[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CHESTERFIELD SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 1997

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, this weekend is the 80th birthday of a U.S. 
institution, Chesterfield Smith. A celebration to take place in Tampa, 
FL will no doubt include most of the luminaries of the bar over the 
past half century. Most luminous among them will be the birthday boy.
  Chesterfield Smith is truly America's lawyer. Few can imagine--let 
alone accomplish--many of the things he has. He was one of the first to 
conceptualize the national law firm. He built one, Holland and Knight, 
which is a Florida-based powerhouse.
  He was also the first to conceptualize an activist agenda for the 
American Bar Association which he served as president in 1973, and for 
many years before and since. Then he accomplished it, and that 
institution was forever changed.
  His challenge to his, and my, profession has been to provide quality, 
affordable legal services for all persons in need. He has fought for 
funding for the Legal Services Corporation, but also for personal 
responsibility by individuals and law firms to fill in where Government 
funding has been lacking. He has always been a role model.
  Mr. Speaker, Chesterfield will tell you in his best Southern twang 
that he's ``just a country lawyer.'' He certainly is. And he's a lot of 
other things. Probably more than anyone else, Chesterfield Smith has 
changed the way law is practiced and the way the world's largest law 
advocacy organization operates. Not bad.
  And, Mr. Speaker, let's not speak in the past tense. As one who has 
collaborated with Chesterfield for more than a quarter century, I know 
how much he still can do. The next generation of lawyers needs him to 
conceptualize ever new forms of practice and advocacy.
  As one of Chesterfield's many, many fortunate friends and self-
appointed leader of his congressional fan club, I send warmest wishes 
to him, Jacqueline and his partners and colleagues on this very special 
milestone.




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