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Worth It All

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.