[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2862-H2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WILLIAM HOLMES BROWN, FORMER PARLIAMENTARIAN OF HOUSE PASSES
(Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous
material.)
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I am saddened today to announce to our
colleagues the passing on May 27 of William Holmes Brown, who served as
parliamentarian of the House from 1974 to 1994. He was 71 years of age.
Not only did I have the pleasure of working with Bill Brown in the
House, but I was also privileged to be his Congressman. He lived at
Oakland Green Farm in Lincoln in Loudoun County, Virginia, property
which had been in the family for more than eight generations.
Bill began his service in the Parliamentarian's Office in 1958 when
he was appointed Assistant Parliamentarian by Speaker Sam Rayburn. In
1974, he was named to the position of Parliamentarian by Speaker Carl
Albert. He succeeded the legendary Lewis Deschler, with whom he had
collaborated in volumes of ``Precedents of the House of
Representatives,'' referred to in the House as the Deschler-Brown
Precedents. During his years in the House, he served under six
Speakers. Besides Speaker Sam Rayburn and Carl Albert, he served under
John McCormack, Tip O'Neill, Jim Wright, and Tom Foley. He retired from
the House in 1994.
During his service in the House, he worked to develop parliamentary
projects in newly emerging democratic republics in Eastern Europe,
participating in seminars and training programs for representatives of
other national legislative bodies. After he retired as Parliamentarian
in 1994, he worked for the Agency of International Development on a
parliamentary development project in the Ukraine.
Members today can thank Bill Brown and thank his staff, many here
today, for organizing the Office of the Parliamentarian, moving it into
the Computer Age and making the House precedents available online for
all to access.
Bill was the ultimate professional and dedicated public servant. He
was held in the highest regard by Members on both sides of the aisle
because his work reflected his dedication to the proposition that the
rules of the House should be applied and enforced without political
considerations.
Bill was born in Huntington, West Virginia. He was a 1951 graduate of
Swarthmore College and received his law degree from the University of
Chicago. He served on active duty in the Navy from 1954 to 1957 and
then served in the Naval Reserve from 1954 to 1974, retiring as a
lieutenant commander.
He was director of the Conversations at Oatlands organization and the
Loudoun Museum and a member of the Catoctin Farmers Club and Goose
Creek Friends Meeting.
On behalf of the House, and on behalf of Members on both sides of the
aisle, and on behalf of Members who served here many, many years ago,
Madam Speaker, we send our deepest sympathies to Bill's wife of 30
years, Jean Smith Brown, and their daughter, Sara Holmes Brown.
Resignation of the Parliamentarian, the Honorable Wm. Holmes Brown, and
Appointment of the Honorable Charles W. Johnson as Parliamentarian
(house of representatives--september 20, 1994)
The SPEAKER laid before the House the following
communication from the Parliamentarian of the House of
Representatives, which was read:
Hon. Thomas S. Foley,
Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: In March of this year, I completed my
thirty-sixth year with the House of Representatives. In July,
I completed my twentieth year as Parliamentarian.
In the past few months, circumstances, both personal and
professional, have focused my attention on retirement. It has
been a difficult decision to reach, but I have concluded that
it's time for a change.
The office which I have been privileged to hold continues
to be both challenging and rewarding. It is fascinating to
encounter--almost daily--fresh interpretations of rules and
bill language which require constant evaluation of
yesterday's assumptions and conclusions. The House changes
from year to year, with new Members and staff and
circumstances always reshaping this institution; what does
not change is the reservoir of intellect and inventiveness
which characterizes those who work in the legislative branch
of our government. Daily interaction with such talented
people makes the congress a uniquely fascinating place to
work.
I could not have done this job without a lot of help,
without the love and support of my family, who have learned
to live with long hours and erratic schedules; without the
teamwork at the rostrum and in all the support offices of the
House; without the reservoir of personal commitment and
professional strength from my colleagues in the Office. Among
the deputy and the assistant parliamentarians there is a
wealth of experience and talent. Their accumulated service
totals over 80 years. Each is dedicated to the proposition
that the rules of this great institution should be applied
and enforced without political considerations. All are open
to Members and staff with respect to the rules and precedents
which govern and guide the deliberations of the House and its
committees. They are all exemplary public servants; they can
and will continue to carry out the responsibilities of the
Office in a manner which reflects the best traditions of the
House. We share a lasting bond and I will miss these friends
whom I admire and care for so deeply.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to all the Speakers whom I
have been fortunate to know: Sam Rayburn, who first appointed
me as an assistant parliamentarian on the recommendation of
my legendary predecessor as Parliamentarian, Lewis Deschler;
John McCormack, who shared his anecdotes and love of the
House during long evening conversations in the Speaker's
Rooms; Carl Albert, who had faith enough in my abilities
to appoint me as Parliamentarian during a very tumultuous
time in the history of the House and has continued to be a
valued mentor since his retirement; Thomas P. `Tip'
O'Neill, whose good humor and warmth toward me survived
some parliamentary decisions which he must have found
vexing; Jim
[[Page H2863]]
Wright, whose eloquence and courage are unflagging.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I must say how much I have valued
your friendship and support. You have always been
sensitive and faithful to the distinctions between
political and parliamentary decisions and your gavel has
been both firm and impartial. The opportunities you have
given me to interact with other parliamentary
institutions, particularly with the newly emerging
democratic republics in eastern Europe, have revealed new
horizons which I hope to explore more fully in the future.
