‘Big John’ Reaches Congressional Milestone

[babylonsister]

‘Big John’ Reaches Congressional Milestone
By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff


It was way back on Dec. 13, 1955 — before America had heard of Elvis Presley, Hula Hoops or Sputnik — that a strapping 29-year-old from Detroit was sworn in as a House member.

Exactly 19,420 days later, John D. Dingell will make history Wednesday when he surpasses Jamie L. Whitten Jr. of Mississippi as the longest serving member in the House’s 220-year history.

To mark the historic event, Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday evening hosted a Statuary Hall reception for Dingell, a fellow Democrat with whom she has clashed repeatedly over the years. On Wednesday, the full House will honor the 82-year-old with tributes and a resolution. The flag that flies over the Capitol on Wednesday will be dedicated to him.

“It’s an extraordinary achievement,” Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said of Dingell’s record. “Not only in terms of length of service but also in the quality of service to our country.”

“He will be remembered as one of the most influential members of Congress not to have served as president,” said Rep. Joe L. Barton , R-Texas, who for two decades served with Dingell on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where the Michigander was chairman and ranking member and then chairman again after Democrats took back the House in 2006.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003028989

[Parche]

1. and if he married Marion Berry

He would be John Dingell-Berry

:hi:

[Idealism]

2. I wonder if he would've landed in jail in that alternate universe...