Date: 2005-07-12
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague who served many years in the State Senate and in the Supreme Court of Texas and now in Congress. Since it is replacing Jake Pickle. although nobody can replace Jake Pickle. I served only one term with Jake. but knowing him and when I served in the legislature with him for 20 years in Austin before I was elected to Congress. Jake for my whole career was the definition of Texas gentleman. He loved Texas and loved Austin and the hill country. I guess my first experience knowing Jake was in 1974. I just completed my first term as a young 25yearold member of State legislature. And another member that served one term. Larry Bails. Larry decided that Jake might be vulnerable in 1974. So Larry Bails. who had a good one term in the legislature and was the owner at that time of the landmark in Austin. the Schultz Beer Hall. where a lot of legislature folks decided to go after the session. Larry decided to run against Jake and ran a fairly aggressive campaign. But Larry was one of the many who made that wrong decision. Larry was a good member of the State legislature but decided he would move up too quick. I watched Jake campaign. because we were at the Constitutional Convention during that primary of that year. I was in Austin at that time and still going home on weekends like we do now. and watched that campaign unfold and how Jake literally. he being a longterm member. at that time a little over 10 years. literally took this young fellow apart so to speak. Jake was such a great person. We have so many good stories. The reason I brought his book over is that. in 1997. Jake gave me this book and wrote an inscription that I was so proud to come from someone of Jake Pickles stature: To my distinguished colleague GENE GREEN. experienced. effective and trusted. and I know this GENE GREEN was for the people. And having that statement from Jake Pickle was more than anyone could ever expect. I would just suggest that if someone wants to have some great stories of how government works and how. in our process. if you do not have a sense of humor. you will surely go crazy. Jake did this in his book and I assume it is still in print. the University of Texas print. For my colleagues. I know the Library of Congress has them. My colleagues will love to read it. You will stay up all night because I did that. When I first got the book. I stayed up and read all the great stories about LBJ when Jake was a staff member for President Johnson. I served with a lot of great people in my time and great Texans. and Jake was one of them. I compare Jake to Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock in one way. they both loved Texas and loved the job they did. I have to admit. Bullock would wake up in the morning and give everybody a good cussing and. thank goodness. forget about it in the afternoon. You did not have to worry about that with Jake Pickle because he was a gentleman. But he also had a sense of humor I do not think any of us can. express too much. In the introduction to his book. I believe his daughter wrote the introduction. and briefly some of Jakes rules are: In a parade. do not get behind the horses but do ride in a convertible with your name on the sides. Always be available to constituents. Do not assume they will not find out about it because they will. These are some good tests for all elected officials whether you are in Congress or not. If it does not pass the smell test. do not do it. A politician who expects financial privacy is in the wrong line of work. Do not arrive at events too early because they do not know what to do with you. Listen for the bell. Those of us in Congress understand that. We have to listen for the bell so we can go vote. Answer every constituents letter within 3 days of its receipt. We have that goal in our office still. 3 business days anyway.. If you do not know where the money came from. give it back. Holding a drink gets in the way of shaking hands. That is a good saying for elected officials also. In your home district. you cannot say no. Jake understood that. In a restaurant. face the door so people can see and talk to you. Always carry a pen and paper. Introduce yourself first. At barbecues. which is something we do a lot of in Texas. stand at the head of the food line. Everybody has to pass by and you get to shake their hand. Never take it all for granted. Those are some of Jakes sayings that I think any elected official can live by. Jake will be missed. I will close by telling a personal experience. When my daughter went to the University of Texas. she had a project one time. and this was after Jake had left Congress. And she went down to his office. and Jake literally opened up for an hour or more helping her do her project at the University of Texas. Of course. this is a young lady who grew up in politics and was actually born while I was in the legislature. After she met Jake Pickle. and she did not call me to say she had to go do it. she did call me. and say. Dad. I just -met one of the greatest folks I ever talked to. Jake Pickle. Congressman Pickle was so good to talk to me. He was so down to Earth. so easy to understand. I think that is Jakes legacy. I guess the last thing I would say is his legacy goes on because. at the University of Texas. the J.J. Pickle Fellowship Program supports internships within the executive. legislative. and judicial branches of the Federal government. It is fitting that. after passing. J.J. Pickle will be helping the future public servants just like he has helped so many of us in the past. Jake will be missed. I know his family will miss him. but we will also miss the feeling of his love for Texas. his love for Austin. the communities of central Texas. but also our country. I thank the gentleman from Texas