H9842 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 31, 1997 makes a $25 donation does not get to woman from North Carolina [Mrs. wish to add their name to the list do? CLAYTON] is recognized for 5 minutes. should use the following address: http:/ Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, as you /breastcare.shn.com. b 1300 are aware, October is National Breast Mr. Speaker, we must be committed I think that is one of the problems. Cancer Awareness Month. Why is the to finding a cure for this cancer as well The other one is this issue of the 800- issue so important? It is important be- as many other devastating diseases. We pound gorilla. When I am a candidate cause breast cancer is the most com- all can help because cancer, indeed, and I announce for a race, I call my mon major cancer for women. Every 3 claims many of our loved ones. brother-in-law and he sends me $25, and minutes, a woman in the United States f I call the guy down the street and he is diagnosed with breast cancer. sends me $100. This devastating disease is the sec- TRIBUTE TO FORMER The outside money in these huge ond leading cause of death among can- CONGRESSMAN JOEL PRITCHARD amounts, $800,000, absolutely over- cer victims overall. Today there are The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a whelms the local fundraising. It dis- more than 2.6 million women living previous order of the House, the gen- torts the local politics. It makes the with breast cancer, women who strug- tleman from Washington [Mr. WHITE] is race one in which outside huge money gle daily against the ravages of this recognized for 5 minutes. powers control the race, and I think killing disease. Of those 2.6 million Mr. WHITE. Mr. Speaker, in recent that is wrong. American women, 71,000 of them are in weeks, the House has lost a man who We have a second example. Our dear North Carolina. Many of these afore- should be an example to all of us, and friend, Walter Capps, passed away just mentioned women are undiagnosed, do I just wanted to spend a few minutes a few days ago, and there is obviously not know they have the disease. today talking about him. going to be a special election. There is Fortunately, through research devel- Joel Pritchard, who served in this already discussion out there in Califor- opments, we have effective methods of House from 1972 to 1984, died earlier nia about who is going to be in the detection that are improving steadily. this month in Seattle. There was a me- race, and Walter’s funeral has not even However, no technique, no matter how morial service here last night over in occurred yet. effective, can diagnose women who do the Cannon Office Building that many Yesterday’s Roll Call newspaper has not have adequate access to health of us attended. There was a funeral a quote discussing that race from an care. service in Seattle several weeks ago. employee of the National Republican Each year on average 182,000 women Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, I will Congressional Committee, and this is are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of never be able to match the observa- what he said. ‘‘We will do whatever it that total, 16,000 are Afro-American tions that were made at those two pro- takes to win this seat. That means and over 4,900 of them are from North ceedings about what a wonderful per- spending whatever it takes, ground Carolina. son Joel was, but I would like to make troops, party money. This is the kind While the prognosis is good for many just a few observations of my own. of seat where we will go to war to win.’’ women with breast cancer, it often First of all, I think that for those of Well, aside from perhaps commenting proves fatal for those women whose us in the House it would be good for us on the crassness of making such a cancer is not discovered until it is very to recognize that Joel was everything statement even before poor Walter has late in their lives. that we so often are not. Joel was al- had his funeral, listen to those terms. Mr. Speaker, the losses we have as a ways cheerful. He was always positive. ‘‘Party money.’’ Not ‘‘local money,’’ Nation suffered are staggering as a re- He never said an unkind word about ‘‘party money.’’ The $800,000 gorilla sult of this. Each year on average near- anybody. Nobody could remember one presents his head. It is wrong. ly 44,000 women succumb to breast can- in all of his long years here in the Mr. Speaker, this Congress needs cer; 44,000 mothers, sisters, daughters, House of Representatives. campaign finance reform. spouses, partners and friends. Mr. Joel was the sort of person who be- f Speaker, 5,200 of those women are, lieved that one could accomplish any- again, Afro-American women; 1,200 of The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. thing they wanted to accomplish if them are from my home State of North RIGGS). Under a previous order of the they did not care who got the credit. Carolina. And I think those are all things that House, the gentleman from Michigan Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough [Mr. SMITH] is recognized for 5 minutes. we can could stand to remember today. how critical it is to study this insid- Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter [Mr. SMITH of Michigan addressed ious disease further, for 80 percent of into the RECORD two things: First, a the House. His remarks will appear women diagnosed with breast cancer do column that appeared in the Seattle hereafter in the Extensions of Re- not fall into any known high-risk cat- papers just a week or two after Joel marks.] egory, so they do not know they have died by Adele Ferguson that makes the f it. comment at the end of the article that, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a This is an issue for all of us, not just ‘‘Joel Pritchard is an argument for previous order of the House, the gen- those with a family history of breast human cloning.’’ tleman from Indiana [Mr. VISCLOSKY] is cancer. The incidence of breast cancer I think that is something that those recognized for 5 minutes. has been rising steadily since 1940, but of us who knew him would agree with. [Mr. VISCLOSKY addressed the none of the experts have been able to Include the following for the RECORD. ascertain why. We do not know how to House. His remarks will appear here- A MAN OF HIS WORD, JOEL PRITCHARD GAVE cure this disease or even how to pre- after in the Extensions of Remarks.] POLITICIANS A GOOD NAME vent it. Significant strides have been f (By Adele Ferguson) made in detection and treatment of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a breast cancer, but we still have a long Few, in my nearly 40 years of covering the doings of politicians, had what I called HIGI, previous order of the House, the gen- ways to go. tleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. ENG- for honesty, intelligence, guts and integrity, The economic impact on the United and Joel Pritchard was one of them. LISH] is recognized for 5 minutes. States is incredible. Breast cancer If anybody remembers that classic tele- [Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania ad- costs the United States over $6 billion vision series about a congressman called dressed the House. His remarks will ap- annually in medical care and the loss ‘‘Slattery’s People,’’ the former Seattle con- pear hereafter in the Extensions of Re- of productivity. gressman and lieutenant governor who died marks.] Mr. Speaker, two of my colleagues in of lymphoma at age 72, was Slattery. He was f Congress, the gentlewoman from Con- walking integrity. He was also fun. He used to come charging necticut [Ms. DELAURO] and the gentle- up out of his seat in the state House like a BREAST CANCER AWARENESS woman from California [Ms. ESHOO], MONTH seltzer fizz, and the foam just got all over ev- have begun an Internet petition drive erybody. Everybody liked him and everybody The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a calling for improved insurance cov- listened to him because he only talked when previous order of the House, the gentle- erage for breast cancer. Those who he had something to say. When Pritchard October 31, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9843 said something came ‘‘slithering’’ over from control. Another thing that he men- The reality, however, was that electoral the Senate, everybody else had to say it too, tioned was that highly effective legis- success was their only success. For one, after over and over again. lators refuse to take themselves too se- eight years in office, not a single amendment It was Pritchard who told me that when he riously. He also said that highly effec- or other piece of legislation offered by him shared a house with then-fellow Reps. Dan in committee or on the floor of Congress was Evans, Slade Gorton and Chuck Moriarty, tive legislators demonstrate their in- ever adopted, even though he was a member Evans was the only one who made his bed be- tegrity by admitting their imperfec- of the majority party. The other was a fore they left each morning. He shared with tions, and he has several other things confrontational, bombastic speaker whose me his disgust as fellow legislators who, dur- here that I think we could learn from instinct for controversy gave him high media ing the morning prayer, shuffled and read pa- here. I will include this article as well notice and therefore high name recognition. pers on their desks instead of concentrating for the RECORD. But, again, in the halls of Congress, even the members with well-fed egos (which is most, on the message. [From the Seattle Times, Sept. 7, 1997] Once, when rumors were hot about some- of course) looked down on him as a show- thing the Republicans were up to, I asked THE 10 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE boater, and he was as ineffectual as the first him about it, and he looked sad. ‘‘Adele,’’ he LEGISLATORS fellow in actually getting things done. said, ‘‘I know exactly what you want to What does it take to become an effective law- These were people who were in office not know, but I am part of it and I am sworn to maker? State and national political veteran Joel for what they could do, but for what they secrecy.’’ When he was not sworn to secrecy, Pritchard has seen a lot of promising candidates could appear to do. Watch out for politicians however, he was candid and trusting that I wither on the political vine. One thing he has with big propellers and small rudders. would not misuse his confidences. I knew a learned: A winning campaign style does not Of course, there are a few members of leg- lot I couldn’t write. translate into legislative competence. In this era islative bodies whose early years are marked Pritchard had been in the Legislature for of term limits, he offers 10 characteristics of suc- by ineffectiveness who change for the better 12 years when he decided it was time to move cessful politicians—attributes voters should con- over time. on, and he’d always said he wasn’t going to sider when evaluating candidates. I served with two members of Congress grow old in the office just listening to the (By Joel Pritchard) who were completely undistinguished in their first years on the Hill, but eventually lobbyists tell him what a good guy he was. Campaign season is a good time for voters matured. One, from the East, was noted for One of his neighbors at his summer place to think about what it takes to be an effec- what a colleague termed ‘‘self-righteous on Bainbridge Island was U.S. Rep. Tom tive office-holder as compared to what it grandstanding.’’ Colleagues don’t mind if Pelly, who had served in Congress for 18 takes to be an effective political candidate. you do that back home, but they hate it years. Two long, Pritchard said. It was time The requirements not only are different, when you try it on them! Worse, this fellow for new blood, new ideas. He never said a bad they often are contradictory, and they are often hinted to fellow members that they all word about Pelly, who survived the primary not always obvious. In 32 years of political lacked his intelligence and concern. Instead challenge, but who got the message and re- service, I witnessed numerous state legisla- of admiring him more, of course, his col- tired the next time around, leaving the field tors and members of Congress who possessed leagues for years went out of their way to ig- to Pritchard. the intellectual capacity and energy to be ef- nore him. Fortunately, he was smart enough God and the voters willing, Pritchard said, fective public officials, but somehow did not to see in time what he was doing wrong. he would limit his time in Congress to 12 develop the habits that would make them so. The other late-bloomer, from the upper years, which he did, despite a burgeoning Still, some were very accomplished at win- Midwest, performed as a narrow-minded tide of encouragement, including mine, to ning elections back home. Others simply ideologue, someone who didn’t want to be accept a draft to stay on. self-destructed in politics as well as states- bothered with the lessons of experience, be- In 1988, Lt. Gov. John Cherberg retired and manship. cause he already knew what was wrong with Pritchard decided to run for the open seat. Two come immediately to mind. One was a the country and had simplistic slogans to He would never have challenged Cherberg, young Washington state legislator who was meet every situation. After about a decade of who not only was a good friend but his foot- smart and articulate; the kind to whom the such posturing, he began to realize that ball coach at Cleveland High School. media attach the word ‘‘promising.’’ But he though he was still in office, he hadn’t ac- Pritchard told me that during World War refused to acquire understanding and com- complished anything. Listening to others, II, when he was an Army private slogging petence in legislative practices. Instead, he accepting a little less than perfection (by his through the jungles of Bougainville, a fellow developed as his primary interest finding op- lights) and accepting responsibility for the soldier gasped, ‘‘How are we ever going to portunities to make public criticisms of legislative process, he, like the other case get use to this awful heat and being thirsty minor problems at state agencies. This ap- above, grew into a respected leader in his all the time?’’ proach interested few constituents. party. ‘‘You should have played for my high The other was a Western state congress- In truth, such late-bloomers are unusual. school football coach,’’ Pritchard gasped man who wasn’t effective in the House be- Most people—including politicians—find it back. ‘‘You would have gotten use to it.’’ cause of a quiet reputation for being hard to change. The personal behavior and Cherberg never let his players go to the untrustworthy. His constituents probably political techniques that a candidate brings drinking fountain during practice. ‘‘He didn’t distrust his word, because they didn’t to office normally are the ones he or she will though it was bad for you,’’ Pritchard said. see him in action, close up. But his col- practice once there. In an age of term-limit He promised, on his election to succeed leagues learned that they could not count on considerations, when many fear the loss of Cherberg, that he would only serve two him, and, believe it or not, that is still an legislative bodies seasoned by experience and terms and not run for governor. He kept that important standard in legislative chambers. institutional memory, discovering these promise too. In addition, this individual made it his cus- artibutes in candidates is more important Three bouts of cancer never diminished his tom to encourage voters in neighboring con- than ever, though no easier. spirit, although he was saddened by two gressional districts to criticize their own My observation is that effective legislators failed marriages. He was a devoted brother representatives. That may not be immoral, posses characteristics that, regardless of and father. A voracious reader, he wanted ev- but it certainly is foolish if you want your their years in office, are primarily respon- erybody to enjoy reading as much as he did colleagues to cooperate with you later on sible for their success. Of course, office-hold- and spent much of his spare time as a tutor. matters that you care about. ers need to be ambitious, intelligent and Joel Pritchard was one of the finest public Neither of these individuals is still in of- committed to hard work. But they also have officials and human beings I ever met. Joel fice. to have cultivated good political habits. Pritchard made being a politician respect- Two other members of Congress that I en- Here are ten of them: able. Joel Pritchard is an argument for countered—one from the Southwest and the (1) They keep their egos under control. human cloning. other from the Midwest—never came close to Put it this way: They don’t let the praise Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to fulfilling their potential. Seeking publicity of their own campaign brochures go to their enter in the RECORD the last public and constant campaigning for the next elec- head. They don’t abuse staff members and writing that Joel had. It appeared less tion were always more important to them those who assist them, nor treat career pub- than legislative work. lic servants or their fellow legislators with than 2 months ago in one of the Seattle They chased television cameras and ingra- condescension. In fact, the code of the gen- papers. It is a subject that I think all tiated themselves with reporters and com- tleman (or ‘‘gentlelady’’ in Congress) is what of us could benefit from in this House. mentators. They were masters of taxpayer- it always has been: Treat everyone in a It is entitled ‘‘The 10 Habits of Highly financed newsletters and the art of perpetual friendly, collegial way. Effective Legislators.’’ If I could take fund raising. Their re-election efforts were (2) They are able to manage and lead their just a minute or two to point out a successes, all right, and they were returned staff or those who are chosen to assist them, couple of things that Joel was talking to office again and again. and they seek advice from competent and Most of the voters in their districts prob- trustworthy sources. about in here. ably thought that the blizzard of press re- The ultimate effectiveness of legislators He said that among the 10 habits of leases signified that their congressman was can be partially judged by whom they em- highly effective legislators was the fact one of the most powerful leaders in the coun- ploy, by their willingness to seek informa- that, No. 1, they keep their egos under try. tion from many sources (whether or not on H9844 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 31, 1997 his own side) and by whom they rely on for alistic sense of proportion, and that actually porter first asked me who I would like regular counsel. Legislators who limit them- helps the serious business proceed. For many to be like in Congress and who was my selves to a narrow circle of advisers from any elected officials, periodic re-election and hero, what sort of model would I like part of the spectrum usually limit the growing seniority make them imagine that to follow, Joel Pritchard was the first breadth of their knowledge and vision. they not only are gaining in experience but (3) They do their legislative homework and in virtue. Arrogance and acute self- person I thought of. He had that rep- develop expertise on at least one issue. centeredness hurt effectiveness. An ability utation throughout our State, even A legislator earns respect from his fellow to laugh at yourself has the ‘‘serious’’ result among people who did not know him. lawmakers by providing them with a supe- that it disarms your opponents! After I was elected, Joel took a per- rior understanding of certain types of legis- (9) They understand that you become more sonal interest in me and we saw a lot of lation, even if the subjects are not of great- effective by listening, questioning and learn- him in our office in Washington, DC. est importance to other members. Because ing, rather than just talking. He would come back and talk to me legislators deal with so many issues, each Almost all politicians, in or out of office, has the opportunity to become an expert. It’s like to talk, naturally. and talk to the staff. Every once in a an opportunity the showboaters pass up, but However, that does not mean that they while he would give me gentle advice which pays off at crucial times and becomes have a lot of patience for other politicians on the right way to deal with things, the source of mutual trust and reliance in who abuse the privilege. They do notice the and frankly he gave me an example of legislative bodies. person who studies carefully, gives evidence a really excellent way to conduct my- (4) They are not obsessed with obtaining of sincere intellectual curiosity and works self in the job that I have. I have the credit from the media and the public for pre- hard. seat that he had for 12 years. sumed legislative accomplishments. Obvi- (10) They demonstrate their integrity by ously, elected officials need to receive some admitting their imperfections. I would like to say, Madam Speaker, credit in order to be seen as effective back Nobody’s perfect and little is more annoy- in closing, that he set out a very admi- home. But for that very reason, the legisla- ing than some politician who pretends other- rable path for those of us who are in tor who shares credit builds trust and re- wise—especially with his colleagues, who this business. It is a path that frankly spect among his colleagues. This kind of definitely know better. In fact, if you were will be harder for me to follow, and I credit in politics is like financial credit in a perfect, you’d be smart to hide it. think harder for all of us in this House bank; it’s there when you really need it. Admitting your were wrong on an issue, to follow, now that Joel is no longer not knowing the answer to every question Most legislators especially develop a dis- with us. We will miss him very much, taste for fellow members who continually and even changing one’s mind in the face of seek praise when it is not deserved. It may facts are signs of personal security and perhaps more than we know. I just not count against them in the media, but it strength, not of weakness. Such occasional hope we can all be worthy of his exam- does count against them in legislative nego- admissions (which obviously should not be ple. tiations. calculated) demonstrate to colleagues genu- (5) They realize that changes often come in ine character and encourage trust. Any ob- f a series of small steps. server can tell you that most legislators do I’m talking about the art of compromise, not have all of these characteristics, and I of course. Political and social principles are would be the first to confess that in my 24 HONORING THE LIFE OF JOHN N. extremely important, but of little benefit if years as a legislator, not all of them were STURDIVANT they can’t persuade people on their own. Ob- part of my own makeup. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. taining desired legislation by increments is Effective legislators don’t need to have EMERSON). Under a previous order of usually more realistic under the American them all, but they do need to have a major- system than it is, perhaps, in systems with- ity etched in their personality, and usually the House, the gentleman from Mary- out so many checks and balances and where long before their election. land [Mr. HOYER] is recognized for 5 laws can be fundamentally changed all at Other factors will help develop character, minutes. once. Legislators who insist on having every- including experience, analytical powers that Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I came thing their own way may look noble on tele- improve personal judgment, and the courage to speak about the loss of a leader in vision, but they carry little weight with to stand up and be counted when the politi- the Washington Metropolitan Area and their colleagues and generally get little of cal risks are high. Oddly, however, many of our most effective in our community, but as well in our consequence done. Nation. I came to the floor and I heard (6) They know how to work in a bipartisan legislators have great difficulty being elect- fashion on most issues and respect the sin- ed to higher office. Why is this so? Regret- the gentleman from Washington [Mr. cerity of those who oppose their point of tably, just as a good ‘‘show horse’’ does not WHITE] speak about Joel Pritchard. I view. necessarily result in a good ‘‘work horse,’’ had not heard that he died. The effective legislator, like an effective the opposite is also true. The very humility Madam Speaker, I had the oppor- person in any field, is able to discuss issues that makes for trust within a legislative tunity to serve with Joel Pritchard. He without personal rancor, and to realize that body, enabling quiet influence for good, is was a Representative, as has been said, the vulnerability a rival can exploit at cam- he or she may not possess the final truth in of great integrity and great substance, all matters of public policy. paign time. The courage of one’s conviction Respect is the basis of civility. It lubri- that the history books are likely to praise is a very decent human being who be- cates the legislative process and removes un- perceived as mere stubbornness in the eyes lieved that partisanship came long necessary friction. of an offended interest group. after principle. He was a delight to There’s wisdom as well as kindness in this That is why it is increasingly important serve with, and I am sorry to hear that attitude of humility. An honest legislator for voters, and the media that inform them, he has passed away. will admit that much legislation, once it is to consider the quiet, behind-the-scenes mer- But as I will say about John implemented, may turn out to lack the per- its of effective legislators and other elected Sturdivant, Joel Pritchard was some- fection its authors claimed for it and will officials. The character issue is really about have to be modified or even repealed. Don’t the age-old search for someone who would be one who made this House a better place denounce your critic too harshly. History ‘‘good’’ in office. The implication is that because of his service. may prove him right! character and effectiveness usually go hand Madam Speaker, I rise to speak (7) On issues where dramatic differences of in hand. So don’t just take the word of a about a very good friend of mine, John opinion exist, they are intellectually capable campaign ad, television sound bite, or even a Sturdivant, president of the American of understanding their opponents’ positions news column, as to who is likely to do the Federation of Government Employees. and arguments. best job in office. John Sturdivant died just a few days This is hard to do, or at least to do well. Check with a legislator’s colleagues and ago of cancer. I had the opportunity to The common tendency is to parody the argu- the people who work with him or her. If we ments of an opponent or put words in his want effective people in office, we need to talk to him about 3 our 4 days prior to mouth. But even if the public cannot always learn how to do a better job of figuring out his death. Even at that time, he was see it, other legislators know when a col- which ones they are. talking about his beloved members of league is representing an opponents’ case Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to the American Federation of Govern- fairly. When it happens, even though minds make a couple of personal observations ment Employees, was talking about may not change, attitudes are changed. An about Joel Pritchard. how he could fight for and work for en- honest debater wins points of respect. It adds When I ran for Congress, I had never suring that they had an opportunity to to the credit in his bank! (8) They refuse to take themselves too seri- run for any office before. I was not earn sufficient funds to create for ously. really all that involved in politics and themselves a decent life and to provide Politics is a serious business, but keeping I did not know Joel very well at the well for their families, their husbands, a sense of humor is essential to keeping a re- time, but I can remember when a re- their wives, their children.