[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 12, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5723-H5728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN REMEMBRANCE OF J. J. JAKE PICKLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Reichert). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 4, 2005, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on this subject.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?

[[Page H5724]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise on the joyous occasion of 
celebrating the life and the public service of a great Texan and a 
great American, J.J. Jake Pickle of Austin, Texas. Congressman Pickle 
led a long life, 91 years. He led a long period of public service in 
this Congress, some 31 years.
  And tonight provides an opportunity to draw attention to that public 
service and that life and give Members of this House an opportunity to 
incorporate their remarks into the Record in honor of Congressman 
Pickle's service.
  Mr. Speaker, with the announcement just before we began tonight that 
there would be no votes tomorrow, and with our running now approaching 
8:30 here in Washington, a number of Members have asked to have their 
remarks incorporated into the Congressional Record already.
  I have those of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson) extolling particularly her long service with Congressman 
Pickle, and his important vote for the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the 
statement of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) who, following 
redistricting, now has a portion of Travis County that he represents 
for us in Congress.
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
McCaul), the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), and I, along 
with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thomas), the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Rangel), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), were among 
those who traveled to Austin, Texas, a couple of weeks ago now, for the 
memorial service at the First United Methodist Church.
  And while all of our hearts were heavy with the loss of Congressman 
Pickle, I cannot say that I have ever been to a happier memorial 
service. Because, in addition to being a father, a grandfather, a 
great-grandfather and a public servant, Jake Pickle was quite a story 
teller and there were plenty of stories told in the course of that 
beautiful memorial service, which will be made a part of our Record, 
here as a part of the Congressional Record in this tribute.
  And there were many stories told outside of that memorial service 
that added even more to the meaning of friends sharing the tremendous 
service that Jake Pickle represents.
  I am reminded of it, of course, each time that I travel back to my 
hometown, because when you land at the Austin airport, you land on the 
Pickle Runway or the Lyndon B. Johnson Runway. And when you travel into 
the City of Austin, of course you see the University of Texas tower, 
very closely identified with J.J. Jake Pickle, the research center 
there at the University of Texas, north of the main campus named for 
Congressman Pickle, not far from the J.J. Pickle Elementary School, a 
unique concept of a community center and health center and elementary 
school all in one.
  I noted among the tributes to Congressman Pickle, the words of the 
first principal of that school, Claudia Kramer Santamaria, who said, I 
was honored to open the J.J. Pickle Elementary School and have Jake 
celebrate time after time with our school community. He brightened our 
day with his visits, told unforgettable stories to our students, and 
gave endless support to our school.
  The Pickle School family will continue to cherish and live out his 
example of genuine kindness and giving never-ending pride to our 
children. Jake set an example for me, not just the school community. He 
will remain in our hearts.
  And with the new school year coming up, another generation of young 
students will benefit from his work in public education and the work 
that goes on in the St. Johns neighborhood in the Pickle Elementary 
School and the community health center that is located there.
  You know, there are these physical monuments, and of course when I 
travel into my office, along with other Federal officials there in 
Austin, that is also the J.J. Pickle Federal Office Building. There are 
those many physical tributes to Congressman Pickle. But I think those 
tributes that are most meaningful are the ones that are reflected in 
the stories of his service.
  Normally, when someone appears here in the House, they do so without 
lapel pins or labels. I chose tonight to wear my Jake green pickle 
button. And there were lots of those that were at the memorial service. 
There were many of them that were passed out through the years, along 
with the squeaky green pickle that was Jake's symbol that he would pass 
along to kind of warm up, establish a tie to someone that he was 
meeting for the first time.
  He continued passing out those pickles even after he announced his 
retirement in 1994 at a gathering that I was at, as if he had an 
endless supply of pickles and an endless supply of energy and interest 
in working with people.
  He really did set the standard for public service. Naturally, the 
Congressman could not have accomplished this without the support of a 
loving and supportive family. First and foremost his wife throughout 
this service, Beryl, there was a great photograph of her and Jake 
boarding a Braniff airplane for Washington, just after he was elected 
in 1963, coming up, I suppose, to celebrate Christmas here in 
Washington after he was elected in a special election there.
