[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE 80TH BIRTHDAY OF SID YUDAIN

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                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2003

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to pay tribute to Sid Yudain upon his 80th birthday for his 
long, distinguished, and dedicated service to the world of journalism.
  ``At every dramatic turning point of our long national nightmare 
known as Watergate, Roll Call was there. Sid Yudain reported the 
Watergate break-in a full three days before Nixon's resignation,'' 
quipped Washington's favorite political satirist, Mark Russell some 
twenty years ago.
  Russell's dig was aimed at the man credited with discovering him, Sid 
Yudain, founder, publisher, editor, and even occasional delivery boy of 
Capitol Hill's own newspaper, Roll Call. This weekend Mark and his wife 
Ali will host--and perhaps roasting--Sid at a party celebrating his 
80th birthday.
  Sid, who spent several years in Hollywood following World War II as a 
columnist and raconteur for movie stars, came to Washington in the 
early 1950's to work as press secretary for Congressman Al Morano of 
his home state of Connecticut. He soon noticed a general lack of 
information about the happenings of the Capitol Hill community. In 
1955, Sid was inspired to create his own newspaper, Roll Call, when he 
overheard an Ohio Congressman's shocked exclamation at learning that a 
member of his state legislation had passed away.
  As Mr. Yudain envisioned it, Roll Call was not to be a newspaper 
about Capitol Hill, but as its masthead boldly proclaimed, ``The 
newspaper of Capitol Hill.'' Judging by the names of those, including 
Members of Congress and staffers, who contributed early columns and 
stories to the newspaper, it lived up to the assertion. Vice President 
Richard Nixon insisted on writing a piece about a doorman who had 
passed away, and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson related through 
the pages of Roll Call his experiences and thanks following his 
recovery from a recent heart attack.
  Throughout the 32 years that Sid owned Roll Call, the paper 
chronicled life on the Hill and promoted a community spirit where 
Members and staffers of all political persuasions could come together 
to celebrate their common service to the American people. Roll Call 
nurtured clubs and organizations, issued the ``Outstanding Staffer'' 
award each year, sponsored Congress' annual baseball game, and gave 
gifted and often famous writers of all backgrounds the opportunity to 
inform and entertain arguably the most influential readership on the 
planet.
  In 1988, after owning Roll Call for over 32 years, Mr. Yudain sold 
his newspaper in order to devote more time to his family, friends, and 
saxophone.
  Mr. Speaker, I heartily commend Mr. Sid Yudain for his initiative and 
his commitment to serving his government and his country. His 
distinguished career is truly impressive and inspiring. I wish Mr. 
Yudain all the best on his 80th birthday and many more to come. I call 
upon my colleagues to join me along with Sid's wife Lael, their 
children Rachel (and husband Amar Kuchinad) and Raymond, and family and 
friends in applauding Sid Yudain for all he has done.

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