[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 98 (Friday, June 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7323-S7324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HATTIE CARAWAY PORTRAIT

 Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I wish to pay a special tribute to a 
very important figure in the State of Arkansas and in the U.S. Senate. 
This past Monday, many Arkansans, congressional staffers, members of 
the Arkansas State Society, representatives from the U.S. Senate and 
Capitol historical offices, and a few of my fellow colleagues gathered 
just outside this Chamber for a ceremony honoring this distinguished 
American. We gathered to unveil the newest portrait being added to the 
Senate art collection--a portrait of the first woman ever elected to 
the U.S. Senate.
  Mr. President, Hattie Caraway came to this distinguished body on 
November 13, 1931, following the death of her husband, Senator Thaddeus 
Caraway. A gubanatorial appointment and a special election allowed 
Senator Caraway to complete the remaining year of her husband's term. 
She then decided to do what no woman had done before her--win a seat in 
the U.S. Senate in her own right.
  In the election year of 1932, Hattie Caraway, with the staunch 
support of Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana, made her bid to hold her 
seat in this body. Hattie Caraway and Huey Long traveled across the 
State of Arkansas winning support and winning votes. This fascinating 
team spoke in over 35 communities during the first week of August 1931. 
Hattie Caraway won that election and became the first woman popularly 
elected to the U.S. Senate.
  Mr. President, Senator Caraway, at first, spoke so infrequently that 
she became know as Silent Hattie. As she grew more accustomed to her 
new role, she emerged as a strong supporter of the New Deal 
legislation. She even had the honor of seconding the nomination of 
President Franklin Roosevelt at the 1936 Democratic National 
Convention. Hattie Caraway also served as the first woman to preside 
over the Senate--May 9, 1932--and the first to chair a Senate 
committee. Silent Hattie emerged as a respected and honored Member of 
this body.
  Senator Caraway was re-elected in 1938 and went on to champion 
legislation important in the history of our country--most notably, she 
cosponsored the equal rights amendment in 1943. She served until the 
Democratic primary of 1944, when she was defeated by another political 
hero from Arkansas, J. William Fulbright, thus ending a historical 
career in the Senate.
  Mr. President, Hattie Caraway has her place in history, and now she 
has

[[Page S7324]]

her place in the U.S. Capitol. She watches over the main Senate 
hallway, just outside these doors. This portrait shows Senator Caraway 
dressed in her customary color of black, a sign of mourning for her 
husband. She is pictured in front of a map of the great State of 
Arkansas. The portrait is hung across from Senator Joe T. Robinson--a 
fellow Arkansan.
  It has been my pleasure, Mr. President, to have the opportunity to 
help in the completion of this project. My good friend and colleague, 
Senator Bumpers, along with his wife, Betty, as well as my wife, 
Barbara, who were both honorary cochairs, have all been involved in the 
selection of the Hattie Caraway Portrait Committee and completion of 
the portrait project. Senator Bumpers and I were proud to appoint Mary 
Ellen Jesson of Fort Smith to chair the committee, which was made up of 
many fine and outstanding Arkansans, including Diane Alderson, Diane 
Blair, Cassie Brothers, the Honorable Irma Hunter Brown, Meredith 
Catlett, Gwen Cupp, Ann Dawson, Dorine Deacon, Mimi Dortch, Jacqueline 
Douglas, Lib Dunklin, Judy Gaddy, Jane Huffman, Dr. Charlotte Jones, 
Chloe Kirksey, Karen Lackey, Bev Lindsey, Donna Kay Matteson, Susan 
Mayes, Clarice Miller, Betty Mitchell, Julia Mobley, Nancy Monroe, 
Sylvia Prewitt, Billie Rutherford, Irene Samuel, and Helen Walton.
  Mr. President, I would like to thank the Senate Commission on Art, in 
particular Kelly Johnston, who serves as both the executive secretary 
of this commission and as Secretary of the Senate, Howard Greene, the 
Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Diane Skvarla, Senate Curator, for all of 
their hard work and advice that they so freely gave. I would also like 
to acknowledge Melinda Smith, Senate Registrar, Dick Baker, Senate 
Historian, and Jo Quatannens, Assistant Senate Historian for their 
dedication to this project.
  J.O. Buckley, an artist from Little Rock, was chosen by the members 
of the U.S. Senate Commission on Art to paint the portrait of Senator 
Caraway. He was chosen, Mr. President, from a group of outstanding 
Arkansas artists to add this piece of history to the U.S. Capitol. We 
are so pleased with the results and congratulate J.O. Buckley on his 
marvelous work.
  We gathered here Monday night and had the privilege of hearing Prof. 
Diane Blair and Dr. David Malone praise the outstanding career of 
Senator Caraway. We also had the privilege to be joined by my 
distinguished colleagues Senator Strom Thurmond and Senator Nancy 
Kassebaum, both of whom spoke about Hattie's historical and 
inspirational presence in this body.
  Mr. President, I, as an American, an Arkansan, and a U.S. Senator, am 
proud to stand here today to pay tribute to Hattie Caraway--a woman 
dedicated to serving the citizens of my home State and this great 
country of ours.

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