[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     THE PASSING OF RICHARD RAUSCH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the fruitful life of 
Richard Rausch, who served on the staff here in the House in past 
years. After Richard Rausch's funeral in June, his friends repaired to 
the American Legion watering hole on Capitol Hill to celebrate his life 
in his style. Here in Congress, Richard is remembered for serving on 
the legislative staff of Representative Neal Smith of Richard's home 
state of Iowa and Representative Phil Burton. Richard's position as 
national director of the Young Democrats brought him to DC and he 
remained expert in national politics, but local politics became second 
nature to him. He came to the District from his beloved Iowa, and fell 
in love with this city and never left. In his home Capitol Hill 
community, Richard was revered both for his wit, wisdom, and his acumen 
as a behind the scenes political advisor and serious politician with 
the good humor not to take himself too seriously. He gave his life to 
the Democratic Party, attending every Democratic convention for the 
past 50 years.
  A gay activist before most gays dared to come out, Rausch was a 
founding member and one of only three honorary life members of the 
Gertrude Stein Club. He was DC's first openly gay member of the 
Democratic National Committee.
  Richard was a quintessentially social animal and volunteer who knew 
who he was, where he stood and why. At bottom, people and politics were 
the loves of Richard's delightful and fully lived life. Although most 
Americans have yet to commit to a presidential candidate, Richard was 
making calls for Senator Barack Obama from his hospital bed during his 
last days. No doubt, Richard died a happy man, but he left many friends 
like me, who feel the void of his passing. Long live Richard.

                          ____________________