[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 83 (Monday, June 14, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I do want to note that for the first time 
in history, within the last month, the Senate leadership has selected 
our first woman to be the Senate legal counsel, and she is Pat Bryan. 
She has served at the Justice Department and at the White House in the 
past. She is highly capable, and we are delighted to have her joining 
the Senate in this very important position. But my reason for wanting 
to comment this morning is to talk a moment about the position and to 
talk about her predecessor who served as legal counsel.
  Among the officers of the Senate, one of the least known is the 
Senate Legal Counsel. There is a reason for that.
  The Legal Counsel usually works out of the limelight, away from 
publicity, serving the Senate with a certain anonymity that is 
appropriate for the very important responsibilities of the office.
  The Office of the Legal Counsel is, in effect, the Senate's own law 
firm. Its staff handles any litigation concerning the Senate or its 
Members acting in their official capacity.
  The Senate Legal Counsel also advises the Senate, not about 
legislation, but about legal matters of all sorts. The most recent and 
most dramatic instance, of course, was the impeachment trial of 
President Clinton.
  Throughout that extraordinary experience, our Legal Counsel, Thomas 
B. Griffith, played a crucial role in shaping our procedures.
  He assured the legal propriety of everything we did, keeping us, 
along with the Parliamentarian, true to the Senate's rules and 
precedents.
  The meticulousness he brought to our labors was characteristic of 
Tom's work, as was the unflappable demeanor and unwavering courtesy he 
showed throughout the impeachment ordeal.
  With gratitude for Tom's service to the Senate for the last four 
years, and yet with deep regret at the prospect of losing him, I must 
report that he will be rejoining his former law firm of Wiley, Rein, 
and Fielding.
  It is customary on occasions like this to say that we all wish him 
well. In this case, that is an understatement.
  We wish Tom the best, as he deserves, for that is what he has given 
to the Senate.
  One example of his dedication should suffice. Tom lives quite a 
distance away from Washington, considerably outside the Beltway even, 
in Lovettsville, Virginia.
  During the weeks of the impeachment proceedings, Tom left his family 
there and moved closer to the Capitol, to be always available to us 
here, spending perhaps one day a week with Susan and the children.
  I want all of them--Chelsea, Megan, Robbie, Erin, Torre, and Tanne--
to know that, during those weeks when they must have sorely missed 
their dad, he was serving his country in a very important way.
  That kind of selfless service has always been a part of Tom's life, 
from his days as a missionary in Zimbabwe with the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints through his activities with the Federalist 
Society.
  His example of integrity and commitment to the highest ideals of the 
law has brought honor to the Senate. He leaves us now with our 
affection and our enduring gratitude.

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