[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1193-E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BILL EMERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 22, 1998

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of U.S. Representative Bill Emerson. On this, the second anniversary of 
Bill's passing, I thought that I would share with all of you the story 
of ``Billy'' Emerson. I recently wrote the following as my weekly 
column so that I could share these very special memories with some of 
Bill's closest friends and most trusted advisors--the people of the 
Eighth Congressional District of Missouri.
  Graduation Day for our Congressional Pages was just a couple of weeks 
ago. As we said our fond farewells to those high school juniors who 
have worked long and hard in the House of Representatives since August 
1997, it got me thinking about some of the wonderful stories Bill used 
to tell when he was a Page back in the 83rd Congress. As many of you 
know, Bill's first interest in having a career in government came as a 
result of his experience as a Page, and it was this knowledge and love 
for the Congress that made him such a valuable part of the institution.
  I'd like to share with you the ``Billy'' Emerson story--the story of 
how Bill became a Page in the first place.
  Bill's Grandpa, W.G. ``Bill'' Reinemer, was for many years a local 
elected official in Jefferson County, Bill's home county, and lived 
with Bill and his mother after Bill's Grandmother died. Grandpa 
Reinemer was a tremendous influence in Bill's life, and Bill tagged 
alongside him to every political rally and event Grandpa attended. In 
1952, the year General Eisenhower was running for President, Bill 
decided that he had to help elect ``Ike'' as President and did 
everything from manning telephones to stuffing envelopes to making 
speeches for him. At the same time, Grandpa promised Bill that if Ike 
won the presidency that he, Bill, could go to Washington for the 
General's Inauguration. You can imagine how that gave Bill even more 
incentive to do everything possible to ensure that Ike won the 
election!
  During the campaign, Bill happened to be reading a Boys' State 
publication, which had a story about being a Page In Congress. This 
gave Bill another idea. Perhaps if he could become a Page, then he 
could go to Washington to help Ike run the country. So, Bill wrote 
letters to every Member of the House of Representatives and Senate, 
asking if he could be their Page. Many rejections came primarily 
because Bill wasn't from the same state as these Members, except for 
one. And the one partially positive letter he did receive came from 
Congressman Tom Curtis of St. Louis. Congressman Curtis told Bill that 
if Ike won the election and if the Republicans took control of 
Congress, then it might be possible that Curtis could appoint Bill as 
his Page. While there was an awful lot of ``ifs'' and ``mights'' in the 
letter, Bill was not discouraged and was hopeful that he might get the 
appointment.
  However, once the election was over and Ike won, Bill still hadn't 
heard form Curtis. And it came time for him to go to Washington, as 
Grandpa had promised, for the Inauguration.

[[Page E1194]]

His mom and Grandpa put him on the train to Washington (by himself), 
where he would be staying with family friends who lived in Alexandria, 
Virginia. He had his ticket for the Inaugural ceremony, and was so 
excited to be going to Washington to ``help'' Ike get inaugurated. Once 
there, he decided to go up to Congressman Curtis' office in the Cannon 
Building to see if any decisions had been made about his appointment as 
a Page.
  When Bill arrived in Curtis' office he introduced himself to the 
receptionist, Marilyn, who promply replied, ``You're Billy Emerson from 
Hillsboro, Missouri?'' And he replied that he was. Marilyn said that 
Congressman Curtis had been looking all over for him and had tried 
reaching him at home in Hillsboro, but of course, he wasn't there. She 
then took him to see Curtis in his office, and there were several other 
prominent Republicans in the office too. Congressman Curtis greeted 
Bill, and then introduced him to the others. He said, ``Folks, I'd like 
you to meet Bill Emerson from Hillsboro, Missouri, He's my new page.'' 
And this was the very first time Bill learned that he had indeed been 
appointed Curtis' Page and would be able to realize his dream of 
``helping'' Ike run the government.
  Bill didn't have a chance to go home to Hillsboro before starting 
work as a Page. His mom cried and cried, and had to send all his 
clothes to him, because he began working immediately. The highlight of 
his career as a Page was the very first time president Eisenhower 
addressed the Congress at his State of the Union speech. Bill was 
standing along the middle aisle where the President enters the House 
Chamber and as the President passed him, Bill put out his hand to shake 
the President's, and said, ``Hi, Mr. President.'' The President patted 
Bill on the head and said, ``Son, I sure need your help up here,'' You 
can only imagine how Bill felt--all he had wanted to do was come to 
Washington to help the President and then the President actually asked 
him for his help. He didn't wash his hand for a week.
  I've always loved the Billy Emerson story, and have told it hundreds 
of times over the past 23 years. I think it captures the essence of the 
man Bill was. A man dedicated to his country and the principles upon 
which our Founding Fathers formed a government of, for and by the 
people. A man inspired by history who wanted to preserve our system of 
government for generations to come. And a man who wanted to inspire 
young people to get involved, to understand that you can do and be 
anything in life as long as you're willing to work for it. It doesn't 
matter where you come from, the color of your skin, or how little money 
your family has. The only thing that matters is you, and whether you're 
willing to make a commitment to do everything possible to realize your 
dream.
  Monday, June 22, marks the second anniversary of Bill's death. But 
Bill lives on in all of our hearts, and a day doesn't go by when we 
haven't reminisced about one of his many stories and life lessons. I 
feel blessed to walk down the same corridors he did, and feel blessed 
to have spent 21 years as his wife. He was an inspiration to so many, 
but perhaps most of all to those of us he called family. God Bless you, 
Bill. We sure miss you.

                          ____________________