Speaking Truth to Power (50 page)

In keeping with your responsibility to represent
all
of your constituency in the best interest of the country, you owe to each of us the assurance that you did indeed learn from the experience of 1991 and the promise that you will fulfill your future obligations in a more sensitive and enlightened manner.

Y
OURS VERY TRULY
,
A
NITA
F. H
ILL
      

I
t is impossible to acknowledge all of the people who contributed to this book and the variety of ways that each did so. But I will begin where the book begins by thanking my family. My parents, to whom this book is dedicated, and my Uncle George Elliott were sources of inspiration and invaluable information for this book. As they have throughout my life, my sisters and brothers, Elreatha, Albert, Alfred, Winston, Bill, Doris, Allen, Joyce, Carlene, John, Ray, and JoAnn gave immeasurable support during the time I was writing this book. In addition, their telling of family stories contributed to making this book not just my story but ours. My cousins Willie Faye Parker, Berniece O’Guinn, and Eddie and Lois Hill were great sources of love and support. And Eric Hill, whose misfortune it was to live the hearing and three years following along with me, gave me amazing perspective on it all that not only enriched the book but also enriched my life.

In addition to being about family, this book is about integrity and friendship. The greatest lessons came from those people who participated with me during the hearing, making sure that my story was heard not only because of their commitment to me but also because of their commitment to the integrity of the confirmation process. Susan Hoerchner, Ellen Wells, John Carr, and Joel Paul, the four corroborating witnesses, come to mind first and foremost. I thank them for their honesty and willingness to take tremendous risks for what they believed in. Behind
the scenes others worked toward the goals of exposing the truth and honoring the spirit of the process. I owe an immense debt to Shirley Wiegand, David Swank, Randy Coyne, Leisha Self, Sue Ross, Emma Jordan, Charles Ogletree, Sonia Jarvis, Kim Thompson, John Frank, Jerry Parkinson, Ray and Leslie McFarland, Janet Napolitano, Kimberle Crenshaw, Judith Resnick, Warner Gardner, Michelle Roberts, Joy West, Angela Davis, Ann Majorca, Don Green, Teree Foster, Rick Tepker, Mike Scaperlanda, Ron Allen, Gary Phillips, Keith Henderson, and Andy Coats. As well, I thank Susan, Ellen, John, Joel, Shirley, and David each for broadening my comprehension of what it meant to live the experience and thus strengthening the book.

Finally, this book is about courage—not as a single act but as a way of life. Since the hearing, the lessons I learned about bravery, endurance, and dignity in my youth have been reinforced by friends, supporters, and professional colleagues. I want to thank Ann Swank, Fred Bray, Lyn Entzeroth, Wayne Wiegand, Leon and Evelyn Higginbotham, Marie and Wayne Alley, Karolyne Murdock, Bob and Pat Richardson, Teresa and Lloyd Bingman, Tammy Kemp, Pat Kern, Mark and Libby Gillett, Bill and Terry McNichols, Frank and Edna Elkouri, Peter Kutner, Mac Reynolds, Beth Wilson, Keith and Diane Bystrom, Judith Maute, Tom Hill, Dan and Carol Gibbens, Tania and Floyd Norris, Carole Faricy, Gloria Segal, Ann Moore, Lillian Lewis, Ovetta Vermillion, Stephen Carter, Enola Aird, Drew and Kathy Kershen, Sandy Ingraham, Nina Roland, Alice Bruce, John and Wilma McFarland, John and Junetta Davis, Susan Faludi, Russ Rymer, Callie Khouri, Dewey and Katherine Selmon, Deb Parkinson, Marsha and Rod Uphoff, Andy Hall, Wandra Mitchell, Ivy McKinney, Gene and Rose Kuntz, Jim and Rita Holder, and Anne and Michael England.

In the production of this book, technical support has never been simply technical. It has included believing in the book and my right to tell my story. John Breglio, my attorney, gave excellent legal advice leading to the contract for this book and helped present to the publisher an idea for a book of which we could all be proud. Joy Johannessen read the first words of the very rough manuscript and not only gave superb
editorial advice but taught me about voice and helped me to believe in my own. I would not have had the confidence to begin this memoir without her. Rose Elugardo, my personal assistant, was a partner in the production of this book as she has been in most of my professional accomplishments since the hearing. She not only typed and printed the manuscript but she also read and questioned the content and coddled and cajoled me as needed. Rob McQuilkin’s red pencil and keen awareness of the work as a whole helped turn the manuscript into a book. Finally, Martha Levin’s editorial observations were always excellent and well stated. Moreover, she prodded me when I needed it and allowed me to find my own space and time to write the book when that was required. I could say many more positive things about Martha but will conclude by saying that without her I never could have completed this book.