[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 150 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO BANGOR DAILY NEWS COLUMNIST JOHN DAY

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                        HON. JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2000

  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, the long-time 
Washington correspondent for the Bangor Daily News retired. John Day 
worked for my hometown newspaper for nearly 40 years. During a 
distinguished career in which he filed more than 15,000 news stories, 
he covered municipal government in Bangor and state government in 
Maine's capital city of Augusta. Since 1978, John has reported on 
Federal issues from Washington. In that same year, he was chosen Maine 
Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press Association--the first time a 
reporter had been selected.
  In addition to reporting on some of the most important national 
issues of the past two decades--including early, insightful stories 
about the Iran-Contra matter--John Day has delivered more than 1,700 
opinion columns which have provided a unique perspective on the 
American political scene.
  Knowledgeable and aggressive, John Day shared a wealth of information 
with generations of Bangor Daily News readers. Whether they appreciated 
John's viewpoint or not, they always knew where he stood. Never shy 
about saying what was on his mind, John inevitably gave readers 
something to consider.
  As a Member of Congress, I have become better acquainted with John 
and have enjoyed the experience. John covered my father as a City 
Councilor in Bangor during the early part of his newspaper career in 
the 1960's, and concluded it covering myself and the other Members of 
Maine's congressional delegation at the start of a new century.
  As John starts a new chapter in his life, I wish him the very best. 
My hometown newspaper will certainly be less colorful and it will never 
be the same.

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