[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 308-310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO HOWARD LIEBENGOOD

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise, as was noted, to recognize and pay 
tribute to and remember our dear friend Howard Liebengood. I thought 
the majority leader's comments concerning Howard Liebengood could have 
been recited by any and all who knew him. My friendship with Howard 
Liebengood goes back almost 30 years. When I first became acquainted 
with Howard and his wife Dee, we would bet on the Kansas State-Nebraska 
football game every year. I know the Presiding Officer has a passing 
interest in that game. Howard, each year, would come back for more. 
These were the days when Kansas State had not defeated Nebraska for 
many years. But one of the extraordinary parts of this extraordinary 
man was an optimism, not only about Kansas State football but about 
life. All that he touched, all he represented, and all who knew him 
were uplifted by this gentleman, this man who always put his friends 
first.

[[Page 309]]

  I recall when Howard and Dee's children were young, I would 
occasionally go to their home in Vienna for a little chili cookoff. It 
was not a big group; it was just us. Howard always had the remarkable 
ability to reach beyond his professional capacity. After all, we are 
all judged and will be judged by that dynamic at the end of our lives. 
It will not be for whatever professional accomplishments we have but it 
will be for what we have done for others and how we are remembered by 
others, as was noted by the majority leader in his remarks.
  So, today, as I and others rise on behalf of Howard Liebengood, we 
celebrate his life and his family and all the light that he brought to 
so many of us for so long. This dear, dear man, we will miss greatly. 
But he does leave the world better than he found it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Utah is 
recognized.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I have to say that Howard Liebengood was 
one of my dear friends and I think he was a dear friend to virtually 
everybody in the Senate on both sides of the aisle. What a good man.
  What can I say about Howard Liebengood? That he was a loving, caring 
family man who placed his lovely wife, Deanna, and their wonderful 
children, Howie, John, and Ann, above all else? That he was the 
consummate Capitol insider, who managed to retain humility and kindness 
while rising to the pinnacle of Washington's power structure? That he 
was an accomplished lawyer, businessman, and military hero who never 
forgot his small-town roots in this often heartless big town? That he 
was a man of faith, whose church was a source of strength in the 
hardest of times?
  I can say all of these things--and more.
  I have been proud and humbled to call Howard Liebengood a friend. He 
was a trusted adviser to me and so many other Senators. He was my 
neighbor in Virginia, and we often drove to work together. When I had 
my Achilles' tendon rupture--completely severed my tendon--Howard and I 
rode together every day. Those were some of the most wonderful times 
I've had.
  We shared some wonderful times; I always looked forward to his keen 
observations and his wry good wit and very strong intelligence.
  I knew what many in this body knew about Howard, that we could always 
count on him to listen, and care, and act--not in his own self-
interest, but for the greater good.
  Howard was so successful in our world, yet he was never driven by 
money, fame or desire.
  His many accomplishments--the Bronze Star, his work in the Senate on 
the Watergate Committee, as our Sergeant at Arms, as Chief of Staff to 
two of our greatest Senators--tell volumes about Howard, but they do 
not reveal the inner peace and calm that made him such a wonderful, 
wonderful part of this institution, a tribute to all that is good in 
public service.
  What more can you ask in a man?
  Nothing.
  Howard did it all.
  Howard had it all.
  His loss is so great. Our loss is so great. This body will mourn his 
loss for so many years to come.
  I know all here today join in sending both our deepest sympathies to 
the Liebengood family, and our profound admiration for Howard S. 
Liebengood--husband, father and trusted public servant. I knew him 
personally very well. He was kind. He was considerate. He was helpful. 
He was always down the middle. He was someone to rely on.
