     United States, and served with honor and distinction; and
       Whereas, during his 34 years in the House, Thomas P. 
     ``Tip'' O'Neill served for an unequaled ten consecutive years 
     as Speaker; and
       Whereas, Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill in 17 House terms rose 
     to become the most powerful democrat in the country; and
       Whereas, Minority Leader Bob Dole characterizes Thomas P. 
     ``Tip'' O'Neill as ``* * * the model of what a Representative 
     and a leader of the American people should be'' and that ``he 
     will go down in history as one of the great political leaders 
     of our time''; and
       Whereas, a close friend of the former Speaker said that 
     ``when he would talk to an audience about seniors or about 
     the government's responsibility to help the less fortunate, 
     you could hear a pin drop. He captivated people, he moved 
     them, and he appealed to what's best in us.''; and
       Whereas, Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill honored American Samoa 
     with an official visit which is fondly remembered by the 
     people of American Samoa; and
       Whereas, Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill has rendered outstanding 
     service to the people of the United States through his many 
     years of community and public service; and
       Whereas, it is fitting and proper to commend and thank this 
     great person and pay tribute to his compassionate, generous 
     and highly skilled service to his people; and
       Whereas, Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill's passing away not only 
     is tragedy to Mrs. O'Neill and his family, but is a great 
     loss to the people of the United States and her territories: 
     now, therefore, be it:
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Territory 
     of American Samoa, the Senate Concurring: That, the 
     Legislature on its behalf and on behalf of the people of 
     American Samoa convey their deepest sympathies to the 
     bereaved family of Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill on the occasion 
     of his passing; and
       Be it further resolved, That Honorable Letuli Toloa, 
     President of the Senate, Honorable Savali Talavou S. Ale, 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and Honorable 
     Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, Representative to the U.S. Congress, 
     are respectfully requested to present this concurrent 
     resolution to Mrs. Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill, and to his 
     family at an appropriate occasion; and
       Be it further resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House 
     of Representatives is directed to transmit copies of this 
     concurrent resolution to: Honorable A.P. Lutali, Governor of 
     American Samoa, Honorable Faleomavagea Eni Hunkin, 
     Representatives to the U.S. Congress; and Honorable Thomas 
     Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, U.S. 
     Congress.
     Letuli Toloa,
                                          President of the Senate.
     Savali Talavou S. Ale,
                                             Speaker of the House.
  

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