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From ‘a Child of the House’ to Longest-Serving Member
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Imperator |
| Last Edited | Imperator Jun 06, 2013 08:01am |
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| Category | Event |
| Author | ASHLEY PARKER |
| Media | Newspaper - New York Times |
| News Date | Thursday, June 6, 2013 02:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | WASHINGTON — In an institution where seniority has long been prized, Representative John D. Dingell Jr. of Michigan is about to set a new standard with 57 years, 5 months and 26 days of House service — a remarkable tenure that spans more than a quarter of the existence of Congress.
On Friday, Mr. Dingell, 86, the former Democratic powerhouse who asserted jurisdiction over vast expanses of federal policy as the intimidating chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, will become the longest-serving member of Congress in history with his 20,997th day as a representative, surpassing the record held by Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia.
Unlike Mr. Byrd, who rose from poverty in the Appalachian coalfields, Mr. Dingell was, in his own words, “a child of the House.” He made his first appearance on the House floor at the age of 6, when his father was elected in 1933; he went on to become a Congressional page; and after his father died in 1955 he successfully ran for his seat at the age of 29.
“I gave Dad about a week to get comfortable and then I went and ran,” he said, sitting in his office in the Rayburn Building this week as he reflected on a career and role in major battles over health care, civil rights and energy policy to name but a few. “It turned out to be a great thing. I’ve loved the job.” |
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