[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H9254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MILDRED ``MILLIE'' O'NEIL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, it is with great personal sadness that I 
rise to pay tribute to Mildred, better known as Millie, O'Neill, wife 
of former Speaker Tip O'Neil, who passed away peacefully yesterday.
  She did so in between watching her sports. She was a great sports 
fan. She enjoyed seeing Tiger Woods win on Sunday and, of course, she 
was getting ready for the Red Sox game that was to come on last night.
  Millie was a true heroine to our party and our country, and we will 
miss her terribly. As Democratic Leader of the House, I am humbled to 
occupy the office which was once occupied by the great Democratic 
Speaker, Tip O'Neil.
  Tip loved his country, his party, his church, his family, and, above 
all, he loved Millie. Millie was Tip's partner in everything that he 
did. She was a wonderful, wonderful mother to their children and she 
became the godmother to the Democratic Party.
  Always warm, always caring, and, at the same time, very, very strong, 
Millie was someone in whose presence we all loved to be.
  Again, Millie loved her Red Sox. She was thrilled that they were in 
the playoffs this year and, of course, I think she has a front row seat 
for the series coming up now. Now, maybe, I would say to my colleagues 
from Massachusetts, maybe now that Millie has a front row seat from 
even higher than the Green Monster, she and Tip can break the ``Curse 
of the Bambino'' and have the Red Sox win the World Series, the first 
time since 1918. It will probably take that kind of divine 
intervention. But if anybody can make it happen, it is Millie.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, with her children and 
grandchildren, whom she cherished. I have the privilege of working on a 
daily basis with one granddaughter, Catlin O'Neill. We honor the legacy 
of Tip and Millie O'Neill every day we serve here.
  I hope it is a comfort to Thomas III, Rosemary, Christopher, better 
known as Kip, and Susan, that so many people in our country mourn their 
loss and are praying for them at this sad time.
  Millie has joined Tip and her son Michael, who preceded her to 
heaven, now in praying for us where they have, shall we say, more 
access. Let us think of them as we undertake our responsibilities, and 
know the proud tradition that they were a part of and that we have a 
responsibility to carry on.
  With that, Madam Speaker, once again I express condolences, not only 
my own personal and that of my family, but that of all the Democratic 
Members of the House in sending our condolences to the O'Neill family.
  I am pleased to do this under the leadership of the dean of the 
Massachusetts delegation (Mr. Markey), and join other members of the 
delegation in remembering Millie and celebrating her life.

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