By Gallego H.C.R. No. 232 74R2889 BNL-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature joins the members of the 1-2 O'Neill family and the nation in mourning the passing of former 1-3 House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr., on January 5, 1994, at 1-4 the age of 81; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A lifelong member of the Democratic Party, this 1-6 distinguished public servant was born on December 9, 1912, in a 1-7 working-class neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts; he began 1-8 his political career at the tender age of 15 as a campaign worker 1-9 for Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith in 1928, and by the 1-10 time he was graduated from Boston College in 1936, he had already 1-11 won his first election to public office; and 1-12 WHEREAS, From his humble beginnings as a ward committee 1-13 member, he quickly became a rising star in the party ranks, serving 1-14 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1937 to 1953 and 1-15 as a member of the Democratic State Committee; in 1949, he became 1-16 the youngest speaker ever chosen to preside over the Massachusetts 1-17 house, as well as the first Democratic speaker elected since the 1-18 Civil War; and 1-19 WHEREAS, When Congressman John F. Kennedy was elected to the 1-20 U.S. Senate in 1952, Massachusetts voters elected Mr. O'Neill to 1-21 fill the newly vacated seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; 1-22 both men eventually rose to the forefront of American politics, 1-23 with Senator John F. Kennedy assuming the presidency in 1960 and 1-24 Representative O'Neill serving an unprecedented five terms as 2-1 speaker of the U.S. house beginning in 1977; and 2-2 WHEREAS, This esteemed legislator transformed the role of 2-3 speaker of the house from that of a parliamentary officer to that 2-4 of an active and vocal member of the political process; he also 2-5 instituted house rule changes that challenged the formerly 2-6 unquestioned authority of committee chairmen while granting more 2-7 autonomy to rank-and-file members; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Famed for his astute observation that "All politics 2-9 is local," this outstanding congressman won the respect and 2-10 admiration of his constituents because he always remembered the 2-11 people who put him in office; he was never too busy to remember 2-12 birthdays, send flowers as a memorial to a deceased constituent, or 2-13 do countless small favors for the people back home, and voters 2-14 rewarded him for his dedication and tireless work on their behalf 2-15 by returning him to congress 16 times; and 2-16 WHEREAS, One of the last of the old-style politicians, 2-17 Speaker O'Neill's unpretentious style and direct manner made him 2-18 one of the most immediately recognizable and most well-liked 2-19 political figures of the past two decades; his popularity often 2-20 eclipsed that of the presidents with whom he concurrently served, 2-21 and his unique appeal earned him a guest appearance on the popular 2-22 television show "Cheers," as well as several endorsement contracts 2-23 when he retired from public office in 1987; and 2-24 WHEREAS, Throughout a public service career that spanned more 2-25 than half a century, this eminent statesman served his fellow 2-26 Americans with dignity, integrity, and perhaps most importantly, a 2-27 genuine and abiding concern for all people; a man of unfailing good 3-1 humor and dedication to duty, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr., will be 3-2 remembered as a public servant who put the good of the people above 3-3 all else, and in this way he will live on in the hearts of the many 3-4 people who knew and admired him; now, therefore, be it 3-5 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas, 3-6 Regular Session, 1995, hereby pay tribute to the life of the 3-7 Honorable Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr., and extend sincere 3-8 condolences to the family and many friends of this beloved man; 3-9 and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-11 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-12 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in 3-13 memory of Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr.