[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 106 (Tuesday, July 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1115-E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ALBERT R. ANNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TODD C. YOUNG

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2013

  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Albert Anness of Franklin 
Indiana has shared with me a particularly memorable experience during 
his service as a Congressional Page in the House of Representatives.
   Mr. Anness's story takes place during the first session of the 81st 
Congress in the winter of 1949, in which he gives his account of the 
inauguration of President Harry S Truman. His story holds both 
sentimental and historical value, and I believe future generations will 
find equal worth in his narrative. I am sure all of my colleagues join 
me in thanking Mr. Anness for his service to the House of 
Representatives during the 81st Congress and for sharing his account of 
a special moment in history.
   With utmost gratitude, I present the text of the letter written to 
me by Mr. Anness:

                   A Moment in Historical Remembrance

                           (By Albert Anness)

       Franklin D. Roosevelt unexpectedly died April 12, 1945, and 
     his Vice-President Harry S Truman succeeded him to the 
     Presidency. Three years later on Thursday the 20th of January 
     1949 Harry S Truman again took the `Oath of Office', becoming 
     the 33rd President of the United States. The historical 
     significance of his inauguration is greatly enhanced when you 
     consider that of the members of the 81st Congress attending 
     his inauguration, four of them would someday themselves 
     become President, i.e. John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, 
     Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford. Three of whom--Johnson, 
     Nixon, and Ford--would like Truman, first serve as Vice-
     President. And of even greater historical significance, 
     Congressman Gerald Ford would become both Vice-President and 
     President without ever having been elected to either office!
       Fellow House Page, Jim Richardson and I briefly occupied 
     what would arguably have been considered among the best seats 
     at Truman's inauguration. The operative word in this scenario 
     is BRIEFLY as our `up close and personal' presence at this 
     historic milestone in our country's glorious history was 
     soon, very soon, cut short by our boss `Fishbait' Miller, 
     Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives.
       Thursday January 20, 1949 was a cloudy cold winter's day. 
     The Boarding house where my roommate Senate Page Bob Hansel 
     and I lived was located on New Jersey Avenue, a `stone's 
     throw' from the entrance of the Old House Office Building. 
     Leaving our lodgings early that Thursday morning, we 
     encountered an almost surreal scene. It appeared as if 
     Capitol Hill was in a `state of siege' with soldiers and 
     military vehicles everywhere! We quickly realized today was 
     going to be a very special day.
       Entering the Old House Office Building we soon were in the 
     underground Capitol Hill complex on our way to school. After 
     school we usually had breakfast in the House cafeteria before 
     reporting for work.
       The House after a brief session adjourned, and as a body 
     proceeded to President Truman's Inauguration. Our services no 
     longer being required, my fellow House Pages and I scattered 
     like the four winds!
       I cannot remember how it came to be that I found myself in 
     the Rotunda of the Capitol Building standing beside the 
     Secret Service man guarding the entrance to President 
     Truman's Inauguration Platform. An even bigger mystery is how 
     fellow House Page Jim Richardson came to be standing next to 
     me. But there we were, and as luck would have it the last 
     Congressman about to pass through the door and onto President 
     Truman's Inaugural Platform was my Congressman Edward G. 
     Breen of the then 3rd Congressional District of Ohio.
       After greeting me Congressman Breen proceeded to invite Jim 
     and me to come along and watch President Truman's 
     Inauguration. I explained that our passes did not extend to 
     the Inaugural Platform. Congressman Breen while patiently 
     waiting to pass thru the

[[Page E1116]]

