A Texas Republican could be setting an example for those who want to raise the retirement age in entitlement reform.
Tomorrow, Rep. Ralph Hall, 89, will set the record for the oldest person ever to serve in the House.
Elected in 1980, Hall was just 57 when he began the first of his 16 terms in office. He was re-elected to a 17th term last month, representing the 4th District in the northeast corner of the state.
The record has been held up to this point by North Carolina Rep. Charles Manly Stedman, who died in office in 1930 at age 89 years, 7 months and 25 days.
A World War II Navy vet, Hall used to be “an old-time conservative Democrat,” endorsed George W. Bush for president in 2000, and switched to the Republican Party in 2004.
He’s hardly taking it easy, either, having served as chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee this Congress.
On Nov. 27, Hall became the oldest House member in history to cast a vote — his 18,549th.
“Throughout his time in Congress, Chairman Hall has served this institution with style and humor,” said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) in marking that milestone. “It is an honor to work with Ralph as both a colleague and a friend. Ralph has always said, ‘I’d rather be respected at home than liked in Washington.’ Ralph, you actually have achieved that rare combination of both.”
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), who serves as Ranking Member on the science committee with Hall, said “Years in this body bring people together – whether they are Democrats or Republicans – but people from Texas are together when we get here. And so there’s nothing that would keep me from coming to say ‘congratulations’ to Mr. Hall.”
In a floor speech honoring Hall’s vote milestone, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas), noted that as a young filling station employee, “Ralph pumped gas for Bonnie and Clyde” — and received a quarter as a tip from the notorious bank robbers.
Hall and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) are the last World War II vets in the House. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is the last in the Senate after the passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).
Hall turns 90 years old on May 3.
There’s a huge difference between schmoozing, accepting lobbyists’ gifts, and sitting around all day in Congress, and working a real job with real physical labor. Hall is an example of the former. Many of his constituents would fall into the latter case, and by their 60s they are flat worn out and need Social Security and Medicare. Genes play a role too.
The occasional person working into extreme old age doesn’t mean that everyone can work into their 70s and beyond. Most cannot. Many are in bad shape well before that.
I would have asked my parents what they thought about this, but my mother died in 2009 at age 65 after becoming bedridden from major strokes, and my father in 2010 at age 68 from respiratory failure. They are closer to typical of what people in their 60s and older face than are those like Hall.
Hall should not be used as any sort of poster boy for reforming elder programs. Term limits, on the other hand…
Ralph Hall has been in Washington far too long. He has had too many opportunities to enrich himself at public expense, take bribes from lobbyists, and come to the
place where he believes he is indispensable. since Congress will never vote term limits, we must do it. Vote the idiots out after twelve years. No matter how good or bad, vote them out. While they are in, make sure they know your name. Email, but also call, call, call. When they are in town, go see them. Make sure you are well-informed when you work to get there attention. But more than anything else, vote them out.