[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 1, Chapters 1 - 6]
[Chapter 3.  Party Organization]
[D. Floor Leaders]
[Â§ 21. Duties; Ceremonial Functions]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 240-254]
 
                               CHAPTER 3
 
                           Party Organization
 
                            D. FLOOR LEADERS
 
Sec. 21. Duties; Ceremonial Functions

    The floor leaders perform various functions of a ceremonial nature.
    Thus, following the election of a Speaker, the floor leaders 
customarily form part of the committee that escorts the Speaker to the 
chair.(14) It is also customary at such time for the 
Minority Leader to address the House for purposes of introducing the 
Speaker and wishing him well.(15) Similarly, early in a 
session, the Majority Leader frequently offers a resolution appointing 
a committee to notify the President of the assembly of 
Congress,(16) and both floor leaders are appointed to such 
committee.(17) At the end of a session, the floor leaders 
are again appointed to a committee to notify the President of the 
adjournment of Congress.(18) When the President visits the 
House, the floor leaders may be designated to escort the President into 
the House.(19)
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14. Sec. 21.1, infra.
15. Sec. 21.2, infra.
16. Sec. 21.3, infra.
17. Sec. 21.4, infra.
18. Sec. 21.6, infra.
19. Sec. 21.7, infra.
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    Many duties or actions of the floor leaders relate to honors or 
tributes accorded to the Speaker of the House. Thus it is traditional 
for the Minority Leader, at the end of a Congress, to introduce a 
resolution thanking the Speaker for the manner in which the Speaker 
discharged the duties of the Chair.(20) More informally, the 
floor leaders have made announcements or led in paying tribute to the 
Speaker wherever appropriate to recognition of particular milestones, 
such as the an

[[Page 241]]

niversary of the election of the Speaker or the announcement by the 
Speaker of his intended retirement.(1)
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20. Sec. 21.9, infra.
 1. Sec. 21.10, infra.
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    With respect to other expressions of courtesy, gratitude, praise, 
and the like, the floor leader exercises his initiative as appropriate, 
frequently undertaking to express the sentiments of the House. Such 
expressions, generally concurred in by other Members of the House, 
range from praise of officers or Members for accomplishments in the 
House, felicitations on birthdays, and good wishes in case of an 
individual's illness, to resolutions offering sympathy upon the death 
of certain persons.(2)
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 2. Sec. Sec. 21.11-21.17, infra.
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    The floor leader, usually the Majority Leader, also from time to 
time makes announcements or undertakes duties with respect to various 
ceremonial or formal occasions, ranging from the inaugural ceremonies 
to the reception of foreign visitors.(3)
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 3.  See Sec. Sec. 21.18-21.22, 
        infra.                          -------------------
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Committee of Escort for Speaker-elect

Sec. 21.1 Following the election of a Speaker, the Clerk customarily 
    appoints the Majority and Minority Leaders to the committee that 
    escorts the Speaker-elect to the Chair.

    The proceedings in the 90th Congress, wherein floor leaders Carl 
Albert, of Oklahoma, and Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan, were among those 
appointed to the Committee of Escort, are typical of those in which the 
Clerk appoints the committee to escort the Speaker-elect to the Chair. 
After announcing that John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, had been 
elected Speaker, the Clerk announced as follows:(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4. 113 Cong. Rec. 13, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 10, 1967.
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        The Clerk appoints the following committee to escort the 
    Speaker-elect to the chair: the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Gerald 
    R. Ford], the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Laird], the gentleman 
    from Oklahoma [Mr. Albert], the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
    Celler], the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Mahon], the gentleman from 
    Illinois [Mr. Rostenkowski], and the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. 
    Boggs.]

