Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/650208
36 Society News e Honorable Bill Archer, Marilyn Green (USCHS), Mary Moore Hamrick (Grant ornton), and Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX) e Honorable Ron Sarasin (USCHS President and CEO) greets and speaks with Chairman Paul Ryan.(le) T he beautifully restored Ways and Means Committee room resonated with laughter and applause as Cokie Roberts gave her keynote address at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society's July 15 dinner honoring the history of the House Ways and Means Committee. e evening had begun with a reception, during which members of the USCHS Capitol Committee joined current and former Members of Congress and staff of the committee for passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks. e call to dinner was followed by the Presentation of the Colors by the U.S. Capitol Police Ceremonial Unit. Among the crowd were four former chair- men of the committee: Bill Archer, Bill omas, Charlie Rangel, and Dave Camp. In addition, former Ranking Member Jim McCrery attended, as did two former committee members, Barbara Kennelly and Nancy Johnson, who were among the first women to serve on the committee. e Honorable Ron Sarasin, president of USCHS, greeted the nearly 170 guests and read a letter of best wishes from President George H.W. Bush, a dis- tinguished former committee member. e Honorable Tom Coleman, chair- man of the USCHS board, led the guests in a toast to the committee. Current committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) looked thoughtfully at the portraits on the walls of past chairmen and thanked the former chairmen in attendance for all he had learned from them. Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) drew the audience back in time as he shared stories about his esteemed colleagues and the former chairmen of the committee. Both emphasized the unique impor- tance of the issues facing the committee. Cokie Roberts, journalist, author, and member of the USCHS board, gave a candid, insightful, and humorous keynote address as she told stories about growing up in the Capitol and in the Ways and Means room in particular. e event was generously supported by Bank of America, Grant ornton LLP, Northwestern Mutual, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C., ExxonMobil Corporation, and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Dinner Honors History of House Ways & Means Committee Current and former chairmen and ranking members of the Committee ( om le): Reps. Sander Levin, Bill Archer, Bill omas, Paul Ryan, Charlie Rangel, Dave Camp, and Jim McCrery Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) with Connie Tipton (Interna- tional Dairy Foods Association and USCHS Board) and Clay Hough (International Dairy Foods Association) Ranking Member Sander Levin shares memories and stories. (le) Cokie Roberts gives a sincere and introspective keynote speech. (below)