One of the giants of Arkansas History, John McClellan towered over the Senate like no other Arkansan before or since. Working with fellow Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright and an influential contingent of Arkansas congressmen, McClellan brought many accomplishments to the state and the nation. His rise to power began with a modest law firm in Sheridan.
I was 17 years old, dressed in creased navy blue slacks, a white shirt, a navy-blue necktie. In the most exclusive area of the United States Senate, off-limits to anyone except senators and pages, I completed an exam demonstrating my knowledge of all the current senators. I passed, and was escorted to the Democratic Cloakroom, which was, at the time, cluttered with sound-proof telephone booths. Sen. Ted Kennedy was seated in one of them. He waved at me. This was before cell phones.
It's always interesting to see how American states led the way in various categories. Michigan can lay claim to being the first in automobile development
And on the ninth day Huey Pierce ("Kingfish") Long, political god to the electorate of Louisiana, rested. His filibuster against the Glass banking bill was…