As you can tell, Washington has become a bit paranoid and obsessed with terrorism. It happened step by step — and has not been too noticeable, unless one compares it with a point, say, 16 years ago. Maybe it's a sign how much terrorists have won from us, and at the same time a sign of how we want to keep them from winning more.

Other things have changed, too. Sixteen years ago, few could remember the last time (way back in the '50s) when Republicans controlled the House. They won it back in 1994, and have managed to hold it for the 10 years since.

A presidential impeachment came along — and strangely seemed not to hurt the overall, long-term popularity of Bill Clinton. His wife is even a senator. Elizabeth Dole, wife of the man Bill Clinton defeated for re-election, is also a senator. The old candidates' wives are the ones with the real power now.

Orrin Hatch is the only Utahn who was in Congress when I arrived who is still here. But he's changed, too. He was then the man who loved to fight Ted Kennedy, and was the darling of pro-life groups. We've long since grown accustomed to him as Ted's good friend and now watch pro-lifers attack him on embryonic stem cell research.

It's been a weird, wild and wonderful ride for the past 16 years. I wouldn't have missed it. Jerry, I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I did. But I do look forward to returning to Utah, and for the future and its challenges there.

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Deseret Morning News Washington correspondent Lee Davidson can be reached by e-mail at lee@desnews.com