    In the 89th Congress, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader 
comprised the entire Committee of Escort.(5)
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 5. See 111 Cong. Rec. 17, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 1965.
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    There have been departures from the above custom. For example, in 
the 75th Congress, neither

[[Page 242]]

Majority Leader Sam Rayburn, of Texas, nor the Farmer-Labor-Progressive 
party floor leader Gerald J. Boileau, of Wisconsin, was named to the 
Committee of Escort.(6)
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 6. See 81 Cong. Rec. 11, 75th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 5, 1937. Appointed 
        were the defeated candidates for the office of Speaker, 
        Bertrand H. Snell, of New York (the Republican floor leader) 
        and George J. Schneider from Wisconsin, of the Farmer-Labor-
        Progressive Party. Also appointed were John J. O'Connor (N.Y.) 
        and Henry B. Steagall (Ala.).
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Introduction of Speaker-elect

Sec. 21.2 The Minority Leader, generally the minority party's candidate 
    for Speaker, addresses the House for purposes of introducing the 
    Speaker-elect.

    The remarks of Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan, on the 
occasion of presenting the Speaker-elect to the House in the 89th 
Congress are illustrative of those customarily made following the 
election of the Speaker. After escorting Speaker-elect John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, to the Chair, Mr. Ford addressed the House 
as follows:(7)
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 7. 111 Cong. Rec. 17, 18, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 1965.
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        Mr. Speaker and my colleagues of the 89th Congress, in the 16 
    years that I have been privileged to be a Member of the House of 
    Representatives and on the eight occasions when I have seen the 
    Congress convene and the gavel pass from the individual who lost to 
    the individual selected as Speaker, the gavel has gone from a 
    Republican to a Democrat seven times. . . .
        I can say to you Mr. Speaker, that it is a privilege for me on 
    this occasion to pass the gavel to you. However, I might add, in a 
    somewhat lighter vein, that I hope this is an experience which will 
    not be duplicated too frequently in the future. . . .
        May I say in conclusion that we in the minority have in the 
    past supported you and the administration when we believed it was 
    for the best interest of the United States. .

    As a further example, Minority Leader Ford in the 91st Congress 
made the following remarks in the course of introducing Speaker-elect 
McCormack to the House:(8)
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 8. 115 Cong. Rec. 14, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 1969.
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        Mr. Speaker, and old friends and new friends on both sides of 
    the aisle' I stand before you today as the acknowledged champion 
    among those who have tried to unseat the gentleman from 
    Massachusetts from the Speaker's chair. . . .
        My congratulations to all of my colleagues who have 
    successfully submitted their record of service to their 
    constituents, and a very special welcome to the new Members of the 
    91st Congress on both sides of the aisle.

Committees to Notify President

Sec. 21.3 The Majority Leader customarily offers a resolu

[[Page 243]]

    tion that a committee be appointed by the Speaker to notify the 
    President of the assembly of Congress.

    The resolution offered by the Majority Leader, Carl Albert, of 
Oklahoma, in the 90th Congress illustrates the form of the resolution 
customarily offered for purposes of forming the committee to notify the 
President of the assembly of Congress. The proceedings were as 
follows:(9)
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 9. 113 Cong. Rec. 27, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 10, 1967.
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        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 5) and 
    ask for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the resolution, 
    as follows:

                                   H. Res. 5

            Resolved, That a committee of three Members be appointed by 
        the Speaker on the part of the House of Representatives to join 
        with a committee on the part of the Senate to notify the 
        President of the United States that a quorum of each House has 
        been assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any 
        communication that he may be pleased to make.

    Proceedings virtually identical to those above take place upon the 
assembly of every Congress.

Sec. 21.4 The Majority and Minority Leaders are customarily among those 
    appointed to the committee to notify the President of the assembly 
    of Congress; the Majority Leader may report on the performance of 
    the committee's duty.

    The appointments to the committee in the 90th Congress were made by 
Speaker John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, as follows:(10)
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10. 113 Cong. Rec. 28, 90th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 10, 1967. 
        Substantially the same proceedings take place in every 
        Congress; see, for example, 115 Cong. Rec. 35, 91st Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 3, 1969.
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        The Speaker: The Chair appoints as members of the committee to 
    notify the President of the United States that a quorum of each 
    House has been assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any 
    communication that he may be pleased to make, the gentleman from 
    Oklahoma [Mr. Albert], the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Boggs], 
    and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Gerald R. Ford].

