[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1268-S1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO JAMES T. FLEMING
  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, many of you may have heard that James T. 
Fleming, a longtime administrative assistant to Senator Wendell Ford 
passed away recently.
  I had the opportunity to get to know Jim quite well after coming to 
the Senate. Because of his vast knowledge of the political field, many 
looked up to Jim and looked to him for advice on a host of issues. His 
boss stated Jim was ``one of the smartest people [he'd] ever known.'' 
It is no wonder he achieved a great deal of success over his lifetime.
  [[Page S1269]] Jim's career began after graduating from Centre 
College. After graduating, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Navy 
and served in the Pacific during World War II.
  Jim then went on to get his master's in political science at the 
University of Kentucky. It was there that he developed his love for 
politics.
  His political career got off to a start upon joining the legislative 
research commission staff in 1944. He later became the Kentucky General 
Assembly's top administrator and director from 1963 to 1972.
  Jim served as staff director in the 1960's for Gov. Edward T. ``Ned'' 
Breathit. I believe this is worth mentioning since it was around this 
time the Governor tried to revise the State's constitution. Jim was one 
of the masterminds behind the project.
  Just a few years later, Jim devised a plan on which the modern 
general assembly is based.
  In 1973, Jim was in charge of reorganizing the executive branch of 
government. This is a noteworthy because it was the first time such an 
attempt had been made since 1936.
  When Wendell Ford won a Senate seat in 1974, Jim followed him to 
Washington as his administrative assistant. Here, he planned and 
coordinated Senator Ford's legislative staff. The issues he focused on 
most while an AA were those involving energy and coal.
  Up until his last days, he was an adviser to Senator Ford.
  The Nation and our friend Senator Ford lost a very respected and 
intelligent man when James passed away.
  My deepest condolences go to Jim's son Michael Fleming, and daughter, 
Dr. Barbara Fleming Phillips.


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