  I knew him first as Peggy's dad, because Peggy Pickle and I were in 
Austin High School the same year that he was elected to Congress. Peggy 
gave a wonderful tribute to her father at this memorial service. And of 
course the even broader tribute that exists from her, in working with 
Jake and the many stories that are incorporated in a book that they 
wrote and presented together called ``Jake'' in 1997.
  Peggy; her husband, Don; Dick McCarroll and his wife, Missy; Graham 
McCarroll and his wife, Marsha. Jake's brother. There was something I 
remember going to, I believe it was an 80th birthday party at the 
University of Texas Alumni Center a decade ago. And there were all of 
those people in their 80s from the Big Spring and the Roscoe area. 
There was something good in those big springs in that Howard County 
area, because many people with long lives, great stories and great 
service in their own way, and one of those who remains with us, our 
friend, the brother of Jake Pickle, Joe, his sister Judith Pickle 
Lancaster, and her husband Jonathan, six grandchildren, including my 
former neighbor Bergan Casey, four great granddaughters, including her 
son, Peyton Casey, the McCarrolls, the Caseys, the other expanded 
family of the Pickle family, sharing a special place in their hearts 
for all that this man contributed to the public, but for the family man 
that he was, and recognizing the sacrifices that they made so that he 
could continue to be in there day in day out working so hard for people 
throughout central Texas.
  He was also blessed with a tremendous staff. I can remember coming 
here to Washington for the first time as a University of Texas student 
myself and the warm feeling that one got in going into Jake's office 
over in the Cannon Building, an office that when he first came to 
Washington, with Jake Pickle, he served in a more humble way, I believe 
as a night watchman, probably at hours like this, a job he told me he 
was never very good at; but he was sure good at what was happening 
working night and day, first for Congressman Lyndon Johnson, and later 
in his own right on behalf of the thousands of people across Texas that 
he represented.
  In the Washington office, Molly Kellogg was always there at the front 
desk greeting people so warmly and giving them that Texas hospitality 
that we all relished when we came to see Jake in Washington.
  In the Austin office, a similar role was played for many years by 
Dorothy Elliott. Here in the Austin office, Paul Hilgers headed up the 
team as they passed the torch to me there in Austin. And there are so 
many others: Sandy Dochen, Joyce Arnold, my long-time friend from the 
University of Texas, Cliff Drummond, Judge Bill Schroeder and Kay 
Schroeder from down in Lockhart, Fleetwood Richards, who was at this 
memorial service who served Jake early in his career in the Congress.
  Kathy Morris, Michael Keeling, Minnie Lopez who was there working on 
behalf of veterans as Jake worked to the last day in 1994 in his office 
there in Austin.
  Missy Mandell, George Phoenix, Reg Todd who served admirably as a 
district director there in the office, Ateja

[[Page H5725]]

Dukes who was there assisting Paul in the office, Joe Grant. So many 
others that have continued to serve in different ways here in 
Washington.
  People like Janice McCullough and Barbara Pate who served here with 
Rob Portman on the Ways and Means Committee. One person after another 
who was inspired by Jake's own level of activity to be active 
participants in the process, not only working with Jake Pickle, but 
working after they completed their official tour with Jake Pickle, as 
indicated by the large number of Pickle staffers, both at this memorial 
service and at a great celebration of Jake's birthday here about a year 
ago. Once on this Pickle team, always a part of it.

                              {time}  2045

  It really is an humbling experience to try to capture just a little 
of the essence of this great American because while his focus was on 
his home folks, the folks of central Texas that he represented, he was 
also a great American leader. He played a pivotal role in the eighties 
in what was a very bitter and divisive debate over the future of Social 
Security. And by making some changes in the Social Security system 
then, he was able to bring it that additional solvency from which we 
continue to benefit today.
  He was a person who knew a time in America when there was no Social 
Security system. He recognized how really important it is to provide 
that basic safety net for all of our seniors. His work for Social 
Security, for Medicare on the House Committee on Ways and Means, was 
extremely important to preserving that for another generation of 
Americans.