     huge double ornate doors, causally turned to the Secret 
     Service man and informed him that we were official House 
     Pages. Unhesitatingly, and without uttering a single 
     syllable, the Secret Service man with a mere wave of his hand 
     gave permission for us to join the House Members on the 
     inaugural platform.
       Albeit, our stay was brief but the undeniable fact remains 
     that Jim and I were the only Pages (House, Senate or Supreme 
     Court) who that day gained admission onto President Truman's 
     Inaugural platform.
       Jim and I were ensconced in the `nose bleed' seats. Behind 
     us was the stone outside wall of the U.S. Capitol Building! 
     As a matter of fact we rested our backs against it.
       In front of us sat the House of Representatives! Across the 
     wide center aisle was the Senate. The Supreme Court was in 
     attendance, including Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson (who swore 
     into office that day, both Vice President Alben W. Barkley 
     and President Harry S Truman), the members of President's 
     Cabinet and invited V.I.P guests. Seated immediately in front 
     of the Inaugural platform was the United States Marine Band, 
     and in front of the band were the members of the Washington 
     Diplomatic Corps and beyond them, thousands of invited 
     guests. It was an exciting scene that Jim and I were certain 
     we would always remember!
       With the arrival of Vice President-Elect Alben W. Barkley 
     and his daughter, the Marine Band played `ruffles and 
     flourishes', and we all stood as they took their places on 
     the platform.
       We arose from our seats again when the Marine Bang struck 
     up `Hail to the Chief', announcing the arrival of President 
     Truman, his wife Bess and daughter Margaret.
       Standing there thrilled to be participating in the 
     Inaugural ceremonies, Jim and I were thunderstruck when out 
     into the middle aisle stepped `Fishbait' Miller, looking 
     straight at us and inexplicably, but with great emphasis 
     gestured for Jim and me to leave the Inaugural Platform. And 
     to leave immediately!
       We looked at each other in utter disbelief! How could 
     Fishbait, in this huge throng of people have known Jim and I 
     were on that platform? Considering the distance from where we 
     were seated to where he was standing it just did not seem 
     possible! Congressman Breen who had been observing the scene, 
     turned to me and said, ``Al, I guess you two will have to 
     go.'' With the sounds of ``Hail to the Chief'' ringing in our 
     ears we quickly departed.
       Disappointed, but not ready to call it `quits', Jim and I 
     scurried up to the roof of the Capitol Building, sharing that 
     lofty vantage point with the Marine who were there on guard. 
     But it was not the same. And, after a while we came back 
     down, and with several other House Pages observed the 
     remainder of President Truman's Inauguration from one of the 
     House windows. To mark the occasion, we opened the window 
     panel and inscribed our names.
       Several days passed before the opportunity presented itself 
     to inquire of Head Democratic Page why `Fishbait' Miller had 
     ordered Jim and me off President Truman's Inaugural platform. 
     He told me that Jim was `inappropriately dressed' as he was 
     wearing a surplus WWII Navy Pea Coat.
       More than sixty years have passed since that day and I 
     still cannot figure how `Fishbait' spotted the two of us in 
     that crowd!
       Not too long after the Inaugural, I was honored to be 
     invited by Fishbait to be his guest at his church's Father & 
     Son Banquet. He couldn't take all of the House Pages so I was 
     selected to represent them. I still have the Banquet Program.
       Later that spring Fishbait assigned me to the House Ways 
     and Means Committee to operate the sound system during the 
     committee hearings on Amending the Social Security Act 1935. 
     For that assignment I am forever grateful to him.
       On the first day of the hearings, the Doorkeeper sent 
     fellow Page Dave Cunningham. Dave did not like the job and 
     asked to be reassigned. Early the next morning Fishbait 
     collared me, and away I went to the New House Office Building 
     and the Ways & Means Committee! Had I been on the job the 
     first day of the hearings I would have met former President 
     Herbert Hoover, the man who was President of the United 
     States the year I was born. In 1949 he was then President of 
     the Hoover Commission and the first person to testify before 
     the committee. I deeply regret having missed that 
     opportunity.
       I couldn't have been happier with my assignment on the Ways 
     & Means Committee, and I remained for the entire hearings; I 
     was later recalled for several hearings on other legislative 
     matters. I have a letter from Ways & Means Committee 
     Chairman, the late Robert L. Doughton (North Carolina) in 
     which he said, ``I remember you and your efficient services 
     to the Committee very well. If and when you are in Washington 
     while I am here, I would be pleased to have you come by and 
     see me.'' He enclosed a line drawing of himself inscribed 
     ``to my Dear Friend Albert R. Anness'' and signed it, 
     ``Robert L. Doughton.''
       My last contact with Fishbait occurred sometime in the 
     1970's. My wife Sharon and I were in the D.C. area visiting 
     college friends, and one day with time to spare found 
     ourselves near Capitol Hill. As I wanted to show Sharon 
     around the House of Representatives, I hailed a cab, and in 
     short order we were walking up the steps into the Rotunda 
     through the same huge double ornate doors that I had exited 
     President Truman's Inaugural Platform many years earlier.
       Desiring to renew my acquaintance with Fishbait, introduce 
     Sharon to him and ask him permission to take her onto the 
     floor of the House, we headed for his office. Since the House 
     was in recess I didn't hold out much a chance of finding him 
     there, but I felt lucky that spring day!
       I was pleased to find Fishbait in his office bent over a 
     mimeograph machine busily trying to get it to work! He looked 
     up, and greeted us in his typical down home fashion. I 
     introduced myself and Sharon. After we shook hands he 
     immediately hugged and kissed Sharon and then hugged and 
     kissed her again! Grinning like Cheshire cat, Fishbait turned 
     his attention to me. He, of course, did not remember me, and 
     small wondering considering the hundreds of House Pages he 
     encountered during his long career as Doorkeeper. We talked 
     briefly and he mentioned several former Pages who had 
     returned as Congressmen. Realizing he was busy, I soon came 
     to the point of my visit and asked for a pass to the House 
     floor. He apologized for not having the time to personally 
     conduct our tour himself, and quickly scribbled out a note to 
     the Capitol Policeman in the Visitor's Gallery.
       After handing me his handwritten pass, he again hugged and 
     kissed Sharon. We shook hands, and wished each other the 
     best. I turned, and left Fishbait's presence for the last 
     time. On September 12, 1989, two days before my fifty-eighth 
     birthday, Fishbait passed away.

                          ____________________