[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E70]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING WILLIAM SAFIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2005

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the long 
and distinguished career of a great writer and thinker--and a close and 
dear friend--Mr. William Safire. This week marks the last of his 
columns on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times, closing out one of the 
most respected, thoughtful and longest-running series of commentaries 
in the history of American media.
  Bill Safire has worn many hats throughout his career, starting out as 
a radio and television producer, then as a U.S. Army correspondent, and 
later as a speechwriter and political strategist in the Nixon 
Administration. Bill Safire is best known, though, for his column which 
first appeared in the New York Times in 1973. Even among the all-star 
line-up at the Times, Bill Safire's star shines brightly, as he stands 
out among the Nation's most celebrated and thought-provoking writers in 
the newspaper business.
  While we might find ourselves on opposite sides of a policy or 
political debate, I have always enjoyed reading Bill Safire's opinions. 
I've also looked forward to his Sunday column, ``On Language,'' in the 
Times' Magazine which has spun off into 10 books and ranked him among 
the world's most widely read commentators on English grammar, etymology 
and usage.
  I am sure that Bill's wife, Helene, will be glad to have him around 
more often and to spend more time with their two children and 
granddaughter. While the rest of us will miss his words of wisdom, his 
thoughtful insight, and the discussion prompted by his opinions, we can 
still look forward to his ``On Language'' column each Sunday, and 
hopefully, well into the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish the best of luck to Bill and his family during 
his retirement and throughout his future endeavors, including his 
ongoing written works and as chair of the Dana Foundation, a 
philanthropic organization promoting science, health, and education, 
particularly in the area of brain research. Bill Safire's voice in 
America's commentary will not be easily replaced, and I am among the 
many devoted readers who will miss him dearly.

                          ____________________