  Let us celebrate his life today and all that was so good in this man, 
even as we mourn Howard S. Liebengood's tragic passing at too early a 
time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Tennessee is 
recognized.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. President, last week Howard Liebengood's best friend, former 
Senator Fred Thompson, spoke eloquently about his life with Howard over 
the last 30 years since their time at Vanderbilt Law School. Marty 
Gold, whom all of us know, spoke about Howard Liebengood in a little 
different way. The majority leader spoke about him today in still a 
different way from the experience he had with him in the last few years 
and especially the last 2 as his chief of staff. Senator Hagel and 
Senator Hatch had something to say, and many others will. So the 
question might be, What could I add to these eloquent words? What I can 
add today are some of Howard's own words.
  Howard spent the last 2 years doing something that is very special in 
the Senate. He and my chief of staff Tom Ingram had lunch every week, 
and their stated objective, among all the other things, was to make 
sure the Frist staff and the Alexander staff didn't compete with each 
other but worked together to serve the people of Tennessee.
  That may sound to people outside the Senate like the way it always 
is, but that is not always easy to do. But I think it is fair to say--
and a lot of this credit goes to the majority leader because of his 
attitude and his generous spirit and his unselfishness--our staff 
worked beautifully together for 2 years. We haven't competed with each 
other. That is because of the spirit of Howard Liebengood.
  As a result, we invited him last September to our staff retreat. We 
wanted many of the staff members--some of whom are the age of his 
children or even younger--to hear from him how he views this Senate 
which was his home really for 30 years, why he loves it so much, and 
why he conducted himself the way he did in a world that is supposed to 
be cynical or cutthroat and competitive, where you take yours and the 
other guy gets his. That wasn't Howard Liebengood at all.
  I have a copy of the notes Howard used for that evening. He went on 
for about an hour, and the staff members told me they wished he had 
gone on for 2 or 3 hours. He told stories about law school. He told 
stories about Fred Thompson, the Intelligence Committee, and about 
Howard Baker--many of the incidents which Senator Frist talked about. 
But when he came to the end of his remarks, he said this. I believe 
perhaps the most important thing I can contribute to this discussion 
honoring our friend Howard is his own words about why he came and why 
he stayed in the Senate. He concluded his remarks to our staff last 
October saying this: ``I came for a year.''
  This is when Bill Frist asked him to come back.
  ``And I stayed two.''
  He said, ``It is hard for me to leave the labor of love that is for 
me the U.S. Senate, the institution herself, in every way. From the 
people to the protocol and the opportunity to serve the people of 
Tennessee, I have relished every moment. How blessed I have been,'' 
Howard Liebengood told these young staff members, ``throughout my life 
to have these exciting assignments, these remarkable colleagues, 
spectacular leaders, and challenging work--never a dull moment. I am 
forever grateful to Fred Thompson for bringing me here and to Howard 
Baker for keeping me here and being my personal inspiration, to the 
incomparable Bill Frist, whom I admire and enjoy working with, and to 
my other friends with whom I have served. And finally I thank each of 
you for having me with you tonight.''
  The parting thoughts Howard Liebengood said to my staff last 
September were these: ``Always be true to yourself. Trust your best 
instincts. Serve humbly and unselfishly. Distinguished Senator for whom 
you work and Tennessee at every turn. Relish your time here. Take pride 
in your work, but never be haughty. Look out for your colleagues at 
every turn. And walk with the Lord.''
  He concluded: ``With that formula my experience suggests that both 
Washington and life will treat you very well. Thank you for having me 
with you this evening.''
  I think all of us would say today that Howard treated Washington and 
life very well, and we are grateful that he came our way.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, are there further tributes to Mr. 
Liebengood?

