The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 3

Wednesday, January a. mm THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN Bottom Seniority Rung Avoided by Boren Better Parking, Office Suite Appear Only Benefits two terms. Exon served as Nebraska governor eight years, while Boren was governor of Oklahoma four years. Thus, according to Senate rules, the other eight members with former qualifying service would outrank Boren. That group of nine who became senators at midnight would be behind the members whose predecessors resigned early, but ahead of the seven remaining Thus, according to these highly unofficial and preliminary estimates, Boren may rank eighth from the bottom when seniority is calculated later by Senate officials.

Charles Ward, Boren's administrative assistant, said no seniority determination has been made and it would be difficult to say conclusively where Boren will end up on the seniority ladder. Millionairess Chokes, Dies Miss Doterdine. 48. a LONDON (API Oil Swiss citizen, inherited about $65 million of the Royal Dutch Shell fortune when she was 10. millionairess Olga De-terdlng choked to death oii a piece of meat she ate at a New Year's Eve party.

tor' and governor at the same time, Boren had to resign as governor if ho were to take his place at midnight with other members of the freshman class. Had he not resigned, his term as senator would not have begun until Monday, when his term as governor would have ended. And that would almost certainly have placed him 100th on the seniority ladder. According to Duffy, two principal criteria are used to to determine the seniority of newcomers whose date of office is the same prior service and the population of the state represented. Everything else being equal, population decides the matter, he said.

But before population is considered, preference is given, in this order, to former U.S. senators, former U.S. House members, former vice presidents, former Cabinet officers and former governors. Among the 20 Senate freshmen, seven are former House members, one of whom served also as governor, and two former governors, Boren and J.J. Exon, D-Neb.

The former House members are David Pryor. with three terms in the House and four years as governor; William L. Armstrong, three terms in the House; William T. Cochran, three terms; William S. Cohen, R-Mainc, three terms; Larry Pressler.

two terms; Paul E. Tsongas, two terms, and Max Baucus. By Allan Cromlcy Washington Bureau WASHINGTON David Boren's resignation as governor Tuesday to become a U.S. senator at midnight allows him to escape the bottom rung of the congressional seniority ladder. It means he'll get a slightly better choice when office suites and parking spaces are assigned.

But in terms of his Senate career, the move is not particularly crucial, James Duffy, secretary to the Senate majority, said Tuesday, Assignment of Democrats to Senate committees is done by the Democratic Steering Committee, and where an individual stands in seniority among his colleagues In the freshman class means little, Duffy said. What counts is whether a freshman has an influential senior member pulling for him, and Boren has been cultivating several top Senate Democrats, as have other newcomers. Several members of the 1979 Senate freshman class four at last count got a head start when their predecessors resigned early, allowing them to be sworn in ahead of time. But for all the others, including Boren, the Senate term began at midnight Tuesday, even though they won't be sworn in until Jan. 15.

They went on the payroll at S57.500 a year at midnight. Since one cannot serve as a sena- SUM Pfwlo by Don Tulloin Gov. David Boren signs the document resigning the governorship. on are his wife, Molly, and Secretary of State Jerome Byrd. i B.

fossa Sassa PERSONAL CHECKING Use Central's "Free 300 Plan" OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY! Central National Bank Boren Out at Midnight, Nigh Sn at Noon tic" energy and agriculture programs. He said he wants to study up on the strategic arms limitations talks and the nation's defense policies generally. He said his first meeting with his Senate staff would be today at his new offices in downtown Oklahoma City, and his first Washington staff meeting will be Jan. 12. duce a water development program, more governmental reorganization and a better method of financing for local government.

"You never are finished," he said. "I think it's always better to leave something when you still wish you could stay a little longer." In Washington, he said, he will work to balance the federal budget and for "realis way Patrol officer for he past four years, said he plans to take it easy until he gets back in driving practice. After four years. Boren said, he is proud of leaving the slate in sound financial condition and of his programs in corrections, law enforcement and the medical field. The retiring governor said he was disappointed that his administration did not pro il (CNB) Jan.

8. 1963, and Lt. Gov. Nigh became governor and appointed Edmondson to the U.S. Senate to succeed Sen.

Robert S. Kerr, who had died New Year's Day. Nigh served nine clays in that term and will serve five days of Boren's term before he starts his own term. The only other governors to leave office early were removed by the Legislature Jack Callaway Walton of Oklahoma City in 1923 and Henry S. Johnston of Perry in 1929.

Boren said he and his wife will leave Jan. 9 for Washington, planning to arrive Jan. 12. Boren, who has been chauffercd by a High cial spirit," the outgoing governor said. "We must not allow success, as the world measures it, to destroy the special quality of Oklahoma." Boren said.

"I speak of the commitment which Oklaho-mans have to the basic principles which made this nation great." Boren served 11 days short of four years. He was Inaugurated Jan. 13, 1975, at the age of 33. He was the 'state's second youngest governor, five older than J. Howard Edmondson of Tulsa was when Edmondson became chief executive in 1959.

Edmondson resigned Sixth Classen Phone 232-5551 Downtown Office 233 Park Ave. Member FOIC Affiliated with Friendly National Bank DISCOUNT ON ALL PRODUCTS rEND OF YEAR CLEARANCE SALE Plus Free Installation By Ed Montgomery David Boren, 21st governor of Oklahoma, left office a minute before midnight Tuesday, becoming the second chief executive ever to 'leave voluntarily before the end of his term. Lt. Gov. George Nigh will be sworn in as thc-22nd governor and first -two-term governor at noon today on the Main Mall in Tulsa.

In Monday ceremonies on the south steps of the Capitol, he will start a full four-year term, making him the.r first three-term governor. Boren signed his res- ignatiofi at 2:30 p.m. in the BlueRoom at- the state Capitol. His wife, Molly and his parents, former U.S. Rep.

and Mrs. Lyle Boren, looked on with more than 100 others as the governor handed his resignation to Secretary of State Jerome Byrd. Christine Boren, the governor's mother, is still in a wheelchair recuperating from a broken hip she sustained when she fell while working in her son's campaign headquarters last summer. Boren said he and his would move out of the Governor's Mansion and into the Skirvin Plaza Hotel after a final dinner at the mansion Tuesday night. Boren, in good humor, said he was looking forward to his -new job in the U.S.

Senate although he wished he could have done more as governor. He became a senator at a minute after midnight, although he will not bo formally sworn in until Jan. 15. He has said the resignation will enable him to rank 85th or 86th among the senators in seniority rather than 100th, which he would be if he had served out his term. It looks like I will be unemployed for two minutes late the governor remarked.

Nigh will take the oath of office in dbwn-- town Tulsa from U.S. "District Judge Allen E. Barrow. Attorney John M. 'lmel will be master of ceremonies.

The Clare-more High School band will play "Oklahoma!" which became the state song through legislation Introduced by Nigh when he was a member of the Legislature. Boren read an open letter to the people of I.Oklahoma, thanking or.thersplrltand "dedication which haB made possible the progress wo'have together during the last four yars." Oklahoma. Is'Va spo: place with', spe -p. -fn iimmmii in i ii i um famous guamy for womun ft ffxA. Wo-l v-- -iA? I I by ROYAL PARK Uct fUX PANT and SHIRT jSSL sale jj 1 'r.