[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24569]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF JOHN BAILEY

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to honor the memory of an 
outstanding public servant and a dear friend, John Michael Bailey, who 
passed away on September 23 at the age of 59.
  My friendship with Jack Bailey was long and deep. Our families were 
close friends, and we knew each other as children. We ran against each 
other for Congress in 1974, and I will always remember his civility 
during that campaign. We stayed friends during the campaign, and we 
remained close until his untimely passing.
  Jack served as the chief State's attorney in Connecticut for 9 
years--the longest tenure of anyone to hold that office. With his 
cigars, dark suits, and slicked-back hair, he outwardly resembled a 
figure out of a Hollywood crime drama. But his success as a lawyer, and 
his integrity as a human being, were no fictions.
  He spent 27 years as a criminal prosecutor, and his tireless work 
earned him the respect of political leaders in both parties. He was 
tough on crime, but also fair. He was truly a pioneer in law 
enforcement in Connecticut, leading the fight to get violent offenders 
off the streets and to crack down on the abuse of senior citizens. A 
number of his initiatives and methods have been adopted by law 
enforcement officials across America.
  Jack Bailey's influence in Connecticut will be felt for years to 
come. Not only did he set up units and institutions that will serve as 
his legacy; he also was a mentor to many of the younger attorneys and 
officers who are now the new faces of law enforcement in our state.
  But for his debilitating illness, Jack Bailey would still be serving 
the people of Connecticut. As his sister, former Congresswoman Barbara 
Kennelly, said, ``He thought he had the best job in the world.'' He 
stayed in his office as long as he could, taking two medical leaves of 
absence--before finally resigning a year ago. The only thing that kept 
Jack from his job was a terrible disease that has no cure.
  I join all of Connecticut's citizens in expressing my deep gratitude 
to Jack for spending so many years making our lives safer, and better. 
He served us with dignity, class, and great honor.
  My deepest sympathies go out to Jack's wife Dee, to his sons John and 
Brian, and to all who knew and loved him.

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