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7336265
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Remarks of the President at Unveiling of Portrait of House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Leonor Sullivan [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7336265
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document
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Remarks of the President at Unveiling of Portrait of House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee Chairman Leonor Sullivan [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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24
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1974-09-24
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1974
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Digitized from Box 2 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 24, 1974
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
AT THE UNVEILING OF THE PORTRAIT
OF HOUSE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
LEONOR SULLIVAN
LONGWORTH OFFICE BUILDING
Dick, Mr. Speaker, our honored guest,
Leonor, my many, many former colleagues and friends.
I have been accused of coming up to Capitol
Hill so frequently lately that some people have suggested
I was trying to build up my attendance record. (Laughter)
I think all of us know that my friendship
with Leonor Sullivan goes back a long, long way. I
had the privilege and honor of serving with her
husband, John Sullivan, from 1948 until 1952. Leonor
became a Member, as all of you know, in 1952, and ever
since then, for 22 years, Leonor, we have been good
friends and I have valued and have been most grateful
for that friendship.
We discussed legislation on the floor of the
House and we have discussed it in the corridors, and we
have discussed it in committees. We have shared thoughts
and ideas on many other matters in the Longworth Building
and in the Members Dining Room.
And so, after all these years, I come to this
ceremony with a very special message, and Leonor, let me
put it this way, Leonor. We can't go on meeting like
this. (Laughter) Betty is getting suspicious. (Laughter)
But in this very busy day, I am particularly
proud to be here and I have looked forward to attending
this ceremony, this very special and very well deserved
occasion in your honor.
I think most of you know that I don't pretend
to be an expert in the field of art. In fact, back in
my home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, we have a very
large, modernistic piece of sculpture by the great
Alexander Calder. He has several here in the District
of Columbia. And every time i try to describe it to
somebody or interpret it for somebody, poor Mr. Calder
doesn't know whether to smile or sue. (Laughter)
MORE
(OVER)
Page 2
But you don't have to be an expert to appreciate
this wonderful portrait of Leonor. I have been impressed
by what I have seen on the program and I can't help but
admire it in reality.
I have heard that a good painting is a mirror
held to the soul of the subject. And Charles Fox, the
portrait painter, has certainly captured the richness of
Leonor Sullivan's character and her wonderful personality.
I understand that Mr. Fox has previously painted
three Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon -- as well
as many other prominent people in public life, and I
know that his portrait of Leonor will be a credit to his
career as much as the career of Leonor Sullvan has been
a credit to the Congress of the United States.
I don't have to repeat here all of the achieve-
ments, the accomplishments, the superb record of Leonor.
She has been an outstanding Chairman of the Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
I think it is significant to point out, however,
that -- I think it was last year, Leonor -- when the
American maritime industry awarded her for her dedication,
her success on behalf of the maritime industry, and made
her an admiral of the ocean seas. This, I think, is
unbelievable for someone who comes from the heartland of
America to be so recognized by the maritime industry, an
industry that I am sure watches and husbands that award
for only those who have done superb work on behalf of our
Merchant Marine.
So what I would like to say, Leonor, whether it
was on the Committee of Banking and Currency or whether
it was on the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, or
whether it was on the floor of the House, there have been
no other Members who I think enjoys the respect and
admiration, Democratic or Republican, more than you.
But most of all, I am proud to call you a friend
and to wish you the very best as you leave the Congress at
the end of this session.
END