Celebrating Service

On Thursday December 11th, 2008 the 24th Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao unveiled her official portrait.

Admitting as she took the stage that her freshly painted likeness was flattering, she looked younger and more relaxed in still life than in real life. After all, eight years as a Cabinet Secretary and the only surviving member of the original cabinet is no easy feat.

The unveiling had a merry red Christmas theme. Bright crimson carpet and poinsettias made the cavernous Great Hall at Labor very festive. A large crowd of current and former political appointees from Labor and other agencies, ambassadors, members of Congress the First Lady's Chief of Staff and career staff a DOL gathered to celebrate the event.

The Secretary's husband Senator Mitch McConnell was there fresh from the Senate fist-fight over the auto bailout. The car companies lost the money but the Senator looked fresh as a daisy

Just eight years earlier, I got my first glimpse of the Government and the Labor Department when I acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the Secretary as she was sworn in and took office. Chao became teary as she remembered that event and talked about her mother who passed away last year.

Howard Radzely, Labor's Deputy Secretary reminded everyone that ELC is now the longest serving Secretary of Labor since World War II and Frances Perkins, the Secretary's predecessor for whom the Labor Department Building is named.

Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) delivered remarks and read a poignant statement from Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) who is grappling with an inoperable brain tumor. Hatch asked the crowd to say a prayer for Kennedy who he described as a good guy despite his party affiliation. It reminded me about the gentility of the Senate where at one time humanity trumped political party affiliation. Personally I hope we can get back to the genial camaraderie of Washington. It could be very nice.

Congratulations to you Secretary Chao. Thanks for allowing me to serve the Department of Labor. Nice portrait too!

Other notable guests I was happy to see:
Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Clay Johnson, Deputy Director of OMB
Steven J. Law, chief legal officer and general counsel at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, former Deputy Secretary of Labor
Sam Mok, National President-elect Association of Government Accountants
Ann Combs, Vanguard Institutional Strategic Consultant former Assistant Secretary of Labor and head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Ed Moy, Director of the United States Mint
Patrick Pizzella Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management at the Department of Labor
Victoria A. Lipnic, Assistant Secretary, Employment Standards Administration
Sue Hensley, Senior Vice President; National Restaurant Association
The Chao family

Jane Norris is a former fed and current host of the Federal Drive. You can reach her at jnorris@federalnewsradio.com