S.Res. 486Senate108th Congress (2003-2005)Passed Congress

A resolution relative to the death of J. Stanley Kimmitt, Former Secretary of the Senate.

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Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12070-12071; text as passed Senate: CR S12018; text of measure as introduced: CR S12070-12071)

December 8, 2004

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Introduced in Senate

December 8, 2004

SenateFloor

December 8, 2004

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S.Res. 486 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Sen. John B. BreauxD-LA · Dec 8, 2004

Mr. President, I rise to inform our Senate colleagues of the very unfortunate, untimely, and unexpected death of a person last evening who was truly a part of the family of the Senate. Although he…

Mr. President, I rise to inform our Senate colleagues of the very unfortunate, untimely, and unexpected death of a person last evening who was truly a part of the family of the Senate. Although he was never elected to this body, he served this body with great distinction over a very long period of time and truly was part of the family of this distinguished body. I speak of Joseph Stanley Kimmit, Stan Kimmit, who served this body as Secretary of the Senate with great distinction from 1977 to 1981. Members who served during that period of time know how much he meant to the family of the Senate through his services, through his respect for this institution, for his understanding of the history of how important this institution is to our Nation and to the world.

Prior to that, Stan Kimmit served as Secretary for the majority, as principal floor assistant to Majority Leader Senator Mike Mansfield from the State of Montana from 1966 to 1977. Prior to that, he was the administrative assistant or chief of staff to Senator Mike Mansfield.

Before he served the Senate, he served his country with great distinction in the U.S. Army during World War II. As a captain in the U.S. Army, he was selected to receive the Silver Star medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star medal and a number of other awards recognizing his service to our great Nation.

It was unfortunate that this man, who had seven wonderful children and a beautiful wife, passed away in a very untimely fashion, and I would just share it with the Senate family this afternoon. He was at a function where I happened to be receiving an acknowledgment of my service to the Senate, and Stan wanted to be there. He wanted to participate. After the principal person who was responsible for the function, the chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, Al From, made his remarks, Stan stood up and said: May I say something? Of course, the answer was: Absolutely.

He said some very kind things about me, and he said some very kind things about the Senate and this institution and how important it had been in his life. He quoted my predecessor in this body, Russell Long, as saying: When I have a friend, I have a friend, and I will fight for him or her until hell freezes over, and then I will fight on the ice.

That was the kind of friend that Stan Kimmit was. He pointed out that he had to correct Russell Long because Russell Long, when he originally made that quote, I say to my colleagues, did not have the words ``or her.'' It was just ``I will fight for him until hell freezes over,'' and Stan had the duty of saying to Senator Long, You should say him or her, and Russell Long certainly followed his advice.

What I will mention in closing is that last night he spent almost a half hour talking to a young staff person who worked for me, a young lady by the name of Jodi Bannerman, and he sat there and talked about his days in the Senate and what this institution had meant to him and some of the things he has seen in this institution and how it has changed over the years.

He said last night that when he was here, the Senate was truly one big family. It was not segregated. When I say segregated, he was referring to the interaction between the two parties, that it was not two armed camps he was talking about last night, that it was one big family. We had our differences. We fought hard. We stood up for the principles of the party, but it was one big family that he was honored to have been able to serve in the capacity of Secretary of the Senate.

He was telling my young staff person he was very concerned about how he has seen things change, and that was unfortunate, in his mind. He told her there were three principles, three truths he knew to be true, and she wrote this down after she spoke to him: Never sacrifice your principles, never ask for more than you deserve, and never quit one thing until you have something better.

He said that twice in her conversation with him last night. Stan quoted to her the Hamlet quote, ``To thine own self be true,'' as advice that he was giving this young person about her own life.

He did not mention any regrets, only great memories of this great institution, and I think anyone who has had the privilege of either working here or serving here and working as a Member, as I have and as we all have, understands what a great honor this has been. Stan Kimmit personalized that last night.

After he made those remarks, he sat down and never got up. We know that he is happy where he is, and I think part of that happiness is the knowledge that he had the great honor and privilege of serving his country and this great institution.

Sen. Thad CochranR-MS · Dec 8, 2004

Mr. President, I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of former Secretary of the Senate Stan Kimmitt. It was just a few weeks ago when I was with him on a trip to Montana and enjoyed swapping…

Sen. William H. FristR-TN · Dec 8, 2004

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to this…

Sen. William H. FristR-TN · Dec 8, 2004

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 486, which was submitted earlier today.

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Agreed to SenateIssued December 8, 2004

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 486 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 486

Relative to the death of J. Stanley Kimmitt, Former Secretary of the
Senate.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 8, 2004

Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Burns, and Mr. Leahy)
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Relative to the death of J. Stanley Kimmitt, Former Secretary of the
Senate.

Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt served with distinction in the United States Army for
25 years, served in combat during World War II in Europe and later in
Korea, received the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze
Star for Valor with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, and retired with the rank
of Colonel;
Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt began his service to the United States Senate in 1965
as administrative assistant to Majority Leader Mike Mansfield;
Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt served as Secretary for the Majority of the Senate
from 1966 until 1977;
Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt served as Secretary of the Senate from 1977 until
1981;
Whereas after a distinguished career in the United States Army, J. Stanley
Kimmitt served as an employee of the Senate of the United States and
ably and faithfully upheld the high standards and traditions of the
staff of the Senate from 1965 until 1981;
Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt faithfully discharged the difficult duties and
responsibilities of a wide variety of important and demanding positions
in public life with honesty, integrity, loyalty and humility; and
Whereas J. Stanley Kimmitt's clear understanding and appreciation of the
challenges facing the Nation has left his mark on those many areas of
public life: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the
announcement of the death of J. Stanley Kimmitt.
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions to
the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family
of the deceased.
Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a
further mark of respect to the memory of J. Stanley Kimmitt.
Attest:

Secretary.