Tribute to Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

TRIBUTE TO EDWARD M. AUGUSTUS, JR. -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 20, 2004)

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today we will close another chapter in the history of this great institution when we adjourn the 108th Session of Congress. The end of every session is always an occasion to pause and reflect, however that is especially true for me today because it also marks the last session that I will have the special privilege of Ed Augustus as my Chief of Staff.

To a great extent, all of us in elected office ultimately succeed or fail based upon the people we choose to surround ourselves with. As a former congressional staffer, I know well where the heavy lifting is done in meeting the daily demands of serving the public and discharging the duties of this office. With that in mind, I consider myself truly blessed to have had Ed Augustus as my Chief of Staff for these past six years. During that time, I have routinely relied on his wise counsel, depended on his keen instincts and trusted his good judgment in directing all aspects of my congressional office.

I have called on Ed to perform some extraordinary tasks during his tenure. In each and every instance, he has performed magnificently. Most notably, he coordinated President Clinton's historic visit to the City of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1998 and then the federal relief efforts for the same city following the tragic death of six firefighters a year later. Ed was also instrumental in resolving two very difficult labor disputes that threatened nursing care and public transportation for thousands of Central Massachusetts residents, and played a pivotal role in promoting numerous economic development initiatives that are right now improving the quality of life for families all across my congressional district.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to being an exceptional Chief of Staff, Ed Augustus is one of the most thoroughly decent people I know. He possesses a boundless reservoir of compassion and a genuine desire to help those in need. He is a devoted son, loving brother, proud uncle and the most loyal friend a person could ask for. And so, while I am sad to see him leave his position on my staff, I am gratified to know that he will be serving an equally important purpose in the future.

On January 5, 2005, Edward Michael Augustus, Jr. will be sworn in as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, and instantly that distinguished body will be made better by his presence. The people of the Second Worcester District could not have found a more able and dedicated public servant to represent their interests on Beacon Hill if they had searched the world over. In fact, all citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stand to gain immensely from the tremendous contributions Ed will undoubtedly make to public discourse and debate in our great state. School children in particular will soon discover an eloquent and powerful champion for the cause of improving public education all across the Commonwealth.

Mr. Speaker, Ed Augustus will be a great leader in the Massachusetts Legislature because he has entered politics for the right reason-to help people. I believe public service is an honorable calling and a noble profession. I am certain Ed will live up to that high standard and I expect great things from him in the future.

For now, however, I would like to simply thank him for sharing his many talents with me these past six years, and for the sterling level of service he has provided to the people of the Third Congressional District. Indeed, all of us in this House owe Ed a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I am eternally grateful to Ed for his efforts and I will always cherish his friendship. So in that spirit, I would like to close by offering my friend and colleague some words of advice as he prepares to return to elected office. They are words with which I know he is familiar as a scholar of American Presidents, and I hope he will carry them with him as he embarks on the next phase of his career in public service:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.-President Theodore Roosevelt.