Jim Nussle

Mr. NUSSLE

Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I was struck, as I was watching this conversation that we are having this eulogy, this presentation that we are having today, how many people mentioned the words ``help'' and ``assistance'' that Ed Madigan provided them along the way. I thought it was only me. I have to say that I am not, as many others who served with Ed Madigan and knew him so very personally, I did not have that kind of experience with Ed. I did not know him that well. And that is why, if for no other reason, I am struck by the two instances that I recall the most about Ed and my very brief relationship. One was when I was a candidate. I got a call out of the blue from Ed Madigan. I really did not even know who he was, I have to confess. He called me up and he said, ``I am a representative from Illinois and just wanted to know if you had any questions or concerns about ag policy. I would be glad to try and answer them.'' I made up a couple of questions real quick, wishing that I had been better briefed to even ask the questions. I went on from that experience thinking, why in the world, this guy must have nothing better to do than to call me up. Obviously, we all know he did. But then when I got to Washington, I was told that I had a big brother for my orientation, and I was honored to discover it was this same Ed Madigan. I discovered who he was and what he did, and when I went to my first meeting and our first discussion was about committee assignments, he came prepared with a sheet of paper of ideas for me, which I know now, having been a representative for 4 years, how difficult it was or how time-consuming it was to put that together. Yet how much time he thought. It was not just off the cuff with Ed. It was not just a spur of the moment. He put some thought into it. I have to say that it is something that I learned from and I hope to emulate. I have tried to. If there was any effect that Ed had on me, it was that we have to be willing to take time to teach and inspire other people who come after us to do good things and to be proper participants in this process. And he gave me that inspiration. I am not sure if it took, but I want to thank him for being a brother and being an inspiration and being a mentor. It is something that I hope I can pass on to someone else in the spirit that Ed Madigan passed it on to me. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.