[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 79 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2782-S2783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING JACQUELINE L. FALK

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Jacqueline 
``Jackie'' Louise Falk. Jackie was an incredible force in Democratic 
politics for decades. She left behind a tightknit family of relatives 
and a political family that stretches around the world.
  Jackie is best known for holding a key role in nearly every 
Democratic National Convention from 1972 through 2004. She also was on 
staff at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), as an aide to then-
treasurer Robert Strauss, during the time of the Watergate break-in; 
she served as assistant to the counselor to the President during the 
Carter Administration; and served as administrative assistant and chief 
of staff to U.S. Representative Leo Zeferetti in the early 1980s.
  Jackie suffered a stroke last week and passed away on Wednesday, May 
8, surrounded by her loving, extended family. Jackie never sought the 
spotlight. but left her mark on our party and our country by bringing a 
semblance of order to the sometimes-chaotic world of nominating the 
President of the United States.
  Today, I would like to honor Jackie's memory by sharing some of her 
remarkable story. To tell the story of Jackie Falk is more than 
politics, although it is weaved throughout her life. As one friend, 
Yolanda Caraway, described her: ``Jackie was one of the sweetest, 
kindest and funniest people I've ever known and I'm really going to 
miss her, especially her wonderful laugh.''
  Jackie was born in Trenton, NJ, to Minnie and Arlo Falk. She grew up 
with her brother Albert and sister Lisa. Jackie got hooked on politics 
and public service at a young age thanks to her Aunt Violet (Williams 
Biglane), who, after service in the Navy WAVES, went on to work as the 
personal secretary to former Senator and former Vice President Hubert 
Humphrey.
  Jackie would tell stories of interacting with Hubert Humphrey and 
passing out flyers for his campaign. In 1964, Jackie accompanied Aunt 
Violet to the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, NJ, to 
see Humphrey nominated as Vice President. Aunt Violet helped Jackie 
make her way to the Democratic National Committee, where she started 
working in 1972 for then-DNC Treasurer Robert Strauss. Jackie went on 
to work closely with every Democratic Party chairman from Strauss 
through Terry McAuliffe.
  When Terry McAuliffe, former Governor of Virginia and former chairman 
of the DNC, heard of Jackie's death, he had this to say: ``We lost a 
legend. The Democratic Party and Democratic National Conventions will 
never be the same. Jackie's convention credentialing was a labor of 
love and truly a work of art. She conducted her credential operation 
like Mozart conducted his symphonies. She never ceased to amaze. I and 
so many others will forever be in her debt and will miss her deeply.''
  In 1975, Jackie moved to Atlanta to work on the Presidential campaign 
of Jimmy Carter. She returned to Washington to work on his White House 
staff in the Office of the Counselor to the President. The Washington 
region would remain her home, even as she would take up temporary 
residence every 4 years in whatever city was the latest to host the 
Democratic nominating convention. Oftentimes, she was one of the first 
people working on a convention and one of the last to wrap things up.
  After President Carter lost relection, Jackie worked on Capitol Hill, 
where she served as chief of staff, administrative assistant, to 
Congressman Leo Zeferetti from January 1981 to January 1983. She then 
was hired early for the Democratic Convention in San Francisco, which 
was the start of her run overseeing credentials and a larger swath of 
the conventions.
  From 1984 on, she was responsible for credentials--who gets the 
precious access passes and where they could go--

[[Page S2783]]

either as credentials director or as deputy convention manager. This 
made her one of the most sought after and powerful women in Democratic 
politics.
  In the 1990s, between conventions and DNC work, Jackie started an 
interior decorating business. Clients came from among her political 
contacts, including Mary Matalin and James Carville.
  Jackie loved her family; she cheered on their milestones and loved 
celebrating holidays together. She is survived by her brother and 
sister-in-law Albert and Debbie Enourato; sister Lisa Enourato; nieces 
Whitney and Hannah McNees; nephews Will, Luke, and Eli McNees and Wyatt 
and Gunnar Enourato. Her great love also was for her Great Pyrenees; 
the latest was Bree, who we know misses her dearly.
  Jackie also built an immensely loyal political family that came 
together every 4 years for conventions and as often as possible for 
happy hour or dinner at Jackie's house. She was an incredible mentor 
and role model. She demonstrated how a woman in politics could be both 
strong and gentle, funny and serious.
  Let me close by saying that May is National Stroke Awareness Month. 
Everyone is encouraged to know the signs and understand how important 
it is to get help quickly. The minutes and hours right after stroke 
occurs are crucial. According to the Centers for Disease Control--CDC--
stroke, while preventable, is the fifth leading cause of death in the 
United States and a leading cause of severe disability. Jackie Falk 
died of a stroke, and the CDC says that approximately 60 percent of 
individuals who die from strokes are women. I urge the women and the 
men out there not to ignore the signs, such as sudden numbness, 
confusion, trouble seeing, trouble walking, and severe headache.
  The political world will never again see someone the likes of Jackie 
Falk. Her memory will be a blessing to her family, all those who knew 
her, and all those who benefited from her hard work, dedication, and 
love of the Democratic Party and the good it can accomplish.

                          ____________________