Three weeks later, I was sitting in John Farley’s former desk wondering whether I had made the right decision or not.

After serving on the House Armed Services for decades and as Chairman of the Seapower and Strategic Materials Sub-Committee, Charlie Bennett was the third senior member of the House of Representatives and the second in seniority on the Armed Services Committee. He was a conscientious committee chairman—grilling the admirals and generals to ensure he understood their budget requests and that they were “scrubbed.” He was not a chairman that included any “pork” in his budgets. On the floor of the House and in other forums, he was a highly effective champion for Navy issues and “Sea Power.”

As the longest serving Member of the Florida Congressional Delegation, he was the Dean of Florida’s Delegation. Several times a year he would convene them in his office at the request of some Member or the Governor, at the time, Bob Graham. After one of the meetings, I returned to my office next to his to find it crowded with about half of Florida’s delegation in various little groups talking about issues of mutual importance. Meanwhile, Senator Paula Hawkins was sitting on the edge of my desk, making a telephone call. What a special moment, I thought to myself. All these folks with responsible positions and names well known to most Floridians, all “hanging out” in my office, as I settled in to listen to “Senator” Claude Pepper and Bill Nelson parce some major issue.

When the work load permitted, I would walk with Charlie over to The Floor.

If I was quick enough, I could snag his heavy brief case that bulged with the paperwork he would work on while he was voting or button holing other Members on legislation or issues. Usually, he would grab the bag himself before he left his office and carry the awkward satchel with one hand and the cane in the other as he willed his reluctant body to carry him—once more—over to the Capital Building.