J.C. Watts: “Yes. Mr. Speaker, he was quite a fellow. During his tenure in this House, he also helped lead our Nation through several…”

“Yes. Mr. Speaker, he was quite a fellow. During his tenure in this House, he also helped lead our Nation through several troubled times: as has been mentioned this afternoon, the assassination of President Kennedy, the fight for civil rights, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal that brought the resignation of President Nixon. Speaker Albert's contributions to his home State of Oklahoma were numerous, but none was more important to our country than the statesman-like manner in which he presided over the Speaker's chair during the Watergate scandal. By his leadership and bipartisan approach, he is a man that truly deserves the title of statesman, a title he had earned well before the time of his death this past weekend. His legacy of dedicated leadership undoubtedly has and always will leave a lasting impression on our Nation's history. Former Speaker Albert is one of Oklahoma's greatest gifts to our Nation, and he will truly be remembered for his commitment to public service to Oklahoma and his country. We all send our condolences to his family, and we are all delighted and proud, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins) and I and the Oklahoma delegation are quite proud to call former Speaker Albert an Oklahoman.”