April 21, 1969
Page 9773
THE ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL SECRETARIES DINNER DANCE
HON. JAMES B. UTT OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, April 21, 1969
Mr. UTT. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 12, the Congressional Secretaries Club wined and dined and danced, honored one of their bosses and two of their coworkers at the annual Congressional Secretaries Club dinner dance, attended by more than 700 at the Shoreham Hotel.
Senator EDMUND S. MUSKIE, Democrat, of Maine, was "The Man of the Year," and received a plaque from CSC President Molly Parker, who is my executive secretary. The Senator remained throughout the long night and won many new friends, not only by his remarks extolling the virtues of the secretary corps on the Hill, but by his warm demeanor and obvious interest. As an adjunct to the Muskie award, Library of Congress Poetry Consultant William Jay Smith, who penned the inscription on the plaque, entertained with some sophisticated poetry and patter.
Roll Call Editor Sidney Yudain presented the Secretary of the Year Award to Ann Algott Sullivan, for some years an aide to Senator Carlson, of Kansas, and now with Representative KEITH SEBELIUS, of Kansas. Mrs. Sullivan became the 10th recipient of this award. A special Roll Call appreciation plaque was awarded to William H. Hackett, Cederberg, Mich., one of the founders of the CSC, who is retiring this year. Unfortunately, Hackett had left the hall, and the award was accepted for him by President Molly Parker.
Virginia Butler -- Ways and Means -- emceed the door prize proceedings, and the first vice president, Jim Gavin, banquet chairman, was the toastmaster. Comedian Mark Russell perked up the proceedings which, because of the cherry blossom festivities and parking problems, got off to a late start. Mark's material is made to order for the congressional crowd, which was enthusiastic.
I would like to include Molly's remarks and Senator MUSKIE's response in the Extensions of Remarks of the RECORD, as follows:
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Guests, My Friends: It is my privilege and pleasure to introduce to you tonight our "Man of the Year," Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine.
There is something very Lincolnesque about Edmund Sixtus Muskie, and I wonder if his parents knew that he was going to be "sixtus" foot and four when he was given that middle name.
Senator Muskie's liberal philosophy, his deep concern for people, and his warm friendliness have helped him capture the popular imagination,
Senator Muskie began his political career when he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1946, where he served as Minority Leader from 1949 to 1951. He made swift progress up the ladder and was the first Democrat to be elected as Governor of Maine; and then was the first Democrat to be elected to the United States Senate from that State, where he is serving his second term.
This reminds me of the candidate who was so warmly winding up his speech with this statement: "And in conclusion, my fellow citizens, I want to state that I was born a Democrat, always have been a Democrat, and expect to die a Democrat." A heckler called back: "Not very ambitious, are you?"
Senator Muskie is the man who has written all of the major legislation on air and water pollution. He is probably the most knowledgeable man in the Senate on the urban crisis. He is the "midwife" and sponsor of the Model Cities Bill. On the Machiasport Oil Port, he has been accused of pouring trouble on oiled waters. He offered to make an honest trade with Texas and Louisiana, when he said, "Let Maine refine oil, and we will let you refine maple sugar."
Last fall, he was active as the Vice Presidential candidate, and he made the strongest impact of any other Vice Presidential candidate in the history of this country. Due to his sensitivity to other people's problems, he is the most sought-after public speaker in the country. He has already covered 27 states, the District of Columbia, England, Canada, and Japan. Since January 5th, he has made 60 major addresses, and he now receives about 600 invitations each month. You can understand why we are so honored to have him set aside time to be with us this evening to receive this award of "Man of the Year," which is evidence that a loser can be a winner.
Senator Muskie, on behalf of the Congressional Secretaries Club, I wish to present to you this award, which reads:
"The Congressional Secretaries Club is proud to present this award, 'The 1969 Man of the Year' to the Honorable Edmund S. Muskie, Senator, United States Congress, Democrat, State of Maine: "When Senator Muskie came out of Maine
He stood so tall with a view so clear
He won a country if not a campaign
And became for all the man of the year. "
Molly B. Parker, President. APRIL 12, 1969."
REMARKS BY SENATOR EDMUND S. MUSKIE
When I learned that I was to receive your man of the year award. I was, of course, flattered.
My staff, curiously, thought it must be a practical joke. I reassured them. If the award were unjustified, I reasoned, it was their fault; there was a credibility gap only because they had done too good a job for me.
That appeared to satisfy them. I have found that a little flattery goes a long way, and as a modest man I am uncomfortable being excessive. You have to understand that I had thanked them all for their good work at my annual Christmas party -- in 1959.
I am, of course, very dependent upon my staff. It is just in their own best interest that I don't tell them so. After all, one inflated ego in my office is enough.
Now that I have satisfied my own staff, the award gives me a vehicle for blackmail. They may not agree with your choice, but as long as the rest of you are satisfied, then I have the upper hand.
I must confess, it was a difficult last minute decision to come here tonight. I was reminded that the President is in Florida and that the Senior Senator from Massachusetts is in Alaska -- the perfect time to seize the Government. In the end, however, my sense of fair play prevailed. The President already has enough trouble planning the start of his administration, and Senator Kennedy has a revolt on his hands in Alaska.
Seriously though, each of us likes to be appreciated by those with whom we work. And on behalf of all my colleagues in both bodies I want to thank all of you -- not that we already haven't demonstrated our appreciation this year. We thought so much of you and your good work that we voted ourselves a pay raise.
More than anything else, however, I am impressed that you picked a losing vice presidential candidate to honor tonight. I must say, the award does help compensate for the disappointment of last fall. But I can’t help wondering who you would have chosen if Mr. Humphrey had won.
Incidentally, I understand that Vice President Humphrey also was honored by your organization in recent years. I trust your recognition is not a prelude to similar fates for others.
As I said, I am grateful for this award. No one knows Congressmen and Senators better than you -- which causes me to marvel that you give an award at all. That you do so tells more about you than about those of us who you have honored.
Honestly, I think this is a case of the tail wagging the dog. If such awards are to be made, they should be presented by Congressmen to their secretaries.
All of us, in large measure, reflect as much the quality of our staffs as we do our own talents.
The relationships between bosses and our staffs is unique. I doubt that any group of 535 men and women could be more demanding or hold higher expectations of performance by those who work with us.
I suspect that the degree of personal commitment, loyalty, and genuine affection, on both sides of the fence, is unmatched in any other profession.
In a very real sense, each office is a small business -- an entrepreneurship. The dividends if there are any, are paid only every other year or every six years.
So we share always an uncertain future under demanding conditions and the pressures of time, performance and service.
In a real sense, therefore, all of you are partners in the legislative and political processes, and without you there would be no Congress as we know it today.
In this spirit I accept your award with appreciation and gratitude.