Bertie Bowman, Renowned African American Congressional Staffer, Passes Away at 92
Bertie Bowman, the trailblazing African American congressional staffer, passed away at 92 after an illustrious 60-year career on Capitol Hill His dedication and contributions to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will be remembered as a true testament to his lasting impact
Herbert "Bertie" Bowman, the longest-serving African-American congressional staffer in history, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 92. A spokesperson for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations confirmed his death. In his autobiography "Step by Step," Bowman revealed that at the age of 13, he dreamed of a different life in Washington, DC, away from his family farm in South Carolina. A fortuitous encounter with the late Democratic Sen. Burnet Maybank of South Carolina turned this dream into an all-consuming desire, as described in his book.
Bowman's autobiography reveals his remarkable journey, from forming lasting friendships with presidents to starting out as a janitor and eventually finding a place on the Senate floor. Climbing the ranks from sweeping stairs, he ultimately landed a position in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the 1960s, a highly influential committee in Congress.
Although Bowman initially announced his retirement from the committee in 1990, he revealed in an interview with C-Span that he continued to work intermittently, both with and without being on the payroll. However, his retirement was short-lived. When former Sen. Jesse Helms, a Republican from North Carolina, took over as committee chair, he personally asked Bowman to return as his hearing coordinator, as shared by Bowman in a 2008 interview with C-Span.
Bertie Bowman in 2011.
When asked by C-Span about his friendship with lawmakers who opposed civil rights legislation, Bowman explained that he considers them as friends because they are willing to assist and support him in times of need.
In his memoir, Bowman revealed that he never engaged in any conversations with Senator Helms regarding the derogatory remarks made about the Black community. Bowman's remarkable commitment and compassionate nature garnered acclaim from former President Bill Clinton in 2019. Clinton fondly recalled Bowman as his former supervisor and the sole African American staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as stated in his foreword for Bowman's autobiography during his interview with CBS.
Bowman supervised a young Clinton while he served as a messenger for former Arkansas Democratic Senator William Fulbright, according to Bowman's statement on C-Span. Clinton described Bowman as the ideal mentor for a 20-year-old student starting their first job in Washington, in a 2019 interview with CBS.
In the foreword of Bowman's biography, Clinton wrote, "From his humble beginnings as a poor farm boy in the racially segregated South to his time as a junior member of the Senate janitorial staff and later as the hearing coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he personifies the type of citizen that truly contributes to the greatness of this nation."
"This," Bowman expressed to C-Span in 2008, while seated in an unoccupied Senate Foreign Relations meeting room, "is the embodiment of the American dream - living the American dream, where I am standing now. Senator Helms always reminded us, 'You know, buddy, neither of us made it through college, but look at where we are today.'"
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US Senator John Kerry engages in a conversation with committee staff member Bertie Bowman, while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shares a moment of laughter, prior to Kerry's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This hearing is held in the Hart Senate Office Building, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The photograph captures the scene on January 24, 2013.
President Joe Biden, a former senator and chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, praised Bowman's autobiography "Step by Step" as a compelling American narrative provided by someone who witnessed history firsthand. In 2019, the United States Senate Federal Credit Union honored Bowman by naming their headquarters after him, acknowledging his exceptional service as both a former chairman and the longest-serving member on the board. Even at the age of 88, Bowman expressed no intentions of retiring during an interview with CBS.
USSFCU CEO and President Timothy Anderson expressed to CNN that Bowman held a significant role in his life, being "like a second father" to him. Anderson credited Bertie as his mentor and acknowledged that his own position as CEO was greatly influenced by him. He acknowledged Bertie's success to a motto that he consistently emphasized: "Dedicate yourself, stay true to your values, take accountability, maintain a positive mindset, and anticipate the best from others."
As his life was coming to an end, Bowman expressed his wish for his funeral procession to pass by the headquarters that had been named after him, according to Anderson. Anderson further remarked that despite having interactions with presidents and senators, Bowman treated everyone equally, and he encouraged others to do the same. Anderson also emphasized that Bowman did not prioritize titles.
In recognition of his contributions, Bowman was honored with an induction into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame by the African-American Credit Union Coalition in 2020.
After the death of Bertie, an esteemed presence in numerous Foreign Relations hearings that Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware attended, Coons expressed his condolences on X (previously known as Twitter). Coons described Bertie as not only a constant figure in these hearings but also a kind, humorous, and amiable presence in the Senate. Coons ended his tribute by expressing his sadness at the loss of Bertie.
