[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8393-S8394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO TOM MONAHAN

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today, I would like to celebrate 
the extraordinary career of newsman Tom Monahan, who, after 40 years of 
political reporting for NBC Connecticut, is semi-retiring. I first came 
to know Tom in the early seventies when he covered me in the 
Connecticut General Assembly, and I have greatly admired his work and 
personality ever since.
  Tom is a native of Bristol, CT, who began his career in broadcast 
radio. He started reporting sports when he first joined NBC CT, and 
then graduated through the ranks to eventually become the station's 
chief political reporter and one of Connecticut's very finest.
  Much can be said about Tom's skill as a journalist, but his integrity 
immediately comes to mind. Edward R. Murrow, the great television 
broadcaster, once said ``we cannot make good news out of bad 
practice,'' and Tom's career surely embodied that principle. At a time 
when journalism is increasingly defined by attacks and negativity, Tom 
represents something of the ``old guard'' fact-driven reporting meant 
to inform and educate. He was always interested in getting the story 
out, but not interested in ``getting'' the public official who was part 
of the story. For so many years, the people of Connecticut who watched 
him came to rely on him for his truthfulness, and in the end many of us 
who were privileged to be in public life during his career wanted to 
help him get the story because we had such respect for and confidence 
in him.
  I have so many memories from over the years with Tom, but one stands 
out above the others. I remember the morning in August 2000 when Vice 
President Gore announced that he had selected me to be his Vice 
Presidential running mate. I was in my house in New Haven, CT, and the 
number of satellite and TV trucks outside began to grow, in effect 
barricading me in. The Gore campaign team flew in from Nashville and my 
new press secretary said to me in my kitchen, ``Sir, the initial 
reaction to Vice President Gore's selecting you as his running mate has 
been tremendous and, if you speak to the press outside, you can only 
detract

[[Page S8394]]

from the positive coverage we're getting.'' As we walk out the side 
door to head to the airport, who, of course, was standing right there 
but Tom Monahan. Needless to say, I went over and spoke to Tom--how was 
I not to?
  As I reflect on Tom's career, I cannot help but think how much he 
will be missed, and how grateful Connecticut should be for the 
invaluable service he provided us. We are undoubtedly better off for 
having had Tom Monahan as a reporter. I wish him and his wonderful 
family my very best as he moves on to an exciting new chapter in his 
life.

                          ____________________