  There is a great deal for us to learn from the work that he did at 
that time to try to bring people together to address Social Security 
problems, but to do it in a constructive way so that Social Security, 
the same Social Security Franklin Roosevelt signed into law could be 
there for generations of Americans to come. His work in oversight on 
the Committee on Ways and Means, investigating organized crime and its 
involvement with the pension fund, seeking to assure that nonprofits 
were complying with the law and not abusing the public trust and the 
public treasury are the kind of things that fill the footnotes but are 
extremely important to the operation of our government.
  As I talk, though, with people on the Committee on Ways and Means, 
almost all of whom will have remarks to be inserted in the Record, they 
are mainly telling me the stories of Jake Pickle and how he could take 
a moment of divisiveness, perhaps of acrimony, and turn it around into 
a moment of humor. That is why a delegation of both Republicans and 
Democrats join together to bring honor to him at this memorial service 
and will be joining together as a part of this special order to reflect 
on their experiences with Jake Pickle.
  One of Jake's longtime friends, Eric Stumberg, summarized him as a 
man with a heart for children and the underdog, a vision for 
possibilities, a great storyteller, and a wit and simple wisdom to 
humble the arrogant. And he always left a smile and an ideal to ponder 
along with that plastic Pickle.
  Jake was a man of ideas and he was far ahead of his times. In 
addition to some of the other areas that he worked in over 20 years 
ago, he was named the Solar Power Congressman of the Year. He seemed to 
have energy from many sources, but he recognized the importance to our 
energy future of alternative energy sources. His attention to the need 
for research and development was unfaltering as he doggedly pursued one 
funding project after another for the University of Texas.
  I think that it is noteworthy that when Jake was elected to Congress, 
his district stretched from the Johnson ranch out in Blanco County all 
the way to the Harris County line. He went from the hill country to the 
Texas Gulf. He went through dozens of small rural Texas communities, 
farming and ranching communities. And when he left office some 31 years 
later, he represented basically the City of Austin, Travis County, 
because it had grown to such a significant town. A city which would 
soon have, in 1 year, two $1 billion semi-conductor fabricators going 
up. And this man's ability to adapt over that period of time to those 
changing conditions and to be a force for change in helping get the 
research dollars, the government support, realizing that government 
certainly has to be restrained at times but that it can be a force for 
positive good in the lives of communities and in the lives of 
individuals. He recognized that.
  He transformed, played a transforming role in our community in 
helping Austin become a really world class center for technology. And I 
think at the same time was able to preserve those values and those 
relationships which served him well from the first day that he got to 
Austin, Texas, from out in Big Spring. Indeed, I think everyone who was 
with us recently at the First Methodist Church there in Austin took 
note of the fact that Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady of America, and her 
daughters, Luci and Linda, were there at the service as they have been 
at every Pickle public event that I believe I have ever been to, as a 
tribute of the close relationship between the Johnson family and the 
Pickle family that served them well in politics but also served them 
well as individuals who respected each other, learned from each other 
and contributed to make a better central Texas and a better America and 
I believe a better world.
  I am pleased to be joined by one of our colleagues who I see has 
Jake's book, as we all do, the book that Jake and Peggy put together 
here a few years ago. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green) served 
with Jake. He represents the Houston area. And the gentleman may want 
to add a few stories. I have not really gotten into the storytelling 
part. I have just talked about the storyteller himself. I really 
appreciate the gentleman coming out, as I know the family and staff of 
the Congressman do, to add words at a time here when we are officially 
in recess and with so many of our colleagues heading off to the shuttle 
launching tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague who served 
many years in the State Senate and in the Supreme Court of Texas and 
now in Congress.
  Since it is replacing Jake Pickle, although nobody can replace Jake 
Pickle, I served only one term with Jake, but knowing him and when I 
served in the legislature with him for 20 years in Austin before I was 
elected to Congress, Jake for my whole career was the definition of 
Texas gentleman. He loved Texas and loved Austin and the hill country.
  I guess my first experience knowing Jake was in 1974. I just 
completed my first term as a young 25-year-old member of State 
legislature. And another member that served one term, Larry Bails, 
Larry decided that Jake might be vulnerable in 1974. So Larry Bails, 
who had a good one term in the legislature and was the owner at that 
time of the landmark in Austin, the Schultz Beer Hall, where a lot of 
legislature folks decided to go after the session, Larry decided to run 
against Jake and ran a fairly aggressive campaign. But Larry was one of 
the many who made that wrong decision.
