No Longer Thone Deaf

"There once was a Congressman named Thone/ Whose last name rhymed with phone/ But he felt slightly forlorn/ When called Thane, Stone or Thorn/ Thus, the 'Congressional Pronunciation Guide' was born." The fractured versifier is Republican Representative Charles Thone of Nebraska, who has just issued a third edition of his phonetic congressional directory. The six-page booklet was first suggested to Thone by a Nebraska radio announcer who was troubled by the frequent mispronunciation of political names over the air. Thone sent a questionnaire to every member of Congress, followed up with phone calls, and in 1971 issued his first pronunciation guide. Louisiana Congressman F. Edward Hebert shows up as (A-bear), Wisconsin Representative Henry Reuss as (ROYCE), Hawaiian Spark Matsunaga as (maht-sue-NAH-gah). Unfortunately, not all of Thone's colleagues are satisfied with the directory. Said one Congressman of Ohio's tyrannical Wayne Hays (HAYS), chairman of the House Administration committee: "You pronounce it King."

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