Programs to encourage and foster parliamentary democracy
in that area of our world are of critical importance. The
House can be proud of the contribution it is making to
this effort and if I can be of assistance in these
endeavors I will be available to do so.
I must acknowledge the courtesies and cooperation shown me
by the distinguished Minority leader, Bob Michel. He has
always shown an appreciation of the role of our office and he
and his staff have been of inestimable support. To have known
so many of his predecessors, such distinguished men as Joe
Martin, Charley Halleck, John Rhodes and Gerald Ford, has
been a rare privilege. All of these Leaders have made the
House a better place and have left an indelible mark on its
history.
I will miss the many friendships with Members that have
formed over the years. May I extend to them, through you, my
appreciation for their kindnesses.
With your concurrence, my termination as Parliamentarian
will be effective on September 15, 1994.
Very respectfully yours,
Wm. Holmes Brown.
The SPEAKER. It is with great regret that the Chair accepts
the resignation of the distinguished Parliamentarian of the
House Wm. Holmes Brown.
Pursuant to the provisions of 2 U.S.C. 297a, the Chair
announces that on September 16, 1994, he appointed Charles W.
Johnson as Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives to
succeed Wm. Holmes Brown, resigned.
____
A Warm Farewell to William H. Brown, Parliamentarian
(House of Representatives--September 20, 1994)
(Mr. MICHEL asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I think the news that was just
announced here, that the Parliamentarian of the House is
going to retire, comes as a sad note for many of us who have
known Bill through all of these years, although I am happy
that he is leaving in a commensurate year with my own
retirement. He could not be leaving at a better time, from
that standpoint.
However, things have changed since I first started in this
House. At that time the Parliamentarian was Lou Deschler,
referred to by those who dared to call him `the Judge.' He
was a tough old bird. He would not talk to staff, and he
would hardly talk to Members.
I remember one time I took him five different versions of
an amendment prohibiting food stamps for strikers and said,
`Okay, Judge, one of these has got to be in order.' And you
see, he had the only copy of all the precedents of the House
from 1936 on in his office, and he had all the power.
Bill Brown has changed all that. He and his staff have done
a magnificent job in compiling and publishing those the Judge
had kept hidden. He has done an excellent job organizing the
Office of the Parliamentarian and helping the membership.
Many of the precedents are now `on-line', available through
the House Information System.
Bill was born in West Virginia, receiving a bachelor of
science degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in
1951. He received his law degree from the University of
Chicago, out our way in Illinois, and served in the Naval
Reserve with active duty in the Persian Gulf , returning as a
lieutenant commander in 1974.
Bill was first appointed Assistant Parliamentarian by
Speaker Sam Rayburn, and then became Parliamentarian in 1974
under Speaker Albert, and has served under six Speakers of
the House.
Bill has been a great Parliamentarian, but most do not
realize that he is also a farmer. He lives in a 200-year-old
home on the Oakland Green Farm, has expanded the log cabin
with a stone addition, and later a brick addition. Bill, I am
not sure about the aluminum siding you and your lovely wife
Jean have now added.
The Browns do have one daughter, Sarah, who is currently
studying in Kenya.
Being a farmer and a Parliamentarian involves a lot of
work. He is often late coming in, as he has been birthing
calves, or on snowy days he has had to drive his tractor to a
main road to get a ride. You cannot miss his car in the
Rayburn garage, as it looks like he keeps it in the chicken
coop all night.
Bill, we are sorely going to miss you, and can imagine your
reciting precedents to your cows as the Congress continues
writing new ones. I believe we will still use your
expertise in attempting to finalize the publishing of the
Deschler-Brown precedents, which I will always consider
the `Brown volumes.'
Taking Bill's place in the top spot is someone who I also
have known and argued with many a time, Charlie Johnson.
We have had a good laugh telling the story of when Charlie
first was working for the Judge, and Lou assigned Charlie the
responsibility of compiling old contested election cases.
Charlie worked for weeks, researching and writing, only to
find out later that they were all neatly compiled in Cannon's
precedents.
Charlie still works harder than he needs to. He is a good
guy and a dedicated worker. He is the perfect choice.
Charlie, I hope you will last longer than Lehr Fess, who some
of you may not know lasted just a year.
Best to you, Bill, and we know, Charlie, John, Tom, and
Muftiah will carry on the strong tradition of professionalism
and cooperation that you started.
____
Tribute to the Honorable William Holmes Brown, Parliamentarian, on His
Retirement
(House of Representatives--September 20, 1994)
(Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.).
