Every day when Congress was in session, I would prepare an index card for him based on his priorities for bills and resolutions. It represented his “game plan” of talking points when he saw a Member in the Cloakroom that he wanted to button hole about one of his bills. He was particularly interested in initiatives that preserved our cultural and historic heritage—Old St. Lukes Hospital, for example–or protected precious environmental assets, such as the St. Marys River. He also devoted a great deal of time to gaining Federal support to build or replace Jacksonville’s aging bridges.

While he was over in the Capital Building itself, we would keep the staff work process in full gear. Letters, memos or other materials would be packed into his well worn brief case and taken, usually by Sharon Doherty, our extraordinarily competent Office Manager or me over to him. Exchanging the “new” paperwork for the materials he had reviewed or signed, he would start working through another batch while he waited to vote or on a recess long enough that would allow him to return to his office.

Due to the echoes in the high marble corridors of the Rayburn Building, I could hear the braces clicking as soon as he turned the corner and headed to the always open door of his office.  When he was behind his desk, he turned immediately to the tasks of answering telephone calls—not his favorite chore—and tackling an always high pile of mail.

Every letter or card that he received was answered. On a typical day the office staff would process between 300-500 letters. The majority of them could be categorized into various issues—from social security to national defense. Depending on the issue, much of the proposed response could include statements about his positions on that issue and his recent legislative activity in the area. However, it was not “boiler plate.” Each letter was reviewed carefully to ensure that all issues, including any personal information, were addressed in the proposed response.

Original letters plus the proposed responses, were placed in his “in” basket. If he had been out of the office for a few days, the letters piled up quickly and were put in neat stacks on a large leather sofa next to his desk. Woe betide any staff member who forgot to turn the cushions over before beginning to stack letters on the sofa. The staples and clips might scratch the leather seats, wasting tax dollars.

© Copyright 2015 Tracy D. Connors