    In the 92d Congress, the Majority Leader reported on the 
performance of the committee's duty, as follows:(11)
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11. 117 Cong. Rec. 15, 92d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 21, 1971.
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        Mr. [Hale] Boggs [of Louisiana]: Mr. Speaker, your committee on 
    the part of the House to join a like committee on the part of the 
    Senate to notify the President of the United States that a quorum 
    of each House has been assembled and is ready to receive any 
    communication that he may be pleased

[[Page 244]]

    to make, has performed that duty. The President asked us to report 
    that he will be pleased to deliver his message at 9 p.m., January 
    22, 1971, to a joint session of the two Houses.

Sec. 21.5 The Majority Leader offers a resolution authorizing the 
    appointment of a committee to notify the President as to the 
    intended adjournment of Congress.

    The following proceedings took place in the 91st 
Congress:(12)
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12. 116 Cong. Rec. 44599, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 2, 1971.
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        Mr. [Carl] Albert [of Oklahoma]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution (H. Res. 1338) and ask for its immediate consideration.

        The Clerk read the resolution as follows:

                                  H. Res. 1338

            Resolved, That a committee of two Members be appointed by 
        the House to join a similar committee appointed by the Senate, 
        to wait upon the President of the United States and inform him 
        that the two Houses have completed their business of the 
        session and are ready to adjourn, unless the President has some 
        other communication to make to them.

    The resolution was agreed to.

Sec. 21.6 The Speaker appointed the Majority Leader and the acting 
    Minority Leader to the committee to notify the President as to the 
    intention of Congress to adjourn; the Majority Leader subsequently 
    reported to the House the performance of the committee's duty.

    In the 91st Congress, following the adoption of a resolution 
authorizing appointment of the committee to notify the President of the 
intended adjournment of Congress, the Speaker appointed the Majority 
Leader, Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, and the acting Minority Leader, John 
J. Rhodes, of Arizona, as the members of the committee.(13) 
Subsequently, Mr. Albert made the following report in the 
House:(14)
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13. See 116 Cong. Rec. 44599, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 2, 1971.
14. 116 Cong. Rec. 44621, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 2, 1971.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, your committee appointed to join a 
    committee of the Senate to inform the President that the Congress 
    is ready to adjourn, and to ask him if he has any further 
    communications to make to the Congress, has performed that duty. 
    The President has directed us to say that he has no further 
    communication to make to the Congress.

Committee of Escort Upon Presidential Visit

Sec. 21.7 Upon a visit by the President of the United States, the floor 
    leaders may be appointed as a committee

[[Page 245]]

    to escort the President into the Chamber.

    On Nov. 13, 1969, President Richard M. Nixon visited the House for 
the purpose of expressing his appreciation for the support shown by 
Members for certain of his policies; prior to the President's visit, 
Speaker John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, announced as 
follows:(15)
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15. 115 Cong. Rec. 34080, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Nov. 13, 1969.
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        The Speaker: The Chair appoints the gentleman from Oklahoma 
    (Mr. Albert) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Gerald R. Ford) 
    to escort the President of the United States into the Chamber.

    The committee so comprised of the Majority and Minority Leaders 
accompanied the President into the Hall of the House of 
Representatives,(16) and, following the remarks of the 
President to the House, accompanied him as he retired from the Hall of 
the House.(17)
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16. Id.
17. 115 Cong. Rec. 34081, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Nov. 13, 1969.
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Committee of Escort

Sec. 21.8 The floor leaders may be appointed to a committee of escort 
    upon a visit by a Prime Minister.

    In the 85th Congress, prior to a recess during which the Members 
received the Prime Minister of Italy, Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, 
appointed the Majority Leader, John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, and 
the Minority Leader Joseph W. Martin. Jr., of Massachusetts, and 
others, to a committee of escort for the Prime Minister.(18)
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18. See 104 Cong. Rec. 15434, 85th Cong. 2d Sess., July 29, 1958.
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Resolution Thanking Speaker

Sec. 21.9 It is customary toward the end of a Congress for the Minority 
    Leader or someone acting in his behalf to offer a resolution 
    expressing the thanks of the House for the manner in which the 
    Speaker discharged the duties of the Chair.