  Larry was a good member of the State legislature but decided he would 
move up too quick. I watched Jake campaign, because we were at the 
Constitutional Convention during that primary of that year. I was in 
Austin at that time and still going home on weekends like we do now, 
and watched that campaign unfold and how Jake literally, he being a 
long-term member, at that time a little over 10 years, literally took 
this young fellow apart so to speak.
  Jake was such a great person. We have so many good stories. The 
reason I brought his book over is that, in 1997, Jake gave me this book 
and wrote an inscription that I was so proud to come from someone of 
Jake Pickle's stature: To my distinguished colleague Gene Green, 
experienced, effective and trusted, and I know this Gene Green was for 
the people. And having that statement from Jake Pickle was more than 
anyone could ever expect.
  I would just suggest that if someone wants to have some great stories 
of how government works and how, in our process, if you do not have a 
sense of humor, you will surely go crazy; Jake did this in his book and 
I assume it is still in print, the University of Texas print. For my 
colleagues, I know the Library of Congress has them. My colleagues will 
love to read it. You will

[[Page H5726]]

stay up all night because I did that. When I first got the book, I 
stayed up and read all the great stories about LBJ when Jake was a 
staff member for President Johnson.
  I served with a lot of great people in my time and great Texans, and 
Jake was one of them. I compare Jake to Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock 
in one way; they both loved Texas and loved the job they did.
  I have to admit, Bullock would wake up in the morning and give 
everybody a good cussing and, thank goodness, forget about it in the 
afternoon. You did not have to worry about that with Jake Pickle 
because he was a gentleman. But he also had a sense of humor I do not 
think any of us can express too much.
  In the introduction to his book, I believe his daughter wrote the 
introduction, and briefly some of Jake's rules are: In a parade, do not 
get behind the horses but do ride in a convertible with your name on 
the sides. Always be available to constituents. Do not assume they will 
not find out about it because they will.
  These are some good tests for all elected officials whether you are 
in Congress or not.
  If it does not pass the smell test, do not do it. A politician who 
expects financial privacy is in the wrong line of work. Do not arrive 
at events too early because they do not know what to do with you. 
Listen for the bell.
  Those of us in Congress understand that. We have to listen for the 
bell so we can go vote.
  Answer every constituent's letter within 3 days of its receipt. We 
have that goal in our office still, 3 business days anyway.
  If you do not know where the money came from, give it back. Holding a 
drink gets in the way of shaking hands.
  That is a good saying for elected officials also.
  In your home district, you cannot say no. Jake understood that.
  In a restaurant, face the door so people can see and talk to you. 
Always carry a pen and paper. Introduce yourself first. At barbecues, 
which is something we do a lot of in Texas, stand at the head of the 
food line. Everybody has to pass by and you get to shake their hand. 
Never take it all for granted.
  Those are some of Jake's sayings that I think any elected official 
can live by. Jake will be missed.
  I will close by telling a personal experience. When my daughter went 
to the University of Texas, she had a project one time, and this was 
after Jake had left Congress. And she went down to his office, and Jake 
literally opened up for an hour or more helping her do her project at 
the University of Texas. Of course, this is a young lady who grew up in 
politics and was actually born while I was in the legislature.
  After she met Jake Pickle, and she did not call me to say she had to 
go do it; she did call me and say, Dad, I just met one of the greatest 
folks I ever talked to. Jake Pickle, Congressman Pickle was so good to 
talk to me. He was so down to Earth, so easy to understand.
  I think that is Jake's legacy. I guess the last thing I would say is 
his legacy goes on because, at the University of Texas, the J.J. Pickle 
Fellowship Program supports internships within the executive, 
legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal government. It is 
fitting that, after passing, J.J. Pickle will be helping the future 
public servants just like he has helped so many of us in the past.
  Jake will be missed. I know his family will miss him, but we will 
also miss the feeling of his love for Texas, his love for Austin, the 
communities of central Texas, but also our country.
