[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 71 (Monday, May 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM JEFFORDS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, a former colleague of ours celebrates a 
milestone today. Jim Jeffords, who served his country in the military 
for many decades and the people of Vermont and Congress for 32 years--
and he did so on both sides of the aisle, over there and over here--was 
born 75 years ago today.
  Jim Jeffords, of course, was a lifelong Vermonter. His father was the 
chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, and Jim Jeffords graduated 
from Vermont public schools, Yale University, and Harvard school. He 
was a very smart man, as indicated with his academic background.
  He served for 35 years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve until he 
retired as captain while still sitting as a Senator. During Jim 
Jeffords' time in the Senate, he did much to ensure children could get 
a good education, that they could get a job when they graduated from 
school. He cared deeply for the environment and for people with 
disabilities. He served during his last years in the Senate as chairman 
of the Environment and Public Works Committee. He was one of the 
leaders who pushed the United States to lead a humanitarian mission to 
Rwanda during the country's terrible genocide. Of course, Senator 
Jeffords also single-handedly shifted the balance of power in this body 
when, in 2001, he became an Independent and caucused with Democrats. It 
was a very courageous thing for Jim to do.
  As we have read in the history books, it wasn't easy for him to do 
this. It cost him friends, supporters, even some of his own staff. When 
he announced his decision, Senator Jeffords said:

       The weight that has been lifted from my shoulders now hangs 
     heavy on my heart.

  He knew the impact his decision would have on the people around him, 
and he cared deeply about that. At the time that he did this, it was a 
very popular thing with the American people to do. When Senator 
Jeffords was here in Washington and other places in the country, they 
would recognize him; people would stand and applaud.
  Jim has been very ill since he retired from the Senate. He is in 
extremely bad health. We wish him well. Senator Jeffords' family threw 
him a small birthday party this past weekend. His son Leonard, his 
daughter Laura, his grandson Patrick, and his granddaughter Hazel were 
all there.
  I don't have nearly the voice in any way that Senator Jeffords had. 
For many years he was a member of our very own barbershop quartet, the 
Singing Senators. So I will not break out in song, but on behalf of the 
entire Senate, we wish our friend Jim Jeffords a very happy 75th 
birthday.

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