    The following proceedings in the 86th Congress(19) are 
illustrative of those honoring the Speaker at the conclusion of a 
Congress:
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19. 106 Cong. Rec. 19162, 86th Cong. 2d Sess., Sept. 1, 1960.
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        The Speaker Pro Tempore:(20) The Chair recognizes 
    the gentleman from Indiana, the minority leader, Mr. Halleck.
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20. Leslie C. Arends (Ill.).
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        Mr. [Charles A.] Halleck [of Indiana]: Mr. Speaker, I offer a 
    resolution (H. Res. 647) and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution as follows:

[[Page 246]]

            Resolved, That the thanks of the House are presented to the 
        Honorable Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
        for the able, impartial, and dignified manner in which he has 
        presided over the deliberations and performed the arduous 
        duties of the Chair during the present term of Congress.

Following the reading of the resolution, Mr. Halleck addressed the 
House in support of the resolution and in praise of Speaker Rayburn.

    Proceedings such as those above take place toward the end of every 
Congress, the Chair usually being assumed for purposes of the 
proceedings by the minority whip(1) or by someone, such as 
the conference chairman,(2) acting for the whip.
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 1. See, for example, 102 Cong. Rec. 15282, 84th Cong. 2d Sess., July 
        27, 1956.
 2. See, for example, 110 Cong. Rec. 24058! 88th Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 
        3, 1964.
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    On occasion, the Minority Leader, in anticipation of his absence, 
has designated someone, such as the Chairman of the Republican Policy 
Committee,(3) to act for him in offering the resolution.
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 3. See, for example, 116 Cong. Rec. 44601, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Jan. 
        2, 1971; and 114 Cong Rec. 31371, 90th Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 14, 
        1968. (In both instances, John J. Rhodes [Ariz.], the Chairman 
        of the Republican Policy Committee, offered the resolution; in 
        the 91st Congress, Speaker John W. McCormack [Mass.], having 
        announced his plans to retire, the resolution expressed not 
        only the customary thanks of the House but also the good wishes 
        of the House upon the Speaker's anticipated retirement.)
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Tributes to Speaker

Sec. 21.10 Where it has been appropriate to accord honors to the 
    Speaker, as in recognition of length of service or on the occasion 
    of the Speaker's intended retirement, the floor leaders have led 
    the House in paying tribute to the Speaker or remarking on his 
    accomplishments. On occasion, the Minority Leader has acted as 
    Speaker pro tempore when the proceedings in the House and the 
    remarks of Members have been in honor of the Speaker.

    In the 87th Congress, the Minority Leader assumed the Chair as 
Speaker pro tempore and recognized the Majority Leader, who offered a 
resolution extending congratulations to Speaker Sam Rayburn, of Texas, 
on his length of service. The proceedings were. in part as 
follows:(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4. 107 Cong. Rec. 10035, 87th Cong. 1st Sess., June 12, 1961.
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        The Speaker: Will the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Halleck] 
    kindly take the chair?

[[Page 247]]

        (Mr. Charles A. Halleck, of Indiana, assumed the chair as 
    Speaker pro tempore.)
        The Speaker Pro Tempore (Mr. Halleck): The Chair recognizes the 
    gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. McCormack].
        Mr. [John W.] McCormack [of Massachusetts]: With great personal 
    satisfaction and pleasure I offer a resolution and ask for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                                  H. Res. 333

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby extends 
        its heartiest congratulations to its beloved Speaker, the 
        Honorable Sam Rayburn, who, today, has served in the high 
        office of Speaker of the House of Representatives for 16 years, 
        273 days-more than twice as long as any other Speaker in the 
        history of the United States; and be it further

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby 
        expresses its deep appreciation to the Honorable Sam Rayburn 
        for his impartiality, integrity, and outstanding parliamentary 
        skill in presiding over this House; for enhancing the dignity 
        and traditions of the Speakership; and for his continuing 
        devotion to legislative duty in this House for more than 48 
        years.

