Date: 1982-12-07
Speaker: JOHN L. BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding. I think it is proof of my affection for HENRY REUSS that I ran over from the office and put my tie back on to come and speak for this. The first time I met HENRY Was in the backyard of PETE STARKs house when I was first a Member of Congress after being elected in a special election in June of 1974. PETE STARK with his introduction of HENRY took about 5 minutes to introduce him and to ask him a question on how you would solve all the problems of the universe and of this Nation. I remember HENRY going. "Well. one could consider socialism." After having said that. then he launched into one of his talks about how we could try to make this economic system of ours work to a better degree than it does to improve the quality of life for the people of this Nation. The second thing I remember about HENRY was sitting with him down in the House dining room having lunch and he ordered a beer to drink and he naturally ordered. which I consider actually to be the best beer in the country. Pabst Blue Ribbon. It was a good Milwaukee beer owned by Democrats. he said. Our family lived in Milwaukee and we. too. were graced with growing up under Socialist mayors and knew they could make a city work. Another thing I remember about HENRY. my wife and I had HENRY when he was chairman of the Banking Committee. he and his wife over to our house for dinner to impress a California banker friend of mine. We got the wrong kind of roast. We thought we were getting in effect the eye of a prime rib. but we got a rump roast. only we were cooking it like a prime rib and we could not cut the thing. I remember it was right after the New York bailout bill and my wife. Sharon. was really panicked and she said. "What are we going to do? How are we going to deal with this?" And I said. "For Christs sake. HENRY. if you bailed out New York. you ought to be able to ball out this dinner." So we brought him in to fix up the meat and I remember always the gentleman. as he was cutting the meat and then chewing on it and he went. "Oh. oh. very delicious." I figured anybody that could ball out New York could ball out JOHN BURTON trying to make a prime rib out of a rump roast. Also I remember HENRY when he ran for chairman of the Banking Committee against another great American. Wright Patman. and I think HENRY was 60 years old at that time. It was 1975. He felt that with I believe 20 years seniority and at the age of 60 he was the most unique of all the young Turks in the House. He was a man of great wit. of great perception. I am happy for him that he is leaving. I am not happy for the country. I am happy for HENRY because those of us that do decide to leave here under our own power realize that there is. in fact. not only life after death. but life after serving in the House. I would differ with JIMMY OBERSTAR. I. think HENRY REUSS ought to be serious about his chances of being President and would be happy to join an exploratory committee. I am committed to CHRIS DODD first. but he is my second choice. but HENRY has done a great service to this country. When the Democratic Party takes over that White House and tears down the fence and has a picnic on the lawn after the next Presidential election. I am looking forward to an intelligent and humane Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board whose term will be limited to 3 years. HENRY. I love you very much and I look forward to opening a bar and having you come out and run the kitchen.