  I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) for allowing for this 
special order this evening.
  Former Congressman J.J. Pickle was a standout in the great tradition 
of Texas legislators. He was deeply loved and respected throughout 
Central Texas and the entire state.
  My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends throughout 
Texas and the Nation for their loss of this great man.
  From Big Spring, Texas J.J. Pickle went on to win Former President 
Lyndon Baines Johnson's 10th District Congressional seat and became a 
senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
  His accomplishments here were numerous. One example when he chaired 
the Social Security subcommittee was the bipartisan, consensus changes 
to save Social Security back in 1983.
  I served with him in this House from 1993 to 1995, and he was an 
inspiration to all of us.
  He was a dedicated public servant, whose legacy shows he did what was 
best for his constituents, not politics. As proof of his dedication to 
public service, the J.J. Pickle Fellowship program at the University of 
Texas supports internships within the executive, legislative, or 
judicial branches of the Federal government.
  It is fitting that even after his passing, J.J. Pickle will be 
helping future public servants, just like he helped so many in the 
past.
  His passing should give us all an opportunity to reflect on his 
ideals of constituent service and hard, honest work.
  Politics sometimes distracts us from why we got into this public 
service in the first place--which is the honest reward you feel when 
you help the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in deep regret at the passing of a great Texas 
leader, J.J. Pickle. May God bless him and his family during this 
difficult time.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being here and 
for participating and sharing those thoughts.
  Our colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) already spoke 
earlier this evening before we formally began this special order, but 
his remarks, the various written remarks of our colleagues of both 
parties will be made a part of this Record.
  We talked about the stories of Jake Pickle and what a storyteller he 
was. I liked the one, in the aftermath of his passing away, that came 
from a local Austinite and admirer of Jake Pickle, John Kelso, in the 
Austin American Statesman. He said, ``Jake Pickle was like your barber. 
You knew his name, and you knew what he did.''
  But the story amongst several that John tells that I think really 
captures the essence of what Jake was all about was, could you pick 
your representative from Washington out of a line up? Maybe not, but 
you could not say that about Jake Pickle. You could have had seven Jake 
Pickle clones in an eight-man line up with Jake Pickle and you could 
tell which one was Pickle. He would be the one shaking the other seven 
guys hands and telling funny stories. And there was one after another 
out of the Pickle barrel that he would tell around here and to our 
colleagues.

                              {time}  2100

  He also could be very eloquent in discussing the needs of the people 
of central Texas and of our country. During one very lengthy debate 
here in 1983 here over Social Security, he pointed to Daniel Webster's 
quotation at the Speaker's podium and read the words: ``Let us go forth 
to build up and protect our national resources that we too in our time 
may do something worthy to be remembered.''
  Certainly, from his first major vote on the Civil Rights Act to his 
hard-fought preservation of Social Security, there is no doubt among 
those who know of his deeds, his constituents, his colleagues and 
friends, that his contribution will be remembered long after in the 
very words that Webster spoke.
  I believe that of all the votes that Jake cast here and the speeches 
he gave at this very spot that the one that he talked about the most, 
that was the most significant, was among his first votes on the 1964 
Civil Rights Act. That vote took place in the aftermath of the 
assassination of President Kennedy at a time of great strife in our 
country over civil rights and our future. It was a critical vote to the 
rebirth of our country and to trying to cope with some of the wrongs, 
many wrongs of the past.
  Congressman Pickle, representing a southern State, was a new Member, 
faced a difficult decision, and he describes that at some length in the 
book that we have referred to and will incorporate portions of as a 
part of this Record. But I have heard him personally tell, as so many 
have here, about casting that vote and about calling the White House to 
talk to the President, it being so late, and then getting the 
opportunity to hear from the President of how very proud he was of the 
fact that Congressman Pickle cast one of the only votes from the 
southern States in support of this very critical piece of legislation.
  From there he went on to add a road here, a project there, assist a 
constituent with a veterans health care

[[Page H5727]]

problem here, and someone who had a Social Security problem there. For 
each of those people that he assisted directly, and for those that he 
encouraged by the example of public service that he provided, his hard 
work, his integrity, his commitment, his gentle nature, I think he will 
long be remembered in our community.
