[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11640-S11641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ERIC UELAND

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish to pause for a moment to pay respect 
to one man, Eric Ueland, my chief of staff. Tucked away in a corner of 
Eric Ueland's office is a well-worn copy of the book ``Master of the 
Senate.'' This comes as no surprise to those of us who know him. In 
fact, my staff used to joke that he was reading his own biography.
  Eric is gifted with a passion for history, a thirst for knowledge, 
and a high reverence for the Senate. These talents have made him a 
uniquely capable adviser and leader in the majority leader's office.
  He contextualizes every Senate debate, recalls appropriate precedent, 
and draws parallels to moments in history. A nameplate is discretely 
displayed on his desk, and the name it bears: ``Information.''
  As the press corps knows, information is his trade and the enigmatic 
quote his trademark. How do you pay tribute to a man who is the first 
to know of Britney Spear's pregnancy and Don Rumsfeld's resignation?
  Eric delights in a secret and encyclopedic knowledge of popular 
culture. Copies of People magazine and the entertainment gossip columns 
are strewn in the back seat of his classic car. And he knows everything 
about the media. Yet he doesn't have home Internet access or even cable 
TV. How does he do that?
  Eric finds unique and, some would say, unusual pleasure in memorizing 
the complex rules, the arcane precedents, and early history of the 
Senate. ``Chart 4--mere child's play.'' You would expect he would know 
that combining his customary bow ties and beards could be a violation 
of the Senate Code of Conduct.
  But his extraordinary talents are not what I have come to respect 
most about Eric Ueland. He is a man of deep humility, a man of quiet 
faith, a man of sterling character. He is a person true to his 
convictions, both political and personal. He has maintained his 
integrity in the rough and tumble of politics. His standards are high.
  I know of no staffer who has had a more profound regard for the 
institution, our institution, the institution of the Senate. And, in 
turn, Eric has earned the gratitude and respect of so many who have had 
the honor to serve here. Eric came to the Senate 17 years ago and 
worked for Senator Don Nickles at the Republican Policy Committee and 
then as his chief of staff in the assistant Republican leader's office.
  Senator Nickles writes:

       I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of 
     individuals throughout my Senate career and Eric stands out 
     in many ways. He is an exceptionally intelligent individual 
     with unequaled knowledge of the Senate. His knowledge of 
     Senate history, rules, process and customs, as well as the 
     individuals who have served in the body for the last couple 
     of decades, is remarkable. He has devoted much of his life to 
     the Senate and helped make the Senate function much more 
     effectively. He was a tremendous asset to me as well as a 
     valued friend.


[[Page S11641]]


  Eric has a beautiful and patient wife Kathleen and three wonderful 
children--Stephen, 13; Brigid, 11; and Charlotte, 6. Eric, as we all 
know, puts in long hours in service to the Senate and it, again, as we 
all know, takes him away from his family. So I thank each of them for 
their service to his family, to their community and, thereby, to the 
country. But Eric is a devoted father and puts in many hours helping 
them with homework and could often be found keeping score at one of 
their basketball games. The children's manners, their politeness, their 
dress all reflect that Kathleen and Eric are great parents.
  Perhaps the highest tribute I can pay to Eric is simply to say his 
work has honored the institution of the U.S. Senate, which he himself 
so highly honors. And in honoring the Senate and the democratic ideals 
it represents, he has, indeed, honored his country.
  Well done, Eric, you have been a good and faithful servant of the 
Senate. You have been a good and faithful counselor and friend, and you 
have served this Nation with distinction.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I don't have prepared remarks, but I join 
the majority leader in praising Eric Ueland. He is a bright guy. Very 
intelligent, gracious, and straight, someone I trust. I got to know him 
with the leader over months, weeks, days, and hours. I thank him very 
much.

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