    Similar proceedings took place in the 91st Congress in honor of 
Speaker John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts. Gerald R. Ford, of 
Michigan, Minority Leader, assumed the Chair as Speaker pro tempore, 
and Majority Leader Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, offered a resolution 
reading in part as follows:(5)
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 5. 116 Cong. Rec. 17020, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., May 26, 1970.
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                                  H. Res. 1044

        Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby extends 
    congratulations to the Honorable John W. McCormack who has served 
    continuously as Speaker of the House longer than any previous 
    occupant of that high office and whose cumulative service in that 
    position now surpasses that of all but one of his predecessors. . . 
    .

    Following the reading of the resolution, the Majority Leader 
delivered remarks in honor of Speaker McCormack, and yielded to other 
Members, including the Minority Leader,(6) who also paid 
tribute to the Speaker.
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 6. 116 Cong. Rec. 17021, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., May 26, 1970.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Speaker McCormack having announced his intended retirement, various 
proceedings and announcements of a nature honoring the Speaker were 
recorded in the 91st Congress. Thus, on May 20, 1970,(7) the 
Majority Leader remarked as follows:
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 7. 116 Cong. Rec. 16284, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to hear my dear friend 
    Speaker John W. McCormack, will tell the press today of his 
    intention to retire. It is difficult for me to contemplate the 
    House of Representatives functioning

[[Page 248]]

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    without his wise counsel and outstanding leadership. . . .

Mr. Albert's remarks were followed by other tributes to Speaker 
McCormack.

    On June 24, 1970,(8) the Minority Leader inserted in the 
Record the transcript of proceedings held at the White House on May 27, 
honoring Speaker McCormack for his service to the nation. Similarly, on 
Dec. 17, 1970,(9) the Majority Leader announced to the House 
that Speaker McCormack in certain ceremonies had been given a book 
signed by all House employees, and that an ``Annual Award of 
Excellence'' had been established in the Speaker's name to be presented 
to the employee performing the most valuable service to the House. 
Following the remarks of the Majority Leader, Minority Leader Gerald R. 
Ford spoke briefly to congratulate the employees on their recognition 
of the Speaker's accomplishments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 8. 116 Cong. Rec. 21304-21306, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
 9. 116 Cong. Rec. 42190, 42191, 91st Cong. 2d Sess.
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    Significant anniversary dates in the careers of past distinguished 
Speakers have also been noted by the floor leader. Thus, on Sept. 16, 
1969,(10) the Majority Leader paid tribute to the late Sam 
Rayburn, as follows:
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10. 115 Cong. Rec. 25611, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, 29 years ago today, on September 16, 
    1940, the late Honorable Sam Rayburn was elected Speaker of the 
    House of Representatives for the first time. This is an important 
    anniversary although one which might have been overlooked in the 
    rush of business. . . .
        The judgment of history will confirm . . . that the principles 
    of liberal democracy which Sam Rayburn held dear beyond price, were 
    expanded and preserved by his great legislative genius. . . .

Expressions of Praise or Recognition

Sec. 21.11 The Majority Leader expressed thanks to the members of the 
    official objectors' committees for the manner in which they 
    performed their duties

    On July 30, 1955,(11) the Majority Leader expressed his 
gratitude to the objectors, among others, for work done during the 
session.
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11. See 101 Cong. Rec. 12380, 12381, 84th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 21.12 The Majority Leader praised the work done in the session by 
    the Speaker, the majority whip, the Minority Leader, and the 
    officers and employees of the House. His comments were followed by

[[Page 249]]

    remarks of a similar nature by the Minority Leader.

