Senate Tribute

MR. BIFFLE AND DARTMOUTH PRAISED FOR FORMER'S HONORARY DEGREE

THE AWARD of Dartmouth's honorary Doctorate of Laws to Leslie L. Biffle, Secretary of the United States Senate, was the cause of extended congratulation and tribute to Mr. Biffle on the floor of the Senate the following Monday, July 1. As reported in the Congressional Record, the remarks by Senator Hill and others were as follows:

Mr. HILL: Mr. President, on Saturday afternoon, at its annual commencement exercises, Dartmouth College conferred the degree of doctor of laws upon our good friend and able devoted Secretary of the Senate, MiLeslie L. Biffle. I should like to read the citation conferring the degree. It is as follows:

"Leslie L. Biffle, you, by the common consent of those best qualified to know, are the outstanding, nonelective servant of the legislative process of our Federal Government. For more than 35 years you have been associated with legislative affairs in the Nation's Capital and since 1923, first as secretary to the majority in the United States Senate and more recently as Secretary of the Senate you have rendered public service the effectiveness and fidelity of which are counted great by those of contrary as well as like political persuasion. In tribute to you and in recognition of the place of such largely unheralded service in the working of American democracy, Dartmouth confers upon you the degree of doctor of laws."

Mr. President, I am sure that I voice the sentiments of every Member of the Senate in warmly congratulating Leslie Biffle upon the receipt of this richly deserved honor. I rejoice that this honor has come to so loyal, so able, so faithful, so devoted, and so distinguished a servant of our country.

Mr. WILEY: Mr. President, after hearing the kind words just spoken of our Secretary, I am sure that all Senators on this side join with those on the other side in congratulating our good friend, Leslie. We also congratulate Dartmouth for having the good sense to confer this degree, doctor of laws, upon a real worker and a devoted public servant.

Mr. STEWART: Mr. President, I wish to add a word of compliment and praise to what has been said by the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Hill) with respect to the recognition recently given Mr. Biffle, Secretary of the Senate, by Dartmouth College. Mr. Biffle is one of the most efficient and capable men I have ever known. With it all he is painstaking and courteous to each and every Member of this body, whether he be on the Democratic or on the Republican side of the aisle. I feel sure he has the respect and the affection of every Member of this body

Leslie Biffle is a man of splendid intellect. He has unlimited energy. The honor which has been paid by the great Dartmouth College is certainly highly deserved and most fitting.

I join the other Senators in saying that I am extremely happy that our Secretary, the kind, capable, courteous, upstanding young man Leslie Biffle, has had bestowed upon him the great honor of which we were just informed by the Senator from Alabama.

Mr. WHITE: Mr. President, I take occasion to express my great pleasure on learning that Dartmouth College, of New Hampshire, has seen fit to honor Mr. Biffle, a distinguished son of Arkansas, by conferring on him the degree of doctor of laws.

Mr. Biffle has served as the Secretary of the Senate for a substantial time, and was associated with the Senate for many years before his elevation to his present office. He is amazingly alert mentally, he is indefatigable in the performance of his duties, is courteous always, is considerate, and he has a profound and intimate knowledge of the practices of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Mr. President, I am personally greatly indebted to Mr. Biffle for many courtesies, and I wish to express satisfaction that this New England college has seen fit to bestow its highest honor upon a son of Arkansas.