When Senate Democrats elected Felton "Skeeter" Johnston as secretary of the majority in 1945, Dorothye Scott became his secretary. Ten years later, when Johnston was elected secretary of the Senate, Scott moved "downstairs" with him as administrative assistant. After Johnston's retirement, she continued in her post under Frank Valeo until her retirement. During the 1950s, the secretary's suite contained one of the few private dining rooms in the Capitol, and Dorothye Scott arranged almost daily luncheons for the Democratic leader, Lyndon Johnson, and the senior senators who constituted the powerful "inner club," about whom she offers personal reminiscences.
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Scholarly citation: "Dorothye G. Scott, Administrative Assistant to the Senate Democratic Secretary and to the Secretary of the Senate (1945–1977)," Oral History Interviews, June 3–24, 1992, Senate Historical Office, Washington, D.C.
Disclaimer: The Senate Historical Office has a strong commitment to oral history as an important part of its efforts to document institutional change over time. Oral histories are a natural component to historical research and enhance the archival holdings of the Senate and its members. Oral histories represent the personal recollections and opinions of the interviewees, however, and should not be considered as the official views or opinions of the U.S. Senate, of the Senate Historical Office, or of other senators and/or staff members. The transcripts of these oral histories are made available by the Senate Historical Office as a public service.