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, nothing gives me greater
satisfaction than to hear on this day of retirement of Bill
Brown these wonderfully warm words from the Republican
leader, because I think the lifeblood of any parliamentary
body is the sense that our debates and discussions, the votes
and actions taken here, are taken in a context of rules and
observance, conventions and procedures, that are fair to each
Member of the body. Indeed, I think the history of our House
of Representatives, certainly in this recent period, has been
one of scrupulous adherence to the rules.
As Speaker I have tried to follow that guide of fairness
and objectivity in every ruling I have made, and if I had any
tendency to veer from that, I would find resistance, very
strong resistance, from the Parliamentarians of the House,
who are committed in an almost religious sense to ensuring
that the rules are absolutely impartially observed here, I
think there is a record, perhaps, of the fact that this body
has hardly ever overruled the Chair, and that in those cases
where there sometimes has been a question of moving to
override the Chair, Republican leadership has often joined
with our Members and Republican Members have joined with
Democratic Members in supporting the Chair.
Certainly no small part of the credit for this belongs to
Bill Brown. He has been an absolutely sterling
Parliamentarian in every way. He has served six Speakers. He
has been in this body for almost a longer period than
virtually anyone. There are few Members and very few
professional staff who have served as long.
He begins his retirement with the best wishes and warm
affection of an overwhelming number of Members and those who
serve with him in aiding this body to achieve its objectives.
He has compiled, as Bob Michel says, the precedents of the
House. They are now available for all. He has in recent
months been a special resource of assistance to emerging
parliamentary democracies in Eastern Europe. I think he has
found great satisfaction and opportunity for additional
service in that work.
Charlie Johnson, his very long-time Assistant
Parliamentarian, has our full confidence on both sides of the
aisle, and I have made his appointment with great
satisfaction; and if it is time, in Bill Brown's judgment, to
leave, that a successor as worthy and able and committed and
dedicated as Charlie Johnson stands ready to assume the
responsibilities.
Mr. Speaker, I want to extend again, not only on my own
behalf but on the behalf of all Members of this House, my
thanks and my appreciation and my warmest best wishes to Bill
Brown, and every success and happiness for him and Jean in
the years that lie ahead.
Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I want to join you and the
minority leader in recognizing the more than 36 years of
service parliamentarian Bill Brown has given to this House.
Bill is retiring this week after serving in the
Parliamentarian's office since 1958. He was Assistant
Parliamentarian from 1958-1974 and then was appointed to the
position of Parliamentarian by House Speaker Carl Albert in
1974. During those years, Bill served under six House
Speakers, including Sam Rayburn, John McCormack, Carl Albert,
Tip O'Neill, Jim Wright and Tom Foley.
Bill has been successful over the years in making sure the
Parliamentarian's office remained nonpartisan in its duties
of advising the Speaker, all Members of Congress, committees
and staff on Constitutional questions and rules of order
within this House. He is held in high regard by Members on
both sides of the aisle.
In addition to those responsibilities, Bill was involved in
recent years in projects involving parliamentary development
in several Eastern European republics. He and his support
personnel have participated in seminars and training programs
in Poland, Estonia and Romania, as these countries and others
move toward democracy.
Bill is a graduate of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania and
the University of Chicago Law School. He served on active
duty in the U.S. Navy from 1954-57 and then served in the
naval Reserve from 1954-74, retiring as a lieutenant
commander.
It has been a great honor to get to know Bill Brown on a
personal level. I consider
[[Page H2864]]
him a close friend and certainly will miss the wise counsel
he has given me over the years. He is one of the true unsung
heroes who make things work around the people's House. We
will miss Bill, but he has earned his retirement. I salute
Bill Brown on a job well done and wish Bill, Jean, and Sara
the best in the future.
____
William Holmes Brown; House Parliamentarian
[From the Washington Post, Tuesday, May 29, 2001]
William Holmes Brown, 71, parliamentarian of the U.S. House
of Representatives from 1974 until 1994 and author of ``House
Practice: A Guide to the Rules, Precedents and Procedures of
the House,'' died of a vascular ailment May 27 at Loudoun
Hospital Center.
He lived at Oakland Green Farm, the Lincoln property his
family has owned for more than eight generations.
Mr. Brown served under six speakers of the House as an
adviser on procedure and practice. He began as assistant
parliamentarian in 1958 and collaborated with parliamentarian
Lewis Deschler in volumes of ``Precedents of the House of
Representatives.'' They are referred to in the House as the
Deschler-Brown Precedents.
Mr. Brown also worked on behalf of the House on
parliamentary development projects in Eastern Europe and
Mozambique. he participated in seminars in Poland, Estonia,
Slovakia, Albania and Romania and in training programs in the
United States for representatives of other national
legislative bodies.
After he retired, he worked for the Agency for
International Development on a parliamentary development
project in Ukraine.
Mr. Brown was a native of Huntington, W.Va. He was a
graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of
Chicago's law school. He served in the Navy in the Middle
East and the Mediterranean and remained in the Navy Reserve
until 1974.
He was a director of the Conversations a Oaklands
organization and the Loudoun Museum and a member of the
Catoctin Farmers Club and the Goose Creek Friends Meeting.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Jean Smith Brown,
and a daughter, Sara Holmes Brown, both of Lincoln.
____________________