[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN BELLA ABZUG

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 1998

  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I came to the floor bearing the 
unfortunate news that former Congresswoman Bella Abzug had died. I 
would now like to take this opportunity to say a few words about our 
colleague, who affected this House and this nation deeply.
  Bella Abzug was a woman ahead of her time. I am not the first to come 
to this conclusion, and I am certainly not the only person who will 
point out this fact as the world reflects on this loss. So perhaps it 
is fitting to go one step further, and say: Bella Abzug was not only a 
woman ahead of her time. She was a woman who ushered in a new time.
  I don't think it is unreasonable to say that Bella Abzug changed the 
way Americans think about female politicians, and for a very 
uncomplicated reason: she made us do so. She wasn't afraid to demand 
the respect she deserved, and I think maybe the perfect example of that 
comes from a story she told about why she started wearing her trademark 
hats.
  ``When I first became a lawyer,'' she said a few years ago, ``only 
about 2 percent of the Bar was women. People would always think I was a 
secretary. In those days, professional women in the business world wore 
hats. So I started wearing hats.'' And as we all know, she never 
stopped.
  But Bella Abzug didn't go into politics out of personal ambition. One 
of the fundamental things about her, maybe her defining element--
beneath the character, beneath the voice, beneath the hats--was her 
tireless social conscience. She had no time for typical politicians, 
and even less time for politics as usual. And not only was she driven 
to do the right thing, but she demanded the same of everyone she came 
in contact with.
  I remember that whenever I would talk to her, she would say to me, 
``Are you doing enough? Are you doing enough?'' And then, occasionally, 
almost begrudgingly, she would say, ``Well, you're doing okay.'' I 
would leave our conversation feeling as if I had received the greatest 
compliment one could ever receive.
  That is one of my memories of Bella, and I am sure many Members of 
Congress have others they would like to share. That is why we will be 
holding a Special Order following the upcoming district work period, 
where I invite our colleagues with memories to share to come forward, 
and to give to former Representative Azbug the tribute which is surely 
her due.
  Finally, regarding my colleague I can only conclude with this: when 
Bella Abzug left the House of Representatives, this chamber became a 
poorer place. Likewise, yesterday the world became a poorer place, 
though all of us are richer for having experienced Bella's presence.

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