On the other hand, if it is someone who really isn't that well known, or from a state delegation that I don't cover, I'm not sure my listeners will be that interested.

Yesterday, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio died as a result of a brain aneurysm. Elected ten years ago in 1998, the 58 year old Tubbs Jones was the first black woman to serve in the House from the Buckeye State. That alone makes her deserving of mention.

She was unapologetically liberal in her views as a House member, and had been notable for her very strong support of Hillary Clinton, even as the greater black community gave its overwhelming support to Barack Obama.

Tubbs Jones rose to become chair of the Committee on Standards of Conduct - otherwise known as the "ethics committee". She seemed to do her job fairly, though the ethics panel hasn't gotten much of a workout in recent years.

What I will remember most about her was the strength of her voice. When she started speaking, you knew it. There was a very rich tone to it that set her apart from other members in a positive way. It was booming.

Earlier, I related how I'm of two minds about stories on the deaths of lawmakers. I also feel torn about the deaths of former lawmakers, especially ones whom I covered, or have a good story from way back when.

That was the case less than three weeks ago, when former Congressman John Seiberling of Ohio died at age 89.

Seiberling served on the House Judiciary Committee at the time of the Impeachment proceedings against President Nixon. The Ohio Democrat had not been a political animal. Instead, he was first a corporate attorney for Goodyear Tire.

But his opposition to the Vietnam War pushed him to run for the Congress, where he unseated a GOP incumbent in 1970.

I remember Seiberling from the time when I was a Page in the House of Representatives back in 1980 and 1981. Mostly I remember one story.

I was walking from the Capitol over to the Longworth House Office Building just across Independence Avenue. Seiberling was walking in front of me, and as we approached the stoplight, we ran dead into a woman who was shouting religious verses and more at anyone who would listen.

We stood there for 30 seconds or so, waiting for the light to turn green, while this woman (who clearly seemed to have some mental issues) was yelling and screaming about Jesus this, and Repent that.

As the light turned green, Seiberling suddenly turned toward the woman and yelled loudly several times "Amen Sister! Amen!" as he started across the street.

I started laughing, and the woman was so caught off guard that she seemed speechless as we walked away.

Back to today. Tubbs Jones was the third House member to die this year, the others being Rep. Julia Carson of Indiana and Rep. Tom Lantos of California, all of them Democrats.

There was a great story about Carson as well from her time as a member of the House. Soon after being elected, she got into the "Members Only" elevator and was stopped by former Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA) who noted the elevator was the province of lawmakers, not the public.

After being challenged in the elevator, Carson, who was black, introduced herself to Hart, who was white.

I would have loved to have seen that exchange.

Tom Lantos meanwhile has a story line that I can hardly cover. He was a 16 year old when the Nazis invaded his home country of Hungary. He was sent to a labor camp and after several tries managed to escape. He then worked with anti-Nazi elements in Hungary during World War II.

In Congress, his thick accent was always fun to listen to. During the Reagan Administration, he held hearings on wrongdoing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD.)

I can still hear him denouncing what he would refer to as "Da svamp at HUD."

Lots of stories to tell, but not enough time. But this blog makes it easier.