[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6719]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DONALD A. RITCHIE

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, this week, the Senate will say goodbye to 
the Chamber's current Historian, and welcome him to the ranks of 
Historian Emeritus. Donald Ritchie has observed, studied, and 
documented the workings of the U.S. Senate for almost four decades. 
Only the second person to serve as the Historian of the Senate, Don has 
been with the Senate Historical Office since shortly after its 
creation.
  Beginning in 1976, Don spearheaded the Senate Oral History Program, 
for which he interviewed dozens of former senators and their staff. He 
documented firsthand recollections of those individuals' time with the 
Senate, major events and debates, and how the institution evolved 
during their tenure. In the 1990s, the Senate Historical Office began 
making transcripts of the interviews available at various libraries and 
archives, including the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress 
and the Senate Library. These accounts are fascinating, and remind us 
of the intricacies--both in public and behind the scenes--of 
legislating in the U.S. Senate. The Oral History Program was a colossal 
undertaking, and one congressional scholars will study for many years 
to come. Don's work on this program was exceptional.
  In addition the Senate Oral History Program, Don and the Senate 
Historical Office maintain and make available historical documents, 
statistics, and provide historical background and how it may pertain to 
current events. In addition to his enormous undertaking, for years, Don 
has provided enlightening--sometimes humorous, always informative--
vignettes to Members and staffers of moments in history, from now 
famous--or infamous--committee proceedings, to turning points in 
historical Senate debates, to the personal interactions and 
relationships among Senators that often don't make the history books.
  My wife Marcelle tells me that Don is always welcomed at the Senate 
spouses' luncheon because of his valuable insights.
  Don often reminds us of our roots--how our many traditions began--and 
how the Senate, as a continuing body, has evolved, decade to decade, 
generation to generation. He reminds us that for all our political 
disagreements, progress in the Senate requires some measure of consent. 
The history of the Senate is clearer because of the talents of Don 
Ritchie. The time has come to thank him for his decades of service and 
to wish him well as he assumes a new title of Historian Emeritus.

                          ____________________