[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 36. Ceremonies and Awards]
[Â§18. Birthday Felicitations]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 228-232]
 
                               CHAPTER 36
 
                         Ceremonies and Awards
 
Sec. 18. Birthday Felicitations

    The House has often extended formal greetings to a President or 
former President on his birthday through the adoption of a 
congratulatory resolution(1) considered by unanimous consent 
or under suspension of the rules.
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 1. See Sec. 18.1, infra.
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    The House has also extended birthday wishes to Speakers of the 
House,(2) Members,(3) and the 
Parliamentarian.(4)
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 2. See Sec. 18.2, infra.
 3. See Sec. 18.3, infra.
 4. See Sec. 18.4, infra.                          -------------------
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Presidential Birthdays

Sec. 18.1 Form of resolution extending the congratulations of the House 
    to the President on his birthday.

    On Jan. 30, 1934,(1) the House adopted a resolution 
congratulating the President on his birthday. The proceedings were as 
follows:
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 1. 78 Cong. Rec. 1636, 73d Cong. 2d Sess.
            See also, e.g., 151 Cong. Rec. 17162-64, 109th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., July 25, 2005 (H. Res. 329, honoring former President 
        William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his 59th 
        birthday); 150 Cong. Rec. 21196-99, 108th Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 
        6, 2004 (H. Res. 798, honoring former President James Earl 
        Carter on the occasion of his 80th birthday); 150 Cong. Rec. 
        15104-106, 108th Cong. 2d Sess., July 12, 2004 (H. Res. 702, 
        honoring former President Gerald R. Ford on his 91st birthday); 
        and 149 Cong. Rec. 2720-23, 108th Cong. 1st Sess., Feb. 11, 
        2003 (H.J. Res. 19, recognizing the 92d birthday of former 
        President Ronald Wilson Reagan).

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[[Page 229]]

        Mr. [Riley J.] WILSON [of Louisiana]. Mr. Speaker, I ask 
    unanimous consent for the present consideration of the resolution 
    which I send to the desk and ask to have read.
        The SPEAKER.(2) Is there objection?
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 2. Joseph W. Byrns (TN).
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        There was no objection.
        The Clerk read as follows:

                              House Resolution 246

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives extends its 
        congratulations to the President of the United States, Franklin 
        D. Roosevelt, upon his fifty-second birthday, with assurance of 
        appreciation for his aggressive action and service to our 
        country, and joins the Nation in best wishes for continued 
        health, happiness, and accomplishments.

        [Applause.]
        The resolution was agreed to.

Speakers' Birthdays

Sec. 18.2 The Minority Leaders joined in extending best wishes to the 
    Speaker on the occasion of his birthday.

    On May 10, 1971,(1) the following proceedings occurred:
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 1. 117 Cong. Rec. 14144, 92d Cong. 1st Sess.
            See also 133 Cong. Rec. 37089, 100th Cong. 1st Sess., Dec. 
        21, 1987 (tribute to Speaker James C. Wright, Jr. [TX] on his 
        65th birthday); and 101 Cong. Rec. 129-131, 84th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 6, 1955 (remarks of Members honoring Speaker Sam 
        Rayburn [TX] on his birthday).
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                          HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. SPEAKER

        (Mr. GERALD R. FORD asked and was given permission to address 
    the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
        Mr. GERALD R. FORD [of Michigan]. Mr. Speaker, I take this time 
    for the purpose of joining with the distinguished majority leader 
    in extending to the distinguished Speaker(2) our very 
    best wishes on his birthday anniversary.
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 2. Carl Albert (OK).
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Members' Birthdays

Sec. 18.3 Consideration by unanimous consent of a resolution honoring 
    the House's eldest statesman on his 88th birthday.

[[Page 230]]

    On Sept. 8, 1988,(1) the House paid tribute to Rep. 
Pepper,(2) as follows:
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 1. 134 Cong. Rec. 22930, 22931, 100th Cong. 2d Sess.
            See also 109 Cong. Rec. 22018-21, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Nov. 18, 1963 (tribute to Rep. Carl Vinson [GA] on his 80th 
        birthday); 109 Cong. Rec. 15561, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., Aug. 22, 
        1963 (tribute to Rep. Charles A. Halleck [IN] on his birthday); 
        109 Cong. Rec. 9182-90, 88th Cong. 1st Sess., May 23, 1963 
        (tribute to Rep. Francis E. Walter [PA] on the occasion of his 
        69th birthday); and 93 Cong. Rec. 3120, 80th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Apr. 3, 1947 (honoring Rep. Adolph J. Sabath [IL] on his 81st 
        birthday).
 2. Claude Pepper (FL).
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           TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE CLAUDE DENSON PEPPER ON HIS 88TH 
                                    BIRTHDAY

        Mr. [Richard A.] GEPHARDT [of Missouri]. Mr. Speaker, I call up 
    the resolution (H. Res. 530) to recognize Claude Denson Pepper, on 
    the occasion of his 88th birthday, for the contributions that he 
    has made to the quality of life of all Ameicans [sic], and ask 
    unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(3) The Clerk will report 
    the resolution.
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 3. Thomas S. Foley (WA).
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        The Clerk read as follows:

                                  H. Res. 530

            Whereas Claude Denson Pepper has served in public office 
        for a period spanning almost sixty years, including service in 
        the Florida Legislature, the United States Senate, and the 
        United States House of Representatives;
            Whereas Claude Denson Pepper has played an essential role 
        in the formulation and development of policies and programs to 
        protect the health, rights, economic security, and dignity of 
        our Nation's elderly;
            Whereas Claude Denson Pepper has been the principal author 
        of key legislation addressing issues ranging from the Lend-
        Lease plan, to the establishment of the National Institutes of 
        Health, to the elimination of the mandatory retirement age;
            Whereas Claude Denson Pepper celebrates his 88th birthday 
        on September 8, 1988; and
            Whereas the dedication, commitment, and energy of Claude 
        Denson Pepper stand as an inspiration to people of all ages; 
        Now, therefore, be it
            Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the United 
        States, on the occasion of his 88th birthday, commends and 
        acknowledges Claude Denson Pepper for his continuing 
        contributions to the quality of life of all Americans.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). Is there objection to the 
    request of the gentleman from Missouri?
        There was no objection.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Missouri [Mr. 
    Gephardt] is recognized for 1 hour.
        Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I want to offer this resolution 
    today on behalf of the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Foley], the 
    gentleman from California [Mr. Coelho], the gentlewoman from Ohio 
    [Ms. Oakar], and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Michel], and many 
    other Members of the House who wish today to extend their heartiest 
    congratulations to our senior Member of the House and one of

[[Page 231]]

    our most beloved Members of the House. . . .
        Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the resolution.
        The previous question was ordered.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
        The resolution was agreed to.

Parliamentarian

Sec. 18.4 The Majority and Minority Leaders took the floor to 
    congratulate the Parliamentarian, Lewis Deschler, on his birthday 
    and his 40 years of service as Parliamentarian.

    On Mar. 4, 1968,(1) the following proceedings occurred:
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 1. 114 Cong. Rec. 4919, 90th Cong. 2d Sess.
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         BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, MR. LEWIS DESCHLER

        Mr. [Carl] ALBERT [of Oklahoma]. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
    consent to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend 
    my remarks.
        The SPEAKER.(2) Is there objection to the request of 
    the gentleman from Oklahoma?
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 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
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        Mr. ALBERT. Mr. Speaker, March 4 is a historic day in this 
    Nation, because for many years it was the day when new Congresses 
    convened, and Presidents were inaugurated. March 3, yesterday, 
    Sunday, was also an important day to the Members of the House of 
    Representatives. Yesterday was the birthday of the great 
    Parliamentarian, Mr. Lew Deschler. It marked the 43d year of 
    dedicated service to this body by this great American whom the 
    Speaker has properly called on many occasions the No. 1 
    Parliamentarian of the world.
        For 40 years Lew Deschler has sat at the right hand of Speakers 
    of the House under both political parties. His advice on 
    parliamentary matters, procedural matters, and indeed on 
    substantive matters has been indispensable to every Speaker and 
    every Member of the House of Representatives. This House would not, 
    could not be the same without Lew Deschler.
        Mr. Speaker, I take this time, which is 1 day late because the 
    House was not in session yesterday, to which my good friend, our 
    great Parliamentarian, many happy returns of the day, and many more 
    of them.
        Mr. GERALD R. FORD [of Michigan]. Mr. Speaker, will the 
    gentleman yield?
        Mr. ALBERT. I am delighted to yield to the distinguished 
    minority leader.
        Mr. GERALD R. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the majority 
    leader yielding at this time.
        We on this side all subscribe to all of the generous and richly 
    deserved comments and observations made by the distinguished 
    majority leader concerning our good friend, the Parliamentarian, 
    Mr. Lew Deschler. We wish Lew, as does the majority leader, many 
    happy years ahead. I am sure that he will continue helping to 
    assist us in our day-to-day labors here in the House of 
    Representatives.
        We all may have some regrets about annual birthday 
    anniversaries coming

[[Page 232]]

    and going, but despite that I am certain the future of the 
    Parliamentarian will be as bright as it has been in the past, and 
    we will continue to enjoy working with him in the future as we have 
    in the past.
        Mr. ALBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his comments.