Saxby Chambliss: “When leaving the Fifth Circuit, Judge Bell returned to King and Spalding and distinguished himself as one of the…”

“When leaving the Fifth Circuit, Judge Bell returned to King and Spalding and distinguished himself as one of the country's premier lawyers. In closing, as I have paid tribute to his distinguished career, I wish to take a moment to pay tribute to this wonderful gentleman and friend. As a lawyer, I learned so much from him about the practice of law. As a Congressman and Senator, I learned so much about politics and public service. As a friend, I enjoyed our visits and conversations. His keen sense of humor has been compared to Mark Twain. As my good friend, Bob Steed--Georgia's very own 'Mark Twain'; a real humorist, columnist, and long-time law partner of Judge Bell--said this week of his wisdom and wit: If he took a position, he'd take it strongly and defend it. But if someone improved it, he was willing to give way. His ego didn't get involved with choices . . . He was sharp to the very end. He told his son that there must be a committee in heaven in charge of dying, because it was taking so long. That was Judge Bell. Griffin Bell changed the course of the history of our country. As a judge on the Fifth Circuit, his decisions regarding integration of school systems in Georgia and across the South were a model for integration throughout the Nation. In his role as Attorney General, he did much to restore the public's trust in the Department of Justice. He was a close personal friend of mine, and this is not only a national loss but a personal one as well.”