2010 Leadership Event

Senator Kyl reflects on Rich Senate History

Republican Whip Jon Kyl’s (AZ) first great memories of Washington and the Capitol are of working as an intern in his father’s Congressional office in the 1960s.  The Senator remembers when “…you could just wander around …and get to know all of the underground tunnels and all the back ways.”  His fascination with the history and grandeur of the Old Senate Chamber began at that time but was enhanced after his own election to the U.S. Senate from Arizona in 1995.

  
Don Carlson of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dave Regan of National Automobile Dealers Association, and Charles Ing of
Toyota Motors North America, Inc  enjoy cups of coffee during the reception (top left).  Anne Heughan, Thomas Lingard,
and David Lustig of Unilever United States, Inc. with Connie Tipton of International Dairy Foods Association mingle before
the start of the program (top right).

  
Members sit down to enjoy their breakfast before the
start of the program.

The Senator shared his reflections during the U.S. Capitol Historical Society’s 8th Annual Congressional Leadership Breakfast.  This event invites an individual from the House or Senate Leadership to speak about a topic of their choosing.  Leadership Council and Constantino Brumidi Society members filled the Rotunda Room of Altria Client Services, with its splendid view of the Capitol.  Bank of America, Altria Client Services, and Express Scripts graciously supported the event.

 
Mike Ruehling and Dave Regan begin the program with a short
Arizona trivia quiz.

 The morning began with a short trivia game about the state of Arizona.  USCHS Development Committee members Mike Ruehling (CSX Corporation) and Dave Regan (National Automobile Dealers Association) quizzed the audience on the state’s capital, the state motto, and other facts.

 
Senator Kyl shares his historical and personal reflections on the
role of the Old Senate Chamber throughout American history.

Senator Jon Kyl spoke of his favorite events occurring in the Old Senate Chamber.  He discussed the 50 years the Senate met in the room, the greatest debates, dramatic moments, and poignant procession into the new Chamber immediately preceding the Civil War.  He recounted a few very personal memories of current events he witnessed when the current Senate met in the Old Chamber.  Senator Kyl even shared some words from the journal he kept for his grandchildren during the Clinton impeachment trial. 

 
U.S.Capitol Historical Society President Ronald Sarasin
presents a Statue of Freedom to Senator Kyl.

 He concluded his remarks by reminding the audience members that “You don’t have to be a Senator to feel the awe and reverence in visiting the Old Chamber.  The room is so imbued with history that I think it has an effect on everyone.”