[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 143 (Tuesday, August 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF FORMER CLERK OF THE HOUSE DONNALD K. ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 11, 2020

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a tireless public 
servant, whose 35 years of service to the House of Representatives have 
left an indelible legacy for the People's House: Former Clerk of the 
House Donnald K. Anderson.
  Donnald Anderson's House career began in 1960, when he left home in 
Sacramento, California to spend his senior year of high school as a 
House Page. This transformative experience changed the course of his 
life, which he would dedicate to serving the House of Representatives.
  As a Page assigned to a post in the Democratic Cloakroom, Anderson 
had a front row seat to the workings of Congress. Following a brief 
conversation with Clerk of the House Ralph R. Roberts while making a 
delivery to his office one day, Anderson decided that ``being Clerk of 
the House has to be the best job in the world, and my fantasy as a 17-
year-old high school senior was to be the Clerk of the House--little 
knowing that 27 years later I actually would become the Clerk of the 
House.''
  Following his time in the House Page initiative, Anderson attended 
Sacramento State University and George Washington University, and spent 
eight years proudly serving his nation in the U.S. Army Reserve. While 
pursuing his Bachelor's degree in political science, Anderson continued 
to work for the House, starting as an elevator operator in 1961. The 
experience he gained and relationships he cultivated led him to a 
position in the office of Congressman Jimmy Morrison of Louisiana, then 
to a position as an enrolling clerk and, in 1969, he returned to the 
Democratic Cloakroom as a second managerial assistant.
  Anderson became an expert on procedure and scheduling, establishing a 
reputation as a sought-after resource for Members looking to navigate 
the complexities of the House Floor. In 1972, Speaker Carl Albert of 
Oklahoma appointed Anderson Majority Floor Manager, a position he held 
for 15 years. And on January 6, 1987, Anderson's lifelong dream became 
realized when he was sworn in as the Clerk of the House for the 100th 
Congress, a position he held for eight years until retiring in 1995.
  In all his positions, Anderson served with integrity and dedication, 
taking immense pride in placing the duties of his office before 
partisanship or political ideology, which became a cornerstone of his 
tenure as Clerk. As Anderson noted, he was committed to ``ensuring that 
my office was absolutely nonpartisan, that we treated all Members with 
the same courtesy, the same expediency, the same confidentiality, so 
that Members of the minority . . . could unburden themselves with me, 
even though I was a Democrat, knowing that I would never break their 
confidence.''
  As Clerk, he was instrumental in the formation of the House Office of 
Employee Assistance and the Office of Fair Employment Practices, which 
continue to serve as vital tools for all House employees to receive the 
support and resources they need to effectively do their work on behalf 
of the American people. He also generously shared his deep knowledge of 
the legislative process and House protocol with new Members during 
Freshman orientation.
  One of Clerk Anderson's most lasting impacts on the House was his 
commitment to modernize the House. In the era before cellphones, Clerk 
Anderson's campaign to introduce electronic beepers was a great 
success, and he constantly sought new tools to ensure Members were kept 
up-to-date on House proceedings. By harnessing new technologies, 
Anderson helped the House set the foundation for doing business in the 
information age and in a world increasingly reliant on technological 
innovation.
  Clerk Anderson's love for the House and dedication to the institution 
stands as an enduring example for all those who will follow in his 
footsteps to serve the Congress and the American people.
  May it be a comfort to his friends, loved ones and the entire 
Anderson family that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them 
at this sad time.

                          ____________________