[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                STAFF TRIBUTE TO SENATOR CLAIBORNE PELL

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is my very great privilege to honor a 
request from Senator Claiborne Pell's staff to read a letter they have 
written to him, which will come as a great surprise to him. It is the 
following:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                Washington DC, September 30, 1996.
     Hon. Claiborne Pell,
     Russell Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Pell: As your current Washington and Rhode 
     Island staff--representing a collective total of 394 years of 
     service--we want to let you know of our great esteem for you.
       Each of us has developed our own relationship with you over 
     the years; many of us know you very well. We all have 
     tremendous affection and admiration for you. We admire you 
     for your integrity and conscience, compassion and 
     understanding, and for your devotion to Rhode Island and your 
     constituents. You have been an exceptional and devoted public 
     servant for 36 years, and in that, a constant example to all 
     of us who served your cause.
       You have always extended to each of us the greatest measure 
     of respect, courtesy, and kindness. You have been sensitive 
     and caring when we had personal problems or tragedies, and 
     you have joined us in celebrating the good things that have 
     happened in our lives. Even in the fast-paced, high pressure 
     world of Capitol Hill, you never failed to say ``please'' or 
     ``thank you'' and always had a word of praise for a job well 
     done. Few, if any, of us have ever seen you lose your temper; 
     most of us don't think you have one.
       Those of us who have traveled around Rhode Island, and 
     indeed the world, with you or on your behalf continue to be 
     proud, though not surprised, at the love, affection, trust, 
     and approval that greets you. But your overwhelming 
     popularity should not be misconstrued as a failure to take 
     unpopular positions; to the contrary, you have often cast 
     votes which find you in the smallest minority, allowing your 
     conscience and good judgment to be your guide. You were able 
     to do this and not only survive politically, but thrive 
     politically, because you are a leader, and the people of 
     Rhode Island knew that you would lead, even if others were 
     slow to follow.
       Since your retirement announcement last fall, we have been 
     touched, pleased, and proud of the many tributes of your 
     colleagues and friends. In particular, there have been 
     bipartisan accolades about your ``civility'' toward other 
     Members, even in the heat of debate. We whole-heartedly agree 
     with this assessment because we know your civility is 
     universal. We know that what your colleagues know and what 
     the world has seen is what we have experienced privately. For 
     that we are deeply grateful.
       We wish you a long, happy, and healthy retirement, filled 
     with the love and laughter of your wonderful family. We thank 
     you for your trust, loyalty, and affection over the years, 
     and we look forward to staying in close touch in the years to 
     come.

       Bill Ashworth, 1972-79; 1981-96.
       Joanne Berry, 1994-1996.
       Claire Birkmaier, 1964-1996.
       Bill Bryant, 1977-1996.
       Susan Cameron, 1984-1996.
       Suellen Carroll, 1992-1996.
       Bonnie Coe, 1994-1996.
       Jack Cummings, 1976-1996.
       Jan Demers, 1972-1996.
       Filomena Dutra, 1990-1996.
       Jennifer Eason, 1995-1996.
       David Evans, 1978-1996.
       Jay Ghazal, 1985-1996.
       Steve Grand, 1996.
       Lauren Gross, 1987-1996.
       Ed Hall, 1975-78; 1991-96.
       Rosanne Haroian, 1989-1996.
       Margaret Huang, 1995-1996.
       Tom Hughes, 1971-1996.
       Jane Jellison, 1979-1996.
       Steve Keenan, 1995-1996.
       Vanessa Lisi, 1995-1996.
       Irene Maciel, 1988-1996.
       Larry Massen, 1990-1996.
       Ursula McMan, 1990-1996.
       Paula Mollo, 1989-1996.
       Carmel Motherway, 1995-1996.
       Janice O'Connell, 1977-1996.
       Diana Ohlbaum, 1993-1996.
       Ken Payne, 1988-1996.
       Orlando Potter, 1963-68; 1983-96.
       Dawn Ratliff, 1992-1996.
       Dennis Riley, 1973-1996.
       Colleen Sands, 1995-1996.
       Kristen Silvia, 1995-1996.
       Dana Slabodkin, 1995-1996.
       Nancy Stetson, 1981-1996.
       Kathi Taylor, 1977-1996.
       Rick Van Ausdall, 1995-1996.
       Pamela Walker, 1995-1996.
       Kevin Wilson, 1985-1996.

  Mr. President, I join--I think all of us do--in that remarkable 
tribute, and I think if all of us had a similar comment from those who 
worked for us in the Senate over the years, we would be very fortunate, 
indeed.
  Mr. PELL. I thank my colleague from the bottom of my heart. Thank 
you.
  Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, it is a very fitting tribute to Senator 
Pell. Those of us who have worked with him and staff know the great 
relationship that exists between the Senator and his staff. I think it 
is a wonderful thing for staff to take the opportunity to have a 
statement read like that on the Senate floor.

                          ____________________