On January 6 each year quite a fuss was made over “Mr. Sam” Rayburn in Washington and other places. The occasion was his birthday, which almost always fell on the first day of the new Session of Congress and his birthday, like Mr. Rayburn himself, had become pretty much of an institution around the Capitol.
The House and Senate members of both political faiths dusted off some of their warmer superlatives – they didn’t have a chance to say all of those nice things very often.
As he posed for a photograph on his 78th birthday, Mr. Rayburn commented: “That will make the old maids tremble when they see that one.”
At the time of Sam Rayburn’s death in 1961, he had served twice as long as Speaker of the House of Representatives as anyone in American history. Mr. Rayburn did not much like the idea of being photographed, and he cared nothing about publicity. He once complimented another congressman by saying: “Well, he’s not the kind of man who runs around trying to get his name into the newspapers.”
Sam Rayburn looked grim. He exercised an amazing economy in the use of words. His telephone conversations rarely lasted over a minute, even if the President was on the other end of the line. And his letters never extended much over half of one page. Even his speeches were masterpieces of brevity, woven from words of the plainest language. He had short patience with the gobbledygook of big word and meaningless phrases employed by some of the governmental departments.
Actually, Mr. Rayburn was one of the most understanding and kindest men who ever held this high position in our government. Freshmen Congressmen, who were half scared to death of “Mr. Speaker” when they first confronted him, soon learned he was absolutely fair, understanding and completely frank with them all the time, be they Democrats or Republicans. This may be the reason why Mr. Sam had about as many close friends on one side of the House of Representatives as the other.
This January 6, 2009, Mr. Sam would have been 123 years old. He died at the age of 79 but to us who knew him best it seems only yesterday.
Mr. Sam was an inspiration to all, but particularly to those when knew him. The world is a better place because there was a Sam Rayburn.
He was not an ordinary man.
On Mr. Sam’s birthday, January 6, 2009, the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum will have open house from two to four.
Everyone is invited.