John Dingell’s 90th is the Party of the Year
Both sides of the aisle celebrate with the former congressman
Everyone knows John Dingell brings the fun. And bipartisanship and ice cream.
The Michigan State Society, in cahoots with Dingell’s wife, Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, threw the Dean a 90th birthday party on Wednesday in the room named after him in the Rayburn Office Building.
The former congressman, who turns 90 on Friday, told the crowd of members from both sides of the aisle, “I love you all and we all have wonderful memories.”
Attendees included Michigan colleagues Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Republican Rep. Fred Upton and Democrat Rep. Dan Kildee.
Also celebrating were Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, Joseph P. Kennedy III, D-Mass., Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Dave Brat, R-Va., Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Gwen Graham, D-Fla., among others.
Upton led the group in singing a birthday song that he joked he learned on the Republican side.
“This is your birthday song it doesn’t last too long, hey!” the crowd sang.
The party was complete with a bar and ice cream sundae buffet with various candies and toppings.
“Someone asked me is she up for the job,” Dingell said while thanking his wife for the party. “There’s something you should know about this woman: She can tell you what to do for 35 years.”
“She’s good and smart and the best friend I’ve ever had,” he added.
Debbie Dingell succeeded her husband in his congressional seat in 2015.
