[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 77 (Monday, June 13, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6349-S6351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JESSE R. NICHOLS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 168, which was submitted 
earlier today.

[[Page S6350]]

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 168) expressing gratitude and sincere 
     respect for Jesse R. Nichols.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 168) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 168

       Whereas, Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., faithfully served the 
     United States Senate and the Committee on Finance as the 
     Government Documents Clerk and Librarian from Nineteen 
     Hundred Thirty-Seven through Nineteen Hundred Seventy-One; 
     and
       Whereas, Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., was born on June 14, 1909, 
     in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and was the first African 
     American Clerk employed by the United States Senate; and
       Whereas, he carried out his duties in exemplary fashion, 
     bringing credit to the Committee and to Congress; and
       Whereas, Jesse Nichols worked effectively under the 
     guidance of Democratic and Republican Chairmen, including Pat 
     Harrison of Mississippi, Walter F. George of Georgia, Harry 
     Flood Byrd of Virginia and Russell B. Long of Louisiana from 
     the 75th Congress through the 91st Congress.
       Whereas, the Committee on Finance will long remember the 
     commitment, service and leadership of Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., 
     as documented in an oral history posted on the Senate 
     Historian's Web site; and
       Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the United States 
     Senate expresses its deep gratitude and sincere respect for 
     Jesse R. Nichols for his unfailing service and his dedication 
     to the United States Senate. The Senate hereby expresses 
     condolences to the family due to the death of Jesse R. 
     Nichols, Sr., on February 18, 2005.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this resolution expresses our gratitude and 
respect to the family of Jesse Nichols. I will take just a couple of 
moments to comment on Jesse Nichols, who was the first African-American 
clerk to be employed by this body, the Senate.
  Jesse Nichols was born on June 14, 1909, in Clarksdale, MS. In 1930, 
Jesse enrolled at Howard University where he hoped to study medicine, 
but his plans were derailed by the Depression, and he, as so many 
others, had to join the employment line.
  After a stint working at a local delicatessen, Jesse secured a 
position at the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Then in 1937, 
Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi hired Jesse Nichols to join the 
Finance Committee as document clerk/librarian. He became responsible 
for the committee's immense collection of tax codes and hearings, 
witness statements, and other publications.
  Over the days and the weeks ahead, Mr. Nichols became indispensable 
to the committee staff and the Senators who depended on his 
professionalism and accumulated knowledge. On his 30th anniversary in 
the Senate, Member after Member rose to pay tribute to Mr. Nichols. 
Senator Russell Long praised Mr. Nichols for his consummate 
professionalism, diligence, and devotion to this body. Delaware Senator 
John R. Williams testified that over his three decades of service Jesse 
Nichols ``earned the respect of those former giants of this Senate, 
each of whom was proud to call him a friend.''
  Jesse Nichols was deeply respected by his colleagues and was dearly 
missed when he retired from the Senate in 1971. On February 18th of 
this year, Jesse died a few months short of his 96th birthday. Jesse 
Nichols lived a full and long life. On behalf of the Senate family, I 
recognize the contributions of Jesse Nichols to this venerable body. We 
are sincerely grateful for his service and dedication.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to Jesse R. 
Nichols, Sr. Mr. Nichols, who passed away on February 15, was the first 
African-American clerk for the Senate Finance Committee and one of its 
longest serving staff members. He worked with the committee from 1937 
to 1971.
  Born in Clarksdale, MS, Mr. Nichols came to the Finance Committee at 
a time early in the building of its staff. Back then, there were few, 
if any, African-Americans on staff with the Senate. At Finance, there 
were just three staff members with the committee and no standing 
subcommittees. Today, there are 70 staff members and 5 standing 
subcommittees.
  During his more than 30 years with the committee, he created the 
committee's archival system and became our resident historian. He also 
contributed to the history of the Senate as a whole. In 1994, he 
generously participated in an extensive oral history for the Senate 
Historical Office. In it, he describes some of his most memorable 
moments during his long tenure. Mr. Nichols rubbed elbows with some of 
the most important leaders of the day--but he was excluded from eating 
in the Capitol's restaurant and cafeterias because of his race.
  On the day that Mr. Nichols celebrated his 30th anniversary with the 
committee, several Senators paid him homage on the Capitol floor. They 
noted that Mr. Nichols outranked every member of the Finance Committee 
in terms of length of service. Senator Long in particular called Mr. 
Nichols a ``senior member'' of the committee and ``one of God's best 
people.'' When Mr. Nichols finally retired in 1971, the committee had 
to hire two people to carry on his extensive work.
  I salute Mr. Nichols for his long and trusted service to the Senate 
and send my heartfelt condolences to the Nichols family.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I want to pay tribute to the life 
of Jesse Nichols, Sr., who passed away on February 22, 2005. Jesse R. 
Nichols, Sr., faithfully served the U.S. Senate for over 30 years. He 
was the first African American Clerk employed by the U.S. Senate.
  Jesse Nichols was born on June 14, 1909, in Clarksdale, MS. He began 
his service when the late Pat Harrison of Mississippi was the 
distinguished Chairman of the Finance Committee--the committee I am now 
privileged to chair.
  Jesse was appointed as a messenger for the Finance Committee in 1936, 
and was elevated about 6 months later to assistant clerk of the 
Committee. At that time, the staff of the Finance Committee numbered 
only three.
  In 1967, on the occasion of his thirtieth anniversary on the Senate 
staff, several members of the Finance Committee, led by Delaware 
Republican John J. Williams, rose in the Senate chamber to pay tribute 
to Jesse Nichols who had ``earned the respect of those former giants of 
the Senate, each of whom was proud to call him a friend.''

