The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S6922 on June 14, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL
Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I do want to note that for the first time in history, within the last month, the Senate leadership has selected our first woman to be the Senate legal counsel, and she is Pat Bryan. She has served at the Justice Department and at the White House in the past. She is highly capable, and we are delighted to have her joining the Senate in this very important position. But my reason for wanting to comment this morning is to talk a moment about the position and to talk about her predecessor who served as legal counsel.
Among the officers of the Senate, one of the least known is the Senate Legal Counsel. There is a reason for that.
The Legal Counsel usually works out of the limelight, away from publicity, serving the Senate with a certain anonymity that is appropriate for the very important responsibilities of the office.
The Office of the Legal Counsel is, in effect, the Senate's own law firm. Its staff handles any litigation concerning the Senate or its Members acting in their official capacity.
The Senate Legal Counsel also advises the Senate, not about legislation, but about legal matters of all sorts. The most recent and most dramatic instance, of course, was the impeachment trial of President Clinton.
Throughout that extraordinary experience, our Legal Counsel, Thomas B. Griffith, played a crucial role in shaping our procedures.
He assured the legal propriety of everything we did, keeping us, along with the Parliamentarian, true to the Senate's rules and precedents.
The meticulousness he brought to our labors was characteristic of Tom's work, as was the unflappable demeanor and unwavering courtesy he showed throughout the impeachment ordeal.
With gratitude for Tom's service to the Senate for the last four years, and yet with deep regret at the prospect of losing him, I must report that he will be rejoining his former law firm of Wiley, Rein, and Fielding.
It is customary on occasions like this to say that we all wish him well. In this case, that is an understatement.
We wish Tom the best, as he deserves, for that is what he has given to the Senate.
One example of his dedication should suffice. Tom lives quite a distance away from Washington, considerably outside the Beltway even, in Lovettsville, Virginia.
During the weeks of the impeachment proceedings, Tom left his family there and moved closer to the Capitol, to be always available to us here, spending perhaps one day a week with Susan and the children.
I want all of them--Chelsea, Megan, Robbie, Erin, Torre, and Tanne--
to know that, during those weeks when they must have sorely missed their dad, he was serving his country in a very important way.
That kind of selfless service has always been a part of Tom's life, from his days as a missionary in Zimbabwe with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through his activities with the Federalist Society.
His example of integrity and commitment to the highest ideals of the law has brought honor to the Senate. He leaves us now with our affection and our enduring gratitude.
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