The Center for Legislative Archives   Interview Notes Index
Interview with Rep. Ben Reifel (R-SD) April 1964 He is a
district-oriented, self starter. "Some members want to get on
the Ways and Means Committee or the Committee on Rules. Neither
of those interest me in the least. And I don't understand why
anyone would want to go on those two committees. They aren't any
help to you in your district. They may give you a high prestige
threshold, dealing with national issues. But they don't help you
to be of any particular service to your constituency."  He
wanted the assignment when he came on the Committee in his first
term. At that time, it was "a vain hope." He speaks of his
interest in reclamation, of the one-half million acres under
irrigation, and he spoke of the service for his state as a key.
He started right in as follows: "You can get the ear of the
agencies downtown a lot easier on Appropriations than you can on
other committees. . . . I notice when my staff calls downtown
now, the agencies respond a