    The remarks of the Majority Leader, Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, and 
the Minority Leader, Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan, on Dec. 15, 
1967,(12) were in part as follows:
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12. 113 Cong. Rec. 37382, 37383, 90th Cong. 1st Sess.
            The proceedings described are illustrative of those 
        customarily taking place at the end of a session. As a further 
        example, see 112 Cong. Rec. 28866-28868, 89th Cong. 2d Sess., 
        Oct. 22, 1966, in which the acting Majority Leader and the 
        Minority Leader spoke in praise of those, such as the assistant 
        Parliamentarian acting in the Parliamentarian's absence, who 
        had contributed to the accomplishments of the session. (The 
        remarks of the Majority Leader, who was absent because of 
        illness, were printed in the Record at the request of the 
        acting Majority Leader.
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        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, we are about to come to the end of the 
    first session of the 90th Congress. It has been a long and arduous 
    session, but it is a session which has had many rewards. . . .
        I congratulated all who have helped to write this record. 
    Particularly do I congratulate and applaud our distinguished and 
    beloved Speaker, the Honorable John W. McCormack. . . .
        I also salute my close friend and coworker, our Majority Whip 
    Hale Boggs.
        I also want to express my gratitude to the distinguished 
    minority leader of the House. . . .
        I congratulate and thank also the distinguished minority whip 
    and other members of the Republican leadership.
        I must also express my gratitude for the work of the 
    Parliamentarian without whose efforts I could not have done my job. 
    I am grateful to the Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms, the Doorkeeper, 
    the Postmaster and all the officers and employees of the House. . . 
    .
        Mr. Gerald R. Ford [of Michigan]: . . . Mr. Speaker, each of us 
    on both sides of the aisle is most appreciative of the help and 
    assistance of the employees of the House. I would like to reiterate 
    what the distinguished majority leader has said about the 
    Parliamentarian . . . but there are many others who help us on a 
    day-to-day basis.

Sec. 21.13 The floor leaders and others praised the record of service 
    of one who was terminating his employment as legislative assistant 
    to the Speaker

    The remarks of the Majority Leader, Carl Albert, of Oklahoma, and 
the Minority Leader, Charles A. Halleck, of Indiana, on Oct. 5, 
1962,(13) were in part as follows:
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13. 108 Cong. Rec. 22565, 87th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, every Member will agree with me, I am 
    sure, that the fine work of staff members here in the House of 
    Representatives, in its committees, and in the offices of its 
    Members is an indispensable element of the legislative process. . . 
    .

[[Page 250]]

        I take this time to advise the House that one of the finest and 
    most capable persons ever to serve the House or any of its Members, 
    John Holton, legislative assistant to the Speaker, is leaving the 
    House of Representatives. . . .
        Mr. Halleck: Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? . . .
        Mr. Speaker, I am sure I speak for my colleagues on this side 
    of the aisle--and certainly for myself--when I say I want to join 
    in this expression of appreciation to John Holton for his services 
    to the House of Representatives these many years. . . .

Sec. 21.14 The floor leaders and others frequently exchange birthday 
    felicitations during proceedings in the House.

    The proceedings in the 89th Congress are illustrative of the 
exchange of courtesies between the floor leaders. Following the 
announcement of the Majority Leader's birthday by Mr. Thomas J. Steed, 
of Oklahoma, the Minority Leader remarked as follows:(14)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. 111 Cong. Rec. 9953, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., May 10, 1965.
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        Mr. Gerald R. Ford [of Michigan]: Mr. Speaker, may I join the 
    distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma in wishing our distinguished 
    majority leader, Carl Albert, our very best wishes on this birthday 
    anniversary. We, on our side of the aisle, are proud to work with 
    him. . . . Carl Albert is a real gentleman, an outstanding leader 
    of the Democratic Party, and I am very proud and honored to call 
    him a friend. . . .

    Similar felicitations have been extended by the Majority Leader on 
the occasion of the Minority Leader's birthday.(5) The 
birthdays of other individuals have been recognized in similar fashion. 
For example, on Mar. 3, 1970, birthday greetings were extended by the 
Speaker,(16) the floor leaders, and others to the 
Parliamentarian of the House.(17)
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15. See, for example, 112 Cong. Rec. 15706, 89th Cong. 2d Sess., July 
        14. 1966.
16. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
17. 116 Cong. Rec. 5709-5711, 91st Cong. 2d Sess. For similar 
        proceedings on the occasion of the Parliamentarian's birthday, 
        see 115 Cong. Rec. 4989, 4990, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Mar. 3, 
        1969.
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Remarks Upon Hospitalization of President

Sec. 21.15 The Speaker and the Minority Leader took the floor, during 
    debate in the Committee of the Whole, to express wishes for the 
    President's recovery from illness.

