William R. Richardson: “what is very obvious is that while ``Tip'' O'Neill passed away, the ``Tip'' O'Neill family is very much alive. We see it…”

“what is very obvious is that while ``Tip'' O'Neill passed away, the ``Tip'' O'Neill family is very much alive. We see it evidenced here in the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley] and the Massachusetts delegation, and many other political figures around the country who ``Tip'' O'Neill baptized in politics, with the axiom that all politics is local. What we also get in the seal of approval with the ``Tip'' O'Neill family is a variety of very capable staff people. We get folks downtown, we get Irish figures with many talents from not just the Northeast but here in Washington, DC. We get an extended family that takes care of us. If ``Tip'' O'Neill put his arm around you, then that family always was with you, not just his wife, Millie, but his son, Kip. Mr. Speaker, it was Kip O'Neill that probably did the most important thing for me politically. That is, because of our friendship, he got his father, the Speaker, to campaign for me in New Mexico at a time when I had absolutely no chance of winning. My first race I lost, but ``Tip'' O'Neill came to New Mexico. We made him ring doorbells. He was not pleased with that. When I was elected, I was with trepidation fearing ``Tip'' when he told the story that I made him ring doorbells and left him on a tarmac without a private plane, as I had promised. Both stories were embellished a little bit. Over the years they were embellished a little more.…”