[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                              JIM WHITMIRE

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, we are all proud of our staffs, and with 
good reason. No institution attracts people with more drive, intellect, 
or concern for the common good than the U.S. Congress. While it is the 
way of Washington that we see talent constantly come and go, I have 
been lucky to enjoy for 8 years the work of Jim Whitmire, a staffer who 
has simply exceeded in every way the high standards we expect.
  Nominally, Jim was a writer but that does not begin to describe his 
portfolio. He was so good that I was reminded of the Will Rogers story 
about driving to Europe. Will Rogers said that was easy to work out, 
just drain the ocean and build a bridge. When asked how to do that, he 
said I'm just an idea man, you all work out the details. Jim Whitmire 
was the guy who would work out the details.
  First and foremost, Jim pulled the details together in brilliant 
prose. It is said that one sees with the mind, and not the eye, and his 
mind was always presenting a brighter, sharper picture of the public 
interest and the political fray. He was a relentless, vigorous 
intellectual force, who presented his case with elegance. While some 
offices have a litmus test, we had a Whitmire test--if it was good 
enough for Jim, it was good enough for us. This elegant excellence is 
his gift that I will sorely miss.
  While he carried a big pen, he spoke softly. He was an example and 
mentor to other staff. In a bustling office, he lent his help to others 
with no concern for who got the credit. And I knew that any new, young 
staffer sitting next to Jim would not only learn good work habits, but 
also have his horizons expanded by the enormous breadth and depth of 
Jim's intellect and experience. Just as importantly, Jim was a 
workhorse. No job was too big or too small for him, and when he took an 
assignment, it was considered done and done well. In all these things, 
Jim obviously made the people around him better--a fitting legacy for a 
former teacher and father of two adopted children who has spent his 
professional life in public service.
  Mr. President, Jim Whitmire helped me and I hope I helped him. 
Appropriately, he has gone to carry on his good work at the National 
Education Association where he will no doubt provide the energy and 
intellect that was so valued in my office. I wish Jim, his wife, 
Shelley, and his children well.

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