Leonard L. Boswell: “50-plus some hours ago we were stunned, 2 days and a little bit, when we heard in this Chamber, the people's Chamber…”

“50-plus some hours ago we were stunned, 2 days and a little bit, when we heard in this Chamber, the people's Chamber, that one of ours had left us, had left this earth. Many of us had many mixed feelings. For me, I still struggle with it somewhat. We shared a lot, I guess because we are the oldest ones of our class. I told him, though, I was the oldest. He said, well, we have got to check that. So we did, from time to time, as if he would have forgotten. Of course, he did not. But we talked probably about every day about something, sometimes just to share a little joke, or whatever, but we seemed to touch one another on a regular basis. I know, Lois, if you are watching us through this great medium of television and satellite and so on, and the people in California, it is our opportunity to share with you about how this man touched our lives. He came to this, the people's House, after many years, and probably never on his want list of things to do. But finally the time came, whatever the circumstance was, and he probably knew within him that life experience had shared with him things that he could come and share with us; that he could come and represent the people of his district and bring a balance, some levity, at times, but bring some sincere, deep feelings about what America is all about. He was a theologian, a writer, and I think he practiced what he believed.”