October 12, 1956
THE CONGRESS of the United States and the people of the nation have lost a valuable member in the sudden passing of J. Percy Priest of Tennessee, Majority Whip of the House of Representatives. A former teacher and newspaperman, Congressman Priest has served with distinction in the House for sixteen years. Mrs. Eisenhower and I join with his many friends in Washington and the people of his District and State in extending our sympathy to his family.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Statement by the President on the Death ofÿ J. Percy Priest. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/233385