[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MR. RICHARD A. RYAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Richard A. Ryan, who is 
retiring from his post at The Detroit News, after 40 years as a 
distinguished news reporter, 37 of those years a Washington 
correspondent.
  Dick Ryan has spent most of his life in journalism, reporting for the 
Muskegon Chronicle and Toledo Blade before establishing his position at 
the Detroit News in 1966. Ryan was at the News for the tumultuous 
Watergate period, ending with the historic 1974 resignation of 
President Richard Nixon and subsequent elevation of former Michigan 
Congressman Gerald Ford to the nation's highest office. Ryan watched as 
Ford was sworn in as the nation's 37th President, announcing the end of 
what he called ``our long national nightmare.''
  In all, Dick Ryan covered the highs and lows of seven presidents, 
from Nixon to George W. Bush, traveling overseas with Ronald Reagan for 
his memorable speech in West Berlin, urging the tearing down of the 
Berlin Wall. He witnessed the first official visit of an Arab leader to 
Israel, watching a tenuous peace process initiated by Egyptian 
President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, whose 
nations had been at war for decades. He viewed the talks that 
culminated in the signing of a historic peace agreement between the two 
nations before the world at the White House.
  In addition, Dick Ryan served as President of the Washington-based 
National Press Club in 2000, elected to that post by his peers in 
journalism. After a career that has placed him in the front row of some 
of this country's most fascinating events, he will enjoy his retirement 
enjoying the company of his five grandchildren, golf, travel, and the 
endless pursuit of every true journalist: writing.
  Mr. Speaker, I have known Richard Ryan to be a person of great 
professionalism and absolute integrity. He has truly brought credit to 
a profession which he has served so well. The Michigan Congressional 
delegation will certainly miss the integrity, dedication and 
professionalism which drove Dick to always get the story right, and the 
people of Michigan will miss his insightful reporting from Washington. 
And I will miss Dick Ryan because not only is he a consummate 
professional journalist, he is a very dear personal friend.

                          ____________________