[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7298]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE GRATITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR THE SERVICE OF 
                           THOMAS B. GRIFFITH

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 82, submitted earlier 
today by Senator Thurmond.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 82) expressing the gratitude of the 
     United States Senate for the service of Thomas B. Griffith, 
     Legal Counsel for the United States Senate.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Mr. Thomas B. 
Griffith, who, on April 18, 1999, resigned from the position of Senate 
Legal Counsel to return to the private practice of law. Mr. Griffith 
served in that office for the past four years.
  Mr. President, as President pro tempore of the Senate, it was my 
pleasure to oversee the work of the Office of Legal Counsel during Mr. 
Griffith's tenure. I appreciated the great dedication and 
professionalism he displayed in his capacity as Legal Counsel.
  The Office of Senate Legal Counsel plays an important role for the 
United States Senate. It is responsible for providing legal defense to 
the Senate, its committees, Members, officers, and employees when 
authorized to do so. The Legal Counsel represents Senate committees in 
proceedings to obtain evidence for Senate investigations. As directed, 
it intervenes or appears as amicus curiae in the name of the Senate and 
Senate committees. It also represents the interests of the Senate as 
intervenor or amicus curiae in various other court cases. On an ongoing 
basis, the Senate Legal Counsel Office provides legal advice to 
Members, committees, and officers of the Senate.
  Among the highlights of Mr. Griffith's career in the Senate would 
undoubtably be the impeachment trial of the President of the United 
States. During those proceedings, Mr. Griffith provided the Senate with 
professional and nonpartisan advice on a range of issues related to the 
impeachment process.
  Other significant actions in which Mr. Griffith participated or 
directed as Senate Legal Counsel include the consideration of the 
Louisiana Contested Election Petition by the Committee on Rules and 
Administration; the investigation of Campaign Finance Practices by the 
Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs; the Judiciary Committee's 
review of the White House use of FBI files; and the work of the Special 
Committee To Investigate Whitewater Development Corporation.
  In addition, Mr. Griffith represented the interest of the Senate, its 
Members, employees and Officers, in a number of cases filed in the 
courts. At the top of this list would be his work on the Line Item Veto 
cases.
  In all of these activities, Mr. Griffith has seen to it that we are 
all served well by a professional, career, and nonpartisan staff.
  Mr. President, I am proud to sponsor this resolution and I am proud 
to have known and worked with Thomas Griffith. He has served his Nation 
well. I wish Thomas, his wife Susan, and their children the very best 
for the future.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, as an original cosponsor of the resolution, 
I rise today to add my remarks in support of, and in gratitude to, our 
former Senate Legal Counsel, Mr. Tom Griffith.
  It is always with mixed emotions that I speak on occasions such as 
this; while I am glad for Tom and wish him well in his return to 
private practice, I know that the Senate will miss the wise counsel and 
dedication he demonstrated during his nearly 4 years of service to this 
body.
  The ancient Chinese had a curse in which they wished their victim a 
life ``in interesting times''. For better or for worse, Tom lived such 
a life as Senate Legal Counsel. From my place on the Rules Committee--
first as a member and now as Ranking Member--I had a unique perspective 
on the Legal Counsel's efforts to deal with numerous ``interesting'' 
issues presenting novel, rare and in some cases historic issues, 
including implementation of the Congressional Accountability Act, 
resolution of the Louisiana election challenge, and, of course, the 
recent impeachment trial. Speaking for myself--and, I suspect, most of 
my colleagues--I must say that Tom handled those difficult 
responsibilities with great confidence and skill.
  A more contemporary observer--and one of Connecticut's most famous 
residents--Mark Twain, once suggested: ``Always do right--this will 
gratify some and astonish the rest.'' During his tenure as Legal 
Counsel, Tom exemplified this philosophy, impressing all who knew him 
with his knowledge of the law and never succumbing to the temptation to 
bend the law to partisan ends. All of us who serve here in the Senate 
know the importance of the rule of law; but let us never forget that it 
is individuals like Mr. Thomas Griffith whose calling it is to put that 
ideal into practice.
  Once again, I wish to express my gratitude to Tom for his years of 
service, and I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 82) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 82

       Whereas Thomas B. Griffith, the Legal Counsel of the United 
     States Senate, became an employee of the Senate on March 18, 
     1995, and since that date has ably and faithfully upheld the 
     high standards and traditions of the Office of Legal Counsel 
     of the United States Senate;
       Whereas Thomas B. Griffith, from October 24, 1995, to April 
     18, 1999, served as the Legal Counsel of the United States 
     Senate and demonstrated great dedication, professionalism, 
     and integrity in faithfully discharging the duties and 
     responsibilities of his position, including providing legal 
     defense of the Senate, its committees, Members, officers, and 
     employees; representing committees in proceedings to obtain 
     evidence for Senate investigations; representing the 
     interests of the Senate as intervenor or amicus curiae in 
     various court cases; and otherwise providing legal advice to 
     Members, committees, and officers of the Senate;
       Whereas Thomas B. Griffith, only the second person to hold 
     the position of Senate Legal Counsel since it was created in 
     1979, has met the needs of the United States Senate for legal 
     counsel with unfailing professionalism, skill, dedication, 
     and good humor during his entire tenure; and
       Whereas Thomas B. Griffith has tendered his resignation as 
     Senate Legal Counsel, effective as of April 18, 1999, to 
     return to the private practice of law; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Thomas B. 
     Griffith for his more than 4 years of faithful and exemplary 
     service to the United States Senate and the Nation, including 
     3\1/2\ years as Senate Legal Counsel, and expresses its deep 
     appreciation and gratitude for his faithful and outstanding 
     service.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Thomas B. Griffith.

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