[[Page 310]]


  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I hope to say a few words about Howard 
Liebengood.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Kentucky is 
recognized.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I listened carefully to Senator 
Alexander's observations about our good friend, Howard Liebengood. I 
first met Howard as he was leaving the Senate. I came here the year 
Senator Baker retired, and Howard was on the way out. I wasn't sure 
that I would get to know him because everybody even before I got here--
it seemed like everybody I ran into--knew Howard Liebengood. He was 
part of this institution. He was on the way out as Senator Baker left.
  In thinking about the last 20 years--that was 20 years ago--Howard 
Liebengood really never left the Senate. He was always in this town 
available as a resource to all of us. I called upon him frequently over 
the entire period when he was technically not working at the Senate but 
was in town and providing his good advice to anyone who would ask.
  I say to my friend, the junior Senator from Tennessee, and to the 
majority leader, you were lucky that Howard Liebengood was from 
Tennessee. I wish he had been from Kentucky. He was a wonderful man and 
a great part of this institution that we will not soon forget.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to speak in memory of Howard 
Liebengood, who passed away on January 13. The majority and minority 
leaders and other Members of this body have already spoken in Howard's 
memory. In addition to associating myself with their remarks, I would 
like to offer a few brief words of reflection on behalf of myself and 
my wife Jackie, who knew Howard well through her work for Senator Jake 
Garn of Utah.
  As someone who essentially grew up in this institution, I have always 
had a great deal of respect and affection for the United States Senate. 
While some today may dismiss the notion as quaint, I continue to regard 
the Senate as a family--one where personal friendships can transcend 
ideological beliefs, and one that in its finest moments can rise above 
party differences to truly make a difference in the lives of the people 
whom we serve. It is in that spirit that I speak today in memory of 
Howard--a vital and well-respected member of this family for over 3 
decades.
  Howard served here in a number of capacities--as minority counsel to 
the Watergate Committee in the 1970's, where he worked closely with 
Senator Howard Baker; as Sergeant at Arms from 1981 to 1983; and 
finally, as chief of staff to Senator Fred Thompson and majority leader 
Bill Frist. He also maintained his relationship with the Senate for 
many years working in Government relations for a variety of clients.
  I came to know Howard in 1981 when I entered this body as a freshman 
Senator, and he began his term as Sergeant at Arms. I gained an 
immediate and lasting appreciation for Howard--not only as Sergeant at 
Arms, but as a human being.
  The Sergeant at Arms in the Senate is a position that encompasses 
enormous responsibilities--from security, to printing and graphics, to 
technology, to recording, to financial operations. To put it quite 
simply, the day-to-day business here in the United States Senate 
depends on the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, and on the service of 
people like Howard.
  Howard Liebengood was a man who loved this institution and who loved 
our country--and that love was reflected in the way he approached his 
work. Howard was a good and decent man whose humor, calm, and patience 
were well-known to all of us who were fortunate to know him. He was an 
individual who worked well with Senators and staff from both parties. 
Howard always impressed me as someone who cared more about the Senate, 
and the role it plays in our democracy, than he did about advancing any 
particular party's agenda. In all the positions he occupied in the 
Senate, he always cared deeply about the things that unite us as 
Americans, rather than those that divide us along partisan political 
lines. He understood that the strength of the Senate as an institution 
and its significance in shaping our history reside in the ability of 
its Members to reconcile differences for the good of our Nation.
  This institution and our Nation are indebted to Howard for his years 
of service. I offer my deepest sympathies to Howard's wife Dee and 
their three children.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I am pleased to join the distinguished 
majority leader, Mr. Frist, as a cosponsor of his resolution honoring 
the memory of Howard Liebengood.
  Howard was a good friend of mine and a very trustworthy officer of 
the U.S. Senate. I first go to know him when he worked as a member of 
the staff of the Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Baker.
  He later served as Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper when Senator Baker 
was the Republican leader.
  It was my pleasure to know Howard's family as well. His wife Deanna 
was a very important asset and an admired and respected member of the 
Senate family.
  We will miss Howard's ready smile and his keen insight on the issues 
facing our country. He was truly a wonderful person and a loyal friend.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is my understanding that the tributes 
to Mr. Liebengood have been taken from the morning business time 
allotted to the Republican side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.
  Mr. DURBIN. How much time is remaining on each side in morning 
business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 17 minutes on the majority side and 
25 minutes on the minority side.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Collins be 
recognized on the Republican morning business side, and I will follow 
her with the remaining time on the Democratic side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The distinguished Senator from Maine is recognized.
  Ms. COLLINS. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank my colleague from 
Illinois for his courtesy.
  (The remarks of Ms. Collins pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 8 
are printed in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I didn't know Mr. Liebengood, but I 
listened closely to the tributes made today. He clearly was an 
extraordinary person who touched the hearts of many in the United 
States on both sides of the aisle. There are so many like him who give 
a great contribution to this institution. I hope when the time comes 
they will receive the same memorial and tributes as Mr. Liebengood 
received today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Murkowski). The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. It is my understanding on the Democratic side we have 25 
minutes remaining in morning business; on the Republican side, how much 
time remains?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 5 minutes remaining on the Republican 
side.

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