Steven Holt: “Others on the floor are recounting Representative John Dingell, Jr.'s historic legislative record, his breathtaking…”

“Others on the floor are recounting Representative John Dingell, Jr.'s historic legislative record, his breathtaking parliamentary skills, and his powerful advocacy. I won't repeat all of that here. But I would like to say something about my good friend, John Dingell, Jr., and recount an event that shows a great man in the making. On December 8, 1941, soon after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his speech saying that December 7th is a day that will live in infamy, the House briefly recessed and then reconvened to debate and declare war on Japan. As I understand it, it was the job of a 15 year-old page, John Dingell, Jr., to go up to the press gallery to tell Fulton Lewis of the Mutual Broadcasting System to turn off the microphones now that the House was going back into session because back then there was no audio recording of Congressional activities. Instead John told the famous newscaster to leave the microphone on and the tape running. The world now has the recording of that House debate and declaration of war. Here we see John Dingell, Jr. already with a sense of history and an understanding of the importance of Congressional action. John, who knew that my father was serving in Congress at the same time as his father, befriended me early when I arrived in this Chamber, has shown me the warmest friendship and wisest counsel. For that I am most grateful and full of admiration. ____________________”