[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JIM SYMINGTON

 Mrs. McCASKILL. Madam President, I ask the Senate to join me 
today in honoring the work of Jim Symington, a friend and dedicated 
public servant who is retiring this year. In the summer of 1974 I came 
to Washington as an intern for Congressman Jim Symington. That 
experience, and the lessons I learned from this great leader were 
instrumental in my success as a political candidate and public 
official.
  As a member of a family steeped in public service, and as the son of 
the great United States Senator Stuart Symington, Jim did not hesitate 
to take up the mantle of serving his country. Jim started his career 
serving others when he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a high school 
graduate. Following his military service, Jim earned his Bachelor's 
degree from Yale University and his law degree from Columbia Law 
School.
  Jim served for 2 years following law school as the assistant city 
counselor for St. Louis before going into private practice. In 1958, 
Jim entered the Foreign Service where he served as assistant to the 
United States ambassador for the United Kingdom. Upon his return to 
Washington, DC Jim served our Government in various positions including 
administrative assistant to Attorney General Robert Kennedy and the 
Chief of Protocol for the Department of State.
  In 1968 Jim was elected to represent St. Louis, Missouri's 2nd 
Congressional District, where he served four terms. During his time in 
Congress, Jim served on the House Commerce Committee and the Committee 
on Science and Technology. He also served as the chair of the 
Subcommittees on Space Science and Applications; Science, Research & 
Technology; and International Cooperation. He was an active voice on 
space exploration during a time when space exploration was a central 
topic. Upon leaving Congress in 1977, Jim returned to private law 
practice, and has had a distinguished legal career at Nossaman LLP/
O'Connor & Hannan here in Washington, DC.
  However Jim Symington has never been an ordinary practicing lawyer. 
He and his wife Sylvia have been friends, mentors, and highly respected 
members of a small group of true leaders in our America's Capitol for 
many years. They are always in high demand as dinner partners or 
leaders of a civic endeavor. Together, their wit, intelligence, and 
musical prowess has constantly reminded the most powerful in our Nation 
that there is always more to learn and it is very dangerous to take 
yourself too seriously.
  It is my honor to call Jim a mentor and friend. Like no other man I 
know, I also realize that the number of people who count on his 
friendship would be a record for a town where Harry Truman famously 
noted that if you wanted a friend you should turn to a canine. I am 
thankful for his friendship, advice and service to Missouri and this 
great country. While these comments mark his retirement from the 
practice of law, I'm confident that he will continue to be a bright 
light of intellect, humor, and friendship for many years to come in our 
Nation's Capital.
  I ask that the Senate join me in honoring Jim Symington on this 
occasion of his retirement from the practice of law.

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