[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1161-E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PAUL A. THEIS DIES: COMBAT PILOT, AIDE TO PRESIDENT FORD, GOP STALWART,
AUTHOR, JOURNALIST AND PATRIOT

______

HON. SHERWOOD BOEHLERT

of new york

in the house of representatives

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise my colleagues of the
death of Paul A. Theis. He was one of our stalwarts, having served for
many years as Director of Public Relations for the Republican
Congressional Campaign Committee. President Ford held him in such high
regard that he tapped him to become his Executive Editor, heading up
the highly important speechwriting operation in the White House. In
addition, Paul served in the Agriculture Department as Deputy
Undersecretary for Congressional and Public Affairs.
Paul Theis was many things, but above all a patriot and a gentleman
as his legion of friends can attest. I count myself among them as we
grieve the passing of this man of many parts. He was a novelist and
completed ``Devil in the House,'' a story based on the House of
Representatives, just a few months before he died. He also coauthored
``All About Politics,'' a non-fiction book published in 1972. Before
that he served in the House as Administrative Assistant to the Hon.
Oliver Bolton, Republican of Ohio. Earlier he had been a reporter for
Newsweek magazine, covering the McCarthy hearings, and Army Times.
During World War II he flew combat missions out of Italy as a B-17
bomber pilot earning the Air Medal and six battle stars. As a member of
the Air Force Reserve after the war, he ultimately attained the rank of
Major. For his military service, Paul was interred with full honors on
April 20, 2003 at Arlington National Cemetery.
My condolences have been extended to his wife, Nancy, and his son,
Mitchell, as they were by telephone by President Gerald R. Ford and
President George W. Bush. He was a wonderful man and I was proud to
have known him and to have been associated with him. I and countless
others who knew him and loved him will sorely miss him. May he rest in
peace.
Mr. Speaker, I enclose herewith the text of the eulogy given by
Paul's son, Mitchell, at his funeral mass, and the text of the
obituaries from the Washington Times and the Washington Post.

Eulogy for Paul A. Theis

(By Mitchell A. Theis)