    On Oct. 7, 1965, Speaker John W. McCormack, of Massachusetts, and 
Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford, of Michigan, addressed remarks to the 
House concerning the hospitalization of President Lyndon B. Johnson for 
surgery.(18)
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18. See 111 Cong. Rec. 26320, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.

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[[Page 251]]

Resolution Upon Death of World Leader

Sec. 21.16 The floor leaders and others, pursuant to a special order 
    obtained by the Majority Leader, addressed the House after the 
    death of a world leader and honorary American citizen, Sir Winston 
    Churchill; the Majority Leader then offered a resolution of 
    sympathy.

    On Jan. 25, 1965, the Majority Leader made the following 
request:(19)
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19. 111 Cong. Rec. 1079, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. [Carl] Albert [of Oklahoma]: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
    consent that at the close of business and all special orders 
    heretofore entered into for today, I may address the House for 1 
    hour, in order that I may yield to Members on the subject of the 
    life and service of Sir Winston Churchill.

Subsequently, the following proceedings took place:(20)
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20. 111 Cong. Rec. 1154-1163, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 25, 1965. 
        Similar proceedings have taken place upon the death of other 
        leaders; see, generally, Ch. 38, infra.
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        The Speaker:(1) Under previous order of the House, 
    the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Albert] is recognized for 60 
    minutes.
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 1. John W. McCormack (Mass.).
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        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and 
    extend my remarks, and further ask unanimous consent that all 
    Members speaking on this subject today may revise and extend their 
    remarks, and I also ask unanimous consent that all Members who 
    desire to do so may have 5 legislative days in which to extend 
    their remarks at this point in the Record.

Following remarks by the Majority Leader, the Minority 
Leader,(2) and others in honor of Churchill, the Majority 
Leader offered the following resolution:(3)
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 2. 111 Cong. Rec. 1155, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 25, 1965.
 3. 111 Cong. Rec. 1162, 1163, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 25, 1965.

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                                  H. Res. 136

        Resolved, That the House of Representatives has learned with 
    profound sorrow of the death of Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime 
    Minister of the United Kingdom, honorary citizen of the United 
    States, beloved elder statesman of the world. . . .

        Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of 
    the late Sir Winston Churchill the House do now adjourn.

Remarks on Death of Minority Employee

Sec. 21.17 The Minority Leader announced the death of a minority 
    employee, who had been Clerk of the House, and,

[[Page 252]]

    following the remarks of the Majority Leader and others, offered a 
    resolution providing for the appointment of a committee to attend 
    the funeral services.

    In the 81st Congress, the proceedings relating to the death of John 
Andrews, a minority employee and former Clerk of the House, were as 
follows:(4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4. 96 Cong. Rec. 7514-7517, 81st Cong. 2d Sess., May 23, 1950.

        Mr. [Joseph W.] Martin [Jr.] of Massachusetts: Mr. Speaker, it 
    is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of a beloved 
    friend, the former Clerk of the House of Representatives, presently 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    a minority employee, John Andrews.

Following remarks by Majority Leader John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts,(5) and others, the Minority Leader offered 
the following resolution:(6) 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5. 96 Cong. Rec. 7514, 81st Cong. 2d Sess., May 23, 1950.
 6. 96 Cong. Rec. 7517, 81st Cong. 2d Sess., May 23, 1950.

        Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the 
    death of Hon. John Andrews, an employee and officer of the House 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    for more than 30 years.

        Resolved, That as a mark of respect to his memory the Speaker 
    appoint a committee of 10 Members to attend the funeral services. . 
    . .

Announcements Respecting Ceremonial or Social Occasions--Inaugural 
    Ceremonies

Sec. 21.18 The floor leaders have made announcements in the House, for 
    the information and guidance of Members, relating to the inaugural 
    ceremonies.

