Sam Gejdenson: “There is no, I think, statement that a legislator can make about one of his colleagues that is more respectful than…”

“There is no, I think, statement that a legislator can make about one of his colleagues that is more respectful than speaker. And for me the first speaker I ever served under was Speaker Kennelly. He was a brilliant and powerful speaker. He was someone with a great concern for the rank and file members. I was a freshman of the general assembly, but the door was always open to Speaker Kennelly. He was always there to help us. My second term in Connecticut--the speaker appoints the chairman of committees--he appointed me the chairman of the labor and industrial relations committee. Not something you have happen very often, especially in the old days, making somebody new and somebody young the chairman of a committee. One of the meetings I was coming to, my car had broken down and I was hitchhiking in and his daughter picked me up hitchhiking and she did not know I was a State legislator. We both ended up walking into the speaker's office almost together. I am not sure he was that happy that his daughter was picking up hitchhikers, but he was an amazing speaker. He was an amazing friend. He is legend in Connecticut for his knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order. And while today knowing the process and knowing the rules is not as respected as it used to be, it is critical to the operation of a legislative body.”