The Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, in Bonham, hosts an open house on January 6 to celebrate what would be the 123rd birthday of the former Speaker of the U.S. House. H. G. Dulaney went to work for Rayburn in 1951 and oversaw the library from 1957 to 2002. He remembers the legendary congressman fondly. What was Rayburn like? He was wonderful—full of integrity. You know, when he died, he didn’t have any stocks or bonds because he thought it a conflict of interest. And he always paid his own way on trips! How long were you his secretary? I went to work for him 53 years ago, but we didn’t have titles. Somebody asked him once at the office, “What does that woman do?” He replied, “She works for me.” The man asked, “Well, what does she do?” And Mr. Rayburn said, “She does what I tell her to.” So that’s how our duties were distributed. What would Rayburn have thought of the last presidential election? He worked with so many people, Democrats and Republicans. I don’t know what he’d think of the partisanship now. KATY VINE
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