[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4358-S4359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO JEFF GRIFFITH

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a tribute 
to Jeff Griffith, one of my former staffers who died recently here in 
Washington, DC be printed in the Record.
  Jeff was one of the original members of my Senate staff, and I was 
deeply saddened by his death. While I know his family, friends and 
former colleagues will miss him terribly, as I will, I hope we will 
also remember his many accomplishments, and his passion for justice.
  The tribute was offered on my behalf at the funeral service this past 
weekend.
  There being no objection, the tribute was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
                [[Page S4359]] Tribute to Jeff Griffith

       My name is Colin McGinnis, and I am a staffer for U.S. 
     Senator Paul Wellstone. I was a friend and colleague of 
     Jeff's. Paul was very sad that he wasn't able to be with 
     Jeff's family and friends here because of several 
     longstanding commitments in Minnesota, and has asked me to be 
     here to represent him and my Wellstone staff colleagues. Paul 
     asked me to read a message to you from him. He writes:
       ``While I cannot be with you today, I send my prayers and 
     my heartfelt sympathies to Jeff's family and friends. Jeff 
     was one of the first members of my Senate staff. I had known 
     him for several years, and had worked with him on the 
     Reverend Jesse Jackson's Presidential campaign and on the 
     Rainbow Coalition's other important work for justice, so I 
     knew that when the chance came to bring him on to my staff, I 
     should jump at the chance. I did.
       ``He was talented, energetic, and creative in his work, and 
     was admired and respected by his colleagues on staff, who 
     often came to him for advice. He was also a fierce advocate 
     for social justice.
       ``As one of my press assistants, Jeff did a wonderful job 
     under often difficult circumstances. During the sometimes 
     chaotic days of the Gulf War crisis, Jeff helped to establish 
     our press operation; no easy task. He was also instrumental 
     in the founding of my ``First Friday'' radio show. Thanks to 
     his hard work in laying its foundation, it has been very 
     successful. It still provides one of the most important ways 
     that I communicate directly with Minnesotans.
       ``It is not by chance that this was Jeff's idea. The direct 
     and participatory nature of this live radio program was a 
     hallmark of his style, which always sought to bring people, 
     real people, into the political process, and to make sure 
     they were heard, even above the din and background static 
     that often passes for political debate in our country.
       ``Jeff had a unique gift for hearing and amplifying the 
     voices of regular people, and lifting up those voices for 
     people in the wider community to hear.
       ``He knew instinctively that communication, if it is 
     authentic, is always two-way, that his job was not just to 
     sell my ideas and programs and policies to those whom I 
     represent, but also to make sure I heard what the people were 
     saying, to heed their voices and be accountable to them--
     especially those who are at society's margins. He never lost 
     sight of these people, and always struggled to do what he 
     could to bring them in toward the center. That was one of his 
     life's most important missions: to bring those at the margins 
     of our society back toward the center.
       ``As we celebrate Jeff's life and accomplishments today, 
     and mourn his death, my wife Sheila and I, and the members of 
     my staff, extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his 
     mother, Mrs. Ella Evans, his other family members, and to all 
     his many friends who cared so much for him. We will miss Jeff 
     very much, and keep you all in our prayers.''
       I'd like to add a short personal note to Paul's letter, 
     from my own experience working with Jeff. he was a strong, 
     thoughtful, decent man, a person of integrity, and real 
     commitment to people. He had a quiet grace and wisdom that 
     was often striking. And because he had lived through his own 
     struggles, he was always willing to listen to his friends and 
     colleagues, in our struggles. He'd packed a lot of living 
     into his young life, and was not unscarred by it. But that's 
     just the point.
       He knew suffering, and yet could look beyond it, redeem it, 
     and get others to do the same. He was a wounded healer. A 
     wounded healer whose life reminds us of how careful we must 
     be with one another. And this concern for people translated 
     from Jeff's personal life into his political life. In fact, 
     people were at the center of his vision.
       He was once asked, during a particularly stressful period, 
     why he had decided to work in the political arena, and why he 
     was willing to put up with all the long hours and struggles 
     and stress that sometimes accompanies political life.
       Without skipping a beat, he said simply, ``Because I build 
     bridges. And Lord knows we need bridges now.'' I will 
     remember him as a bridge-builder, with a warmth, generosity 
     of spirit, sense of humor and passion for justice that is 
     rare. I hope you will, too.
     

                          ____________________