  I was just noting another of the comments that I saw in the aftermath 
of his passing away where one of our neighbors there in central Texas, 
who identified herself as a Republican, Marcia Manor, said, ``When I 
would take my mom to vote, she always said, `I only care about voting 
for Jake.' She would of course vote for some other candidates, but Jake 
Pickle was the important vote. And when I asked her why, she said, 
`Because he always kisses me when he sees me.' '' Well, Jake kissed and 
hugged a lot of folks across central Texas because he had that genuine 
warmth, that genuine Texas hospitality for which our community is 
known.
  I think that it was that individual touch and contact with people 
more than the detail of a piece of legislation that had the most 
meaning to people in our community. We will, through this Special 
Order, have an opportunity to add more extended remarks honoring Jake. 
I have been contacted by a number of our colleagues who will, over the 
course of the next several days, want to add their remarks to the 
Record and make it a part of the history of this body, reflecting on 31 
years of faithful service here in this House.
  I would just say that, Jake, I feel we owe you a tremendous debt in 
setting such a high standard for what it really means to be a public 
servant; for someone who worked the hardest for those who had the 
least; for someone whose sense of duty kept him and his loyal staff 
working long hours; and for making it all look so very easy. Thank you 
for reminding us how much one person can accomplish; what a difference 
one person can make in his or her community, world, country, State; and 
reminding us how much one person can accomplish when you devote your 
life to the service of others.
  Texas and a grateful Nation salute you and say, ``J.J. Jake Pickle, a 
job well done for America.''
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, on June 18, this nation lost a true 
patriot when James Jarrell ``Jake'' Pickle passed away. Congressman 
Jake Pickle was truly dedicated to his country, the state of Texas he 
loved so much, and to the constituents he served so dutifully. In 1942, 
young Jake Pickle began his public service by enlisting in the U.S. 
Navy and serving as a gunnery officer in World War II. After surviving 
three torpedo attacks he returned to Texas and with some fellow 
veterans established radio station KVET in Austin, Texas. As a protege 
of President Johnson, he came to the U.S. House of Representatives in 
the early 1960s looking to make a difference. He got his chance almost 
immediately.
  Bucking the trend of the times, and breaking with many from the 
Southern delegation, Congressman Pickle voted for the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964, and continued to remain a staunch advocate for civil rights 
and protections for minorities. He always said that this vote was the 
proudest moment of his career. In the early 1980s, as chairman of the 
Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, he worked to protect 
and strengthen Social Security from financial ruin. Recognizing the 
need to maintain America's technological edge and always mindful of the 
need to increase job opportunities for his constituents, he helped 
bring high-tech industries to Austin and worked to make the University 
of Texas, my alma mater and his, a cutting edge research institution.
  As I have traveled throughout my newly reconfigured district, I have 
heard numerous stories about Jake and the plastic pickles he used to 
hand out on the campaign trail. He loved the people of Texas, and was 
happiest when he was sitting at a local diner telling stories and 
listening to his constituents. I was very honored to represent my 
colleagues as part of the official Congressional delegation that was 
sent to Congressman Pickle's funeral. It is my hope that as the 
Representative for some of the communities Congressman Pickle proudly 
represented for 31 years I can continue advocating for the issues he 
cared for the most, and represent the people of the 15th Congressional 
District with the same honor, grace and dedication. I extend my sincere 
sympathy to Congressman Pickle's wife Beryl, his children, 
grandchildren, family and friends on their loss, but know that his 
memory will live on in the halls of Congress and in the communities of 
Texas.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of our former 
colleague and friend, the late Representative J.J. ``Jake'' Pickle.
  As many of you know, Jake and I served together on the Committee on 
Ways and Means for eight years. In fact, when I first began to serve on 
the Committee in 1983, I was assigned to the Subcommittee on Social 
Security, which he chaired. Jake's hard work and skill helped develop 
the legislation enacted in 1983 to enhance Social Security. Jake is 
also well-remembered for his courageous vote in support of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964 and the superior service he provided to his 
constituents.
  I admired Jake's ability and work ethic and appreciated his 
friendship. I will miss him and extend my deepest condolences to his 
wife Beryl and the rest of his family.
