[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1112-S1113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LARRY JANEZICH

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I seek recognition today to pay tribute to 
an able and valued member of the Senate family, Larry Janezich, who 
retires this month after nearly four decades of service to this 
institution.
  As a former chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, it was my 
pleasure to work closely with Larry and his staff as they managed 
coverage for Senate hearings, news conferences, and other media events 
during my time as head of that panel.
  As chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on the Presidential 
Inauguration in 1997, I had the opportunity to observe firsthand 
Larry's great skill in balancing the demands of the press who covered 
that historic event with the security concerns required by the Secret 
Service.
  During that time, and for more than a quarter century, Larry served 
the news correspondents of the Senate and House with distinction. I ask 
unanimous consent to print in the Record the following thoughtful 
tribute to Larry from his colleague, Mike Viqueira, chairman of the 
Executive Committee of Correspondents of the Congressional Radio-TV 
Galleries.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                   Farewell Tribute to Larry Janezich

 (By Mike Viqueira, written with the assistance of Dean Norland of ABC 
                                 News)

       Larry came here when the Senate gallery was little more 
     than a broom closet and has ended up devoting most of his 
     life to the place. There were very few producers or ``off-
     airs'' in those days, just reporters who worked on 
     typewriters and used dial telephones. The wire machines 
     clacked and ticked . . . someone had to rip them and post 
     them, and change the ribbon. You could smoke a cigar in the 
     gallery studio and there was a leather couch in case someone 
     wanted to take a nap.
       There were no live shots. If it were a really big event and 
     you wanted to go live, then you had to get the phone company 
     out here to install a cable about as thick as your thumb, and 
     only 3 or 4 film crews showed up for news conferences in the 
     tiny studio.
       Larry has seen and been a part of a lot of history during 
     his tenure . . . from Watergate hearings . . . debates over 
     wars from Vietnam to Iraq . . . the Clarence Thomas hearings 
     . . . Inaugurations of presidents and the impeachment trial 
     of one of them. He was here when terrorists set off 
     explosions on the Senate side. Those are just the most 
     notable events.
       But what we don't often consider is all the little, day-to-
     day, year-to-year jobs that the gallery director handles for 
     our membership . . . from stewardship of the TASC funds to 
     the compilation of the minutes of these very meetings, Larry 
     has done it all with conscientious professionalism. He has 
     worked too many late nights to even remember and assuredly 
     had to change many vacation plans, tailoring his life to the 
     whims and caprice of the U.S. Senate.
       Larry is both a loyal Senate employee and a student of the 
     institution, and there can be no doubt that he cares very 
     passionately about what happens here. He has always tried to 
     strike a fair balance between the government and the press; 
     to negotiate fairly the no-man's-land that describes the 
     relationship between the two.
       His job is an interesting one. No doubt it is sometimes 
     enjoyable, and sometimes difficult. Larry is not only a very 
     good cook (his polenta is said to be top notch) but an ardent 
     Dylan fan. So, now as you put the Capitol in the rear view, 
     it's time to go out and enjoy life. So Larry, remember that 
     even though it's all over now, Baby Blue*, don't think twice, 
     it's alright.**
       *``It's All Over Now, Baby Blue'' by Bob Dylan, 
     Copyright 1965; renewed 1993 Special 
     Rider Music
       **``Don't Think Twice, It's Alright'' by Bob Dylan, 
     Copyright 1963; renewed 1991 Special 
     Rider Music

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I think it is fair to say that each of us 
in the Senate joins Larry's colleagues in offering this tribute and we 
wish him best of luck in his retirement.

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