Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Statement by the President on the Passing of Jim Wright: “Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Former Congressman and Speaker of the House Jim Wright. Jim represented the people of his beloved Texas for over three decades. He was a committed public leader and a proud World War II veteran who dedicated much of his life to serving his country. As a Representative from Texas and Speaker of the House, Jim was passionate about investing in infrastructure, and he worked tirelessly to promote peace in Central America. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s family and friends, and the people he represented in Congress for so many years.”
Hollywood on the Potomac rarely reports from a personal point of view, but for today we are. I received a call from former Washington Post columnist Chuck Conconi yesterday alerting me to the death of former Speaker Jim Wright. Chuck was a close friend of the Wrights. I was Jim Wright’s publicist for his book: Worth it All. What I remember most about him was that he was a perfect gentleman, engaging and still very much concerned about his county; so much so that he canceled an appearance on The Today Show so he could show up at the White House to help then President Clinton garner congressional votes for NAFTA.
During my conversation with Chuck, I couldn’t help but notice that the book was prominently displayed on my book shelf and that an invitation to one of the book parties we did was inside the flap. The major party though was with all the then former living Speakers of the House except Carl Alpert who fell sick the day before. It was a wonderful occasion. Sadly though, it turned out to be one of the last public appearances of also former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil.
We kept in touch over the years and with the publication of his subsequent book The Flying Circus, held a dinner in his honor at Teatro Goldoni on the K Street corridor. Hollywood on the Potomac wrote a piece on it: “In town for the release of his latest book The Flying Circus : Pacific War–1943–as Seen Through a Bombsight, the speaker was warmly received by both former colleagues and friends. He and his still glamorous wife Betty were relaxed and enjoying their visit which included a personal tour of the WWII Monument by Gen. P.X. Kelley who was on the commission that completed the project.
According to the Speaker, the only thing he’s done wrong lately is choosing the wrong title for his book as told to Inside the Beltway’s John McCaslin at a private dinner at Teatro Goldoni: “If I could have just changed two words in the book’s title, I could have sold a zillion copies: Harry Potter’s Flying Circus.” Guests included his former publisher Frank Margiotta, close friends Janelle and Chuck Conconi, The Hill’s Al Eisele and CQ’s Economics Editor with whom he had a lengthy discussion regarding CAFTA vs. NAFTA. Look it up!”
Thanks for the memories Mr. Speaker and condolences to his wife Betty and family.
