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William A. Ridgely
Senate Financial Clerk and Assistant Secretary of the Senate (1949-1981

The Senate Disbursing Office pays the salaries of senators and staff, and keeps the Senate's financial records.  Bill Ridgely started as a clerk, became head bookkeeper, and rose to Financial Clerk.  He recounts the dramatic growth in Senate staff, the impact of computers, and the Disbursing Office's dealings with the Appropriations and Rules committees.  Later, as Assistant Secretary of the Senate, he handled the Senate's participation in the International Parliamentary Union, including an eventful meeting in Havana, Cuba.

Table of Contents:
Preface
1) Assistant Secretary of the Senate,1-35
2) The Senate Disbursing Office,36-90
3) Automating the Senate’s Finances,91-152
Index
Appendix
Full Transcript
Photo of William Ridgely
Citation:  Scholarly citation: "William A. Ridgely, Senate Financial Clerk and Assistant Secretary of the Senate," Oral History Interviews, Senate Historical Office, Washington, D.C.
 
Deed of Gift:  I, William A. Ridgely, do hereby give to the Senate Historical Office the tape recordings and transcripts of my interviews on February 9, February 22, and October 28, 1982. I authorize the Senate Historical Office to use the tapes and transcripts in such manner as may best serve the educational and historical objectives of their oral history program. I also approve the deposit of the transcripts at the Library of Congress, the Senate Library, the National Archives, and any other institution which the Senate Historical Office may deem appropriate. In making this gift, I voluntarily convey ownership of the tapes and transcripts to the public domain. William A. Ridgley September 19, 1985 Accepted on behalf of the Senate Historical Office by: Richard A. Baker September 19, 1985
 
  


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