[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5936-S5937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ROBERT A. (BOB) BEAN
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, earlier today many of our Senate family
attended the funeral of a former Senate employee, Robert Bean. Bob
started here in the Senate when he was 15 years old as a Senate page
under the sponsorship of Majority Leader Mike Mansfield. Following his
page graduation Bob moved into the Democratic cloakroom where he
continued his outstanding service to our members. He rose to the
position of Assistant Secretary for the Majority and then was appointed
by Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to the position of Deputy
Sergeant at Arms in 1990. He moved to the Treasury Department's
legislative affairs office in 1995 and remained there until 1999 when
he returned to the Hill to work on the House side as the minority staff
director of the House Administration Committee. He retired from the
Hill in 2002 and he had just recently begun work for the Jefferson
Consulting Group.
[[Page S5937]]
Throughout these years of service Bob earned his undergraduate degree
from George Washington University and his law degree from American
University's Washington College of Law. But all of these
accomplishments pale in comparison to his personal accomplishments. Bob
was known as a friend by anyone who came into contact with him. Whether
you were a member of Congress or a new staffer, lost on the Hill, Bob
would find a way to help you, and he would make sure you knew that, if
you ever needed help again, he'd be there to assist you. The church was
filled today and that was a testament to the type of person Bob was to
so many people. He died at the age of 43 leaving behind his mother,
Margaret and his brothers John, Kenneth, and Brian. Bob also left
behind a Capitol Hill community united in mourning the loss of one of
its most cherished possessions--a true friend. I would like to extend
my sympathies to his mother, his brothers and to all those who were
lucky enough to know him.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the eulogy given earlier
today by Congressman Steny Hoyer be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Eulogy for Robert A. (Bob) Bean
Father Nash, Father Polland, Members of St. John's Parish,
Friends:
I first want to express my deepest condolences to the Bean
family, Bob's mother, Margaret; his brothers, John, Kenneth
and Brian; his sister-in-law, Patti; niece, Rachel; and
nephew, Christian.
Your loss, I know, is as immeasurable as it is unexpected;
that this good, decent, kind man who graced and brightened
your lives--and all of ours--was summoned by our Creator, at
what seems to so many of us as the twilight of youth.
The passing of one who had so much to offer, who yearned to
serve others, who continually took it upon himself to help
others, and who was enjoying what seemed to be the prime of
his life, cuts particularly deep.
But the truth be told, Robert A. Bean, son of Margaret and
Louis, lived more in 43 years than most do in twice that
time.
Bob's service to our nation started early, when at the age
of 15, he began working as a Senate page under the former
majority leader Mike Mansfield.
He later served on the staff of the democratic cloakroom in
the Senate, which is where I first met him after being
elected to Congress.
I couldn't help but be impressed with Bob, by his
willingness to help on matters big and small, his strong
bearing, and his ability to get things done.
Bob was not passing time.
His talent, his character, his personality led to his being
selected for ever-increasing responsibility: serving first as
the assistant secretary for the democratic majority in the
Senate and then as deputy sergeant at arms, where he
performed the duties of chief law enforcement officer,
protocol officer and manager of support services in the
Senate.
In that position, he supervised thousands of employees and
displayed his considerable management skills.
And yes, along the way, he earned a bachelor's degree from
George Washington University as well as a law degree from
American University.
Bob was always improving himself and, in the process,
improving the lot of others.
In 1995, Bob was asked by Secretary Robert Rubin to join
him at the Treasury Department as the Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, where his
extraordinary knowledge of the Congress and his reputation on
Capitol Hill for honesty and insight would help guide our
Nation to unprecedented prosperity in the 1990s.
Given the wide breadth of Bob's experience on Capitol Hill
and in the Executive Branch, I was ecstatic that I had the
opportunity to hire him in 1999 to serve as the staff
director of the Committee on House Administration.
Bob's service in that position was an immense advantage to
me, the Committee, and the Congress, which he loved.
Bob was a fierce partisan. He believed deeply in the
Democratic party and its principles, and he lived them.
But his political convictions never translated into
unthinking antagonism toward foes.
And I saw that first-hand during the negotiations on
bipartisan election reform, a legislative effort that was
perhaps Bob's legacy as staff director on the House
Administration Committee.
Bob played to win, but he played by the rules. And
Congressman Bob Ney, the Republican chairman of the Committee
and his staff, knew that; and they respected and trusted Bob
for it, which in my judgment is one reason why we were able
to work together, across the partisan divide, to address the
problems in our election system.
This week, Chairman Ney said of Bob:
``There were many times when the process was in danger of
breaking down. Bob Bean refused to let that happen, though.
He was a stand-up guy, a tremendously hard worker and truly
great American.''
As anyone who walked through the Capitol with Bob knows, he
knew an unbelievable number of people. House members and
Senators. Staffers. Capitol Police officers. Maintenance
workers. And cafeteria workers.
All who knew him were his friend.
Walking through the Capitol with Bob was a constant
reminder of his experience and popularity on Capitol Hill--
with people from all walks of life. And he returned their
affection with kindness, consideration and respect.
A friend of Bob's for nearly 30 years, Sharon Daniels, the
long-time executive assistant for Congressman Richard
Gephardt, said of Bob:
``Bob is the kind of friend you could call at two in the
morning, and ask: Can I borrow twenty thousand dollars? And,
by the way, can you bring it to me by 4 a.m. out on Route 50?
And Bob would not only do it. He would ask if there was
anything else he could do--and, of course, when he showed up
at 4 a.m., he would be wearing a suit and tie.''
And, then, of course, there was Captain Bean, skipper of
the ``Margaret B.'' Fisherman extraordinaire.
He loved the bay and he loved his boat. And all who sailed
and fished with him remember that experience as one filled
with the joy of life and adventure.
How appropriate that God chose to take Bob home from his
beloved bay and boat.
Bob loved his family and all of us, as well. He was a
blessing to each of us--a kind and gentle man, who succeeded
in all of his careers: government leader, businessman,
captain, consultant.
But his greatest success was as a human being. So as we pay
our respects to a beloved son and brother, a trusted and good
friend, a colleague, let me end by quoting from the poem
``Chesapeake Mornings'' by Chris Kleinfelter:
``I measure all of my daybreaks at home,
``Against the Chesapeake mornings I have known,
``Anchored in the stillness of emerging light,
``Waiting for dawn to open my shadowed eyes.
``A grove of tall masts is tracing circles
``In the sky as restless keels and unmanned rudders
``Stain the blue water with rippling patterns;
``Brush stokes from the steady hand of God.''
Bob has joined God now on one last voyage that beckons us
all.
Yes, his heart has been stilled.
But ours have been enriched beyond measure-and forever--for
having this opportunity to share time with this good and
decent man.
____________________