[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS MEMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL PRESS GALLERY

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask all Members of the Senate to join 
me in congratulating Sarah McClendon on this, her 50th anniversary as a 
member of the congressional press gallery. A native of Tyler, TX, Sarah 
McClendon worked as a reporter for a number of newspapers in Texas and 
other States.
  In 1946, she founded the McClendon News Service, which serves 
newspapers throughout Texas. She has been the recipient of numerous 
awards, far too many to mention at this time. It is no exaggeration to 
say that in our Nation's Capital, Sarah McClendon is an institution. 
Her spirited questioning of Presidents and legislators is legendary. I 
have enjoyed my own many encounters with Sarah at dugout here in the 
Senate, after conferences, at news conference, and whenever we have 
happened to meet.
  As everyone in Washington knows, Sarah McClendon has an uncanny 
ability for getting one's attention and getting answers to her 
questions.
  I know all my Senate colleagues join me in commending Sarah McClendon 
on this, the anniversary of her first 50 years of reporting.
  Mr. DOLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Republican leader.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, let me join in the remarks of the 
distinguished majority leader, in paying tribute to Sarah McClendon on 
50 years of membership in the Senate press gallery. I just had an 
opportunity to go up and visit with Sarah, who, today, is being honored 
by many of her friends and admirers.
  In an extraordinary career spanning more than half a century, Sarah 
has covered every President since F.D.R., as well as Capitol Hill, the 
State Department, and just about every agency and every big story in 
the Nation's Capital.
  As the majority leader indicates, she has the ability to get your 
attention. I have been trying to answer her questions for a long time; 
never got them right. I got the question right, but the answer was 
never right.
  Her presence at a press conference is unmistakable, and her 
provocative questions often unforgettable. No doubt about it, Sarah has 
given her readers--her people, as she calls them--a unique and probing 
perspective on their Government. She's kept an eagle eye on big 
Government, been the voice of the little guy, and never shortchanged 
her readers. ``When I see something wrong,'' Sarah once wrote, ``I 
don't just want to write about it; I want to try to fix it. The right 
question can do more than produce a news story. It can change 
Government policy--hopefully, for the better.'' No doubt about it, 
Sarah's asked a lot of right questions over the years, and as the New 
Republic once wrote, ``Sarah McClendon may have changed history.''
  She has performed an outstanding service, and she has many, many 
friends. In fact, we are all her friends on both sides of the aisle.
  This distinguished independent journalist from Tyler, TX, has earned 
her place in journalism history.
  We certainly want to congratulate her on 50 good years, as the 
majority leader indicated, and as many more as she wants to have.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senators now greet Sarah McClendon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  [Applause.]
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, if anybody in America thinks that this 
is going to do Senator Dole or me any good, wait until the next press 
conference we have.
  [Laughter.]

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