Word: russ
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...sergeant at arms for the U.S. House of Representatives, Jack Russ was any Congressman's best friend. For nearly 25 years he doled out pork, fixed parking tickets and covered bad checks at the House bank. But when the bank's irregularities came to light, Russ resigned, making himself ineligible for a $70,000-a-year pension -- at least until Representative Mervyn Dymally of California put Russ back on the payroll as his "adviser." Now Russ can get full health benefits and his pension...
Later that year Texas Democrat Jim Wright stepped down as Speaker after becoming embroiled in an ethics scandal. As House majority leader, Foley was the logical successor to Wright. When some Congressmen sought to reassure themselves that Foley was "squeaky clean," they asked Russ if he had any damaging information about him. Russ told them about the FBI report...
...least two lawmakers, Ways and Means chairman Dan Rostenkowski and House Budget chairman Leon Panetta, went to Foley and asked if he was gay. Congressman Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts who is openly gay, told Russ to stop discussing the FBI report. Russ himself has denied ever spreading stories about the report. As the whispers swirled around Capitol Hill, a staff member at the Republican National Committee wrote an insinuating memorandum to state party officials that described Foley as "coming out of the liberal closet." In private meetings with colleagues and at press conferences, Foley denied being homosexual...
...controversy died down, and Foley was elected Speaker in June 1989. Last week Foley acknowledged that he knew in 1989 of Russ's role in spreading the FBI report, but he did not take action against Russ. As a source close to Foley explained, "If we had moved against Russ -- a guy with plenty of friends among lawmakers and the press -- that would have sent the FBI report soaring right back into the headlines. There was no way we wanted to start down that road again...
...review of Executive Branch perks and has created a bipartisan task force to recommend an overhaul of congressional operations. He brushed off Bryant's demand for his retirement by vowing to run for another term as Speaker. If he had shown the same zeal in dealing with Jack Russ, his re- election would not be in doubt...