[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CIVILITY DUE TO, AND FROM, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, as one of the three Members of Congress 
representing Fort Worth, TX, home of former Speaker Jim Wright, I rise 
to urge that Speaker Gingrich take down his own words.
  Last Friday, speaking to a Republican audience here in Washington, 
Speaker Gingrich referred to former Speaker Wright as a ``crook.'' In 
my opinion, such a comment does harm to the office of Speaker--both 
past and present.
  The truth of the matter is that former Speaker Wright served this 
body with dedication during his 34 years as a Member and 2\1/2\ years 
as Speaker.
  Contrary to the remarks made last Friday, Speaker Wright was never 
convicted of a crime nor was he even ever charged with a crime in 
court. Additionally, though ethics charges were lodged against him with 
the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, that committee 
never ruled against him on the merits of those charges.
  It is my opinion that the current Speaker, Mr. Gingrich, would serve 
both his own party and this House by desisting from making such 
references as he did when in the minority.
  The country expects a degree of civility from the presiding officer 
of this body.
  I, for one, have always respected the leaders of the opposition party 
even when I disagreed with them on the merits of an issue. It would 
serve the Nation if our Speaker would do the same.


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