Reverend Fathers, thank you for celebrating this beautiful
Mass of Christian Burial for my father, Paul Theis. Thank you
for being such good priests and for being such an important
part of our family's life.
I thank all of you here who came to honor my dad by your
presence. My mother and I are deeply touched by your
outpouring of sympathy and words of love for my father.
A couple of nights ago, mom and I were in the kitchen
remembering some of our happiest times together with my
father and some of his wonderful mannerisms and beliefs. We
couldn't stop laughing as we recalled how he believed that
three scoops of ice cream was ``healthy'' if you sprinkled
wheat germ over it. Or how he always managed to wear one of
his tattered old trench coats from his journalism days even
though mom bought him a cashmere coat from Neiman Marcus and
I got him one from Saks Fifth Avenue.
We recalled, too, his old Rolodex that he started over 60
years ago. Here it is! It looks like an organizational system
used by a small business. It's so filled with cards that you
can barely turn it. Believe me, my dad has a card on you or
can locate a card that will help him find you within minutes.
He started writing cards on his friends that he grew up
with back in the farming community of Carey, Ohio. His mom
and dad ran a melon and wheat farm. And after the Depression
they bought a furniture store.
His next set of cards was of his friends, like George
Barsa, Frank Keenan and Bob Walsh; he had met them at Notre
Dame University. Dad always was a Notre Dame Man and has
stayed in touch with all of his college buddies. He just
attended his 55th alumni reunion.
The next group of names that Dad wrote out for the Rolodex
were those of his B-17 crew from World War II. The members of
the crew were all barely 20 and they called Jerry Moran, the
crew chief, ``Pops'' because he was 26 years old. If you
heard Forrest Tolson tell their war stories, he'd have you
believe that it was their crew alone that won the war.
Believe me, Paul Theis, the old combat bomber pilot will be
watching the WWII Monument dedication on the Mall this coming
Memorial Day from a great vantage point! I salute the crew!
After the War, dad finished his BA at Notre Dame and his BS
in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He
got a job as a journalist at the Army Times and then at
Newsweek covering the McCarthy hearings. These writing skills
helped him get a job on Capitol Hill working as an
Administrative Assistant for Congressman Oliver Bolton. Gene
Cowen was the AA for Ollie's mother, Francis Bolton. They
were the only mother-son Congressional team.
This was in the early 50's and many of you here recall the
simpler days of handshakes and civility. This was the time
that Sid Yudain started Roll Call and dad helped start the
Inner Circle, a group of Administrative Assistants that met
for background briefings with VIP's of the day.
Unfortunately/fortunately, dad's boss had a heart attack and
did not run for re-election, so he became the Public
Relations Director for the National Republican Congressional
Campaign Committee, writing speeches for congressmen and
women. This is where he added hundreds of cards to his
Rolodex. It was a perfect job for him and he stayed there for
16 years.
It was during this time where he met the woman who would
sweet him off his feet. It was the end of him. His bachelor
days were over.
It was following that blessed event that President Nixon
resigned and President Ford asked him to be his Executive
Editor--handling: Speechwriting, Messages, Correspondence and
Research. There dad worked closely with Bob Hartman, Bob
Orben, Milt Friedman, Jack Calkins and all the members of
President Ford's team. On Monday, former President Ford
called mom and me. We told him that we were certain a number
of his old friends and supporters would be here at the
funeral. He wanted everyone to know that he was here in
spirit. Dad was always honored to work for such a fine man.
From the White House dad was appointed the Director of
Congressional Relations for the Secretary of Agriculture,
Jack Knebel. Dad and mom were to travel with Jack and his
wife, Zee, to a number of foreign countries for the USDA.
Dad then moved on to the House Agriculture Committee where
he and Tom Adams wrote the Ag Bad Newsletter.
In 1981, dad started Headliner Editorial Services and
worked for clients from his home office. Mom left school
teaching and was working at the White House so I grew up
coming home from school and being greeted by my father.
He was always a master listener--calm, cool, collected and
funny. One of my favorite examples of his type of humor
occurred on the day that we had to put our dog, Badger, to
sleep. On the way back home from the vets, dad turned to mom
and me and said, ``What are we going to tell the cat?''
Over the years, Mom and Dad, AKA ``The Cheerleader'' and
``The Sage,'' created an extended family that supports and
sustains our world. Together, we affirm what is sacred, laugh
at life's absurdities and discuss and debate the hot topics
of our times. We are blessed beyond belief by such dear, dear
family friends.
If you are a member of the Golden Owls, the select group in
the National Press Club

[[Page E1162]]

who have been members for over 50 years, dad has a card on
you in his Rolodex.
If you are a member of the old Capitol Hill Club or are ``a
regular'' there then dad has an address card on you.
If you're a writer or staffer on the Bulletin for the
Cosmos Club, dad knows how to get in touch with you. The
Cosmos Club was a great joy to dad in these past few years.
He certainly enjoyed working with the club's members and
management.
If you were a member of the Knights of Columbus from St.
Thomas Apostle, Dad knew where to find you. By the way, I
want to thank the brother Knights for coming today to be part
of Dad's funeral.
If you belong to the Hill Investment Club, thanks for
making Dad think that he was a Big Investor.
Dad was an active and involved member of the District of
Columbia Republican Committee for 25 years plus. He was
always eager to see the two party system work here in our
hometown.
Dad knew all of his neighbors and was the first to help out
on any local project.
To our parish, he was a stead presence.
Simply put--Dad had your number! And I would guess that you
had his.
He was a caring and loving husband, a real father in every
sense of the word, a quiet, fun-loving friends and neighbor,
a dedicated, loyal employee, a constant worker--he even
finished his novel, despite the fact that it took him years,
a devoted member of his Church and a true renaissance man!
Mom and I will continue to use this clunky Rolodex, to call
you and to cherish your friendship.
Today, there is a new card written in God's Heavenly
Rolodex. It can be found under the letter T. The name on it
is Paul A. Theis.
The peace of Christ be with you Dad.
____

[From the Washington Post, Mar. 29, 2004]

