[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 678-679]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO RICHARD D. SPIEGELMAN

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Richard D. 
Spiegelman. In a world of shifting alliances and temporary commitments, 
you occasionally come to know someone who epitomizes constancy, loyalty 
and devotion to the public good. And if you are very lucky, you get to 
work with him or her. I have had the good fortune of working with such 
a person, my former legislative director and counsel,

[[Page 679]]

Dick Spiegelman. For 8 years, Dick brought to my Senate office a 
piercing intellect, an intense work ethic, an unfailing good nature, 
and a vast collection of colorful bowties.
  I first came to know Dick when he worked for my father, Governor 
Casey, as Pennsylvania's general counsel, the highest ranking attorney 
in a Governor's administration. He had sterling academic credentials: 
an undergraduate degree from Williams College, as well as a master's 
degree and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. More 
importantly, he brought a wealth of experience in both the private and 
public sectors to the job. Following 8 years of service in Governor 
Casey's administration, Dick returned to private practice as a partner 
in the Dilworth Paxson law firm, representing a blue-chip clientele of 
major telecommunications companies. After I was elected Pennsylvania 
auditor general in 1996, my transition leaders broached the idea of 
luring Dick back into State government. The advice I got from everyone 
I asked was, ``Get Spiegelman; he knows everything.'' Dick did join my 
team and served as my chief of staff and chief counsel for 8 years. 
Then, when I was elected State Treasurer, he served as my chief of 
staff.
  Dick came to the U.S. Senate with me in 2007 as my legislative 
director and counsel. His intellect and encyclopedic knowledge soon led 
the younger members of my staff to begin referring to him as 
``Spiegeltron.'' During his 8 years as LD, Dick played a significant 
role in the big issues of our day, including the Affordable Care Act, 
TARP, Wall Street reform, and the American Recovery Act, as well as my 
legislative initiatives like the ABLE Act and pregnant women's support 
programs.
  People from other Senate offices, the executive branch, and the 
lobbying world always remarked that Dick was unfailingly courteous, but 
always knew the substance of the matter at hand. No one could put one 
over on him. He supervised and mentored dozens of legislative staff 
members who worked under him and later moved on to key positions in 
government or the private sector. He was also known in the Senate for 
his sartorial splendor; few others could pull off a seersucker suit and 
a fedora.
  A year ago, Dick decided to take a well-deserved retirement. Although 
no one believed that he would stay retired, he has confounded all of us 
by doing so--at least up to now. Dick's garden has expanded; he and his 
wife, Kathy, have dialed up their ballroom dancing skills to ``Dancing 
with the Stars'' levels; he sees his children, Alex and Margaret, more 
often; and he continues to offer wise counsel to those who seek it.
  Dick Spiegelman represents the best in our American tradition of 
public service. The work that he did over the course of a 40-year 
career will live on, often permanently, in the form of well-crafted 
legislation; more honest and more efficient government; and the many, 
many young men and women who worked with him and who will follow his 
example throughout their own careers.
  I thank Dick Spiegelman for all he has done for me, for the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for the United States of America.

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