  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in paying tribute 
to a truly great former Member of the House, the late Jake Pickle of 
Austin. Jake served his district and the people of Austin for more than 
30 years and was one of the most effective and formidable 
Representatives this body has ever known.
  Jake was my colleague in the House for about half of his tenure. He 
loved this institution and was one of its leading Members throughout 
his service. Time and again, Jake convinced a majority of us to support 
appropriations and programs that benefited the citizens of his district 
around Austin--and at the same time he managed to convince us that it 
was somehow good for our districts, too.
  Jake had the intellect, personality, and drive to accomplish 
countless legislative victories for his district and our country. As a 
senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, he was 
instrumental in passing major Social Security reform legislation in 
1983. This legislation helped ensure the viability of this great 
program for senior citizens for the past two decades.
  Jake managed to be both respected and beloved. He will be long 
remembered not only for his accomplishments but also for his engaging 
and flamboyant personality. His influence will be felt for generations 
to come, and he will forever be remembered in Austin as one of the 
great statesmen of the State of Texas.
  May God bless his family, and may he rest in peace.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many great Americans have served in 
this House; men and women of conviction who represented their 
constituents with integrity, energy and devotion to assuring the 
American dream becomes a reality for all.
  Few Members of Congress have served with such unbridled enthusiasm, 
such untiring good humor and such true pleasure in the task as did my 
late colleague from Texas, Jake Pickle.
  Jake's passing last month at the age of 91 was, in many ways, the end 
of an era in Texas history. A longtime confidant of President Lyndon 
Johnson, Jake represented the 10th District of Texas for 31 years. 
During that long tenure, he set an enviable record for constituent 
service and responsiveness. No constituent concern or problem was too 
small for Jake's attention.
  Jake loved this House and took seriously his responsibility to uphold 
the integrity of the institution and the responsibilities of 
representative government.
  Sometimes his enthusiasm was expressed in his tireless work for 
legislation. At other times, it was expressed in his support for his 
beloved University of Texas Longhorns. And at other times, it was 
expressed in a quiet talk with a troubled constituent he encountered on 
Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
  It is most fitting that Jake's funeral service was conducted in his 
church that stands in the shadow of the dome of the Texas State 
Capitol. And it is fitting that he rests now in the Texas State 
Cemetery with other leaders of the Lone Star State.
  It was both a tremendous honor and a great learning experience to 
have served in this House with Jake Pickle.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join 
my distinguished colleagues and pay tribute to my good friend, J.J. 
Pickle. Those of us who have the tremendous honor of serving in this 
great institution sometimes fail to see the giants that serve among us. 
Certainly J.J. Pickle was one of those giants.
  He was a man who gave his heart, literally, to this country. He 
poured hours after hours into trying to grapple with the important 
issues we faced as a Nation, and he did it because he loved this 
country. He was truly a public servant who cared about the people in 
the State of Texas, and cared about the people in this great country.
  It is rare that we see people in this institution who worked as hard 
as J.J. Pickle. However, in doing so, he was always able to retain his 
touch of the common man. As much as he accomplished academically and 
through the higher ranks of government in this country, he never lost 
the ability to relate to people on a day-to-day level. To me he will 
always be Jake, the fellow who would put his arm around

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you, smile and joke, and ask how things were going. He was a man who 
cared about you as an individual and I cared about people.
  He loved high-powered debates with intellectuals, but he never put on 
airs. He was one of only seven southern representatives to vote for the 
1964 Civil Rights Act legislation. He believed that his most 
significant accomplishment as a lawmaker was the 1983 Social Security 
reform bill, which he helped pass as chairman of the Social Security 
subcommittee. That legislation eased Social Security's financial 
problems by raising the age for full benefits from 65 to 67 in the year 
2000. He could talk to farmers and mechanics as easily as Presidents 
such as from his mentor, President Johnson and other leaders. It is no 
wonder the voters of Central Texas kept Jake in Congress for 31 years. 
They knew a good man when they saw him. They, and all Americans, have 
lost someone very special.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to recognize J.J. Pickle, a 
man whose spirit and involvement has made a lasting mark on Texas and 
this Nation.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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