Louise Slaughter: “when I was elected to the 100th Congress and came to Washington to go through the orientation process, I immediately…”

“when I was elected to the 100th Congress and came to Washington to go through the orientation process, I immediately realized what a giant of a man Mr. Natcher is. We had a routine that we went through, because we would always talk about Kentucky, which is my native States, and whenever I would speak to him or ask him about anything, he would always say to me, ``Aren't you from Pulaski County?'' And after I said, ``Yes, sir, I am,'' then we could get on with the business of the day. I want to comment, not only on his voting record, which will never be equaled in the universe, but on the fact that he loved his grandchildren so much and every day he sat down and wrote an individual letter to each one of them. Last year he lost one of his beloved grandsons in an automobile accident, and his grief was painful to watch. What I would like to say to Mr. Natcher, if I could, is, ``Mr. Natcher, lay down that burden of never missing a vote. The people in the Second District certainly understand your faithful service.''”