Square Peg

From Square Peg: I had been a Senator only a few weeks when one night I noticed James Eastland walking toward me on the Senate floor. At the time, he was a titan, one of a small group of men who ruled their committees like lords in the Middle Ages. Their will was never challenged; their decisions were never questioned. Eastland was a chairman's chairman, a son of the South, a master of the rules and a man with an unshakable contempt for the foolish and, worse, the inexperienced. "Hatch," he barked, "how about going to dinner?" "I'd be delighted," I said quickly, having no intention of refusing. I was the newest member of his committee and had the most to lose from his displeasure. "After we had ordered, Eastland fell silent. For twenty minutes, I said nothing, waiting for him to speak. He puffed on his cigar and worked on a large bowl of soup, the whole time glaring into the distance. I began to wonder if I'd made a mistake, if I wasn't supposed to be there. Suddenly Eastland looked over at me, his face in a snarl. "Hatch," he snapped. "Yes, sir?" "Do you think we can save this country?" "Oh, yes, sir," I said, bushy-tailed with enthusiasm. "Bullshit," Eastland growled.

Senator Orrin Hatch has served in the U.S. Senate since 1976 and is now the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Washington, D.C.