  Senator Williams added that:

       It is refreshing to meet a man who throughout the years has 
     served the Senate and his country with but one thought in 
     mind, and that is, to do his job to the best of his ability, 
     always remembering that as a Government employee he is a 
     servant of the people.

  Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen added his endorsement, 
noting that:

       Thirty years of faithful and devoted service certainly 
     deserves to be taken account of in the proceedings of this 
     body.

  An oral history interview conducted by the Senate Historical Office 
from March 26 to April 12, 1994, is available on the Senate Web site. 
The history documents Jesse's employment by the Committee on Finance 
from the 75th Congress through the 91st Congress.
  He worked under the guidance of Democratic and Republican Chairmen, 
including Walter F. George of Georgia, I Senator Eugene Millikin of 
Colorado, Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia and Russell B. Long of 
Louisiana.
  Jesse Nichols' service was faithful, exemplary and noteworthy. He 
served not only the Finance Committee with class and grace, but also 
the Senate as a whole during that critical period in American history. 
I join my colleagues in recognizing Mr. Nichols' life and am grateful 
to his service to our country.

                              S. Res. 168

       Whereas Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., faithfully served the United 
     States Senate and the Committee on Finance as the Government 
     Documents Clerk and Librarian from nineteen hundred thirty-
     seven through nineteen hundred seventy-one;
       Whereas Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., was born on June 14, 1909, 
     in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and was the first African 
     American Clerk employed by the United States Senate;
       Whereas he carried out his duties in exemplary fashion, 
     bringing credit to the Committee and to Congress;
       Whereas Jesse Nichols worked effectively under the guidance 
     of Democratic and Republican Chairmen, including Pat Harrison

[[Page S6351]]

     of Mississippi, Walter F. George of Georgia, Harry Flood Byrd 
     of Virginia and Russell B. Long of Louisiana from the 75th 
     Congress through the 91st Congress; and
       Whereas the Committee on Finance will long remember the 
     commitment, service and leadership of Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., 
     as documented in an oral history posted on the Senate 
     Historian's website: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate expresses its deep 
     gratitude and sincere respect for Jesse R. Nichols for his 
     unfailing service and his dedication to the United States 
     Senate. The Senate hereby expresses condolences to the family 
     due to the death of Jesse R. Nichols, Sr., on February 18, 
     2005.

                          ____________________