    Announcements like the following, which was made on Jan. 17, 1969, 
by Majority Leader Carl Albert, of Oklahoma,(7) are 
frequently made by the floor leaders in preparation for the inaugural 
ceremonies:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 7. 115 Cong. Rec. 1184, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 17, 1969. For a 
        further example of such announcements by the Majority Leader, 
        see 111 Cong. Rec. 951, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 19, 1965. 
        For examples of announcements made by the Minority Leader, see 
        115 Cong. Rec. 1076, 1090, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 16, 1969.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. Albert: . . . Mr. Speaker, I desire to alert my colleagues 
    that when we adjourn today, we will meet on Monday at 10:30 
    o'clock. I urge all the Members to be here promptly because the 
    procession for Members of the House will leave in a body promptly 
    at 10:35 a.m., so that the inaugural exercises on the platform at 
    the east front might start precisely at 11 o'clock. . . .

Immediately prior to the announcement, the Majority Leader had offered 
a resolution as to the convening of the House for the inaugural 
ceremonies.(8)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 8. 115 Cong. Rec. 1184, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 17, 1969.

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[[Page 253]]

Cornerstone Ceremonies

Sec. 21.19 The Majority Leader made an announcement with regard to 
    ceremonies in which the cornerstone of a new House office building 
    would be laid.

    In the 87th Congress, the Majority Leader, Carl Albert, of 
Oklahoma, made an announcement respecting ceremonies in which the 
cornerstone of the Rayburn House Office Building would be 
laid.(9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9. 108 Cong. Rec. 8468, 87th Cong. 2d Sess., May 16, 1962.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ceremonies Relating to Signing of Bill

Sec. 21.20 The Majority Leader announced an invitation to Members to 
    attend ceremonies in which the President would sign a bill in the 
    rotunda of the Capitol.

    The following announcement was made by the Majority Leader, Carl 
Albert, of Oklahoma, on Aug. 5, 1965:(10):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. 111 Cong. Rec. 19483, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. Albert: Mr. Speaker, I take this time to advise Members of 
    the House upon the invitation of the Speaker and the majority 
    leader of the Senate the President will sign the voting rights bill 
    tomorrow at noon in the rotunda of the Capitol. All Members of the 
    House are invited by the President and the Speaker to be present at 
    this ceremony.

Announcement As to Visit of Prime Minister

Sec. 21.21 The Majority Leader made an announcement relating to the 
    anticipated visit of a foreign Prime Minister.

    On Feb. 27, 1957,(11) the Majority Leader, John W. 
McCormack, of Massachusetts, made the following announcement:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. 103 Cong. Rec. 2720, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. McCormack: Mr. Speaker, as the Members are aware, we are 
    going to be honored this afternoon at about 3 o'clock by the 
    presence in the Chamber of one of the world's outstanding 
    statesmen, the Prime Minister of France, his Excellency Guy Mollet. 
    I want to announce that about 2:20 or 2:25 there will be a quorum 
    call so that the Members will be advised and govern themselves 
    accordingly.

Unanimous-Consent Request Relating to Visitor

Sec. 21.22 The Majority Leader has on occasion asked unanimous consent 
    that the Speaker be authorized to declare a recess for the purpose 
    of receiving a visiting Prime Minister or foreign President.

[[Page 254]]

    On several occasions, the Majority Leader has made unanimous-
consent requests such as the following, which was made on Feb. 19, 
1957,(12) by the Majority Leader, John W. McCormack, of 
Massachusetts:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. 103 Cong. Rec. 2251, 85th Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. McCormack: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may 
    be in order at any time on Wednesday, February 27, 1957, for the 
    Speaker to declare a recess for the purpose of receiving the Prime 
    Minister of the Republic of France.

    As a further example, the Majority Leader made the following 
request on May 28, 1958:(13)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. 104 Cong. Rec. 9743, 85th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. McCormack: Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may 
    be in order at any time on Thursday, June 5, 1958, for the Speaker 
    to declare a recess for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting 
    the President of the Federal Republic of Germany.