HELPING SHAPE THE MESSAGE; EX-EMERSON AID HAS JOB WITH HOUSE SPEAKER

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert doesn't need a road map to find Southeast Missouri.

After all, his communications director, Pete Jeffries, knows a thing or two about the Bootheel.

Jeffries served as press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson from July 1991 until the congressman's death in June 1996. Emerson served as congressman in the 8th District of Southeast Missouri.

After Emerson died, Jeffries worked on the campaign staff of Emerson's widow, Jo Ann, who was elected to Congress in November 1996.

He served as spokesman for the congresswoman until May 1997 when he took a job as Hastert's national communications director.

Jeffries said Hastert's office sought him for the job. "I was not looking for a job," he said.

When Rep. Bob Livingston announced his retirement on Dec. 19 on the House floor, Hastert was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Republicans quickly chose him to be the new House speaker.

Hastert, an affable, former wrestling coach, served as chief deputy Republican whip in the House before being chosen as speaker. In that role, Hastert was the chief vote counter for the House leadership.

Jeffries said he figured the Yorkville, Ill., congressman would end up in one of the top leadership posts in the House.

"I never thought it would be speaker of the House, nor did I think it would happen this soon," recalled Jeffries.

The 34-year-old Jeffries was sitting on the House floor on Dec. 19 listening to the debate over impeaching President Clinton.

When Livingston announced he was stepping down because of extramarital affairs, House members were stunned.

"No one could believe that he had uttered those words," Jeffries said.

Within 30 minutes, more than 40 House Republicans had signaled their support for Hastert.

Within four hours after deciding he would seek the post, Hastert had locked up more than 120 votes and the speakership, Jeffries said.

In his previous position with Hastert, Jeffries dealt regularly with the national news media.

But since Hastert was elected House speaker on Jan. 6, Jeffries has been spending even more time talking to reporters, producers and assignment editors with the national media.

Jeffries' job as communications director deals more with implementing Republican strategy in the House.

Jeffries helps the Republican leadership team develop a message or theme that all GOP House members can use in discussing key issues such as Social Security and national defense.

Jeffries couldn't be happier with his life. He and his wife, Kristin, live in the Washington suburb of Arlington, Va. They have a dog, "Rookie," a 5-year-old terrier and beagle mix.

"You have to have an understanding wife," Jeffries said of the long hours he works. His work days typically begin at 8 a.m. and often don't end until 10:30 p.m.

For Jeffries, the rise up the political staff ladder has been swift.

Growing up in the Kansas City suburb of Shawnee Mission, Jeffries never expected to be working for the third highest ranking elected official in the nation.

But he was always interested in politics. "My mother served on the city council and ran for mayor in our suburb of Kansas City," said Jeffries.

"I had grown up knowing about politics at the most local of levels," he said. "I always thought I would be a political reporter. I never thought that I would be working in the U.S. Congress in Washington."

A 1986 graduate of the University of Iowa, Jeffries landed a job at KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau in December 1987.

For the next four years, he held a variety of news jobs at the station. He was a news reporter, weekend sports anchorman, senior producer and night assignment editor.

When Emerson's previous press secretary left for another job, the head of news operations at the TV station recommended him for the job.

Emerson interviewed Jeffries for the job at the St. Louis International Airport as Jeffries was heading to Chicago for a vacation and the congressman was returning to his Southeast Missouri district.

Jeffries said Emerson ended up giving him a history lesson. "This was an up-close and personal history lesson that I had never had before about southern Missouri, about politics, government and Capitol Hill," he said. "I be came immediately excited about the job" and when the job offer came, he took it.

Jeffries said Emerson instilled in his staff an appreciation of history and attention to detail.

"He was the best editor that I have ever had," said Jeffries.

Hastert and Emerson were well acquainted. Hastert's congressional office used to be across the hall from Emerson's in the Rayburn Building in Washington.

Jeffries said one of his toughest tasks was to write the three-sentence press release issued on June 22, 1996, announcing that Emerson had died.

"It was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do," he said. "We had lost a great representative and a personal friend."

When Jo Ann Emerson decided to run for the 8th District seat, Jeffries moved to Cape Girardeau for the duration of the campaign. His wife remained in Washington.

After Emerson won the election, Jeffries returned to Washington and a new job with the freshman lawmaker.

Lloyd Smith, who has served both Emersons as chief of staff, said Jeffries loved to talk about sports.

"Having Pete Jeffries on the staff was like having a walking and talking sports page each day," said Smith.

"Sometimes it was difficult to get him focused in the morning," Smith recalled fondly. "Once we got him focused, he was a heck of an employee."