Paul A. Theis; White House Aide

Paul A. Theis, 81, an author and former journalist who
worked in President Gerald R. Ford's administration as a
senior speechwriter and head of the White House editorial
department, died March 24 at Washington Hospital Center of
complications after heart valve surgery.
Mr. Theis joined the White House staff as executive editor
shortly after Ford was sworn into office August 9, 1974. As
head of the editorial department, he oversaw speechwriting,
presidential messages, research and correspondence.
In 1976, Ford named him deputy undersecretary of
agriculture for congressional and public affairs. Mr. Theis
left that job after Ford's defeat later that year and worked
about four years as a staff consultant to the House Committee
on Agriculture and on President-elect Ronald Reagan's
Agriculture Department transition team in 1980 and 1981.
In 1981, he started Headliner Editorial Service, a
Washington-based firm offering editorial and speechwriting
services for business, government and political clients. He
headed the firm until his death.
Mr. Theis, a Washington resident, was born in Fort Wayne,
Ind. He was a journalism graduate of the University of Notre
Dame and received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown
University's School of Foreign Service.
During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces as a
B-17 Flying Fortress combat pilot in Italy. His military
decorations included the Air Medal.
He also served in the Air Force Reserve, attaining the rank
of major.
Mr. Theis worked for Newsweek and Army Times as a
Washington correspondent before serving as an executive
assistant to Rep. Oliver P. Bolton (R-Ohio) from 1955 to
1957. He served on the inaugural committees of Presidents
Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon.
He was a member of the D.C. Republican Committee for more
than 20 years.
He was co-editor of ``Who's Who in American Politics'' in
the late 1960s, co-wrote ``All About Politics'' (1972) and
wrote the novel ``Devil in the House'' (2004).
His memberships included St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church
in Washington, the Knights of Columbus, National Press Club,
the Capitol Hill Club, the Cosmos Club and the Notre Dame and
Georgetown alumni associations.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Nancy Theis, and
their son, Mitchell Theis, both of Washington.
____

[From the Washington Times, Apr. 8, 2004]

Paul A. Theis, 81, Journalist, GOP official

Paul A. Theis, a former journalist and Republican Party
official who served in the Ford administration, died of
complications from heart surgery March 24 at the Washington
Hospital Center. He was 81.
Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Mr. Theis graduated from the
University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in
journalism in 1948 and received a bachelor's degree from
Georgetown University's School of Foreign Services in 1949.
He also attended American University's Graduate School of
Communication from 1949 to 1952.
As a B-17 combat pilot in World War II, he served with the
15th Air Force in Italy, receiving the Air Medal and the
European Theater Ribbon with six battle stars. He held the
rank of major in the Air Force Reserve.
A former Washington correspondent for Newsweek and other
publications, Mr. Theis served as public relations director
of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 1960
to 1974.
He joined the White House staff in August 1974, shortly
after Gerald Ford was sworn in as president. Mr. Theis led
four divisions: speechwriting, presidential messages,
research and correspondence. He also was a member of the D.C.
Republican Committee for more than 20 years and a delegate to
the Republican National Convention in 1984, 1988 and 1992.
His book ``Devil in the House,'' was published in January.
He also co-authored the 1972 book ``All About Politics'' with
William Steponkus.
In January 1976, Mr. Theis was named by Mr. Ford as deputy
undersecretary of agriculture for congressional and public
affairs and served in that capacity during the remainder of
the Ford administration. He then joined the House Agriculture
Committee, where he served as a staff consultant from 1977 to
1981, and on President Reagan's Agriculture Department
transition team from 1980 to 1981.
Mr. Theis in 1981 founded Headliner Editorial Service, a
District- based firm offering editorial and speechwriting
services for business, government and political clients. He
led the firm until his death.
Mr. Theis was a member of the National Press Club for more
than 50 years, the Capitol Hill Club, the Cosmos Club, and
Notre Dame and Georgetown's alumni associations. He was a
member of Our Lady of Victory Council No. 11487 Knights of
Columbus and an active member of St. Thomas Apostle parish in
the District.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nancy; and a son,
Mitchell Theis of the District.

____________________