July 17, 2001--Washington, DC, United States Senate Floor

 

 Mr. Lott, Mr. President, I thank Senator Daschle for allowing me to comment on these resolutions. I would like to begin by thanking the Democratic caucus for doing this. This is a very magnanimous gesture and I know it is being done because of appreciation of the job that our floor assistants do, but specifically for the job that has been done over many, many years by Elizabeth Letchworth. She protects the institution. She loves the institution. She works not only with Republicans but, as your resolution says, with Democrats too. Senators on both sides of the aisle, collectively and individually. So we in the Republican conference appreciate the generosity of your resolution and the fact that you did that.

 

We did one also. But I must confess, when I made the announcement that she would be leaving after 25 years, there was a very strong round of boos and objections, this is not in the form of a motion; this is an announcement of a decision that has been made by a friend and loved one-to which they stood and applauded, unanimously thanking her for her dedication and professionalism.

I believe later on we will have a resolution on behalf of the entire Senate at a time when we will notify all of our colleagues that it would be appropriate for them to come to the floor and express their appreciation. I know she has a special relationship with Senator Byrd, for instance, because she not only knows his love of the institution but respects his knowledge of the rules and his insistence that we comply with them, sometimes when we are a little bit derelict in doing that. So we will have that opportunity to speak further. At that time, I will go into great detail about her Senate service.

 

We all know she has been part of the institution for 25 years. It is hard to believe, looking at there, that she has been here 25 years. It is obvious, Senator Byrd, that she was very young when she started working for the Senate-and that in fact is true. She came here, in believe as a page, working for then-Senator Hugh Scott from Pennsylvania. I know she did a great job there.

Over the years she has worked in the Cloakroom, worked as a floor assistant, worked for Senator Baker, Senator Dole, and for me when I was Majority Leader and when I was Minority Leader. She has served so well as the Secretary for the Majority since 1995 and Secretary for the Minority for the past few weeks. She has just done an outstanding job.

 

I appreciate her knowledge of the rules, but I also appreciate her determination to make sure we conduct ourselves appropriately, knowing what the rules are. We have been through some tough times while she has been here, both in the majority and the minority. We did the historic impeachment trial for on the second time in history, and I think we did it in a way that was appropriate. We complied with our responsibility under the Constitution. We did it in a reasonable period of time, and we tried to make sure we did it in a respectful way and a fair way for all concerned. That took a lot of time, a lot of effort by our floor assistants, by all of our staff members.

But  beyond her knowledge is just the fact that she is a very fine person. I have grown to appreciate her, love her, admire her-as a member of the family, if you will. I must say she has shown great, great wisdom because in the husband to whom she is married she chose one with a Mississippi background, so she truly became even further a member of the family by making that wise decision.

 

They have plans for the future that include a little more free time, not quite as many nights here in the Senate Chamber, 6 or 7 or 9 or so on a Thursday night, but also hopefully some business investments that will be a great success-just, more importantly,  some personal time.

To Elizabeth Letchworth and to Ron I offer my most sincere appreciate personally and the appreciation of the Senate Republican Conference.

 

Again, my thanks to Senator Daschle and our Democratic colleagues for their gesture in the resolution also. I yield the floor.

(Congressional Record pg S 8873)

August 3, 2001--Washington, D.C. United States Senate

Mr. Lott. Mr. President. I know from the expressions on the face of all our officers and staff members in the Senate Chamber, there is a bittersweet feeling about the fact that Elizabeth Letchworth will be leaving to go on to the next venture in her life. I have said many times--not often enough--how much I appreciated the great work done by the officers of the Senate and the staff, those who read the bills, the clerks, the Parliamentarians, our own floor assistants. They  make this place run. They serve us all so well, Democrat and Republican. We get to take the bows and go back home to our constituents, or home for the nights, and quite often they continue to work. I take this occasion to thank all for the great work they do and say how much I appreciate you.

 

The record will show someday that quite often I took into consideration a very capable and deserving staff in deciding not to be in session on occasion. I do think about the staff, and I am sure that my successor as majority leader will do the same.

 

Also,  I should say I regret that I am doing this alone, now, at this hour. There is probably not a Senator in this body who could not tell a personal story about some event or some situation where Elizabeth Letchworth helped--again, Republican and Democrat and Independent. She has looked after us all, sometimes when we did not even deserve it, but she was particularly helpful to me while I was majority leader. The rules of the Senate are not easy to understand. We mess them up every now and then, especially  if we try to do things on our own. If there is an Elizabeth or a Marty, or a Lula or a Dave, quite often we avoid making a mistake.

 

Elizabeth has been special. On behalf of all the Republican Senators, and all Senators, we thank her for her years of service and dedication. Senator Dole had a lot of fine staff, but I guess Elizabeth is the one who has stayed with me the longest. She serves the institution. She doesn't serve one leader or another. She has served us all well. We have been smart enough to keep her around.

 

While I wish we had all 100 members here--and perhaps I should have done this earlier today when we were all here, but it is typical of her--we were running around trying to figure out how we were going to get the Agriculture bill done with the least amount of pain and suffering for both sides and for the President. And we got it done. Once again, she's helped to make it possible.

 

I wanted the resolution to be read in its entirely because she has been around this institution for almost 26 years, going back to 1975. She started as a page during her junior and senior years in high school. Obviously she should have known then not to stay any longer, but she made a miscalculation, as young people quite often will, and she has been here ever since.

 

Elizabeth had her first permanent position with former Republican Leader Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania. That was so long ago, I was not even in Congress--maybe I was. I guess I would have been, but I can't remember that far back. She served for Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and now for me as majority and minority leader. She is the first and only one to date to hold the post of Republican Secretary, an she served in that position for 7 years.

 

Elizabeth is a native of Virginia. Let me note also, her parents are Jody and Don Baldwin. I want to mention them in particular because I have known her father for about 30 years myself, going back to when I was a staff member for a Democrat in the House. If that is not ancient history, I don't know what is. But I always loved him and enjoyed working with him. I know he was oh so proud of Elizabeth and the confidence we have had in her and the job she has done.

 

She did, again, show great wisdom. She married Ron Letchworth, born in Greenville, Ms and finished high school at Hazlehurst, MS, and as is typical of southern boys, he overran his kick coverage and married Elizabeth. That means he married way over his head, but he is a great guy.

 

Elizabeth is retiring and going on to do different things, other things. I believe they will live in North Carolina and will tend to her other passion--other than the Senate--golf and other things about life that are important. Too often, as staff members and as Senators, we get to thinking this is the world, it is all here in this room, in this Chamber, in this building, within the beltway. But out beyond the beltway is a wonderful life, a lot of wonderful people, and a lot of wonderful things to do.

 

I understand there is life after the Senate. I am not sure of that, but for now I look forward to finding that out someday myself.

 

Until then, I say to Elizabeth Letchworth, we appreciate all you have done. We will always think of you and love you and we wish you the very best at whatever you do.