Date: 1989-05-16
Speaker: SUSAN P. OHARA (republican)
Chamber: H

Arlington. VA. DEAR MRS. OHARA: The California State University was fortunate In being able to retain the services of Mr. James 0. OHara. Esq.. of Patton. Boggs & Blow in 1984 and 1985 to serve as an advocate on our behalf in Washington. D.C. Frankly. we could not have bad any better representation. Mr. OHara possessed a deep personal commitment to the ideals of American higher education. He strove to insure that Thomas JeffersonS belief in education was a viable option for all residents of this Nation without respect to economic or social standing. The Founding Fathers would be proud to witness the enthusiasm and zeal brought to bear by this gentle man from Michigan. As a special consultant for the California State University. Mr. James OHara negotiated a superb breakthrough in the Pell Grant formulae. Without his intervention and without his close rapport with members of Congress. such as Bill Ford. Bill Natcher and Paul Simon. I know that Reauthoriza. tion of the Higher Education Act would have been a treacherous challenge. Thou. sands of young people are benefiting and more will benefit from the skillful work that Jim did on our behalf. His knowledge of the complex sea of issues. his insight into Congressional processes and his understanding of the concerns of higher education. especially public higher education. were only exceeded by his passion for fairness. Although Mr. OHara was retained by The California State University. his real client was the student whose economic. social. and educational background was disadvantaged. As a former member of Congress. he continued to be an advocate for the advancement of the United States through an educated populace. The result of his work in functioning as a consultant for The California State University was a boost for all of higher education. Indeed. Sheldon Steinbach of the American Council for Education. Allan Ostar of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and Joe Murphy of the City University of New York told me on several occasions that the best thing that ever happened for higher education in years was our retaining Jim OHara. Having such acclamation from several quarters of the higher education community is a muchdeserved compliment. It was an honor to be associated with a man driven by high ideals for our pluralistic democracy. An excerpt from the writings of Thomas Jefferson captures the essence of the belief held and practiced by James 0. OHara: "Enlighten the people generally and tyranny and oppressions of both mind and body will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day." In contemporary times. President Lyndon B. Johnson continued to stress the importance of education in American life: "At the desk where I sit. I have learned one great truth. The answer to all our national problemsthe answer for all the problems of the worldcomes down to a single word. That word is education." The actions of Jim OHara moves us may steps closer toward the sentiments expressed by our national leadership since the founding of this Nation. For this. the higher education community is most grateful. I am convinced that the visions held by President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson were one and the same as the vision of Congressman James G. OHara. His role in achieving legislation which was supportive of their policy goals cannot be overlooked. Even though the formal consultancy ended in 1985. the friendship with Jim OHara continued. Mr. James G. OHara glows in my memory as a fine gentleman who strove for fairness and full educational opportunity. I admired him enormously and shall miss his optimism. Respectfully.